The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released a revised Examination Calendar 2026-27 on 26 October 2026. As per the new schedule, UGC NET December 2026 will be held on 14 to 18 and 21 December, NIFT on 10 January 2027, JEE Main 2027 Session 1 on 20 to 24 and 28 January, CMAT on 7 February and CUET PG across 17 days in March 2027. JEE Main Session 2 is now listed for 2 to 7 April 2027.
The revised calendar covers exams from December 2026 to April 2027 and replaces the one NTA published in mid-September. The dates are tentative and can change for administrative, academic, statutory or logistical reasons, so keep checking the notices on nta.ac.in.
NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27: Revised Dates at a Glance
| Examination | Revised proposed dates | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET (December cycle) | 14 to 18 December and 21 December 2026 | 6 days |
| Joint CSIR UGC NET (December cycle) | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 | 3 days |
| NIFT Entrance Examination | 10 January 2027 | 1 day |
| JEE Main 2027 Session 1 | 20 to 24 January and 28 January 2027 | 6 days |
| CMAT 2027 | 7 February 2027 | 1 day |
| CUET PG 2027 | 2 to 5 March, 8 to 9 March, 12 March, 15 to 19 March, 24 to 25 March and 29 to 31 March 2027 | 17 days |
| JEE Main 2027 Session 2 | 2 to 7 April 2027 | 6 days |
What Changed From the Earlier NTA Calendar
Four major exams have moved. UGC NET, Joint CSIR UGC NET, JEE Main Session 1 and CUET PG all have new dates. NIFT and CMAT stay on the same days. The earlier calendar stopped at March 2027, so the April date for JEE Main Session 2 is new.
| Examination | Earlier calendar (September) | Revised calendar (26 October) |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET (December cycle) | 14 to 19 December 2026, buffer 20 to 21 December | 14 to 18 and 21 December 2026 |
| Joint CSIR UGC NET | 20 to 21 December 2026 | 19, 22 and 27 December 2026 |
| NIFT Entrance Examination | 10 January 2027 | 10 January 2027 (no change) |
| JEE Main Session 1 | 22 to 24 and 28 to 30 January 2027, buffer 31 January | 20 to 24 and 28 January 2027 |
| CMAT | 7 February 2027 | 7 February 2027 (no change) |
| CUET PG | 1 to 5, 8, 12 to 20 and 24 to 25 March 2027, buffer 30 to 31 March | 2 to 5, 8 to 9, 12, 15 to 19, 24 to 25 and 29 to 31 March 2027 |
| JEE Main Session 2 | Not listed | 2 to 7 April 2027 |
Many websites still show 14 to 19 December for UGC NET and 22 to 30 January for JEE Main. Those dates come from the earlier calendar. Always match what you read with the latest notice on the NTA website.
UGC NET December 2026 Exam Date and Application Deadline
UGC NET is the first big exam in the revised calendar, and its application window closes in two days. Candidates who have not applied yet should complete the form on the official UGC NET website before the deadline.
- Exam dates: 14 to 18 December and 21 December 2026, in computer based test mode.
- Last date to apply and pay the fee: 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
- Late applications: reported to be accepted from 29 to 31 October 2026 with an extra fee of ₹500.
- NTA issued a corrigendum to the information bulletin on 16 October 2026, so read the updated bulletin before you submit the form.
- Joint CSIR UGC NET: 19, 22 and 27 December 2026.
- UGC NET qualifiers can aim for JRF, assistant professor eligibility and PhD admission.
JEE Main 2027 Session 1 and Session 2 Dates
Session 1 is about twelve weeks away. At the time of writing, NTA has not announced the registration dates or released the information bulletin for JEE Main 2027, so students should watch jeemain.nta.nic.in for the application link.
- Session 1: 20 to 24 January and 28 January 2027, spread over six days.
- Session 2: 2 to 7 April 2027, spread over six days.
- Registration and application correction dates: not announced yet.
- Students can appear in both sessions, and NTA considers the better score for the final rank.
CMAT 2027, NIFT 2027 and CUET PG 2027 Exam Dates
- CMAT 2027: 7 February 2027, a one day exam. The date is unchanged from the earlier calendar.
- NIFT Entrance Examination 2027: 10 January 2027, also unchanged.
- CUET PG 2027: 17 exam days between 2 March and 31 March 2027, in the order shown in the table above.
- Registration schedules for these exams are not part of the calendar. Each exam will have its own notice on the official NTA portal.
Other Exams in the Revised NTA Calendar
| Examination | Proposed date(s) |
|---|---|
| Rashtriya Indian Military College | 6 December 2026 |
| SWAYAM | 8 to 12 December 2026 |
| Rashtriya Military Schools | 13 December 2026 |
| Army Cadets College | 4 January 2027 |
| SHRESHTA (NETS) | 10 January 2027 |
| All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination | 31 January 2027 |
What Students Should Do Next
If you are preparing for JEE Main
- Use the JoSAA JEE Main college predictor to see which institutes match your expected rank.
- Shortlist from the top NITs in India and the wider list of top engineering colleges in India.
- Read about the B.Tech course and how engineering counselling works.
If you are preparing for CMAT
- Check likely options with the CMAT college predictor once your score range is clear.
- Compare the top management colleges in India on fees and placements.
- Understand the MBA programme and the management counselling process before applications begin.
If you are preparing for NIFT or other design exams
- Try the design college predictor to explore options across design entrance exams.
- Browse the full college predictor hub for other courses you are considering.
If you are appearing for UGC NET or CUET PG
- Read our update on the UGC NET June 2026 re-exam to understand how recent schedule changes were handled.
- Finish pending applications early and keep your documents ready, since late fees and correction windows are short.
How to Check the Official NTA Calendar
- Open nta.ac.in and go to the latest announcements section.
- Click the Examination Calendar 2026-27 notice and download the revised version.
- Note your exam dates and set reminders for registration notices on the exam specific portals.
Treat every date in the calendar as a planning guide until the exam specific notice and admit card confirm it. Build your revision schedule around the dates above, and recheck the NTA website every week.
