NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27 Released: JEE Main, UGC NET, CSIR NET, NIFT, CMAT, CUET PG and Other Exam Dates Announced

NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27: The National Testing Agency has released its proposed examination calendar covering major national-level entrance, eligibility and admission examinations scheduled between December 2026 and March 2027.

The new calendar gives candidates advance dates for 14 examinations, including UGC NET December 2026, Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026, NIFT Entrance Examination 2027, JEE Main 2027 Session 1, AISSEE 2027, CMAT 2027 and CUET PG 2027.

According to the announced schedule, the examination cycle will begin on December 6, 2026 with the Rashtriya Indian Military College examination. UGC NET is proposed from December 14 to 19, Joint CSIR UGC NET on December 20 and 21, NIFT on January 10, JEE Main Session 1 across January 22–24 and January 28–30, CMAT on February 7 and CUET PG across multiple dates in March 2027.

Candidates should note an important distinction: the NTA examination calendar provides proposed dates for advance planning. It is not the detailed notification for each individual examination. Application dates, eligibility, examination pattern, syllabus, city-intimation slips, admit cards, answer keys and results will be announced separately through examination-specific notices.

NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27: Complete Schedule

Examination	Proposed Exam Date	Duration
Rashtriya Indian Military College Examination	December 6, 2026	1 day
SWAYAM Examination	December 8–12, 2026	5 days
Rashtriya Military Schools Examination	December 13, 2026	1 day
UGC NET December 2026 Cycle	December 14–19, 2026	6 days
UGC NET Buffer Dates	December 20–21, 2026	Buffer
Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026	December 20–21, 2026	2 days
Army Cadets College Examination	January 4, 2027	1 day
SHRESHTA (NETS)	January 10, 2027	1 day
NIFT Entrance Examination 2027	January 10, 2027	1 day
JEE Main 2027 Session 1	January 22–24 and January 28–30, 2027	6 days
JEE Main Buffer Date	January 31, 2027	Buffer
AISSEE 2027	January 31, 2027	1 day
CMAT 2027	February 7, 2027	1 day
NITTT Part 1	February 26–27, 2027	2 days
CUET PG 2027	March 1–5, March 8, March 12–20 and March 24–25, 2027	17 days
CUET PG Buffer Dates	March 30–31, 2027	Buffer
NITTT Part 2	March 5 and March 7, 2027	2 days

Are NTA Exam Dates 2026-27 Final?

No. The examination dates announced in the calendar are proposed dates.

NTA has stated that the schedule can change because of:

• Administrative requirements.
• Academic considerations.
• Statutory requirements.
• Logistical circumstances.
• Other unforeseen developments.

Candidates should therefore use the calendar for preparation planning while continuing to monitor examination-specific notifications.

What Does the NTA Calendar Confirm?

The calendar provides candidates with an advance indication of when major examinations are expected to be conducted.

It currently confirms proposed examination windows for:

• UGC NET.
• Joint CSIR UGC NET.
• JEE Main.
• NIFT Entrance Examination.
• CMAT.
• CUET PG.
• AISSEE.
• SWAYAM.
• SHRESHTA.
• NITTT.
• Rashtriya Indian Military College.
• Rashtriya Military Schools.
• Army Cadets College.

What Is Not Announced Through the Calendar?

The advance calendar should not be treated as confirmation of every detail associated with these examinations.

Information still requiring examination-specific notices can include:

• Application start date.
• Application deadline.
• Application correction window.
• Application fee.
• Detailed eligibility criteria.
• Final syllabus.
• Detailed examination pattern.
• Subject-wise examination dates.
• Shift timings.
• Exam-city information.
• Admit-card release date.
• Answer-key schedule.
• Result date.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Dates

The UGC NET December 2026 cycle is proposed to be conducted from December 14 to December 19, 2026.

December 20 and December 21 have been kept as buffer dates.

UGC NET Event	Date
Proposed examination window	December 14–19, 2026
Buffer dates	December 20–21, 2026
Subject-wise schedule	To be announced
City slip	To be announced
Admit card	To be announced

What Is UGC NET?

UGC NET is a national eligibility examination used for determining eligibility under the applicable framework for Junior Research Fellowship, Assistant Professor and PhD-related admission categories as prescribed for the examination cycle.

Candidates should follow the forthcoming December 2026 Information Bulletin for the exact eligibility and examination rules.

UGC NET Subject-Wise Dates

The calendar does not provide the complete subject-wise UGC NET timetable.

Because UGC NET covers numerous subjects, candidates should wait for the detailed examination schedule before assuming their individual test date.

Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 Dates

The Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 cycle is proposed for December 20 and December 21, 2026.

The examination is relevant to candidates pursuing research and academic opportunities in applicable science disciplines.

UGC NET vs CSIR NET

UGC NET	Joint CSIR UGC NET
Covers a broad range of eligible subjects	Focused on applicable science disciplines
December 14–19 proposed window	December 20–21 proposed window
Separate examination notification	Separate examination notification

NIFT 2027 Exam Date

The NIFT Entrance Examination 2027 is proposed to be held on January 10, 2027.

NIFT aspirants now have an advance examination date but should wait for the separate admission notification for application dates, eligibility, paper structure, admission stages and program-specific requirements.

Which Programs Use NIFT Entrance Examination?

NIFT admission can cover programs such as:

• Bachelor of Design.
• Bachelor of Fashion Technology.
• Master of Design.
• Master of Fashion Management.
• Master of Fashion Technology.

Applicable examination components differ by program.

JEE Main 2027 Session 1 Exam Dates

JEE Main 2027 Session 1 is proposed across two examination blocks:

• January 22–24, 2027.
• January 28–30, 2027.

January 31 has been kept as a buffer date.

JEE Main Event	Date/Status
Session	Session 1
First exam block	January 22–24, 2027
Second exam block	January 28–30, 2027
Buffer date	January 31, 2027
Registration	To be announced separately
City slip	To be announced
Admit card	To be announced

Does January 22 Mean Every JEE Candidate Has an Exam That Day?

No.

January 22 marks the beginning of the proposed Session 1 examination window. Individual candidates will receive their examination date and shift according to the subsequent scheduling and admit-card process.

JEE Main 2027 Registration Date

The advance calendar does not announce the JEE Main 2027 Session 1 application start or closing dates.

Candidates should therefore avoid relying on unofficial registration dates circulating before the examination-specific notice is released.

JEE Main Paper 1

JEE Main Paper 1 is used for applicable undergraduate engineering admissions, including BTech and BE programs at participating institutions.

JEE Main Paper 2

JEE Main also includes applicable papers for architecture and planning pathways.

The exact 2027 examination scheme should be confirmed from the forthcoming Information Bulletin.

JEE Main and JEE Advanced

JEE Main and JEE Advanced are separate examinations.

JEE Main is used for admission to applicable NITs, IIITs and other participating institutions and also functions as the qualifying route to JEE Advanced under the applicable eligibility conditions.

JEE Advanced is used for IIT admission.

AISSEE 2027 Exam Date

The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is proposed for January 31, 2027.

Candidates seeking Sainik School admission should wait for the separate AISSEE notification for:

• Eligibility.
• Class-specific admission rules.
• Application dates.
• Fee.
• Exam pattern.
• Seat information.

SHRESHTA 2027 Exam Date

SHRESHTA (NETS) is proposed for January 10, 2027.

The detailed notification will provide the applicable eligibility and admission framework.

CMAT 2027 Exam Date

The Common Management Admission Test is proposed to be held on February 7, 2027.

CMAT Event	Status
Exam date	February 7, 2027
Application start date	To be announced
Application deadline	To be announced
City slip	To be announced
Admit card	To be announced
Result	To be announced

What Is CMAT?

CMAT is a national-level management entrance examination whose scores are used by participating management institutions according to their individual admission policies.

Does CMAT Score Guarantee MBA Admission?

No.

Participating institutions can apply their own:

• Cut-offs.
• Eligibility conditions.
• Selection rounds.
• Interviews.
• Academic requirements.

NITTT 2027 Exam Dates

The National Initiative for Technical Teachers Training examination has been divided into two parts in the calendar.

Part	Exam Date
NITTT Part 1	February 26–27, 2027
NITTT Part 2	March 5 and March 7, 2027

CUET PG 2027 Exam Dates

CUET PG has the longest examination window in the newly announced calendar.

The examination is proposed on:

• March 1–5, 2027.
• March 8, 2027.
• March 12–20, 2027.
• March 24–25, 2027.

March 30 and March 31 have been designated as buffer dates.

CUET PG 2027 Schedule

CUET PG Event	Date/Status
First exam block	March 1–5
Additional exam date	March 8
Main exam block	March 12–20
Final exam block	March 24–25
Buffer dates	March 30–31
Total proposed exam days	17

What Is CUET PG?

CUET PG is used by participating universities and institutions for admission to a wide range of postgraduate programs.

Programs can include applicable:

• MA courses.
• MSc courses.
• MCom.
• MCA.
• LLM.
• Humanities programs.
• Social-science programs.
• Science programs.
• Other postgraduate courses.

CUET PG Registration 2027

The calendar does not announce the application dates.

Candidates should wait for the CUET PG 2027 Information Bulletin before treating any registration schedule as confirmed.

Does NTA Conduct CUET PG Counselling?

Candidates should distinguish between conducting the entrance examination and conducting university admissions.

Participating universities can operate their own post-result admission process, including:

• Admission registration.
• Merit lists.
• Cut-offs.
• Seat allotment.
• Document verification.
• Fee payment.

Rashtriya Indian Military College Exam

The examination calendar begins with the Rashtriya Indian Military College examination on December 6, 2026.

SWAYAM Examination Dates

The SWAYAM examination is proposed from December 8 to December 12, 2026, spanning five examination days.

Rashtriya Military Schools Exam Date

The Rashtriya Military Schools examination is proposed for December 13, 2026.

Army Cadets College Exam Date

The Army Cadets College examination is scheduled in the proposed calendar for January 4, 2027.

What Are Buffer Dates in the NTA Calendar?

Buffer dates give NTA scheduling flexibility if examinations need to be accommodated or rescheduled because of logistical or other circumstances.

A buffer date should not automatically be treated as a confirmed examination day for every candidate.

Why Has NTA Released the Calendar Early?

The purpose of an advance examination calendar is to improve predictability for candidates and educational institutions.

Early dates can help students:

• Plan revision.
• Coordinate board and university examinations.
• Schedule mock tests.
• Prepare application documents.
• Avoid clashes where possible.
• Plan travel closer to the examination.

Exam Calendar vs Information Bulletin

Exam Calendar	Information Bulletin
Provides advance proposed dates	Provides detailed examination rules
Covers multiple NTA examinations	Exam-specific
Dates can be tentative	Contains detailed application and eligibility information
Does not itself open registration	Used with examination-specific application process

Does Release of the Calendar Mean Registration Has Started?

No.

Publication of the examination calendar does not automatically mean applications for every listed examination are open.

Registration will begin according to separate examination-specific notifications.

What Should JEE Main Aspirants Do Now?

1. Use January 22 as the start of the proposed Session 1 window.
2. Complete core Class 11 and 12 concepts.
3. Increase problem-solving practice.
4. Begin full-syllabus mock tests progressively.
5. Analyze errors after every test.
6. Track the official application notification.

What Should UGC NET Aspirants Do Now?

UGC NET candidates now have a proposed December 14 start date.

They can organize preparation around:

• Paper 1.
• Subject paper.
• Previous questions.
• Topic-wise revision.
• Mock examinations.
• Final revision before December.

What Should CSIR NET Aspirants Do Now?

CSIR NET candidates should plan toward the proposed December 20–21 examination window while continuing to monitor the subject-wise schedule and Information Bulletin.

What Should NIFT Aspirants Do Now?

With January 10 identified as the proposed Stage 1 examination date, NIFT aspirants can structure preparation around the applicable CAT/GAT requirements for their intended program while awaiting the detailed admission notification.

What Should CMAT Aspirants Do Now?

CMAT candidates have until the proposed February 7 examination date to strengthen preparation across the applicable sections under the final 2027 examination pattern.

What Should CUET PG Aspirants Do Now?

CUET PG candidates should first identify:

1. The postgraduate course they want.
2. Universities offering the course.
3. The applicable CUET PG test paper.
4. University-specific eligibility.
5. The relevant syllabus.

They can then plan preparation around the March examination window.

NTA City Intimation Slip

The examination calendar does not provide city-intimation dates.

These will be announced separately for individual examinations.

City Slip vs Admit Card

City Intimation Slip	Admit Card
Provides advance examination-city information	Contains detailed examination authorization and center information
Not the admit card	Required according to examination instructions

NTA Admit Card 2026-27

Admit cards for the listed examinations will not all be issued together.

Each examination will have its own admit-card schedule.

NTA Answer Keys

For examinations using an answer-key challenge process, provisional answer keys and challenge instructions will be announced separately after the applicable test.

NTA Results 2026-27

The examination calendar does not provide final result dates for all listed examinations.

Result notices will be issued separately according to the individual examination process.

Important Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid

• Assuming tentative dates can never change.
• Believing registration has started merely because the calendar is released.
• Using unofficial application dates as confirmed information.
• Confusing buffer dates with individual exam appointments.
• Ignoring examination-specific Information Bulletins.
• Waiting until registration begins before starting preparation.
• Using an old syllabus without checking the new cycle.

NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27 FAQs

Has NTA released the 2026-27 exam calendar?

Yes. NTA released its proposed examination calendar on September 16, 2026.

How many examinations are covered?

The calendar covers 14 examinations scheduled from December 2026 through March 2027.

When is UGC NET December 2026?

UGC NET is proposed from December 14 to December 19, 2026, with December 20 and 21 kept as buffer dates.

When is CSIR NET December 2026?

Joint CSIR UGC NET is proposed for December 20 and December 21, 2026.

When is NIFT 2027?

The NIFT Entrance Examination is proposed for January 10, 2027.

When is JEE Main 2027 Session 1?

It is proposed for January 22–24 and January 28–30, 2027.

What is the JEE Main buffer date?

January 31, 2027.

When is CMAT 2027?

CMAT is proposed for February 7, 2027.

When is CUET PG 2027?

CUET PG is proposed for March 1–5, March 8, March 12–20 and March 24–25.

What are the CUET PG buffer dates?

March 30 and March 31, 2027.

Has JEE Main registration started?

The examination calendar itself does not announce or open the application process. Registration details will be issued separately.

Has CUET PG registration started?

The application schedule is to be announced separately through the examination-specific process.

Are all NTA dates final?

No. NTA has described the dates as proposed and subject to change.

Can NTA change JEE Main dates?

Yes. The calendar states that dates can change because of administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or unforeseen circumstances.

Is the NTA calendar the same as an exam notification?

No. NTA has clarified that publication of the calendar does not constitute the formal notification for an individual examination.

When will application forms be released?

Application schedules will be announced separately for each examination.

When will admit cards be released?

Admit-card dates will be announced separately through examination-specific notices.

What should candidates do now?

Candidates should use the proposed dates to structure preparation while monitoring subsequent Information Bulletins, application notices and final examination schedules.

NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27: Final Update

The newly released calendar gives millions of candidates an advance timeline for major examinations between December 2026 and March 2027. UGC NET begins the major eligibility-test cycle in mid-December, Joint CSIR UGC NET follows on December 20–21, NIFT is proposed for January 10, JEE Main Session 1 begins January 22, CMAT is scheduled for February 7 and CUET PG extends across 17 proposed examination days in March.

The most important point for candidates is that these are proposed dates rather than complete examination notifications. Registration dates, fees, eligibility, final patterns, subject-wise schedules, city slips, admit cards, answer keys and result dates will be released separately.

Students can therefore begin planning around the new calendar immediately, but they should continue checking examination-specific notices before making final travel, application or academic decisions.