NTA Revised Exam Calendar 2026-27: UGC NET, JEE Main, CUET PG Dates

If you are preparing for UGC NET, JEE Main or CUET PG, it is time to update the dates pinned on your wall. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released a revised exam calendar for December 2026 to April 2027, and several of the biggest exams have shifted. Through a public notice dated October 26, the agency said the new schedule replaces the earlier one "due to administrative reasons." All dates remain tentative.

What has changed

The headline changes involve four exams. JEE Main 2027 Session 1 now starts two days earlier, on January 20, and ends on January 28 instead of January 30. UGC NET December 2026 has been compressed to December 14-18 and December 21. The Joint CSIR-UGC NET has been spread to December 19, 22 and 27, after earlier being proposed for December 20 and 21. CUET PG 2027 has been reworked into 17 exam days across March.

For the first time in this cycle, the calendar also gives a window for JEE Main 2027 Session 2: April 2 to 7, 2027. NEET UG 2027 and CUET UG 2027 are not part of this revised calendar, so students waiting for those dates will need to keep watching for separate announcements.

NTA revised exam calendar 2026-27: full list

Old vs new: the key shifts

• JEE Main Session 1: earlier January 22-24 and 28-30 (with January 31 as buffer); now January 20-24 and 28.
• UGC NET December 2026: earlier December 14-19 with December 20-21 as buffer; now December 14-18 and 21.
• Joint CSIR-UGC NET: earlier December 20-21; now December 19, 22 and 27.
• CUET PG 2027: earlier spread over March 1-25; now March 2 to March 31 with 17 exam days.

Exams such as RIMC, SWAYAM, Rashtriya Military Schools, NIFT, AISSEE and CMAT have kept their original dates.

What it means for students

For JEE aspirants, the earlier start means two fewer days of revision before Session 1, and many students in Class 12 will also be juggling pre-board exams around that time. Having the Session 2 dates early, however, is helpful because it lets students plan their board exam preparation and JEE attempts together.

UGC NET and CSIR NET candidates should note that the two exams now overlap in the same fortnight, with CSIR NET dates falling between and after UGC NET days. Anyone planning to appear for both, or travelling to a distant centre, should plan ahead for the December 21-27 stretch, which also runs into the Christmas holiday week.

Preparation tips for the new schedule

Teachers and coaching mentors usually suggest that students treat a revised calendar as a chance to reset their study plan rather than a reason to panic. Count the exact number of days left from today, block out time for full-length mock tests in the final three weeks, and keep a buffer for revision of weak topics. JEE aspirants should also keep their school pre-board dates handy so that the two schedules do not clash. CUET PG candidates, whose exam window is now longer, should wait for subject-wise dates before booking travel.

How to check the official notice

1. Visit the official NTA website, nta.ac.in.
2. Open the "Public Notices" or latest news section on the home page.
3. Click on the notice about the revised tentative exam calendar 2026-27.
4. Download the PDF and save it for reference.
5. Also check the individual exam websites for registration, city slip and admit card updates.

What happens next

Since the dates are tentative, NTA will issue exam-specific notifications with subject-wise schedules, shift timings and admit card dates closer to each exam. Students are advised to rely only on the official NTA websites and not on older copies of the calendar circulating on social media.

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