Competitive Exam Calendar 2027-28: Every Important Date in One Place

How to Use This Calendar

This calendar is organised in two ways. First, a quick-reference master table lists every exam with its expected month and conducting body so you can scan for the exams relevant to you. Second, a month-by-month breakdown from July 2027 to June 2028 shows exactly what happens each month — registrations opening, admit cards releasing, exams happening, and results being declared. After the calendar sections, each exam category gets a detailed write-up covering eligibility, pattern, and preparation context.

The academic cycle 2027–28 begins in July 2027 (when Class 11/12 sessions start) and runs through June 2028 (when admission counselling wraps up). Some exams like CLAT and NDA I have their registration windows in the preceding months, so we start from July 2027 to capture the full picture.

Quick-Reference: All Exams at a Glance

Month-by-Month Calendar: July 2027 – June 2028

This is the heart of the article. Each month lists all significant exam-related events — registration openings, application deadlines, admit card releases, exam dates, and result declarations. Events are colour-coded: Registration/Application, Exam Date, Result/Admit Card.

July 2027

August 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

January 2028

February 2028

March 2028

April 2028

May 2028

June 2028

Engineering Exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, VITEEE & More

Engineering entrance exams dominate the Indian competitive exam landscape. With over 12 lakh students appearing for JEE Main alone each year, the stakes are enormous. Here is what you need to know about each exam in the 2027–28 cycle.

JEE Main 2028

Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE Main is the gateway to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and JEE Advanced eligibility. The exam is held twice — Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April. Students get two chances, and the better NTA Score is considered. JEE Main 2028 Session 1 registration typically opens in November 2027, with the exam window falling in the last 10 days of January 2028. Session 2 follows in the first 10 days of April 2028.

JEE Advanced 2028

IIT Kharagpur is expected to organise JEE Advanced 2028 based on the IIT rotation cycle. Only the top 2,50,000 JEE Main qualifiers can register for JEE Advanced. The exam is held on a single day in late May or early June with two papers of 3 hours each. JEE Advanced is the sole gateway to the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology.

BITSAT, VITEEE & SRMJEEE

These private university entrance exams run in April–June and serve as excellent backup options. BITSAT (BITS Pilani) is a 3-hour online test with an adaptive difficulty format. VITEEE (VIT University) and SRMJEEE (SRM University) are conducted over multiple days, allowing students to choose convenient exam slots. Registration for all three typically opens in January–March.

Medical Exam: NEET UG 2028

NEET UG remains India's single largest entrance exam with over 24 lakh registrations annually. Conducted by NTA, it is a single-day, pen-and-paper exam held on the first Sunday of May. The paper has 200 MCQs across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (attempt 180), totalling 720 marks in 3 hours 20 minutes. Registration opens in November–December, and the result is typically declared in June. NEET is the sole gateway to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, nursing, and veterinary programmes across all government and private medical colleges in India.

University Admissions: CUET UG 2028

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) is now mandatory for admission to 260+ central and participating universities, including Delhi University, JNU, BHU, and Jamia Millia Islamia. Conducted by NTA in CBT mode, CUET UG tests students on domain-specific subjects, a general test, and languages. The exam window typically spans mid-to-late May across multiple days and shifts. Registration usually opens in December–February, and the subject-wise datesheet is released in March–April.

Law Entrance: CLAT & AILET

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is the gateway to 24 National Law Universities across India. Conducted by the Consortium of NLUs, it is a 2-hour offline exam with 150 MCQs covering English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. CLAT 2028 is expected on the first Sunday of December 2027, following the established pattern. Registration typically opens in August and closes by October.

AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is NLU Delhi's independent entrance exam, separate from CLAT. It follows a similar timeline, with the exam usually held in the first or second week of December. Students serious about law should register for both CLAT and AILET.

Design Entrance: NIFT & NID DAT

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) conducts its entrance exam through NTA, typically in early February. The test comprises a General Ability Test (GAT) and a Creative Ability Test (CAT) for undergraduate programmes. Registration opens in October–November and closes in early January. A situation test (studio test) follows the written exam for shortlisted candidates.

NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) is held by the National Institute of Design in January. The prelims are a pen-and-paper test assessing design aptitude, creativity, and observation skills. Registration typically opens in October–November. Shortlisted candidates are called for a studio test and interview at NID campuses.

Defence: NDA I & NDA II

The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam, conducted by UPSC, is held twice a year. NDA I notification comes out in February–March with the exam in April, while NDA II notification is in May–June with the exam in September. The written exam consists of Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test (600 marks) over 5 hours total. Candidates who clear the written exam are called for a 5-day SSB Interview that tests personality, group dynamics, and leadership. NDA is open to unmarried male and female candidates aged 16.5–19.5 years after completing 10+2.

Commerce & Professional: CA Foundation, CS Foundation, IPMAT

CA Foundation

ICAI conducts the CA Foundation exam three times a year — in January, May, and September. Each session has 4 papers: Paper 1 (Accounting), Paper 2 (Business Laws & Business Correspondence), Paper 3 (Business Mathematics & Statistics), and Paper 4 (Business Economics). Papers are held on alternate days. Students who have passed or are appearing for Class 12 can register for CA Foundation. Registration opens 2–3 months before each session.

CS Foundation

ICSI's Company Secretary Foundation exam is held twice a year — in June and December. It tests business fundamentals, law, and management principles. Registration details are available at icsi.edu.

IPMAT

IIM Indore's Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test is held in early May for its 5-year MBA programme. IIM Rohtak and IIM Jammu conduct similar exams (JIPMAT). These are excellent options for students who want to pursue management directly after Class 12.

Scholarships & Olympiads: NTSE, SOF, IOQM

NTSE (National Talent Search Examination)

NTSE is a two-stage scholarship exam for Class 10 students. Stage I is conducted by respective states in November, and Stage II is conducted by NCERT in May. Around 2,000 students receive scholarships of Rs 1,250 per month (Class 11–12) and Rs 2,000 per month (UG and above). Both stages test Mental Ability (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude (SAT).

SOF Olympiads

The Science Olympiad Foundation conducts 6 Olympiad exams: NSO (Science), IMO (Mathematics), IEO (English), IGKO (General Knowledge), ICO (Cyber), and ISSO (Social Studies). Level 1 is held in October–December with three dates per exam (schools choose one). Top performers from Level 1 qualify for Level 2 in February. These Olympiads are open to students from Classes 1 to 12 and offer medals, cash prizes, and scholarships.

IOQM (Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics)

IOQM is the first stage of India's selection pipeline for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Held in September, it is a 3-hour exam open to students of Classes 8–12. Qualifiers proceed to RMO (November), INMO (January), and ultimately to the IMO training camp. Registration opens in June–July through schools or individually.

Board Exams: CBSE, ICSE & ISC 2028

Board exams form the backbone of the 2027–28 academic year. While they do not have entrance-exam-level competitiveness, board results are mandatory for college admissions and are used for eligibility cutoffs in JEE, NEET, and other exams.

Students preparing for both boards and competitive exams need to balance their study schedules carefully. Board exams in February–April overlap directly with JEE Main Session 2, VITEEE, and SRMJEEE. A well-structured timetable that allocates mornings to board revision and evenings to competitive exam practice can help manage this overlap.

Registration Tips: Never Miss a Deadline

Thousands of students miss exam deadlines every year due to poor planning. Here are practical strategies to ensure you never miss a registration window.

1. Set calendar alerts 30 days before each deadline: Use Google Calendar, Apple Reminders, or any reminder app. Set two alerts — one 30 days before and another 7 days before the registration deadline.
2. Keep documents ready in advance: Most registration forms require a passport-size photo (white background), signature scan, Class 10 marksheet, Class 12 hall ticket or marksheet, Aadhaar card, and category certificate (if applicable). Scan all these in JPEG/PDF format and keep them in a single folder on your phone and computer.
3. Register on Day 1: Do not wait for the last date. Websites crash, payment gateways fail, and OTPs get delayed on the final day. Register within the first 3 days of the window opening.
4. Create a master spreadsheet: List every exam you plan to take, its registration dates, fee, exam date, and admit card date. Update it as official notifications are released.
5. Follow official sources only: Bookmark the official websites — nta.ac.in, jeemain.nta.nic.in, neet.nta.nic.in, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, upsc.gov.in, icai.org. Avoid relying solely on third-party news sites, as they sometimes publish incorrect dates.
6. Check application status after payment: After submitting any application, download the confirmation page and verify your payment status on the portal within 48 hours. Payment failures during registration are common and can be resolved only within the correction window.

Frequently Asked Questions