NTA Revises Exam Calendar for 2026 to 2027, Check New Dates for UGC NET, JEE Main and CUET PG
NTA Announces Revised Examination Schedule
The National Testing Agency has revised its examination calendar for December 2026 to April 2027, changing the proposed dates for several major national-level entrance and eligibility examinations. The revised schedule includes UGC NET, Joint CSIR UGC NET, JEE Main, CUET PG and CMAT, along with several other examinations.
The agency revised the calendar for administrative reasons. Candidates preparing for these examinations should refer to the updated schedule rather than relying on the earlier calendar.
The revised timetable provides an overview of the proposed examination dates over the coming months. However, the dates are tentative and may change because of administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or other unforeseen circumstances. Candidates should regularly check the official NTA website and the relevant examination portals for final notifications.
Revised NTA Exam Calendar 2026 to 2027
The updated calendar covers examinations scheduled between December 2026 and April 2027. The important dates are listed below.
December 2026 Examination Dates
The December schedule includes the UGC NET and Joint CSIR UGC NET examinations, along with tests conducted for other educational and institutional purposes.
Rashtriya Indian Military College examination is scheduled for December 6, 2026. The SWAYAM examination is proposed for December 8 to 12, followed by the Rashtriya Military Schools examination on December 13.
UGC NET for the December 2026 cycle is scheduled for December 14 to 18 and December 21. The Joint CSIR UGC NET examination is proposed for December 19, 22 and 27.
Candidates appearing for these examinations should check the respective information bulletins for subject-wise schedules, examination centres and other instructions.
January 2027 Examination Dates
Several important examinations are scheduled for January 2027, including JEE Main Session 1.
The Army Cadets College examination is proposed for January 4, 2027. The SHRESHTA National Entrance Test for Scheme and the National Institute of Fashion Technology entrance examination are scheduled for January 10.
JEE Main Session 1 will take place from January 20 to 24 and on January 28, 2027. The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is scheduled for January 31.
Candidates preparing for JEE Main should take note of the revised dates and plan their revision, mock tests and other preparation activities accordingly.
February 2027 Examination Date
The Common Management Admission Test, or CMAT, is scheduled for February 7, 2027.
CMAT is used by participating institutions for admission to management programmes. Candidates should check the official examination notification for eligibility requirements, application procedures and admission-related details.
March 2027 Examination Dates
The Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate programmes, known as CUET PG, is scheduled across several dates in March 2027.
According to the revised calendar, the proposed examination dates are March 2 to 5, March 8 to 9, March 12, March 15 to 19, March 24 to 25, and March 29 to 31.
The examination is spread across multiple days to accommodate its subjects and candidate groups. Individual candidates should not assume that they will be required to appear on every date listed in the calendar. Their exact examination date, shift and centre will be provided through the relevant official documents.
April 2027 Examination Dates
JEE Main Session 2 is scheduled for April 2 to 7, 2027.
Candidates planning to appear in the April session should monitor the official JEE Main portal for registration announcements, correction windows, admit cards and other important updates.
The revised calendar provides the proposed examination window, but candidates should wait for the detailed notification for confirmation of their individual examination arrangements.
Major Changes to UGC NET and Joint CSIR UGC NET
The revised calendar changes the proposed dates for both UGC NET and Joint CSIR UGC NET for the December 2026 cycle.
UGC NET is scheduled for December 14 to 18 and December 21. The Joint CSIR UGC NET examination is proposed for December 19, 22 and 27.
These examinations serve different academic and research-related purposes. UGC NET is used to determine eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and, subject to the applicable criteria, Junior Research Fellowships. Joint CSIR UGC NET focuses on science-related subjects and associated eligibility pathways.
Candidates should consult the respective official notifications to understand the eligibility criteria, subject requirements, application deadlines and examination pattern.
What JEE Main Candidates Should Know
JEE Main is an important entrance examination for candidates seeking admission to undergraduate engineering programmes at participating institutions. The revised calendar places Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April 2027.
Session 1 is scheduled for January 20 to 24 and January 28. Session 2 is proposed for April 2 to 7.
Candidates should use these dates to organise their preparation while continuing to monitor official announcements. The examination calendar does not replace the detailed information bulletin or confirm an individual candidate's examination date and shift.
Candidates should also verify the application process, eligibility conditions, examination syllabus and other requirements through the official JEE Main website.
How Candidates Can Check the Revised Calendar
Candidates can visit the official National Testing Agency website at nta.ac.in to access the revised examination calendar and other announcements.
They should look for the latest public notices and download the updated calendar for reference. For examination-specific details, candidates should also visit the relevant official portal for UGC NET, Joint CSIR UGC NET, JEE Main, CUET PG or CMAT.
It is advisable to save the revised calendar and compare it with any earlier version to avoid confusion. Candidates should also check their registered email addresses and mobile numbers for official communications, where applicable.
Important Advisory for Candidates
The revised calendar is intended to help candidates plan for examinations scheduled between December 2026 and April 2027. However, the dates remain provisional and could be changed through subsequent official announcements.
Candidates should avoid relying solely on social media posts or unofficial summaries. Before making travel arrangements or finalising examination plans, they should verify the latest information from the NTA and the relevant examination authority.
The key change is that the earlier examination calendar has been superseded by a revised schedule. Candidates preparing for UGC NET, Joint CSIR UGC NET, JEE Main, CUET PG, CMAT and other listed examinations should therefore use the updated dates as a planning reference and continue checking for final confirmation.
