XAT 2027 Diwali Gifts: 12 Free Skips, 240 HRM Seats at XLRI, 17 New B-Schools and Free Past Papers

XAT 2027 has announced four changes aimed at MBA and PGDM aspirants this Diwali: a higher limit on unanswered questions, 60 more seats at XLRI Jamshedpur's HRM programme, 17 new institutes (16 associate institutes and 1 XAMI member institute) and a free set of past papers for early applicants. Here is what each one means, what to do before the 11 November deadline for the preparation gift, and how it changes your XAT plan.

The Short Answer

XAT 2027 raises the number of unanswered questions that carry no penalty from 8 to 12, increases the XLRI Jamshedpur PGDM-HRM intake from 180 to 240 seats, adds 17 new institutes to the XAT network (16 associate institutes and 1 XAMI member institute) and gives the XAT 2025 and XAT 2026 question papers with answer keys to everyone who completes their application by 11 November 2026. The registration window itself runs until 6 December 2026, and XAT 2027 is on 3 January 2027, so you have time, but the free papers are only for those who apply by 11 November.

The Four Changes at a Glance

1. Twelve Free Skips Instead of Eight

In XAT, a correct answer earns 1 mark and a wrong answer loses 0.25. Until now, you could leave up to 8 questions unanswered in Part 1 without any penalty, and each blank after that cost 0.1 marks. The limit is now 12, and each blank beyond the 12th still costs 0.1.

What it means for your strategy - You can skip more of the hard questions. Four extra free skips means four more questions you can leave blank without losing marks. - The skips are counted across Part 1, not per section, so use them wherever the questions are weakest for you. - A blind guess still has no advantage on average. With five options, a random guess is worth about zero marks, so skip when you have no basis to choose. - Do not skip because you can. If you can narrow a question to two options, attempting it is usually worth the risk.

Our guide to the XAT 2027 exam pattern and scoring explains the marking in detail with worked examples.

2. 60 More HR Seats at XLRI Jamshedpur

XLRI Jamshedpur's PGDM in Human Resource Management goes from 180 to 240 seats, an increase of about 33%. If HR is your goal, this makes XLRI HRM more accessible than it was, though XLRI remains highly selective.

For aspirants deciding between the two XLRI programmes, our guide to XLRI BM vs HRM explains the difference in careers, selection and fit. Remember that XLRI also considers your GK score for its own programmes, though GK does not count toward the overall XAT percentile.

3. 17 New Institutes Join the XAT Network

The XAT network adds 16 new associate institutes and 1 new XAMI member institute for XAT 2027.

New XAT associate institutes (16)

New XAMI member institute (1)

XAT is now accepted by more than 250 B-schools, and XAMI is the group of Xavier-linked institutes that use XAT. A wider network is useful as a backup, but the institutes differ a lot in fees, placements and recognition, so check the placement record before you apply. Our guide to SNAP and NMAT colleges for low CAT scores explains how to judge colleges at the lower end of the range.

4. Free XAT 2025 and 2026 Papers for Early Applicants

Candidates who complete their XAT 2027 application by 11 November 2026 receive the XAT 2025 and XAT 2026 question papers with answer keys. Real past papers are some of the best practice material for XAT, especially for Decision Making, which is unique to this exam.

How to use them - Take each paper in one sitting, with the same timing as the real exam. - Practise your skip strategy, using the new 12-skip limit. - Review Decision Making carefully. Our guide to XAT 2027 Decision Making: important topics shows what to focus on. - Also try the official mock. Our post on the XAT 2027 official mock test explains how to use it.

Key XAT 2027 Dates and Details

General Knowledge does not count toward the overall percentile or cutoff, though XLRI may consider it in its own selection.

Should You Apply Before 11 November?

If you plan to take XAT, applying by 11 November costs you nothing extra and gets you two real papers. The registration is open until 6 December, so if you are unsure, you could wait, but you would lose the free papers.

• Apply now if you are sure you will take XAT, or if you want the extra practice material.
• Wait only if you are still deciding between exams and do not want to pay yet.
• Do not forget CAT. CAT 2026 is on 29 November. Our last 30 days study plan can help you balance both, and our calendar of MBA forms closing in November 2026 shows what else closes soon.

What We Do Not Know Yet

• The XAT 2027 cutoffs and the XLRI shortlisting criteria for the larger HRM intake are not announced.
• The admit card date of 20 December is tentative.
• The new rule of 12 free skips applies to Part 1, and XAT may publish more detail in its bulletin.
• Some pages on the XAT site still show the older 8-skip rule, so use the announced limit of 12 and check the bulletin for the final wording.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the XAT 2027 Diwali gifts? Four changes: 12 free skips instead of 8, 60 more HRM seats at XLRI Jamshedpur, 17 new institutes (16 associate institutes and 1 XAMI member institute) and free XAT 2025 and 2026 papers for applications completed by 11 November 2026.

How many questions can I leave unanswered in XAT 2027 without penalty? 12, up from 8. Each blank beyond the 12th costs 0.1 marks.

Is there still negative marking in XAT? Yes. A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks in Part 1, and General Knowledge has no negative marking.

How many seats does XLRI HRM have now? 240 at XLRI Jamshedpur, up from 180.

What is the last date to get the free past papers? 11 November 2026, by completing your XAT 2027 application.

When does XAT 2027 registration close? 6 December 2026.

When is XAT 2027? 3 January 2027, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

What is the XAT 2027 application fee? ₹2,300, plus ₹200 for each XLRI programme you select.

Final Word

XAT 2027 gives you more room to skip, more HR seats at XLRI, a bigger network of colleges and two free past papers if you apply early. The best way to use these changes is to apply by 11 November for the papers, practise your skip strategy on real papers and keep your CAT preparation on track. Dates, fees and rules can change, so confirm the latest details on the official XAT website and in the XAT 2027 bulletin.