Students preparing for India’s next round of national entrance and eligibility tests finally have a working timeline. The National Testing Agency released its 2026-27 examination calendar on September 16, listing 14 examination entries scheduled between December 2026 and March 2027. JEE Main 2027 Session 1 begins on January 22, while UGC NET, CMAT and CUET PG also receive proposed dates. The complete schedule is available in the official NTA examination calendar.
The calendar is useful for planning, but NTA has repeatedly marked these dates as tentative. It also says the document is not the formal notification for any individual examination. Candidates will still need separate information bulletins, registration notices, city slips, and admit-card updates for their exams.
What Does The NTA 2026-27 Exam Calendar Confirm?
The official NTA calendar starts with December-cycle examinations and runs only through March 2027. That is important because several searches are already mixing this schedule with expected dates for later tests.
Key Dates At A Glance
- UGC NET December 2026: December 14-19, with December 20-21 kept as buffer dates.
- Joint CSIR UGC NET: December 20-21, 2026.
- JEE Main 2027 Session 1: January 22-24 and January 28-30, with January 31 as a buffer.
- CMAT 2027: February 7.
- CUET PG 2027: March 1-5, 8, 12-20 and 24-25, with March 30-31 as buffers.
NTA said the advance calendar was published to give candidates and institutions more predictability for academic and examination planning. The agency also shared the schedule through NTA’s official X post on the examination calendar, giving students another official route to verify the announcement.
When Are JEE Main 2027, UGC NET, CMAT And CUET PG?
JEE Main attracts the biggest immediate attention. Session 1 is proposed across six examination days: January 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30. January 31 is reserved as a buffer date. Candidates should use the official JEE Main portal for later registration, bulletin, city-intimation, and admit-card notices rather than relying on unofficial schedules.
UGC NET’s December 2026 cycle is placed earlier, from December 14 to 19. Two additional days, December 20 and 21, are marked as buffers. The Joint CSIR UGC NET is proposed on December 20 and 21. UGC NET candidates can track notices on the official UGC NET website, which is already carrying updates from the June 2026 cycle.
CMAT 2027 is proposed for February 7. CUET PG then occupies the largest window in the calendar, covering 17 examination days during March. Its proposed dates are March 1-5, March 8, March 12-20, and March 24-25.
Which Other NTA Exams Are Scheduled From December To March?
The calendar goes beyond the four most-searched examinations. Rashtriya Indian Military College is scheduled for December 6, followed by SWAYAM from December 8 to 12 and Rashtriya Military Schools on December 13.
January brings the Army Cadets College examination on January 4. SHRESHTA (NETS) and the NIFT Entrance Examination are both proposed for January 10. The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is placed on January 31, the same date being held as the JEE Main buffer.
NITTT Part 1 is proposed for February 26 and 27. NITTT Part 2 follows on March 5 and 7. These dates complete the 14 entries listed in NTA’s calendar up to March 2027.
What Should Candidates Watch After The Calendar Release?
The biggest caution is what the calendar does not announce. NEET UG 2027, CUET UG 2027 and JEE Main 2027 Session 2 do not appear in this release because its coverage stops at March. Any dates circulating for those examinations should not be presented as dates confirmed by this calendar.
NTA says detailed exam-specific notices will follow separately. That means application opening dates, fees, eligibility rules, paper timings, centre information and result schedules can arrive later and may differ by examination.
There is also fresh UGC NET activity alongside the calendar news. On September 17, NTA declared results for the June 2026 re-examinations in English, Commerce and Sociology. It reported that 1,20,355 candidates appeared across the three subjects, with 824 qualifying for JRF, 11,610 for Assistant Professor and 23,154 for PhD-only eligibility. For aspirants, the safest routine remains simple: use NTA and the relevant official exam portal as individual 2027 notifications begin appearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will JEE Main 2027 Session 1 begin?
JEE Main 2027 Session 1 begins January 22, with six proposed examination days in total.
When is UGC NET December 2026 scheduled?
UGC NET is proposed from December 14 to 19, with December 20-21 reserved as buffers.
What is the CMAT 2027 exam date?
NTA proposes February 7, 2027, as the examination date for the Common Management Admission Test.
When will CUET PG 2027 be conducted?
CUET PG is scheduled across 17 examination days in March, with March 30-31 as buffers.
Is NEET UG 2027 included in this calendar?
No, this NTA calendar covers examinations only through March 2027, so NEET UG appears later.
Top Stories You Shouldn’t Miss
When Will India’s Space Station Launch?
Find out India’s timeline and plans for its own space station.
What Caused The Vedanta Plant Blast?
Uncover what happened at the facility and details about the victims.
When Will Women’s Quota Take Effect?
Check out what needs to happen before the 33% quota begins.
Why Has Indian Hockey Representation Disappeared?
Explore why Indian officials were absent from the Hockey World Cup.
Why Are Mental-Health Protections Still Uneven?
Look into Chandigarh’s new rules and patient protections across India.
