In an exclusive interaction with MBAUniverse.com, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) Convenor Dr Rahul Shukla revealed that after growing by 40 percent last year, XAT 2025 registration numbers are expected to grow this year too! In the same interaction, Dr Shukla also revealed one of the key reasons behind the growth of XAT registration numbers – a significant jump in number of XAT Accepting Colleges. In fact this year the total number of colleges accepting XAT exam scores has jumped by more than 50%!
But before we talk about the rise of XAT accepting colleges, here is a quick primer on XAT exam and registration numbers.
Conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, XAT is the oldest MBA/PGDM entrance exam in the country with a history of more than seven decades. XAT scores are accepted by leading B-schools including XIM Bhubaneswar, IMI New Delhi and others. XAT 2025 will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Registration process is currently open.
XAT 2024 Registration Numbers Broke Records; XAT 2025 Registrations Rising
It must be noted that last year XAT 2024 registrations broke all records by registering an increase of almost 40 percent! XAT 2024 registrations went up to 135,000, from 98,242 registrations in XAT 2023. Check Table below.
Table 1: XAT 2024 Registration Numbers
| XAT Year | Total Number of Registrations | % Increase/ Decrease |
| XAT 2025 | Expected to go Up | -- |
| XAT 2024 | 135,000 | 38% |
| XAT 2023 | 98,242 | 23% |
| XAT 2022 | 80,000 | - |
While it is early days, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2025 registrations are showing “an upward trend.” In an exclusive interaction with MBAUniverse.com, XAT Convenor Dr Rahul Shukla has confirmed this development. XAT 2025 Registrations opened on July 15, and will be closed on November 30, 2024. Generally, XAT registrations pick up after the CAT registrations are closed.
XAT Accepting Colleges Jump from 160 to….!
It is no secret that popularity of any Entrance Exam is based on the quality and number of colleges which are accepting the said entrance exam scores for their admission process. While globally GMAT and GRE are popular entrance exams for MBA admissions, in India, CAT is the most popular MBA entrance exam. Why, you may ask…Simply because 21 IIMs accept CAT scores. Not to be left behind, almost all other top non-IIM B-schools also accept CAT exam.
XLRI, the oldest management institution and one of the top B-schools in India, is an exception. Almost ever since it started in 1949, it is organizing its own entrance exam – XAT – for admission into PGDM program. In addition, 11 other “XAMI Members” including XIM Bhubaneshwar and LIBA, accept XAT scores.
XAT Convenor Reveals Total Number of XAT Associate B-schools
In past about 150 B-schools were accepting the XAT scores for their admissions. In comparison, the number of CAT accepting colleges were a lot more. Realizing the gap, XLRI leadership and XAT convenor Dr Rahul Shukla, decided to increase the number of colleges accepting XAT 2025 score.
XLRI streamlined the procedure for applying as “XAT Associate Institutes” for officially using XAT 2025 score for short listing candidates for their admission. XLRI also showcased the growth of XAT 2024 registration numbers, and positioned XAT as a ‘Smart Test for Smart Aspirants.’
The result? A massive 50% growth in XAT accepting colleges!
Speaking to MBAUniverse.com, XAT convenor Dr Rahul Shukla said: “We are pleased to announce that the number of institutes accepting XAT scores has increased from 160 to over 250 this year.” In percentage terms, this is a massive 56% growth!
Dr Shukla further added, “This growth reflects the expanding recognition of XAT as a premier assessment for management education.”
When asked for names of top colleges accepting XAT 2025 score, Dr Shukla said: “We value all our partner institutes equally and, therefore, do not highlight any particular names in our communications.”
According to MBAUniverse.com rankings, top XAT accepting colleges are XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM University Bhubaneshwar, MICA Ahmedabad, IMI New Delhi, TAPMI Manipal, Great Lakes Chennai, GIM Goa and K J Somaiya Mumbai. Check complete list of XAT Accepting Colleges.
Dr Shukla also pointed out that expanding the accepting college list will be beneficial to MBA aspirants. “Our goal is to provide candidates with diverse opportunities to pursue their management aspirations,” said Dr Shukla.
XAT convenor Dr Rahul Kumar Shukla holds the prestigious Chair in the General Management Area at XLRI Jamshedpur. He is a recipient of Fulbright Fellowship and the Startalk Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He teaches many popular courses including Managerial Communication, Leadership Communication, and Communicating Critical Decisions. He has delivered training programs for leading companies including ArcelorMittal-Nippon, Maruti Suzuki, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, TATA Power, and TATA Technologies.
Commenting on XAT Exam, Dr Shukla said, “This positive momentum reflects the growing recognition of XAT as a premier management entrance exam among aspiring business leaders. We are committed to taking XAT to new heights.”
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is the second largest MBA entrance exam and is the mandatory entrance exam for admission to XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi NCR campus. Apart from XLRI, XAT scores are accepted by 250+ MBA colleges. For more than 72 years XLRI is conducting XAT exam at all India level to select the most appropriate students for management education.
Read More
XAT 2025 Key Highlights
XAT Mock Test
XAT Preparations
XAT Registration
In an exclusive interaction with MBAUniverse.com, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) Convenor Dr Rahul Shukla revealed that after growing by 40 percent last year, XAT 2025 registration numbers are expected to grow this year too! In the same interaction, Dr Shukla also revealed one of the key reasons behind the growth of XAT registration numbers – a significant jump in number of XAT Accepting Colleges. In fact this year the total number of colleges accepting XAT exam scores has jumped by more than 50%!
But before we talk about the rise of XAT accepting colleges, here is a quick primer on XAT exam and registration numbers.
Conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, XAT is the oldest MBA/PGDM entrance exam in the country with a history of more than seven decades. XAT scores are accepted by leading B-schools including XIM Bhubaneswar, IMI New Delhi and others. XAT 2025 will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Registration process is currently open.
XAT 2024 Registration Numbers Broke Records; XAT 2025 Registrations Rising
It must be noted that last year XAT 2024 registrations broke all records by registering an increase of almost 40 percent! XAT 2024 registrations went up to 135,000, from 98,242 registrations in XAT 2023. Check Table below.
Table 1: XAT 2024 Registration Numbers
| XAT Year | Total Number of Registrations | % Increase/ Decrease |
| XAT 2025 | Expected to go Up | -- |
| XAT 2024 | 135,000 | 38% |
| XAT 2023 | 98,242 | 23% |
| XAT 2022 | 80,000 | - |
While it is early days, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2025 registrations are showing “an upward trend.” In an exclusive interaction with MBAUniverse.com, XAT Convenor Dr Rahul Shukla has confirmed this development. XAT 2025 Registrations opened on July 15, and will be closed on November 30, 2024. Generally, XAT registrations pick up after the CAT registrations are closed.
XAT Accepting Colleges Jump from 160 to….!
It is no secret that popularity of any Entrance Exam is based on the quality and number of colleges which are accepting the said entrance exam scores for their admission process. While globally GMAT and GRE are popular entrance exams for MBA admissions, in India, CAT is the most popular MBA entrance exam. Why, you may ask…Simply because 21 IIMs accept CAT scores. Not to be left behind, almost all other top non-IIM B-schools also accept CAT exam.
XLRI, the oldest management institution and one of the top B-schools in India, is an exception. Almost ever since it started in 1949, it is organizing its own entrance exam – XAT – for admission into PGDM program. In addition, 11 other “XAMI Members” including XIM Bhubaneshwar and LIBA, accept XAT scores.
XAT Convenor Reveals Total Number of XAT Associate B-schools
In past about 150 B-schools were accepting the XAT scores for their admissions. In comparison, the number of CAT accepting colleges were a lot more. Realizing the gap, XLRI leadership and XAT convenor Dr Rahul Shukla, decided to increase the number of colleges accepting XAT 2025 score.
XLRI streamlined the procedure for applying as “XAT Associate Institutes” for officially using XAT 2025 score for short listing candidates for their admission. XLRI also showcased the growth of XAT 2024 registration numbers, and positioned XAT as a ‘Smart Test for Smart Aspirants.’
The result? A massive 50% growth in XAT accepting colleges!
Speaking to MBAUniverse.com, XAT convenor Dr Rahul Shukla said: “We are pleased to announce that the number of institutes accepting XAT scores has increased from 160 to over 250 this year.” In percentage terms, this is a massive 56% growth!
Dr Shukla further added, “This growth reflects the expanding recognition of XAT as a premier assessment for management education.”
When asked for names of top colleges accepting XAT 2025 score, Dr Shukla said: “We value all our partner institutes equally and, therefore, do not highlight any particular names in our communications.”
According to MBAUniverse.com rankings, top XAT accepting colleges are XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM University Bhubaneshwar, MICA Ahmedabad, IMI New Delhi, TAPMI Manipal, Great Lakes Chennai, GIM Goa and K J Somaiya Mumbai. Check complete list of XAT Accepting Colleges.
Dr Shukla also pointed out that expanding the accepting college list will be beneficial to MBA aspirants. “Our goal is to provide candidates with diverse opportunities to pursue their management aspirations,” said Dr Shukla.
XAT convenor Dr Rahul Kumar Shukla holds the prestigious Chair in the General Management Area at XLRI Jamshedpur. He is a recipient of Fulbright Fellowship and the Startalk Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He teaches many popular courses including Managerial Communication, Leadership Communication, and Communicating Critical Decisions. He has delivered training programs for leading companies including ArcelorMittal-Nippon, Maruti Suzuki, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, TATA Power, and TATA Technologies.
Commenting on XAT Exam, Dr Shukla said, “This positive momentum reflects the growing recognition of XAT as a premier management entrance exam among aspiring business leaders. We are committed to taking XAT to new heights.”
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is the second largest MBA entrance exam and is the mandatory entrance exam for admission to XLRI Jamshedpur and Delhi NCR campus. Apart from XLRI, XAT scores are accepted by 250+ MBA colleges. For more than 72 years XLRI is conducting XAT exam at all India level to select the most appropriate students for management education.
Read More
XAT 2025 Key Highlights
XAT Mock Test
XAT Preparations
XAT Registration
XAT Accepting Colleges for MBA admission 2025 have jumped by more than 50 percent and the XAT registration numbers are also poised to go up. In an exclusive interaction with MBAUniverse.com, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) Convenor Dr Rahul Shukla reveals the increased number of XAT accepting colleges and the key reasons contributing to this significant growth in XAT Accepting colleges and Registration number