IMU CET 2026: Exam Date, Registration (Ongoing), Eligibility, Syllabus, and More

The conducting body has scheduled the IMU CET 2026 exam date on 24th May 2026. Moreover, the registrations for the test are ongoing and students who are willing to take the test can register till 24th April 2026 via the online mode.

The national level examination, IMU CET is an online Computer Based Test (CBT) that is held once every year in approximately 86 cities across India. It is a 3 hour exam wherein students are required to answer MCQs in English language.

Aspirants can refer to this article to get crucial information about the important events of IMU CET 2026, eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, registration process, guidelines for the exam day, test city centres, participating institutions, and other relevant aspects of the exam.

IMU CET is known as the Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test that is conducted by IMU - Indian Maritime University. Students who will pass the IMU CET 2026 can take admission in the UG technical, Postgraduate & Diploma courses like B.Sc (Nautical Science), Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS), MBA, M.Tech, etc. in multiple specialisations offered by the participating Colleges / Institutes / Universities.

IMU CET scores are mandatory to take admission in the IMU campuses, its affiliated colleges / institutes & the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) approved Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs).

The key highlights of the IMU CET exam 2026 are given in the table below:

Aspirants should remain updated about the dates & schedule of the IMU CET 2026 in order to register on time and prepare accordingly for the exam. The important events of the exam are mentioned in the given below table:

The IMU CET 2026 Eligibility Criteria is prescribed by IMU (Indian Maritime University). Students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria of IMU CET 2026 that is given in the table below:

* Additionally, students must be medically fit in order to be eligible to apply for the test.

* 5% relaxation is applicable in the eligibility marks for the ST / SC candidates

Check: IMU CET Eligibility Criteria 2026

The IMU CET 2026 Registration portal is opened every year by the Indian Maritime University (IMU) for all the candidates. Once the registration begins, the students can register / apply for the IMU CET 2026 online by navigating the official website i.e., “imu.edu.in”.

In order to register, applicants are required to fill-in the asked information including the basic details, personal & academic details. Following this, they need to upload the supporting documents that prove the prescribed eligibility. Then they are required to proceed for the online payment. After successful payment, the students d can download their submitted IMU CET Application Form 2026 for further reference.

Check: IMU CET Registration 2026

Students who desire to score exceptional marks in the entrance exam are advised to follow the IMU CET 2026 Syllabus that is prescribed by the conducting body on its official website. Following the syllabus will help the aspirants in making a practical timetable & efficiently preparing for the IMU CET 2026.

There are various subjects in the syllabus of the IMU CET exam 2026 in which students are supposed to prepare various units and its topics. The syllabus of the programs including their respective subjects are given in the table below:

Check: IMU CET Syllabus 2026

It is very important for the students to be well-versed with the IMU CET 2026 Exam Pattern so that they do not face any confusion on the actual exam day. Through this, applicants will be able to understand the types of questions that are asked in the paper, its difficulty level, marking pattern, etc.

The IMU CET 2026 entrance exam is held via online Centre Based Test (CBT) mode in English medium only. Students are required to answer 200 questions (for the Undergraduate Technical / Diploma Programs), and 120 questions (for the MBA & the Postgraduate Technical Programs) within a duration of 180 minutes. There will be a negative marking of -0.25 marks will be applicable for each incorrect answer.

Check: IMU CET Exam Pattern 2026

The IMU CET 2026 entrance test will be held by the conducting body i.e., IMU-Indian Maritime University in approximately 86 cities all over India. The city centres are listed below:

• Agra, Ahmedabad, Aligarh, Allahabad, Anantapur
• Bangalore, Bankura, Baroda, Bhagalpur, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Bokaro
• Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Chhapra, Coimbatore
• Dehradun, Delhi, Dhanbad, Durgapur
• Faizabad, Faridabad
• Gaya, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Gurgaon, Guwahati
• Hissar, Hubli, Hyderabad
• Indore
• Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jammu, Jamshedpur, Jodhpur
• Kannur, Kanpur, Karimnagar, Karnal, Kochi, Kolkata, Kollam, Kota, Kottayam
• Lucknow
• Madurai, Mangalore, Meerut, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Mysore
• Nagpur, Noida, Nasik
• Palakkad, Patna, Pune, Purnea,
• Raipur, Rajahmundry, Ranchi, Rourkela
• Sagar, Salem, Sambalpur, Shimla, Siliguri, Solapur, Srinagar, Surat
• Thanjavur, Thrissur, Tirunelveli, Tirupati, Trichy, Trivandrum
• Udaipur
• Varanasi, Vellore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam
• Warangal

Aspiring candidates must follow certain guidelines on the IMU CET 2026 exam day. Some of the guidelines to adhere to at the test centre to avoid any mishappenings are as follows:

• Reach the test centre at least one hour before the commencement of the exam and complete the necessary formalities.
• Carry the admit card and the documents, if any, mentioned in the admit card to the exam centre for verification.
• Avoid carrying / wearing any electronic gadgets like mobile phones, smart watches, and other digital devices inside the test hall.
• Follow the instructions given by the authorised invigilator in the test hall.
• Do not talk with the fellow appearing candidates in the exam hall as it might be considered as misconduct and students might face serious consequences for the same.

Students are advised to practise with the IMU CET Previous Year Question Papers while preparing for the exam, as it will assist them in self-evaluation and track their preparation level.

Solving the IMU CET 2026 sample papers will give them an idea about the exam pattern and type of questions that are asked in the exam. Accordingly, students will be able to make the necessary strategies to complete the syllabus more effectively and also devote time for thorough revisions. Ultimately, aspirants will be able to refine their concepts and score well in the IMU CET exam 2026.

The IMU CET 2026 scores are mandatory for taking admission in the IMU campuses & its affiliated colleges / institutes and also in the DGS approved Maritime Training Institutes. Students must secure qualifying marks in the IMU CET exam 2026 in order to take admission in the desired participating College / Institute / University.

Indian Maritime Universities & its Affiliated Colleges / Institutes

The 6 Indian Maritime Universities & some of its affiliated IMU CET 2026 Participating Colleges / Institutes are listed below:

• IMU Chennai - Indian Maritime University, Chennai
• IMU Kochi - Indian Maritime University, Kochi
• IMU Kolkata - Indian Maritime University, Kolkata
• IMU Mumbai - Indian Maritime University, Mumbai Port
• IMU Navi Mumbai - Indian Maritime University, Navi Mumbai
• IMU Visakhapatnam - Indian Maritime University, Visakhapatnam
• College of Ship Technology (CST), Palakkad
• Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training (HIMT), Chennai
• Tolani Maritime Institute (TMI), Pune
• International Maritime Institute (IMI), Greater Noida
• Seven Islands Maritime Training Institute (SIMTI), Raigad

Other Non-Affiliated Colleges / Institutes / Universities accepting IMU CET 2026 scores

Based on the IMU CET exam scores, some of the other IMU non-affiliated Colleges / Institutes / Universities where the students can take admission are:

• Chitkara University School of Maritime Studies (CUSMS), Chandigarh
• International Maritime Academy (IMA), Chennai
• Jeyanthinather Academy of Marine Studies (JAMS), Arasoor Poochikadu
• Southern Academy of Maritime Studies (SAMS), Chennai
• C.V. Raman College Of Engineering, Bhubaneswar 

* There are more other Colleges / Institutes / Universities that accept the IMU CET scores. Students can refer to the official website for checking the detailed list of the same

Check: Colleges Accepting IMU CET