The National Testing Agency has quietly overhauled its December–April testing grid, publishing a revised calendar on October 26. Key shifts: JEE Main Session 1 loses its buffer day, UGC NET and Joint CSIR UGC NET get split dates, and CUET PG adds new March slots. NIFT and CMAT stay unchanged, while NEET UG remains pending.
Under the new plan, JEE Main Session 1 will run January 20 to 24 and 28, 2027. UGC NET December 2026 is now December 14 to 18 and 21. Joint CSIR UGC NET will be on December 19, 22 and 27. CUET PG 2027 spans multiple March blocks. These shifts affect prep, travel, and clash management.
What changed in JEE Main, UGC NET, CSIR NET, CUET PG
The biggest tweak is the removal of JEE Main’s January 31 buffer, concentrating testing into six active days. UGC NET no longer uses December 20 as buffer; December 21 becomes a test day. CSIR NET expands to three non‑consecutive days, easing invigilation and city logistics. CUET PG redistributes March papers, reducing weekday bottlenecks.
Old vs new NTA exam dates: JEE Main, UGC NET, CSIR NET, CUET PG
Use this quick matrix to re‑map practice tests, hostel bookings, and board practicals. Note how CSIR NET now sits between UGC NET clusters, and how JEE Main compresses without a spare day. CUET PG’s late‑March block helps universities stagger centres across states. Save or print this table for planners.
| Exam | Old calendar | Revised calendar |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET Dec 2026 | Dec 14–19; buffers 20–21 | Dec 14–18 and 21 |
| Joint CSIR UGC NET Dec | Dec 20–21 | Dec 19, 22, 27 |
| JEE Main 2027 Session 1 | Jan 20–24, 28; Jan 31 buffer | Jan 20–24 and 28 |
| CUET PG 2027 | Mar 1–5, 8–20, 24–25; 30–31 buffer | Mar 2–5, 8–9, 12, 15–19, 24–25, 29–31 |
What stays unchanged and what’s still pending
NIFT Entrance remains on January 10, and CMAT stays February 7. JEE Main Session 2 appears April 2 to 7. NEET UG is still awaited. NTA also reiterates that all dates are tentative and may change for administrative or academic reasons, so watch official updates closely.
Next alerts: city slips, admit cards and form windows
UGC NET’s correction window runs November 2 to 4; city slip November 23; admit cards December 7. JEE Main Session 1 city information is slated for December 30, with admit cards around January 13. CUET PG registration is expected in December 2026. Cross‑check board practicals before booking travel.
Actionable plan: lock your subject‑wise mocks to the revised clusters, reschedule hostel or rail bookings around January 20–24 and 28, and avoid overlaps between December 14–21 if writing NET and CSIR. Keep documents handy for correction windows, and track city‑slip and admit‑card drops to finalise logistics without last‑minute stress.
