Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test (HPCET 2026) will be conducted for admission into B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, MBA, MCA, M.Tech and professional UG/PG courses in Himachal Pradesh. Before registration, students should check HPCET 2026 exam date, application form, syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility and counselling updates at himtu.ac.in.
About HPCET 2026
HPCET (Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU) for admissions to technical and professional courses offered by various colleges in Himachal Pradesh including Government, Private and Deemed Universities. Students appearing for the Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test 2026 must attempt 150 objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) within a total exam duration of 3 hours 15 minutes.
HPCET 2026 Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | HPCET 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU), Hamirpur |
| Exam Level | State Level Entrance Exam |
| Frequency | Once a Year |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR Sheet) |
| Official Website | himtu.ac.in |
HPCET 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| HPCET 2026 Exam | State-level engineering & professional courses entrance exam |
| Course Admissions | B.Tech, B.Pharma, MBA, MCA, M.Tech |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Marks | 600 Marks (B.Tech) |
| Marking Scheme | +2 for correct, -0.5 for wrong |
HPCET Eligibility Criteria 2026
HPCET Eligibility Criteria 2026 is officially released by the conducting body Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU) for candidates seeking admission to B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, MBA, MCA and other professional courses. Aspirants should carefully review HPCET 2026 eligibility criteria before filling the HPCET Application Form 2026
HPCET Eligibility – B.Tech 2026
- Must have passed 10+2 from a recognized board.
- Required Subjects (any combination including Physics & Mathematics):
Physics / Mathematics / Chemistry / Computer Science / Electronics / IT / Biology / Informatics Practices / Biotechnology / Technical Vocational Subject / Agriculture / Engineering Graphics / Business Studies / Entrepreneurship.
(Agriculture stream allowed for Agriculture Engineering). - Minimum Marks Required
- 45% aggregate in relevant subjects (General category)
- 40% aggregate (Reserved category)
- Alternative Eligibility: Candidates who have passed D.Voc in the same or allied sector are also eligible.
HPCET Eligibility – MBA 2026
- Must have passed a Bachelor degree programme of minimum 3 years duration.
- Minimum Marks Required:
- 50% aggregate for General category
- 45% aggregate for Reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC).
- Candidates appearing in the final year of Graduation are also eligible to apply.
HPCET Eligibility – MCA 2026
- Must have passed Graduation (B.E./B.Tech/B.Sc/B.Com/B.A/B.Voc/BCA or equivalent).
- Mathematics required at either 10+2 level or Graduation level (preferred).
- Minimum Marks Required:
- 50% aggregate (General category)
- 45% aggregate (Reserved category)
- For students without Mathematics background:
- Must complete a compulsory bridge course in Mathematics as per University norms.
- Additional bridge courses related to computer subjects may also be required.
HPCET Eligibility – B.Pharmacy 2026
- Must have passed / appeared in 10+2 from a recognized board.
- Mandatory subjects: Physics and Chemistry.
- Optional subject (any one): Mathematics / Biology.
- Minimum Marks Required:
- 45% aggregate in PCB/PCM for General category.
- 40% aggregate for SC/ST/OBC reserved category.
- Minimum Age: Must be 17 years or above on or before 31 December 2026.
- Candidates awaiting 10+2 results can also apply.
HPCET Application Form 2026
Students can fill the HPCET application form online through the official website.
How to Apply for HPCET 2026
- Visit the official portal www.himtu.ac.in
- Click Apply Online – HPCET 2026
- Register using email and mobile number
- Fill personal, academic, and communication details
- Upload photograph & signature
- Pay the application fee
- Download and print the confirmation page
HPCET Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1600 |
| SC/ST/BPL | ₹1400 |
HPCET Admit Card 2026
- Admit Card for HPCET 2026 will be released 1 week before the exam.
- Students must visit the official portal to download their admit card.
- Bring Aadhaar Card, Passport-size photo and HPCET admit card to the exam centre.
HPCET Exam Centres 2026
| State/City | Exam Centres |
|---|---|
| Himachal Pradesh | Hamirpur, Shimla, Dharamshala, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan, Chandigarh |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh City |
HPCET Exam Pattern 2026
| Subjects | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 50 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 100 |
| Mathematics | 50 | 100 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
✔ Correct Answer: +2
✘ Wrong Answer: -0.5
HPCET Syllabus 2026
B.Tech Exam Syllabus
| Subjects | Topics |
|---|---|
| Physics | Kinematics, Thermodynamics, Optics, Dual Nature, Nuclear Physics |
| Chemistry | Organic, Physical, Inorganic Chemistry, Biomolecules, Polymers |
| Mathematics | Algebra, Calculus, Probability, Vector, Coordinate Geometry |
HPCET 2026 Preparation Tips
- Follow NCERT Class 11 & 12 books strictly
- Practice daily mock tests and previous year question papers
- Create short notes and revision charts
- Solve HPCET previous year papers
- Focus on time management and accuracy
HPCET Best Books 2026
| Subject | Book Recommendation |
|---|---|
| ( 3 IN One eBook ) NCERT 11th & 12th Based Chapter Wise – Objective BIOLOGY/CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS With Solution | Click here |
| ( 3 IN One eBook ) NCERT 11th & 12th Based Chapter Wise – Subjective BIOLOGY/CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS With Solution | Click here |
HPCET Previous Year Question Papers
Students can download HPCET previous year question papers from the HPTU official website for free to improve performance and understand exam difficulty level.
HPCET Answer Key 2026
The official HPCET Answer Key 2026 will be released within 2-3 days after the exam, allowing students to calculate expected scores before results.
HPCET Result 2026
The HPCET 2026 result will be declared online in June 2026. Students can check using:
- Roll Number
- Date of Birth
A scorecard and rank card will be available for download.
HPCET Cut-off 2026
Cut-off marks depend on seat availability, exam difficulty, number of applicants and category.
| Category | Expected Cut-off |
|---|---|
| General | 38% – 45% |
| OBC | 35% – 42% |
| SC/ST | 30% – 35% |
HPCET Participating Colleges 2026
Some major colleges accepting HPCET scores:
- Himachal Pradesh Technical University, Hamirpur
- JUIT Solan
- Bahra University
- Baddi University of Technology
- IEC University Baddi
- Green Hills Engineering College Solan
HPCET Counselling 2026
Counselling will be conducted online for:
- HPCET rank holders
- JEE Main rank holders
Steps
- Registration for counselling
- Choice filling & locking
- Seat allotment
- Document verification
- Fee payment & reporting to college
HPCET Exam Dates 2026
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| HPCET 2026 Notification Release | January 2026 |
| HPCET 2026 Application Form Starts | February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | April 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | First week of May 2026 |
| HPCET 2026 Exam Date | Mid-May 2026 |
| Answer Key | May 2026 |
| Result Announcement | June 2026 |
| Counselling Process | June – July 2026 |
HPCET 2026 Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | CLICK HERE |
| Apply Online Link | CLICK HERE |
| Official Website | CLICK HERE |
| Join Arattai Channel | CLICK HERE |
| Join Telegram Channel | CLICK HERE |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | CLICK HERE |
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FAQs About HPCET 2026
What is HPCET 2026 exam for?
HPCET 2026 is a state-level entrance exam for B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, MBA, MCA and other courses in Himachal Pradesh.
When will HPCET 2026 application form release?
HPCET 2026 application form will likely release in February 2026.
What is the HPCET 2026 exam date?
HPCET exam will be held in mid-May 2026.
Who conducts HPCET 2026?
Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU) conducts HPCET.
What is the eligibility for HPCET 2026 B.Tech?
Candidates must pass Class 12 with PCM and minimum 45% marks.
Is HPCET tougher than JEE Main?
No, HPCET difficulty level is moderate compared to JEE Main.
How to download HPCET Admit card 2026?
Visit the official website www.himtu.ac.in and log in to download admit card.
What is HPCET 2026 marking scheme?
+2 marks for correct answer and -0.5 marks for wrong answer.
How is HPCET counselling conducted?
Counselling is conducted online based on HPCET & JEE Main ranks.
Which colleges accept HPCET score?
Over 50 engineering and pharmacy colleges including HPTU Hamirpur and JUIT Solan accept HPCET scores.




