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Numerous entry examinations are available to high school science students seeking advanced education in diverse fields, with several exam dates already publicized.

NEET UG:
NEET UG, also known as the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), serves as the primary entrance examination for a diverse range of medical, dental, and allied medical courses in India. NEET is the gateway to securing admissions in esteemed institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER, which hold national significance. The initial phase of admission to AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College) also relies on NEET rankings.

Beyond the traditional MBBS and BDS programs offered in Kerala, NEET scores are taken into account for admission into a variety of programs, including Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, Siddha, Veterinary, Agriculture, and Fisheries. Qualifying in NEET is also a prerequisite for pursuing an MBBS degree abroad. 
In addition to these, NEET qualification plays a vital role in securing admission to military nursing, all-India veterinary seats, BSc Nursing programs in select central institutions, as well as Allied Health Sciences and other related fields. The NEET examination is scheduled for May 5.
For further information and updates, please refer to the official website at: http://neet.nta.nic.in/

JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination Main):
JEE is a crucial examination for admission to various engineering, science, architecture, and planning programs offered at National Institutes of Technology (NIT), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT), and government-funded technical institutions (GFTI) across India. In Kerala, NIT Kozhikode and IIIT Kottayam are two notable institutes where admissions are facilitated through JEE Main scores.
Notably, JEE Main scores also play a pivotal role in securing admission to prestigious institutions such as IISc Bengaluru (www.iisc.ac.in), the Indian Naval Academy's 10+2 (BTech) Cadet Entry Scheme (www.joinindiannavy.gov.in), and the 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme admission (www.joinindianarmy.nic.in) in the Indian Army.
The JEE Main exam is conducted in two sessions, with the first session taking place between January 24 and February 1, and the second session occurring from April 1 to April 15. For candidates appearing in both sessions, the best score among them will be considered.
For more detailed information and updates, please visit the official website : http://jeemain.nta.nic.in/

JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Examination Advanced) 
A prestigious entrance examination designed for admission to undergraduate programs in engineering, science, and architecture exclusively offered by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). To be eligible to take the JEE Advanced, students must first excel in the JEE Main examination.
Only a select group of approximately 2.5 lakh students, who achieve high ranks in the JEE Main B.Tech paper, qualify for the privilege of appearing for the JEE Advanced examination. For those aspiring to pursue architecture programs, earning a spot on the JEE Advanced rank list is just the first step. They must subsequently take the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) and meet the required qualifying criteria.
Apart from the IITs, JEE Advanced scores can also open doors to admissions in esteemed institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru (www.iisc.ac.in), the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram (www.iist.ac.in), the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) (www.iiseradmission.in), and the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy in Visakhapatnam (iipe.ac.in).
 website: www.jeeadv.ac.in.

Kerala Engineering and Pharmacy Entrance Exam:
Administered by the Kerala Entrance Commissioner for admissions to engineering and pharmacy programs within Kerala. The examination consists of two papers, with the marks obtained in the first paper used to determine the pharmacy rank list.
For further information and updates, please visit the official website at www.cee.kerala.gov.in.
NATA:
National Aptitude Test in Architecture is an aptitude examination designed for individuals seeking admission to the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program. In Kerala, the admission process for B.Arch entails the creation of a rank list by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations. This list takes into account both the NATA score and the marks obtained in the qualifying examination (Plus Two or its equivalent), with equal weightage given to both factors.
For additional information and updates, please visit the official website at www.nata.in.

The Iser Aptitude Test (IAT):
IAT serves as the entrance examination for a diverse range of programs offered at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), renowned for its excellence in the field of science education. Candidates applying through the State and Central Board (SCB) channel are required to participate in this examination.
IISER comprises seven campuses, and the IAT score plays a pivotal role in securing admission to the Bachelor of Science (BS) program at IISc Bengaluru, as well as the BS Program in Medical Sciences & Engineering, which is conducted by IIT Madras.
Website: www.iiseradmission.in.

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST):
NEST is the qualifying examination for admission into five-year integrated master's programs. This examination is conducted at prestigious autonomous institutions, including the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, which operates under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, and the University of Mumbai, specifically its Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS).
website : www.nestexam.in.

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) Undergraduate:
The CUET-UG assessment is designed for entrance into undergraduate programs offered by central universities and select other institutions. It encompasses a wide range of science programs across multiple universities. The examination is scheduled to take place from March 11 to 28, with further details available on the website http://cuet.samarth.ac.in/

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA&NA):
The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA&NA) Examination is a gateway to joining the army, navy, and air force wings of the Indian Armed Forces. While eligibility for the Navy and Air Force wings is limited to science students, both unmarried boys and girls can apply for the exam (although the Naval Academy is open exclusively to boys). 
website www.upsc.gov.in.

National Common Entrance Test (NCET):
The National Common Entrance Test (NCET) is an examination designed for admission to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) administered by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). Successful candidates gain access to a variety of esteemed institutions, such as IITs, NITs, Regional Institutes of Education, central/state universities, and more, with programs that encompass B.Sc.-B.Ed. 
website http://ncet.samarth.ac.in/
Cochin University Science & Technology Common Admission Test (CUSAT CAT)
The Cochin University of Science and Technology is conducting the Cochin University Science & Technology Common Admission Test (CUSAT CAT) for admission to a range of engineering and integrated MSc courses.
Website: https://admissions.cusat.ac.in/?tag=homepage

Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Admission Test( BITSAT):
BITSAT, is being conducted by BITS Pilani, encompassing its Hyderabad and Goa campuses. This examination is the gateway to various integrated first-degree programs including BE, MSc, and B.Pharm. For detailed information, please refer to the official website: www.bitsadmission.com.

ISI Admission Test:
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) offers the B.Stat (Hons) program at its Kolkata campus, along with an entrance exam for B.S. in Mathematics (Hons) courses. It's worth noting that you can pursue these programs with the opportunity to receive a stipend. For more details, please visit the official website: www.isical.ac.in.

CMI Entrance Exam:
The Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) administers the entrance examination for B.Sc. (Hons) programs in Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as Mathematics and Physics. For further information, please visit their official website at www.cmi.ac.in.
Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test (IMU CET)
The entrance examination is applicable to multiple programs offered by The Indian Maritime University across its campuses in Kochi, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai, and Mumbai Port. For more information, please visit their official website at www.imu.edu.in.

Undergraduate Pre-Interview Screening Test (UPST):
The entrance exam is specifically for the Integrated Bachelor of Science - Master of Science program at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) located in Jadavpur, Kolkata. To find additional details, please refer to their official website at www.iacs.res.in.

Paramedical Entrance Exams:
Admission to paramedical courses in various institutions across the country is facilitated through entrance examinations. These include BSc (Hons) Nursing programs offered at various campuses of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), various paramedical programs available at http://www.aiimsexams.ac.in/, and BSc Nursing programs at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh (accessible at www.pgimer.edu.in). Additionally, entrance exams are conducted for Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at the Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), available at www.aiishmysore.in, and at The Aliyawar Jung National Institute, Mumbai, accessible via http://ayjnihh.nic.in/

For Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) in Cuttack, National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD) in Kolkata, and National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD) in Chennai, separate entrance procedures are in place.
Furthermore, admission to Occupational Therapy (BOT) and Bachelor in Prosthetics and Orthotics (BPO) programs is conducted through the Common Entrance Test (CET), with details available at www.niohkol.nic.in.

Admission to a wide array of science programs is available through various entrance examinations and institutions across India. These include:
1. The Bachelor of Fisheries Science program conducted by The Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) in Kochi (accessible at cifnet.gov.in).
2. Integrated MSc programs offered by Mahatma Gandhi University, accessible at www.cat.mgu.ac.in.
3. Integrated MSc programs provided by Calicut University, accessible at admission.uoc.ac.in.
4. Programs offered by Indira Gandhi College of India, available at igrua.gov.in.
5. The Bachelor of Fashion Technology Program from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, accessible at www.nift.ac.in.
6. Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IITDM), Jabalpur.
7. Bachelor of Design programs at IIT Guwahati.
8. National Rail and Transportation Institute (accessible at nrti.in).

Additionally, private institutions such as Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) at vit.ac.in, SRM University at www.srmist.edu.in, Amrita Vishwa VidyaPeedham at amrita.edu, Manipal Academy of Higher Education at manipal.edu, and Lovely Professional University at www.lpu.in also offer admissions to numerous science programs through their respective entrance examinations.
For students aspiring to study abroad following their Plus Two education, it's essential to prepare in advance for skill-based examinations like SAT, ACT, IELTS, and TOEFL. These tests are often required for admission to international universities and colleges.

An Article By Anver Muttancheri
CIGI Career Team