Exam Calendar 2026: Check all key dates for JEE, NEET, CUET, CBSE, ICSE, UPSC and other exams

Students preparing for competitive exams and board exams in 2026 can now start planning early. From JEE and NEET to CBSE, ICSE and ISC board exams, the broad exam calendar for 2026 is taking shape. The schedule covers national-level entrance tests as well as Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations, giving students and parents a clear academic roadmap for the year ahead.

Below is a simple, stream-wise and exam-wise break-up of the major exam dates announced or tentatively indicated for 2026.

National level entrance exams in 2026

The year will begin with engineering and medical aspirants stepping into exam mode early.


JEE Main 2026 will be held in two sessions. Session 1 is scheduled from January 21 to January 30, while Session 2 will run from April 2 to April 9.

JEE Advanced 2026, the gateway to IITs, is tentatively scheduled for May 17, 2026.

CUET 2026 (Common University Entrance Test) is expected to take place in May 2026, though exact dates are awaited.

NBEMS medical exams will be conducted on different dates, including FMGE on January 17 and GPAT on March 7.

NEET UG 2026 Exam Date

Medical aspirants should mark their calendars early, as NEET remains one of the most competitive exams in the country.

Exam date: May 3, 2026 (Sunday)
Admit card release: April 2026
Provisional answer key: Fourth week of May 2026
Final answer key and results: Second week of June 2026
Counselling begins: July 2026

UPSC exam calendar 2026

Civil services aspirants will also step into a long testing cycle in 2026, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) expected to stick to its traditional exam window. From the preliminary test to the personality interview, the process will stretch across the year, demanding sustained preparation and patience.

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 is expected to be held in late May or early June 2026.
UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2026 is likely to begin in September 2026 and continue for five days.
UPSC Civil Services Personality Test (Interview) rounds are expected to take place in early 2027, following the declaration of the mains results.

Apart from the Civil Services Examination, UPSC will also conduct several other national-level recruitment tests across the year, including exams for Engineering Services, CDS, NDA, CAPF and Indian Forest Service, each with its own notification and exam schedule released separately.

CDS 2026 exam date

UPSC conducts the CDS examination twice every year, offering entry into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers’ Training Academy.

• CDS (I) 2026: Expected in February 2026
  
  
• CDS (II) 2026: Expected in September 2026
  
  

The written exam is followed by the SSB interview process, which continues for several months after the results.

NDA 2026 exam date

The NDA exam is the main entry point for candidates aspiring to join the Army, Navy and Air Force right after school.

• NDA (I) 2026: Expected in April 2026
  
  
• NDA (II) 2026: Expected in September 2026
  
  

The selection process includes a written examination followed by an SSB interview and medical tests.

CAPF 2026 Exam date

The CAPF (AC) exam is held once a year for recruitment to forces such as BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.

• CAPF (AC) 2026 written exam: Expected in August 2026
  
  

Candidates who clear the written test move on to physical standards tests, physical efficiency tests and interviews.

CBSE Board Exams 2026 Date Sheet

The CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board exams will begin on February 17, 2026, and continue till April 9, 2026. Class 10 exams will be conducted in two phases, while Class 12 exams will follow a stream-wise schedule.

CBSE Class 10 board exam date sheet 2026 (major subjects)
All exams will be held from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

• Mathematics: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
• English: Tuesday, February 21, 2026
• Science: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
• Sanskrit: Saturday, February 28, 2026
• Hindi: Monday, March 2, 2026
• Social Science: Saturday, March 7, 2026

CBSE Class 12 board exams 2026: Stream-wise overview

• Science stream: February 17 to March 27, 2026
• Commerce stream: February 22 to March 28, 2026
• Humanities (Arts): February 24 to April 4, 2026

CBSE Class 12 Science stream date sheet 2026

(All exams from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM)

• Physical Education – February 18
• Physics – February 20
• Chemistry – February 28
• Mathematics / Applied Mathematics – March 9
• English Core / Elective – March 12
• Computer Science / Informatics Practices – March 25
• Biology – March 27

CBSE Class 12 Commerce stream date sheet 2026

• Business Studies – February 22
• Mathematics / Applied Mathematics – March 9
• English Core / Elective – March 12
• Accountancy – March 24
• Economics – March 28

CBSE Class 12 Arts (Humanities) date sheet 2026

• Geography – February 24
• English Core / Elective – March 12
• Hindi Elective / Core – March 16
• Economics – March 18
• Political Science – March 23
• History – March 30
• Regional Languages – April 6
• Sociology – April 8

ICSE Class 10 board exams dates 2026

The ICSE Class 10 exams will start on February 17, 2026, with English Language, and conclude on March 30, 2026.

Key subject dates include:

• Mathematics – March 2
• Physics – March 9
• Chemistry – March 11
• Biology – March 13
• History & Civics – March 16
• Geography – March 18

Practical exams will be conducted earlier, in January 2026.

ISC Class 12 board exams dates 2026

The ISC Class 12 exams will run from February 12 to April 6, 2026, starting earlier than previous years to give students more preparation time.

• Start date: February 12, 2026 (Psychology)
• End date: April 6, 2026 (Geography)
• Key subjects include Chemistry (February 23), History (February 25) and Commerce (February 27).