NTA Exam Calendar 2026–27: JEE Main 2027, UGC NET, CMAT & CUET PG Dates

Students preparing for some of India's biggest entrance and eligibility examinations now have an early roadmap for the next examination cycle.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released its tentative examination calendar covering tests scheduled from December 2026 to March 2027.

The calendar includes major examinations such as:

• UGC NET December 2026
• Joint CSIR UGC NET
• JEE Main 2027 Session 1
• NIFT Entrance Examination
• CMAT 2027
• CUET PG 2027
• SWAYAM
• AISSEE
• SHRESHTA
• NITTT

In total, the calendar lists 14 examinations.

However, students should understand what the calendar actually means.

These are tentative examination dates. They are not the detailed application notifications.

NTA has stated that dates may change because of administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or other unforeseen circumstances. Separate information bulletins will provide registration dates, eligibility, fees, exam patterns, city-intimation details and admit-card schedules.

For the latest news-style summary of this announcement, read our NTA 2026–27 Exam Calendar Released: JEE Main Starts January 22 update below once published.

NTA Exam Calendar 2026–27: Complete Schedule

This schedule is taken from the NTA's official September 16 examination calendar.

JEE Main 2027 Session 1: Exam Begins January 22

For engineering aspirants, the biggest announcement in the calendar is the date window for JEE Main 2027 Session 1.

NTA has proposed the examination on:

• January 22, 2027
• January 23, 2027
• January 24, 2027
• January 28, 2027
• January 29, 2027
• January 30, 2027

January 31, 2027 has been kept as a buffer date.

This gives Class 12 and drop-year engineering aspirants a much clearer preparation timeline.

Students should remember that the calendar currently announces the exam window only.

The following details have not yet been announced through this calendar:

• JEE Main 2027 registration start date
• Application deadline
• Application fee
• Final paper-wise schedule
• Exam-city allocation
• Admit-card dates
• Session 2 dates

These will come through separate JEE Main notifications.

What JEE Aspirants Should Do Now

With the examination starting in late January, students can divide preparation into three phases.

September–October: Strengthen concepts and complete major syllabus areas.

November–December: Increase question practice, previous-year papers and chapter-wise testing.

January: Focus on full-length mocks, revision, speed and error analysis.

Students exploring B.Tech programmes and engineering specialisations can also browse iYou Global's Engineering Courses & Programmes.

Students interested in understanding the admission process after JEE can also read iYou Global's existing JoSAA Counselling Guide for IITs and NITs.

UGC NET December 2026: Exam From December 14

The UGC NET December 2026 cycle is proposed to run from:

December 14 to December 19, 2026

NTA has additionally kept:

December 20 and 21 as buffer dates.

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

Candidates should not interpret the calendar as the subject-wise UGC NET timetable.

NTA is expected to separately announce:

• Application dates
• Subject-wise schedule
• Examination shifts
• Application fee
• Correction window
• City-intimation dates
• Admit-card schedule

Students preparing for UGC NET should therefore use the December 14 start date for planning, but continue monitoring official notices for their exact subject date.

Joint CSIR UGC NET: December 20–21

The Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 cycle is proposed for:

December 20 and December 21, 2026.

The examination is particularly relevant to candidates pursuing eligibility and research pathways in science-related disciplines.

Because UGC NET also has December 20–21 listed as buffer dates, students should not interpret a buffer date as a confirmed additional examination day unless NTA issues a specific notice.

CMAT 2027 Exam Date: February 7

Management aspirants now have an early date for CMAT 2027.

NTA has proposed the Common Management Admission Test for:

February 7, 2027.

The calendar does not yet provide CMAT 2027:

• Registration dates
• Application fee
• Eligibility notification
• Exam pattern changes, if any
• Admit-card date
• City-intimation date

These details will follow through the CMAT information bulletin.

Students preparing for MBA admissions should avoid depending on only one management entrance exam unless their college shortlist supports that strategy.

If you are also considering CAT, XAT, NMAT or SNAP, read our detailed CAT vs XAT vs NMAT vs SNAP 2026–27 Comparison.

You can also explore iYou Global's Management Admission Guidance if you need help comparing MBA/PGDM colleges, entrance exams and programmes.

CUET PG 2027: 17 Examination Days Planned in March

CUET PG has the longest examination window in the new NTA calendar.

The proposed dates are:

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

The examination is therefore planned across 17 examination days.

NTA has also reserved:

March 30 and March 31, 2027 as buffer dates.

Students should note that these dates do not tell you which subject will be conducted on which day.

CUET PG normally covers a large number of postgraduate subject papers, so NTA will release a more detailed subject-wise timetable later.

What CUET PG Aspirants Should Do Now

Students should start by identifying:

• Which postgraduate programme they want
• Which universities they plan to apply to
• Which CUET PG paper or papers are required
• Programme-specific eligibility conditions
• Whether the university has any additional admission requirements

Choosing the correct paper combination is just as important as preparing for the examination itself.

Students who are still comparing universities can browse the iYou Global College Search & Comparison section.

NIFT Entrance Exam 2027: January 10

The NIFT Entrance Examination is proposed for:

January 10, 2027.

The same date has also been proposed for the SHRESHTA entrance examination.

Students preparing for NIFT should wait for the detailed information bulletin for programme-level eligibility, application dates and examination structure.

SWAYAM Examination: December 8–12

The SWAYAM examination included in this NTA calendar is proposed to run for five days:

December 8 to December 12, 2026.

Candidates enrolled in relevant SWAYAM courses should wait for the detailed course-wise examination schedule.

AISSEE 2027: January 31

The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) is proposed for:

January 31, 2027.

Students and parents should check the separate AISSEE information bulletin once released for class eligibility, application dates, examination pattern and admission rules.

Other Exams Included in the NTA Calendar

Apart from the major exams above, NTA has also announced proposed dates for:

Rashtriya Indian Military College

December 6, 2026

Rashtriya Military Schools

December 13, 2026

Army Cadets College

January 4, 2027

SHRESHTA (NETS)

January 10, 2027

NITTT Part 1

February 26–27, 2027

NITTT Part 2

March 5 and 7, 2027

All dates remain tentative.

What Is Not Included in This NTA Calendar?

This is an important point because students may search for several other 2027 examinations after seeing the calendar.

The September 16 calendar does not provide dates for:

• NEET UG 2027
• JEE Main 2027 Session 2
• CUET UG 2027

That does not mean these exams will not be conducted.

It simply means their dates are not part of this particular NTA calendar, which currently runs only up to March 2027. Detailed announcements are expected separately.

Students should avoid trusting social-media posts claiming a confirmed NEET UG, CUET UG or JEE Main Session 2 date unless the information comes from NTA or the respective official exam portal.

What Does a “Buffer Date” Mean?

NTA has included buffer dates for some major examinations.

A buffer date is essentially a reserved date that may be used if an examination needs to be rescheduled or accommodated because of logistical or other circumstances.

For example:

UGC NET: December 20–21 buffer dates

JEE Main: January 31 buffer date

CUET PG: March 30–31 buffer dates

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

Why NTA Has Released the Calendar Early

NTA states that the objective of publishing the schedule in advance is to improve:

• Transparency
• Predictability
• Convenience for candidates
• Academic planning
• Examination planning

The agency has also advised candidates to regularly monitor the NTA website and individual exam portals for application schedules, city intimation, admit cards, answer keys and results.

This is particularly relevant after NTA's recent work on strengthening examination-centre infrastructure.

You can also read iYou Global's related news update: NTA to Strengthen Exam Centre Network: AICTE Seeks Infrastructure Details From HEIs.

How Students Should Use the NTA Calendar

The most useful way to use an examination calendar is not simply to save the dates.

Build your preparation backwards from them.

Step 1: Mark Your Exam Date

Add the tentative examination window to your calendar.

Step 2: Identify the Application Window

Once the individual information bulletin is released, note:

• Registration opening date
• Last date
• Fee deadline
• Correction window

Step 3: Set a Syllabus Completion Target

Try to complete the majority of your syllabus well before the examination month.

Step 4: Reserve Time for Mocks

Your final preparation stage should include:

• Timed mock tests
• Previous-year questions
• Error analysis
• Revision
• Exam-specific strategy

Step 5: Keep Checking Official Updates

The dates are tentative.

Do not make expensive travel bookings or rely on unofficial social-media information without confirming the final schedule.

Preparing for More Than One Entrance Exam?

Many students appear for multiple examinations because their target universities accept different scores.

For example:

An engineering applicant may focus on JEE Main while also applying to institutions with alternate admission routes.

A management applicant may consider CMAT alongside CAT, XAT, NMAT or SNAP.

A postgraduate applicant may sit for CUET PG while also applying to universities with separate admission processes.

The goal should not be to register for the maximum number of exams.

It should be to select exams that genuinely support your course and college shortlist.

If you are confused about which course or entrance examination fits your profile, iYou Global's Career Assessment & Counselling service can help you understand suitable academic and career pathways.

Need Help With Entrance Exams, College Selection or Admissions?

Choosing the right entrance exam is only the first part of the admission journey.

iYou Global Education can help you with:

• Course selection
• Entrance-exam planning
• College shortlisting
• Engineering admission guidance
• MBA/PGDM admission guidance
• UG and PG admission planning
• Application support
• Counselling and documentation
• Backup college planning
• Career assessment

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Planning early can help you avoid rushed applications and choose colleges based on your career goals rather than simply whichever deadline comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the NTA Exam Calendar 2026–27 released?

NTA issued the current examination calendar through a public notice dated September 16, 2026.

When will JEE Main 2027 Session 1 be conducted?

The proposed dates are January 22–24 and January 28–30, 2027, with January 31 kept as a buffer date.

When is UGC NET December 2026?

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

What is the CMAT 2027 exam date?

CMAT 2027 is proposed for February 7, 2027.

When will CUET PG 2027 be conducted?

CUET PG is proposed on multiple dates between March 1 and March 25, 2027, with March 30 and 31 listed as buffer dates.

Has NTA announced the NEET UG 2027 exam date?

No NEET UG 2027 date appears in this particular calendar. Students should wait for a separate official notification.

Has JEE Main 2027 Session 2 been announced?

The September calendar provides the schedule for Session 1 only. Session 2 dates are not included and should be checked once NTA issues a separate update.

Are these examination dates final?

No. NTA explicitly describes them as tentative and says they may change because of administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or unforeseen circumstances.