The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially published the comprehensive Examination Calendar for major national competitive and entrance tests up to March 2027. Engineering, postgraduate, and university aspirants can now view the confirmed dates for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main 2027 Session 1), Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduates (CUET PG 2027), and UGC NET December 2026 on the official portal at nta.ac.in.
NTA Official Examination Calendar 2026–2027 Highlights
Candidates can review the consolidated national entrance schedule notified by NTA:
- Conducting Authority: National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education, Government of India
- Official Calendar Portal: nta.ac.in
- JEE Main 2027 (Session 1): January 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30, 2027 (Buffer Date: January 31, 2027)
- UGC NET December 2026: December 14 to December 22, 2026
- SWAYAM (July 2026 Semester Exam): December 2026
- NIFT Entrance Examination 2027: February 2027
- CUET PG 2027: March 1 to March 25, 2027
- Mode of Examination: Computer-Based Test (CBT) across designated domestic and international test centres.
JEE Main 2027 Session 1 Exam Dates & Registration Timelines
The flagship engineering entrance examination is scheduled with specific milestones for prospective B.Tech and B.Arch aspirants:
- Session 1 Exam Window: The first attempt will take place across six examination days between January 22 and January 30, 2027, with morning and afternoon shifts.
- Application Form Opening: NTA will open online registrations and release the Information Bulletin on jeemain.nta.nic.in in the final week of October 2026. The application window will remain active for 30 to 35 days.
- Advance City Intimation & Admit Card: Exam city intimation slips are expected in early January 2027 (second week), followed by admit cards three days prior to respective exam dates.
- 75% Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must secure at least 75% aggregate marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST categories) or rank within the top 20 percentile of their qualifying state/central board to be eligible for admissions to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
UGC NET December 2026 & CUET PG 2027 Schedules
National tests for doctoral research and postgraduate university admissions feature the following parameters:
- UGC NET December 2026: Slated from December 14 to December 22, 2026, across 83 subjects for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility, and Ph.D. admissions. Online registrations will commence in November 2026 on ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
- CUET PG 2027: Administered between March 1 and March 25, 2027, for postgraduate admissions across central, state, deemed, and private universities nationwide. Online applications will open in late December 2026 / early January 2027.
- Bilingual Testing: Question papers will be presented in bilingual format (English and Hindi), with subject-specific domain questions conforming to standardized syllabi.
Step-by-Step Guide to Download NTA Exam Calendar PDF
Follow these steps on the official NTA website to download the official public notice:
- Visit the official portal at nta.ac.in.
- Navigate to the 'Latest @ NTA' circulars and notifications ticker on the homepage.
- Click on the active link titled 'Publication of the Examination Calendar of the National Testing Agency (NTA) up to March 2027'.
- The official notification PDF will open displaying exam names, proposed dates, and conducting modes.
- Download the PDF and save it to plan your preparation and revision schedules accordingly.
Key Recommendations for Aspirants Preparing for NTA Exams
Candidates targeting national entrance exams should implement the following strategic steps:
- Align Study Plans to Exam Dates: With exactly 127 days remaining for JEE Main 2027 Session 1, divide your syllabus into weekly revision milestones and high-weightage practice modules.
- Keep Identity Documentation Ready: Ensure your Aadhaar card details (Name, Date of Birth, Gender) strictly match your Class 10 board certificate to avoid authentication mismatches during registration.
- Practice on NTA National Test Abhyas: Regularly attempt official mock tests in full CBT layout to master interface navigation, on-screen timers, and virtual numeric keypads.