NTA issues revised exam calendar for December 2026 to April 2027, with new dates for UGC NET, JEE Main and CUET PG

Compiled from reports by CareerIndia, DU Beat, Education Bytes and FindMyCollege. See the original articles linked below.

India's National Testing Agency (NTA) has put out a revised examination calendar covering the period from December 2026 to April 2027. According to CareerIndia, which published its report on October 26, 2026, the schedule includes UGC NET, Joint CSIR-UGC NET, JEE Main, CUET PG, CMAT, NIFT, Sainik Schools, Rashtriya Military Schools and SWAYAM examinations.

DU Beat reported that the revision changes the dates of 13 exams and was issued on October 26, with administrative reasons given as the cause. Education Bytes likewise said the agency cited administrative reasons. FindMyCollege wrote that the first version of the calendar had been released on September 16, 2026, and that the new one is a revised, tentative schedule.

December 2026

CareerIndia listed the Rashtriya Indian Military College test on December 6, followed by SWAYAM exams from December 8 to 12 and the Rashtriya Military Schools exam on December 13. The same outlet gave December 14 to 18 and December 21 as the dates for the December-cycle UGC NET. The Joint CSIR-UGC NET for the same cycle is listed for December 19, 22 and 27, according to CareerIndia, DU Beat and Education Bytes.

January and February 2027

FindMyCollege reported that the Army Cadets College test falls on January 4, 2027, while SHRESHTA (NETS) and the NIFT entrance examination are both placed on January 10. DU Beat said JEE Main Session 1 is scheduled for January 20 to 24 and January 28, and that the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is set for January 31. CMAT is listed for February 7, according to CareerIndia and Education Bytes.

March and April 2027

DU Beat reported that CUET PG will be spread across 17 days in March 2027. Education Bytes described the CUET PG window as running through March 2 to 31 in several date ranges. The outlets agree that JEE Main Session 2 is placed from April 2 to 7, 2027.

Status of the dates

Several outlets stressed that the schedule is not final. FindMyCollege wrote that all dates are tentative and may change. DU Beat said the NTA advises candidates to check nta.ac.in and the portals of individual exams and to avoid unofficial sources. Education Bytes reported that the agency urged candidates to rely only on its official channels and not on rumours. CareerIndia noted that application details, admit cards and dates may change, and that the NTA website carries the official notice.

The outlets' reports are consistent on the main dates for UGC NET, Joint CSIR-UGC NET, JEE Main Session 1 and Session 2, and CMAT. They differ mainly in how much detail they give: CareerIndia and FindMyCollege list a day-by-day table of the smaller exams, while DU Beat and Education Bytes summarise the CUET PG block more briefly, by month and by number of days.

DU Beat described the revised calendar as replacing the earlier schedule.

Sources

This article was compiled with AI assistance from the reports listed above and reviewed by GMA before publishing.