IELTS Test Centres in India 2026

Planning to take the IELTS exam in India? Knowing your nearest IELTS exam centre near me and how it works can save you a lot of stress closer to test day. IELTS is the most widely accepted English proficiency test for students applying to universities abroad, including in the UAE, UK, Canada and Australia. In India, IDP Education is the body that runs the test and it operates dozens of authorized test centres across more than 75 cities, with multiple centres available in major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

This guide covers the full IELTS test centres list for India, with a closer look at the centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, plus the centres available across IELTS exam centers in Maharashtra. You will also find a quick comparison of computer-based and paper-based testing, along with tips for choosing the right centre.

An authorized test centre is a venue that IDP Education has officially approved to conduct the IELTS exam. These centres follow the same rules, the same test format and the same scoring standards set jointly by IDP, the British Council and Cambridge Assessment English. Since 2021, IDP has handled all IELTS testing in India on its own, so every centre listed on the official IDP website is the only place you should book through.

Booking through an unauthorized agent or a third party that is not listed on the official site can create problems with your registration, your test report form, or your refund and rescheduling options. Always confirm a centre’s status directly on the IDP IELTS India website before paying any fee. Addresses in this guide were checked against IDP’s official listings at the time of writing, but exact unit and floor numbers do change when centres relocate, so treat the IDP locator as the final word, not this page.

Here is the IELTS test city list covering the major locations where IDP currently conducts the exam. This is not exhaustive, but it covers the cities most Indian students search for.

Mumbai has three IDP centres rather than just one, located at Andheri East, Churchgate and Thane. All three are within reach of the city's suburban rail network, which makes commuting easier on test day.

Bangalore has multiple centres serving different parts of the city, including St. Mark's Road in the central area, Whitefield on the eastern side and Kasturba Road. These centres provide convenient access across the city and offer a range of IELTS testing options depending on availability.

Beyond Mumbai, Maharashtra has IDP centres in Navi Mumbai and Pune as well. This regional spread means candidates outside the city core do not always need to travel into Mumbai itself to take the test.

Choosing between computer-delivered IELTS and paper-based options now requires a little more attention than before. As traditional paper-based testing continues to be phased out across many regions from mid-2026 onward, most candidates will find significantly more availability for computer-delivered test dates. In some locations where "paper-based" options remain available, they may increasingly refer to the Writing on Paper format rather than the fully traditional paper test.

There is no single centre that works best for everyone, since the right choice depends on where you live and what kind of test experience you prefer. That said, a few factors consistently make a difference.

• Distance from home or your current accommodation, to avoid travel stress on test day
• Availability of your preferred test date, since popular centres fill up fast during peak admission seasons
• Choice between computer-delivered and paper-based formats, since not every centre offers both
• Comfort of the testing environment, including seating, headphones for computer-delivered tests and noise levels
• Ease of access through public transport, particularly in busy cities like Delhi and Mumbai

Booking a few weeks ahead rather than at the last minute gives you a much better chance of getting your first-choice centre and date.

• Carry your original passport on exam day. No other form of identification is accepted at the centre.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes before your reporting time, since late entry is not permitted once the gate closes.
• Double check whether your chosen centre offers the format you want, since some centres are computer-delivered only.
• Keep your booking confirmation and ID ready for quick verification at entry.
• If you need to reschedule, do it well before the standard five-week cutoff window to avoid extra charges.