XLRI 2026 GD/PI Slot Booking Begins After SOP Submission Deadline

As of February 18, 2026, XLRI Jamshedpur has officially activated the GD/PI slot booking portal for shortlisted MBA candidates Following the closure of the mandatory Statement of Purpose (SOP) submission window on February 4, applicants must now secure their interview dates. The selection process, including Group Discussions and Personal Interviews, is scheduled to run through March 20 across multiple Indian cities. Aspirants are urged to log in to the official XAT portal immediately to choose their preferred slots on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur, has transitioned into the critical secondary phase of its 2026-28 batch recruitment. As of February 18, 2026, the institute has opened the scheduling window for Group Discussions (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI) for all shortlisted candidates. This development follows the high-stakes SOP submission deadline which concluded earlier this month. For the thousands of aspirants vying for a seat in the Business Management (BM) or Human Resource Management (HRM) programs, this phase is the final hurdle in an admission cycle that began with the XAT exam in January. The scheduling portal is currently live on the official XAT website, and seats in popular metropolitan cities are filling up with rapid velocity.

1. Mandatory Slot Booking and First-Come-First-Served Logic

XLRI utilizes a strict "First-Come, First-Served" (FCFS) mechanism for its interview scheduling. Candidates who delayed their login during the initial hours have noted a significant decrease in available weekend slots and preferred locations.

• Eligibility Filter: Only candidates who successfully submitted their Statement of Purpose (SOP) by the February 4 deadline are eligible to access the booking dashboard.
• Dual Program Slots: Applicants shortlisted for both the BM and HRM programs must perform the scheduling of two separate interview sessions. To avoid logistical conflicts, the institute recommends booking both slots within the same city.

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• Slot Velocity: In line with previous trends, the most desirable slots—typically those in late February and early March—attained maximum velocity and were fully booked within minutes of the portal's opening.
• Modification Policy: Once a slot is confirmed and the scheduling process is finalized, XLRI generally does not entertain requests for changes, emphasizing the need for careful selection.

2. Comprehensive GD-PI-WAT Selection Timeline

The 2026 scheduling cycle is designed to accommodate the geographical diversity of the applicant pool. The Official Admission Prospectus outlines a month-long window for the evaluation of future management leaders.

• The Evaluation Day: The on-ground process includes a Written Ability Test (WAT), followed by a Group Discussion on a shared topic and a 20-30 minute Personal Interview.
• City Options: Candidates can choose from major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jamshedpur, and Kolkata, provided the slot velocity has not yet exhausted the capacity.
• Digital Integration: The interview panels will have the candidate's XAT Scorecard and SOP in front of them during the session to facilitate a deeper profile-based inquiry.
• Weightage Factors: While the entrance exam carries the highest weightage, the performance in this scheduling phase accounts for approximately 25% of the final merit calculation.

3. Impact of SOP Content on the Interview Phase

The SOPs submitted earlier this month are now serving as the primary script for the PI panels. The velocity of the conversation often depends on how effectively a candidate can defend the personality traits and professional goals stated in their document.

• Consistency Check: Interviewers are reportedly cross-referencing verbal answers with the written SOP to check for authenticity and clarity of thought among aspirants.
• Contemporary Challenges: Following the theme of the 2026 application, many panels are focusing on "Ethical Dilemmas of AI" and "Pro-Social Behavior," as detailed in the XLRI Admission Guidelines.
• Profile Verification: Along with the interview, a physical document verification is being conducted; hence, candidates must carry their original transcripts and work experience letters to their booked venue.
• Final Selection Merit: The total aggregate for the final offer will include the XAT score (60%), GD/PI (25%), academics (10%), and work experience/diversity (5%).

Conclusion

As of February 18, 2026, the XLRI scheduling window remains the most urgent task for all XAT aspirants. The high velocity at which interview slots are being claimed underscores the competitive nature of India's oldest management institution. Candidates are advised to finalize their travel arrangements as soon as they receive their confirmation slip from the Official Portal. This phase marks the culmination of months of preparation, where the ability to articulate one's vision for the "Greater Common Good" becomes as important as quantitative scores. With the interviews scheduled to conclude by March 20, the focus will soon shift to the final merit list, which will define the next generation of global leaders from the Jamshedpur and Delhi-NCR campuses.

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