HPCET 2026: Official Entrance Exam Dates Announced for B. Tech & B. Pharmacy (Direct Entry)
Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh – The Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU) has officially opened the registration window and released the schedule for the Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test (HPCET) 2026. This competitive state-level entrance examination is the primary gateway for students seeking “Direct Entry” into undergraduate professional programs, including Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) and Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharmacy), for the 2026-2027 academic session.
With the registration portal now live on the official HPTU website, thousands of aspirants are preparing to secure their seats in affiliated government and private colleges across the state.
HPCET 2026: Key Dates to Remember
Students are advised to track the following timeline carefully to ensure they do not miss any critical deadlines for their application or the exam itself:
| Event | Important Date |
| Online Application Starts | March 13, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (Online) | April 19, 2026 |
| HPCET 2026 Exam Date (B.Tech/B.Pharm) | May 10, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Timing | 09:00 AM to 12:15 PM |
| Result Declaration (Tentative) | May 21, 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria for Direct Entry
To appear for the HPCET 2026, candidates must fulfill the following academic requirements based on their chosen program:
For B. Tech. (Direct Entry)
- Qualification: Must have passed the 10+2 (Intermediate) examination from a recognized educational board.
- Compulsory Subjects: Physics and Mathematics.
- Optional Subjects: At least one subject from Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or Technical Vocational subjects.
- Minimum Marks: A minimum aggregate of 45% marks (40% for candidates belonging to reserved categories) in the subjects mentioned above.
For B. Pharmacy (Direct Entry)
- Qualification: Must have passed 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects.
- Optional Subjects: Mathematics or Biology.
- Minimum Marks: At least 45% marks (40% for reserved categories).
- Age Requirement: Candidates must be at least 17 years old on or before December 31, 2026.
Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The HPCET 2026 is designed to test the core competencies of students in science and mathematics. Here is what you can expect on exam day:
- Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen-and-Paper format using OMR sheets).
- Duration: 3 hours and 15 minutes.
- Total Questions: 150 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Total Marks: 600.
- Sectional Breakdown: * Physics: 50 Questions
- Chemistry: 50 Questions
- Mathematics/Biology: 50 Questions
- Marking Scheme: Candidates are awarded +4 marks for every correct answer. There is negative marking, with -1 mark deducted for every incorrect response.
How to Apply Online
Eligible candidates must complete their registration process strictly through the official HPTU portal. Follow these steps to apply:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to himtu.ac.in.
- Register: Click on the “HPCET-2026 Online Application” link and create an account using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill Out the Application: Log in with your new credentials and carefully fill in your personal, academic, and contact details.
- Upload Documents: Upload a recent, clear passport-sized photograph and a scanned signature following the prescribed size formats.
- Pay the Application Fee: The fee is ₹1,600 for General category candidates and ₹800 for SC/ST/BPL candidates. Payment must be made online.
- Submit and Save: Review all details before final submission. Download and print the confirmation page for your records.
Note: Admissions are granted strictly based on the merit rank obtained in HPCET-2026. For B. Tech, 50% of the seats are also reserved for candidates with valid JEE Main scores, while the remaining 50% are filled via the HPCET rank.
