Kamal Ghorui
The registration process for the Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test (HPCET) 2026 has begun for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU). Interested and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official website himtu.ac.in until April 19, 2026.HPCET is a state-level entrance examination conducted annually by HPTU for admission to professional programmes in engineering, management, pharmacy and science streams. According to the official schedule, the entrance test will be held in offline mode on May 9 and May 10, 2026, at designated examination centres across Himachal Pradesh and nearby regions. The result is expected to be declared around May 21, 2026, after which the counselling process will begin.
HPCET 2026: Key dates candidates should know
Candidates planning to appear for the examination should keep track of the following important dates. The application window is currently open, and applicants must complete the registration process before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
- Last date to apply: April 19, 2026
- HPCET 2026 exam dates: May 9 and May 10, 2026
- Mode of exam: Offline (pen-and-paper format)
- Expected result date: Around May 21, 2026
The exam will be conducted in multiple shifts depending on the programme applied for, with separate papers for engineering, management, pharmacy and other courses.
Courses offered through HPCET 2026
The entrance test serves as the gateway to several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by HPTU and its affiliated institutions. Through HPCET 2026, candidates can seek admission to courses such as:
- BTech
- BPharmacy
- MBA
- MCA
- MBA (Tourism and Hotel Management)
- MSc programmes
Admission to these programmes will be based on the candidate’s performance in the entrance examination followed by the university’s counselling and seat allotment process.
HPCET exam pattern and structure
The structure of the examination varies depending on the programme chosen by the candidate. For engineering courses such as BTech, the test typically consists of multiple-choice questions from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics designed to evaluate conceptual clarity and analytical ability.The exam is conducted using OMR sheets, where candidates must mark their responses for objective-type questions. For most technical programmes, the paper carries up to 150 questions with a maximum of 600 marks.Separate papers are conducted for MBA, MCA and other postgraduate courses, focusing on subjects relevant to those programmes.
How to apply for HPCET 2026
Candidates can follow these steps to submit their application form:
- Visit the official website himtu.ac.in.
- Click on the HPCET 2026 application link available on the homepage.
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in personal, academic and contact details in the application form.
- Upload required documents such as photograph and signature.
- Pay the application fee and submit the form.
Direct link to apply for HPCET 2026.Applicants are advised to carefully review all details before final submission and keep a copy of the confirmation page for future reference. The admit card and further examination updates will also be released on the university’s official website.
