Exam Calendar 2026: JEE, NEET, CUET, CBSE, ICSE and UPSC Dates

The Exam Calendar 2026 has taken shape with key dates for national-level entrance tests, board examinations and competitive exams becoming clearer ahead of the new academic year. Students and aspirants across India now have a broad roadmap for major examinations scheduled throughout the year. The calendar highlights when engineering, medical, university and civil services exams are slated, allowing examinees to organise preparation and revision plans effectively.

JEE Main and JEE Advanced 2026 Key Dates Announced

Engineering aspirants will have multiple windows to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination:

• JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is scheduled from 21 January to 30 January 2026.
• JEE Main 2026 Session 2 will be conducted from 02 April to 09 April 2026.
• JEE Advanced 2026 is tentatively slated for 17 May 2026, serving as the gateway to nationwide IIT admissions.

These dates give candidates two opportunities in JEE Main and a clear timeline towards JEE Advanced.

NEET UG 2026 and CUET UG 2026 Exam Timeline

Medical aspirants preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) will appear for the exam on 03 May 2026 (Sunday). Admit cards are expected in April 2026, with provisional answer keys released in the fourth week of May 2026 and final answer keys and results by the second week of June 2026. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2026 is expected to be held in May 2026 for undergraduate admissions across central and participating universities, with an advisory issued for application procedures and documentation.

Board Exams: CBSE and ICSE 2026 Schedules

School board examinations will stretch into the early part of the year for Class 10 and Class 12 students. Board exams for both CBSE and ICSE boards are expected to run from February through April 2026, enabling students to complete academic assessments before entrance test preparations peak. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has already scheduled practical exams ahead of written tests, strengthening the structured flow of board evaluations.

UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Important Dates

Civil services aspirants will enter a long-running competitive calendar, with the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 scheduled for 24 May 2026 (Sunday). Those who clear prelims will move to the Mains stage beginning 21 August 2026 (Friday). This phased approach gives aspirants strategic windows for focused preparation across General Studies and optional subjects.