Only 1 entrance for MBA from 2013: AICTE

The procedure of getting into a B-school just got easier! The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to conduct a common admission test for management courses in B-schools across the country. This exam will be known as Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). Around 4000 colleges that offer MBA degrees and 500 colleges that offer diploma programmes are supposed to now give admissions on the basis of CMAT.


This decision to hold an all India test  was taken at a recent AICTE executive council meeting. Basically, CMAT will be the common test for all AICTE-approved institutes. However, the IIMs will continue with their CAT and deemed universities, too will continue with their individual entrance tests.

This is the 1st time ever that the AICTE has talked about holding an entrance exam of any sort. AICTE has always been an umbrella body for various professional courses that mainly provides approval for new colleges.

Right now that plan is that CMAT will be one of the many entrance exams that will be held in 2012. But from 2013 onwards, AICTE wants that CMAT be the only MBA entrance exam for all AICTE-approved institutes.