Exam Calendar 2026 indicates that several national and state-level entrance examinations are expected to open their registration windows in January 2026. These exams cover admissions to engineering, medical, design, management and postgraduate programmes across India. With multiple application timelines overlapping, candidates are advised to track registration schedules carefully and prepare documents in advance to avoid last-minute issues.
NEET UG 2026 and JEE Main 2026 Registration Expectations
Medical aspirants awaiting NEET UG 2026 updates have not yet received an official notification from the exam authority. However, the NEET UG syllabus for 2026 has already been released, indicating early preparatory movement. Based on previous trends, NEET UG registrations are expected to begin in February 2026, following the pattern observed in earlier cycles. For engineering aspirants, JEE Main 2026 Session 1 registrations have already concluded. The Session 2 application window for the April attempt is expected to open in the last week of January 2026, after the conclusion of the January examination phase.
BITSAT, MHT CET and State Engineering Exams in 2026
Several state and private engineering entrance exams are either active or expected to open registrations in January.
- BITSAT 2026 registrations for Session 1 are open and will continue until 16 March 2026, while Session 2 registrations are scheduled between 20 April and 02 May 2026.
- MHT CET 2026 will be conducted twice a year starting from the 2026–27 academic session, with exams planned in April and May 2026.
- WBJEE 2026 registrations are likely to begin in January 2026, with the deadline expected in February 2026, following previous year trends.
These exams play a critical role in state-level engineering and pharmacy admissions.
Design, University and Institutional Entrance Exams
Several specialised and university-level exams are also aligned with January registration timelines.
- NIFT 2026 registrations are currently open, with the deadline without late fee set as 06 January 2026. Applications submitted between 07 January and 10 January 2026 will attract a late fee of INR 5,000.
- VITEEE 2026 registrations began in October 2025, with the tentative last date to apply being 31 March 2026.
- AEEE 2026 Phase 1 registrations are open, with the deadline fixed as 15 January 2026, and an application fee of INR 1,300.
Postgraduate and Management Entrance Exams in 2026
Postgraduate aspirants also have important timelines to track.
- CUET PG 2026 registrations are underway and will close on 14 January 2026.
- TANCET 2026 applications are expected to open in January 2026, based on the previous admission cycle.
These exams are crucial for admission to MBA, MCA and other postgraduate programmes across public and private institutions.
Why January 2026 Is Critical for Exam Aspirants?
January 2026 emerges as a key month for competitive exam aspirants, with multiple registrations either opening or closing within a short span. Careful planning, document readiness and awareness of deadlines will be essential for candidates aiming to appear in more than one examination during the 2026 admission cycle.
