January 2026 marks the start of a crucial admissions period for students seeking undergraduate places in engineering, medicine, pharmacy, design and management across India. Several national and state testing bodies will open application windows or publish timetables this month, and candidates should review deadlines and session options carefully.
India exam calendar 2026: what candidates must know
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has already concluded registration for JEE Main session 1; the first session of the engineering entrance will be held from 21 to 30 January 2026. Following the completion of Session 1, the NTA is expected to announce the application window for JEE Main Session 2, likely in the final week of January, with exams planned for April.
The National Medical Commission has released the NEET UG 2026 syllabus, confirming the topics to be tested in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. With NEET being the gateway to medical education nationwide, aspirants should align revisions with the declared syllabus and monitor the official portal for application timelines.
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science conducts BITSAT for admission to its undergraduate programmes. Applications opened on 15 December 2025. For BITSAT 2026, session 1 registrations close on 16 March, while session 2 registrations run from 20 April to 2 May 2026. Candidates can apply at admissions.bits-pilani.ac.in.
Maharashtra’s common test, MHT CET, will run across two sessions in April and May under the 2026 admission cycle. A tentative schedule from the CET Cell places the PCM group papers between 11 and 19 April, and the PCB group between 21 and 26 April. The state MBA/MMS CET is provisionally scheduled for 6–8 April. Students seeking professional course admission should sit at least one session; taking both remains optional.
Andhra Pradesh’s AP EAMCET will be held in mid-May, with exams provisionally set for 12, 13, 14, 15 and 18 May 2026. The Agriculture and Pharmacy streams will feature four sessions. Prospective applicants should consult the official portal for registration dates and session allocations.
Several other state and national tests are already progressing. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) began registrations on 8 December via the NTA site; the deadline to apply without a late fee was 6 January 2026, with a late-fee window from 7–10 January. VIT’s VITEEE application window opened on 24 October 2025 and continues, with a tentative closing date of 31 March 2026; the exam is scheduled for 28 April–3 May, with results and online counselling expected in the second week of May.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has not yet confirmed KCET dates for 2026. By way of reference, last year’s registration ran from 23 January to 24 February. The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board has also not published WBJEE dates; candidates should watch official announcements.
Students and parents should track official websites for up-to-date notifications and fee schedules. Many institutions offer multiple sessions or late-fee windows; choosing the right session and meeting deadlines will be essential to securing preferred programmes. With a concentration of registration activity in January, applicants are advised to prepare documents and application details in advance to avoid last-minute issues.
Key Takeaways:
- January 2026 kicks off a key admissions cycle in India with registrations or schedules for major undergraduate entrance exams.
- JEE Main Session 1 runs 21–30 January; Session 2 registrations are expected in late January.
- NEET UG syllabus released; BITSAT, MHT CET, AP EAMCET, NIFT, VITEEE and other state tests have staggered application windows.
- Candidates should note deadlines and session options, especially for multi-session tests such as BITSAT and MHT CET.
