CAT

No.
I am sorry but you have to have to go through CAT or XAT.

The CUSAT CAT result will be available in this month itself in the official website of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), www.cusat.nic.in. The CUSAT CAT Result 2018 will contain your score/marks in the test and thus according to it, you will be placed in the CUSAT CAT rank List 2018.

Some important CAT preparation tips are mentioned below:
1) Build your Basics
2) Solve Practice questions & Sectional Mocks
3) Overcome the weaknesses
4) Find out more than one way to solve questions
5) Devote equal time for preparation on all 3 CAT sections
CAT 2018: Simple tips to optimize exam preparation: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/cat-2016-simple-tips-to-optimize-exam-preparation-blogId-13034.

Three things to keep in mind in group discussion
1. Always try to initiate the discussion with such a point so that the other person must continue further from you point where you ended
2. Always try to tackle opponents points with your point is a relevant manner
3. Make the whole panel to agree on the same point said by you.

It depends on when you wish to appear for the exam. You need to start with 1 or 1.5 years prior to the year in which you want to appear for the exam.

You need to start preparing at least one and a half year prior to when you wish to appear for the exams. So, if you start preparing halfway down the 2nd year then at the end of the 3rd year you are good to go.

No, it's not necessary to apply for CAT to get admission for 5 years integrated course in CUSAT, you can also get admission through CMAT and MAT scores.
Details are mentioned below:
https://www.shiksha.com/mba/exams/cusat-mba

By using Shiksha's prediction link, you will find that you will get IIMs with this score or not.

All the students getting admission to B.Tech course through lateral entry (i.e. after Diploma), will get the same course completion and degree certificate as other regular students i.e. after PUC or plus two. Hence, there is no disparity in degrees obtained by them.

TIME provides a fairly long duration courses. It also provides short duration courses of a few months. But more than duration of the course, the quality of coaching is very important. I was earlier with TIME for more than 9 years. It was a really good institute then However, I no longer work with TIME. I have left TIME, with two other brilliant faculty members Duney and Pravin. We together have started an Institute called SPARK EDUCATION SERVICES, and for CAT 2017 we have got many students who have scored above 98.5 percentile.