XAT’s most encouraging trend has been consistent increase in female participation: Dr. Rahul Shukla, XAT Convenor

An interview with Dr. Rahul K. Shukla, Convenor, XAT and Admissions at XLRI Jamshedpur where he discusses changes in XAT 2026, advise to aspirants and other details related to the exam. Read the excerpts here…

Q. What updates can candidates expect in XAT 2026, in terms of exam pattern and testing?

Dr. Shukla: This time XAT 2026 registration started early on July 10, 2025, with opening of GMAT registration for PGDM (General Management) course, registrations will continue until December 5, 2025. This is kept longer this year to allow more number of candidates who otherwise cannot take part. Exam pattern and structure will remain same as that of last year, evaluating candidates' analytical thinking, decision making ability, and quantitative aptitude.

Q. Compared to five years ago, what trends you have witnessed regarding number and profile of applicants?

Dr. Shukla: Last five years have seen a gradual increase in participation at XAT, mirroring the growing trust and relevance of the test among management aspirants. In 2024, approximately 1.35 lakh candidates registered; this increased to 1.42 lakh in 2025. The most encouraging trend has been a consistent increase in female participation marking a very clear shift toward greater gender diversity in management education.

This rise signifies not just an academic aspiration but a bigger cultural shift, as more women are seeing management and leadership as natural career pathways. A distinctive diversity characterizes the applicant pool, comprising recent graduates and working professionals, from a range of academic disciplines with varied professional experiences.

Q. Are you noticing any shift in XAT registration, for example, more candidates from engineering, commerce or liberal arts?

Dr. Shukla: Engineering and commerce are still dominant segments in XAT applicant pool, as has traditionally been the case with most management entrance exams. Over the last couple of years, however, there has been a marked increase in candidates from streams like liberal arts, economics, and psychology, especially those interested in courses like PGDM(HRM), which deems people-centric and behavioral aspects very important.

Q. Last year, essay writing section was removed. Why did this take place?

Dr. Shukla: Essay writing section was removed to make selection more streamlined and standardized for consistency across testing centers.

Over time, selection committees found that writing skills of the candidates could be better judged from personal interview and group discussion stages, where spontaneity and clarity are more crucial than prepared essays.

Q. With over 100 test cities across India, how does XLRI ensure that exam is conducted in a secure, fair, and uniform manner?

Dr. Shukla: Test is conducted in association with technology partners who guarantee real time proctoring, encrypted data handling, and multi-layer verification systems. Standardization protocols also ensure that every candidate, whether in a metro or a smaller city, experiences the same testing conditions. In-built continuous audits and monitoring mechanisms help maintain both the security and uniformity of the examination process.

Q. How has digital infrastructure evolved in last few years, especially with shift toward remote monitoring and real time analytics?

Dr. Shukla: Digital infrastructure for conducting XAT has grown much stronger. Its technical partner leads examinations in over 100 cities with multi-layered security and standardized testing standards. Candidates access tests with their respective credentials, and biometric information captured during registration secures verification at every test centre to prevent impersonation. Every centre is equipped with video recording systems that continuously monitor candidates during the examination; these recordings will be shared with XLRI for review. A team then analyzes the data from every centre for areas of improvement to strengthen security measures for future tests.

Q. What would be your advice to aspirants preparing for XAT 2026?

Dr. Shukla: Decision making section is an area where XAT is fundamentally different. It does not test a candidate on formulas or strategies that he might have memorized; it assesses a candidate's sound, logical, and balanced judgment. Ideal strategy would be to approach every caselet as a real managerial situation, rather than trying to solve a puzzle. Think in terms of fairness, practicality, and long term implications. Most successful candidates will be those who balance ethical reasoning with managerial pragmatism.