NTA revises examination calendar for 2026-27, announces dates for UGC NET, JEE Main and CUET PG

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released a revised examination calendar covering December 2026 to April 2027, outlining tentative dates for several national-level entrance and eligibility examinations.

The schedule includes the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET), Joint CSIR-UGC NET, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2027 and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) PG 2027.

According to the updated calendar, UGC NET December 2026 is scheduled for December 14 to 18 and December 21. The Joint CSIR-UGC NET examination will be conducted on December 19, 22 and 27.

JEE Main 2027 Session 1 is scheduled for January, while CUET PG 2027 will take place in March. JEE Main Session 2 is scheduled for April, giving candidates an overview of the examination schedule for the first four months of 2027.

The revised calendar also lists dates for several other examinations, including the Rashtriya Indian Military College examination, SWAYAM, Rashtriya Military Schools, Army Cadets College, SHRESHTA (NETS), the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination and the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT).

The agency has clarified that the dates are tentative and may be revised due to administrative, academic, logistical or other reasons. Candidates have been advised to consult the official NTA website, nta.ac.in, for updates and subsequent announcements.

NTA examination calendar 2026-27: Important dates

The revised calendar outlines the proposed examination dates for major entrance and eligibility tests between December 2026 and April 2027.

The calendar provides candidates with an initial reference for planning their examination preparation, revision schedules and application-related activities. However, candidates should distinguish between the announced tentative examination dates and confirmed dates issued through subsequent official notices.

Those preparing for multiple examinations may need to organize their study schedules around the proposed dates, particularly where examination preparation overlaps across subjects or admission requirements.

Other examinations included in the NTA calendar

Apart from the major entrance and eligibility tests, the revised schedule includes several examinations scheduled for December 2026, January 2027 and February 2027.

The Rashtriya Indian Military College examination is scheduled for December 6, 2026. The SWAYAM examinations will be held from December 8 to 12, followed by the Rashtriya Military Schools examination on December 13.

The January 2027 schedule begins with the Army Cadets College examination on January 4. The SHRESHTA (NETS) examination and the NIFT entrance examination are proposed for January 10.

The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is scheduled for January 31, 2027. The Common Management Admission Test, which is used for admission to management programs, is scheduled for February 7.

The dates listed in the revised calendar are summarized below.

The calendar covers examinations serving different academic and professional admission requirements. Candidates should check the relevant examination websites and information bulletins for details about eligibility, application procedures, examination patterns and other requirements.

JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration underway

The application process for JEE Main 2027 Session 1 opened on October 24, and candidates can submit their applications until November 22. The examination is intended for candidates seeking admission to undergraduate engineering programs at participating institutions.

Candidates can apply through the official JEE Main website at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

According to the revised calendar, JEE Main 2027 Session 1 is scheduled to take place on January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28. Candidates should check the official examination notification for the applicable session details and any subsequent changes to the schedule.

Before submitting the application form, applicants should carefully read the information bulletin. It contains details about eligibility criteria, application fees, required documents and other instructions governing the registration process.

Candidates should also verify the information entered in their forms before final submission. They should complete all required steps within the prescribed deadline and retain the confirmation page for their records.

Applicants are advised to avoid waiting until the final day to submit their forms, as incomplete applications or pending payment transactions may affect the completion of registration.

UGC NET December 2026 registration: NTA reports more than 5.5 lakh registrations

Registration for the UGC NET December 2026 examination is also underway. The examination is conducted to determine eligibility for academic and research-related opportunities, including eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and the award of Junior Research Fellowship, subject to the applicable criteria.

According to figures reported by the NTA as of October 25, a total of 5,50,048 candidates had registered for the examination. Of these, 3,73,419 candidates had completed their applications and paid the examination fee.

The registration figures also showed that several candidates had yet to complete mandatory application steps.

A total of 1,36,993 candidates had not uploaded their photographs and signatures, while their examination fee payments were also pending. Another 31,580 candidates had uploaded their photographs and signatures but had not paid the application fee.

The figures indicate that registration alone did not mean the application process had been completed. Candidates who had started their applications were required to finish the outstanding steps, including uploading the necessary documents and paying the applicable fee.

The registration status reported by the agency is summarized below.

Candidates who have not yet applied should visit the official UGC NET portal and complete the registration process within the notified deadline. Those who have already registered should check their application status and ensure that no mandatory step remains incomplete.

The NTA has advised candidates with pending application requirements to upload the required documents, pay the examination fee and download the confirmation page after completing the process. Applicants should preserve the confirmation page as proof of successful submission.

Candidates should also ensure that their photographs, signatures and other submitted details comply with the instructions provided in the information bulletin. Any discrepancy should be addressed through the official procedure specified by the agency.

NTA issues helpline numbers for examination-related queries

The NTA has provided dedicated helpline numbers to help candidates resolve examination-related queries concerning major entrance and eligibility tests, including JEE, CUET and UGC NET.

Candidates seeking assistance can contact the agency through its toll-free helpline at 1800-180-474, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The agency has also provided a help desk number, 011-69227700, which operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The helplines are intended to provide assistance to candidates seeking information about examinations and related procedures. Candidates should use the official contact details for clarification rather than relying on unverified information circulated through unofficial channels.

The agency has also cautioned students against fraud and scams that could lead to financial losses or other harm. It has clarified that its official helplines will never ask candidates to disclose their passwords or one-time passwords (OTPs).

Candidates should not share such confidential information with callers or individuals claiming to represent the examination authority. They should exercise caution when dealing with messages, calls or websites requesting sensitive personal information or payments outside the official application process.

The NTA has advised candidates to follow its verified official channels for accurate updates on examination schedules, public notices, admit cards and results. Any information regarding changes to examination dates or application procedures should be checked against the agency’s official announcements.

Candidates advised to monitor official websites for schedule changes

Candidates preparing for UGC NET, Joint CSIR-UGC NET, JEE Main and CUET PG should use the revised calendar to plan their preparation and manage overlapping examination commitments.

However, the NTA has made clear that the dates are tentative. Administrative requirements, academic considerations, logistical arrangements or other circumstances may lead to revisions.

Candidates should therefore continue checking the official NTA website at nta.ac.in and the relevant examination portals for updates. JEE Main applicants can also consult jeemain.nta.nic.in for information specific to their examination.

In addition to examination dates, candidates should monitor announcements concerning application deadlines, admit cards, examination city slips, eligibility conditions and results. The release of the revised calendar does not replace the detailed instructions issued separately for individual examinations.

Candidates applying for more than one examination should review each test's eligibility requirements and application schedule independently. They should also ensure that they complete the required registration steps and retain confirmation pages and payment receipts.

With the revised calendar covering major entrance examinations and several other national-level tests, the NTA has provided candidates with a tentative timeline for the coming examination cycle.

Candidates should use the schedule for preparation while relying on official notifications for final confirmation of dates and other examination-related instructions.