BITSAT 2025 Session 2 registration has now closed. However, the conducting authority has not yet released the official number of registered candidates for this session. As per various sources, around 2 lakh candidates registered for BITSAT 2025 Session 1. Last year, around 2,80,000 registered and appeared in the exam.
Over the years, BITSAT registrations have seen notable fluctuations due to institutional changes and external factors. In 2019, about 2.9 lakh students registered. This rose to 3.23 lakh in 2020 but dropped sharply to 2.79 lakh in 2021, likely due to pandemic-related disruptions. Interestingly, 2020 also saw a spike partly due to the introduction of new courses like B.E. (Hons.) in AI and Data Science. In 2022, registrations briefly rose again to 3.08 lakh, but declined by 3% in 2023 to 2.97 lakh, indicating signs of post-pandemic stabilisation.
The increasing popularity of BITSAT also contributes to this trend, particularly in western and central India, where it has become the second most popular engineering entrance test after JEE Main. In the past few years, the biannual format of the exam has led to this increase in the number of candidates because they can be more flexible. In the meantime, other engineering entrance exams, such as VITEEE and MET, have shown a remarkable dip, which shows the competitive advantage of BITSAT.
These trends mean that the aspirants will likely have a very competitive atmosphere and that the applicant pool will likely fluctuate, affecting cutoffs and seat availability. Candidates should be able to know these year-on-year registration patterns so that they can plan their preparation strategy and determine their probability of securing admission.
Read: JEE Main 2025 vs BITSAT 2025
BITSAT Registration Trends 2019 to 2025: Year-on-Year Analysis
BITSAT registration trends from 2019 to 2025 show yearly changes due to new courses, pandemic impact, and rising student interest.
This table summarises the registration numbers and their changes in the past seven years. The rise in 2020 is consistent with introducing new academic programs, bringing in more prospects. The following year, 2021, was marked by a drastic drop caused by the logistical difficulties and health concerns, as it was the pandemic year. The following recovery in 2022 indicates the robustness of the aspirant pool, and its continued slight decrease in 2023 suggests that the trend has already plateaued.
Reasons Behind Fluctuations in BITSAT Registrations (2019–2023)
Fluctuations in BITSAT Registration reflect changing academic interests, external affairs and strategic changes in examination reforms. Such factors as the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of new courses, and changes in the format of exams dramatically affected the annual number of applicants. Such changes testify that student preferences change, and the entrance exam trends in engineering in India evolve.
- Pandemic Effects: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant adverse effect on 2021 registrations as the exams were postponed, there were travel restrictions, and everybody was uncertain.
- New Courses: The academic institution also introduced new courses such as B.E. (Hons.) in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in 2020, which saw a massive inflow of candidates and led to a 12% gain in the same year.
- Format and popularity of the exam: The format of the exam, which is conducted in two sessions, has helped BITSAT become more accessible, and its popularity has increased by 6% in the year 2024 as compared to the previous year 2022, especially in western and central India.
- Competition of other exams: Although BITSAT is gaining popularity, the trend shows a fall by almost 50% in other exams like VITEEE and MET, which are other alternatives among the aspirants.
- No Major New Programmes 2023: In 2023, no significant new courses or programme changes may have helped explain the slight fall in registrations that year.
BITSAT Impact of Registration Trends on Competition and Cutoffs (2020–2024)
BITSAT impact of registrations can also be seen by the observed variable number of candidates taking the test, which will directly affect the level of competition and cutoffs of different programmes on BITS campuses. For example, the B.E. Computer Science cutoff of the BITS Pilani campus slightly decreased by one point in 2024, relative to 2023, i.e. by 331 (2023) to 327 (2024). Meanwhile, newer programmes like B.E. Mathematics & Computing debuted with a firm cutoff of 318 in 2024, indicating robust interest.
Other programmes, such as Electronics & Communication, have maintained or slightly risen in cutoff scores, while some, like Electrical & Electronics, have experienced marginal declines since 2021. Although overall registration numbers may fluctuate, the BITSAT impact of registration trends keeps competition intense for flagship programmes, with cutoffs reflecting both seat availability and applicant quality. The steady or rising cutoffs in popular branches underscore the sustained high competition despite minor year-on-year variations in applicant numbers.
Estimated BITSAT Registration Trends for 2024 and 2025
Based on historical data and current factors, the estimated number of BITSAT applicants in 2024 is projected to be between 280,000 and 310,000. This range considers no major new programmes being introduced and the continued competition from other entrance exams like JEE Main. The two-session exam format and increasing popularity in certain regions may help maintain or slightly increase registrations.
BITSAT 2025 registrations for the June session have concluded, but the official number of applicants has not been released yet. Based on recent trends and the exam's continued popularity and flexible format, the number of applicants is expected to remain similar.
Final Thoughts
In the past five years, the macro factors governing society and institutions, such as the pandemic, emerging academic courses, and changes in aspirant preferences, have also manifested in the registered BITSAT counts. The fluctuation notwithstanding, the popularity of the examination and its flexible format has helped to maintain a high base of applicants and hence competition, particularly in flagship programmes. Applicants must keep track of such trends since little shifts in registration rates may affect cutoff grades and the probability of acceptance. It would be essential to study these dynamics so that aspirants can be well prepared to get into BITS Pilani, Goa/Hyderabad campuses.
