National-level entrance examinations for the 2026 academic session are set to commence in January 2026. These crucial exams facilitate admissions into engineering, medical, and various undergraduate programs across the country. Candidates who have qualified their Class 12 board exams, or those appearing in February-March-April 2026, are eligible to apply. The examination period opens with the JEE Main 2026 exams.
JEE Main 2026
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is conducted for admissions to undergraduate engineering courses in colleges nationwide. This examination is held twice annually. Successful candidates in JEE Main become eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.
- Session 1 Exam Dates: January 22-31, 2026
- Session 2 Exam Dates (Tentative): April 2-9, 2026
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 admit cards are expected for release in the first week of January 2026. The registration and application process for JEE Main 2026 has concluded. Exams will be conducted in offline mode across various centers.
JEE Advanced 2026
JEE Advanced 2026 is the gateway for admissions to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The exam is scheduled for a single day, comprising two distinct papers.
- Exam Date: May 17, 2026
- Paper 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Paper 2: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
JAM 2026
The Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) 2026 is organized by IIT Bombay. It serves as an entrance for various postgraduate science programs at IITs and IISc.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Availability of Admit Cards | January 05, 2026 |
| Date of Examination | February 15, 2026 |
| Announcement of Results | March 20, 2026 |
GATE 2026
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 is conducted by IIT Roorkee. This examination is for admissions to postgraduate engineering programs and some public sector undertakings.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Examination Day 1 | February 07, 2026 |
| Examination Day 2 | February 08, 2026 |
| Examination Day 3 | February 14, 2026 |
| Examination Day 4 | February 15, 2026 |
| Announcement of Results | March 19, 2026 |
NEET UG 2026
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2026 is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It governs admissions to undergraduate medical courses across medical colleges and universities. The NEET UG exam is consistently held on the first Sunday of May each year. Official dates for NEET UG 2026 are pending release.
CUET UG 2026
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG 2026 facilitates admissions to various undergraduate programs offered at central universities and other participating institutions. Applications for CUET UG 2026 will be issued online shortly. Exams for these programs are scheduled for May 2026.
Students are advised to regularly visit the official websites of the respective examination bodies for the most current updates and detailed information regarding schedules and application procedures.