Eligibility, selection weights, important dates and batch profile
| Category | Min qualifying | Realistic shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| PGDM-BM · Engineer/Tech · Male | Total ≥94 | QADI ≥85, VALR ≥82, DM ≥82 |
| PGDM-BM · Engineer/Tech · Female | Total ≥88 | QADI ≥78, VALR ≥78, DM ≥78 |
| PGDM-BM · Engineer/Tech · Third Gender | Total ≥88 | QADI ≥78, VALR ≥78, DM ≥78 |
| PGDM-BM · Non-Engineer · Male | Total ≥94 | QADI ≥85, VALR ≥82, DM ≥82 |
| PGDM-BM · Non-Engineer · Female | Total ≥88 | QADI ≥78, VALR ≥78, DM ≥78 |
| PGDM-BM · Non-Engineer · Third Gender | Total ≥88 | QADI ≥78, VALR ≥78, DM ≥78 |
XLRI admissions 2026-28 are based primarily on the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026, conducted on January 4, 2026 (2:00-5:00 PM, online, 100+ test cities). Indian candidates apply through XAT; NRI/PIO/OCI/Foreign candidates may apply through XAT or GMAT. The PGDM-GM (15-month executive) additionally accepts GRE scores.
Three programmes accept XAT-based admission:
| Programme | Seats | Campus |
|---|---|---|
| PGDM-BM (Business Management) | 600 | Jamshedpur + Delhi-NCR combined |
| PGDM-HRM (Human Resource Management) | 179 | Jamshedpur only |
| PGDM-GM (Executive) | 120 | — |
Interviews run mid-February to mid-March 2026; offers go out in April; academic session begins mid-June 2026.
For PGDM-BM (Business Management) and PGDM-BM-International Specialization (which share identical cutoffs and selection process), the XAT 2026 GD&PI cutoffs are:
| Category | Total Percentile | QADI | VALR | DM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer/Tech Male and Non-Engineer Male | ≥94 | ≥85 | ≥82 | ≥82 |
| Engineer/Tech Female and Non-Engineer Female | ≥88 | ≥78 | ≥78 | ≥78 |
| Third Gender candidates | ≥88 | — | — | — |
These are the official cutoffs for being shortlisted to the GD&PI round — the realistic bar for actual admission is typically 1-2 percentile points higher in each category. Below 94 percentile (Open Male), shortlisting is highly unlikely regardless of work experience or academic record.
For PGDM-HRM, cutoffs are deliberately set lower than BM to encourage diverse candidates into HR — particularly non-engineers and female applicants who form the majority of the HRM cohort.
| Category | Total Percentile | QADI | VALR | DM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer/Tech Male | ≥92 | ≥80 | ≥87 | ≥85 |
| Engineer/Tech Female and Third Gender | ≥87 | ≥70 | ≥82 | ≥78 |
| Non-Engineer Male | ≥90 | ≥73 | ≥87 | ≥85 |
| Non-Engineer Female and Third Gender | ≥84 | ≥65 | ≥82 | ≥78 |
The HRM cutoffs emphasise VALR (Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning) and DM (Decision Making) over QADI — reflecting the programme's focus on people leadership and ethical reasoning over pure quantitative aptitude.
The selection process unfolds in stages:
Final list prepared considering: XAT performance, academic background (10th/12th/graduation marks), relevant work experience, PI/GD performance, and extracurricular activities. Offers go out in April 2026, academic session begins mid-June 2026.
The graduating Batch 2024-26 has 576 students total: PGDM-BM 397 (Jamshedpur 219 + Delhi-NCR 178) and PGDM-HRM 179 (Jamshedpur only).
| Educational Background | Share |
|---|---|
| IIT/NIT/BITS | 17% |
| SRCC/LSR/other DU colleges | 17% |
| Commerce/Economics/Arts/Other backgrounds | 41% |
| CA/CFA/FRM/ACCA professional qualifications | 53 students |
BM gender split: 69% male, 31% female, with average work experience of 18 months. HRM gender split: 41% male, 59% female — making HRM one of the few elite Indian MBA programmes with majority female enrolment. HRM average work experience: 17 months.
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