NTA Exam Calendar 2026-27: JEE Main From Jan 22, UGC NET From Dec 14

By TUF News Desk · Published 22 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

Anyone taking JEE Main 2027 now has dates to plan around. The National Testing Agency has proposed January 22 to 24 and January 28 to 30, 2027 for the first session of the exam, as part of a tentative calendar covering 14 national-level tests between December 2026 and March 2027. The calendar is published on NTA’s official website, and the agency will release separate detailed notifications for each exam.

NTA told PTI that the proposed schedule for the December 2026 to March 2027 period has been released, adding that the dates are tentative and may change for administrative, academic, statutory, logistical or other unforeseen reasons. Candidates are expected to track the individual exam websites for final dates, application deadlines and admit cards.

JEE Main 2027 opens the engineering season

JEE Main Session 1 is the biggest entry on the calendar. The two testing windows run January 22 to 24 and January 28 to 30, 2027, with January 31 kept as a buffer date. The score is the main route into the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli and the other NITs, IIITs and centrally funded institutions, and top performers qualify for JEE Advanced.

UGC NET and CSIR NET start in December

The December cycle opens with UGC NET, proposed for December 14 to 19, 2026, with December 20 and 21 as buffer dates. The Joint CSIR UGC NET follows on December 20 and 21. Both determine eligibility for assistant professorships and Junior Research Fellowships, the standard entry points for PhD programmes and teaching careers.

CMAT in February, CUET PG across March

Management aspirants have a single-day target: the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is proposed for February 7, 2027. Postgraduate admissions fill March, with the Common University Entrance Test for postgraduate programmes (CUET PG) proposed across March 1 to 5, March 8, March 12 to 20 and March 24 to 25, 2027, and March 30 and 31 as buffer dates. Central and participating universities use CUET PG scores for their PG admissions.

The calendar also lists the Army Cadets College exam, the SHRESHTA (NETS) and NIFT entrance exams, the All India Sainik Schools entrance exam, the Rashtriya Indian Military College and Rashtriya Military Schools exams, and the SWAYAM examination. NTA will separately release detailed notifications for each of these, with registration and eligibility details.

Use these dates for planning, then watch for the real notifications

Every date above is proposed, not confirmed. Treat the calendar as a pacing tool for preparation and watch NTA’s official website for the detailed notice of the exam you are taking. When registrations open, our admission documents checklist helps you keep your uploads ready, since errors in a submitted form are harder to fix than getting them right the first time.

Frequently asked questions

When is JEE Main 2027 Session 1?

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

When is the UGC NET December 2026 cycle?

December 14 to 19, 2026, with December 20 and 21 as buffer dates. The Joint CSIR UGC NET is on December 20 and 21.

When is CUET PG 2027?

Across March 2027: March 1 to 5, March 8, March 12 to 20 and March 24 to 25, with March 30 and 31 kept as buffer dates.

Are the NTA exam calendar dates final?

No. NTA has said all dates are tentative and may change. The detailed notification for each exam will carry the final schedule, registration dates and eligibility.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Indian Express, Business Standard (PTI)