In short: NTA has released the 2027 exam calendar covering JEE Main, NEET UG, and CUET UG. With 14+ major competitive exams scheduled between January and July 2027, Class 12 students need a clear calendar to plan preparation without overlap. This guide covers every major exam — dates, eligibility, syllabus scope, approximate seats, and the career paths each one opens.
The 2027 Competitive Exam Calendar at a Glance
NTA announced the exam calendar for December 2026 through March 2027, with several exams already confirmed. Here is the master schedule for all major exams after Class 12.
| Exam | Expected Dates | Field | Approx. Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main Session 1 | January 22–30, 2027 | Engineering | 50,000+ (NITs, IIITs, GFTIs) |
| CUET PG | February–March 2027 | Postgraduate | Varies by university |
| JEE Main Session 2 | April 2027 | Engineering | Combined with Session 1 |
| NEET UG | April–May 2027 | Medical | 1,10,000+ (MBBS/BDS) |
| CUET UG | May 2027 | University Admissions | 3,00,000+ across 260+ universities |
| JEE Advanced | May–June 2027 | IIT Engineering | ~17,500 (23 IITs) |
| CLAT | December 2026 | Law | ~3,000 (22 NLUs) |
| NDA I | April 2027 | Defence | ~400 |
| NDA II | September 2027 | Defence | ~400 |
| BITSAT | May–June 2027 | Engineering | ~2,000 (BITS campuses) |
| VITEEE | April–May 2027 | Engineering | ~20,000 |
| WBJEE | April–May 2027 | Engineering (WB) | ~35,000 |
| NIFT | January–February 2027 | Design/Fashion | ~3,600 |
| NID DAT | January 2027 | Design | ~800 |
Note: Exact dates are subject to official confirmation. This table reflects the NTA calendar and previous year patterns.
Engineering Entrance Exams
JEE Main 2027
JEE Main is the gateway to NITs, IIITs, and government-funded technical institutions. It also serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced (IIT admission).
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | NTA (National Testing Agency) |
| Sessions | 2 (January and April 2027) |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Papers | Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech; Paper 2: B.Arch/B.Planning |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 300 (Physics 100 + Chemistry 100 + Maths 100) |
| Questions | 75 (25 per subject × 3), with 5 optional in each |
| Marking | +4 correct, -1 incorrect |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass/appearing with Physics, Chemistry, Maths |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit |
| Attempts | Maximum 3 (in 3 consecutive years) |
| Top Colleges | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs (50+ institutions) |
Career Paths: B.Tech/B.E. in CS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, and 20+ branches → Campus placements ranging from ₹6–50 LPA at top NITs.
Preparation overlap with boards: Approximately 60–70% syllabus overlap with CBSE Class 12 PCM. Students preparing for JEE should focus on board-level NCERT first, then go deeper with reference books.
JEE Advanced 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | One of the 23 IITs (rotational) |
| Eligibility | Top 2,50,000 JEE Main qualifiers |
| Mode | CBT |
| Papers | 2 papers (3 hours each) on the same day |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Total Seats | ~17,500 across 23 IITs |
| Age Limit | Born on or after October 1, 2002 |
| Attempts | Maximum 2 in consecutive years |
BITSAT 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | BITS Pilani |
| Mode | CBT |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Total Questions | 130 (Physics 40, Chemistry 40, Maths 45, English 15, Logical Reasoning 10) + bonus |
| Campuses | Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad |
| Eligibility | 75% aggregate in PCM (Class 12), 60% in each subject |
| Seats | ~2,000 |
VITEEE 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | VIT University |
| Mode | CBT |
| Duration | 2.5 hours |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Maths/Biology, English, Aptitude |
| Campuses | Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal, AP |
| Total Seats | ~20,000 |
| Eligibility | 60% aggregate in PCM/PCB |
WBJEE 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | WBJEEB |
| Mode | Pen and Paper (OMR) |
| Duration | 2 hours per paper (Paper 1: Maths, Paper 2: Physics + Chemistry) |
| Eligibility | WB domicile or Class 12 from any board |
| Total Seats | ~35,000 across West Bengal engineering colleges |
State CETs (Common Entrance Tests)
| State CET | State | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| MHT CET | Maharashtra | PCM/PCB, 150 questions, 3 hours, ~1.5 lakh seats |
| KCET | Karnataka | PCM/PCB, 60 questions per subject, ~60,000 seats |
| TS EAMCET | Telangana | PCM, 160 questions, 3 hours, ~70,000 seats |
| AP EAMCET | Andhra Pradesh | PCM, 160 questions, 3 hours, ~1 lakh seats |
| GUJCET | Gujarat | PCM/PCB, 120 questions, ~50,000 seats |
| COMEDK | Karnataka (private) | PCM, 180 questions, 3 hours, ~20,000 seats |
Medical Entrance Exams
NEET UG 2027
NEET is the single entrance exam for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and nursing courses across India.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | NTA |
| Expected Date | April–May 2027 |
| Mode | Expected to transition to CBT from 2027 (pending final confirmation) |
| Duration | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Total Questions | 200 (180 to attempt) |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Subjects | Physics 45Q, Chemistry 45Q, Biology 90Q (Botany + Zoology) |
| Marking | +4 correct, -1 incorrect |
| Eligibility | Class 12 with PCB, minimum 50% aggregate (40% for SC/ST/OBC) |
| Age Limit | Minimum 17 years as of December 31, 2027 |
| Total Seats | 1,10,000+ (government MBBS: ~55,000) |
Career Paths: MBBS → MD/MS → Super-specialization. BDS → MDS. AYUSH courses. Nursing programs. AIIMS, JIPMER, and all government/private medical colleges admit through NEET only.
2027 Update: NTA may conduct NEET in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode for the first time in 2027. Students should practice both OMR and CBT formats. Check our NEET 2027 CBT guide for preparation tips.
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University Entrance Exams
CUET UG 2027
CUET is mandatory for admission to 260+ central, state, and private universities including DU, JNU, BHU, Jamia, and others.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | NTA |
| Expected Date | May 2027 |
| Mode | CBT |
| Duration | 40–45 minutes per domain subject |
| Sections | Section 1A: Language, Section 1B: Language, Section 2: Domain Subjects, Section 3: General Test |
| Max Subjects | 6 (up to 5 domain + 1 language or general test) |
| Marking | +5 correct, -1 incorrect |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass/appearing |
Career Paths: BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BCA, Integrated Law, and specialized programs at 260+ universities. CUET score is the primary admission criterion — Class 12 board marks are used only for eligibility, not for ranking.
For detailed preparation strategy, see our Complete Guide to CUET 2027.
CLAT 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Consortium of NLUs |
| Expected Date | December 2026 (for 2027 admissions) |
| Mode | CBT (offline at test centers) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Sections | English, Current Affairs + GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass/appearing, no minimum percentage for General category |
| Total Seats | ~3,000 across 22 NLUs |
Career Paths: BA LLB (5 years) → Corporate law, litigation, judiciary, legal advisory. Top NLU graduates earn ₹15–30 LPA starting.
Defence Entrance Exams
NDA (National Defence Academy) 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | UPSC |
| Exams per Year | 2 (NDA I in April, NDA II in September) |
| Mode | Pen and Paper |
| Papers | Paper 1: Maths (300 marks), Paper 2: GAT (600 marks) |
| Duration | 2.5 hours per paper |
| Followed by | SSB Interview (900 marks) |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass/appearing, age 16.5–19.5 years, unmarried |
| Total Seats | ~400 per exam |
Career Paths: Indian Army, Navy, Air Force officer through training at NDA Khadakwasla followed by IMA/Naval Academy/AFA.
CDS (Combined Defence Services) 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Graduates (or in final year) |
| Entries | IMA, AFA, OTA, Naval Academy |
| Age | 19–24 years (varies by entry) |
| Mode | Written exam + SSB |
Design Entrance Exams
NIFT 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | CBT + Situation Test |
| Courses | B.Des, B.FTech |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass |
| Campuses | 18 across India |
| Seats | ~3,600 |
NID DAT 2027
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Pen and Paper + Studio Test |
| Courses | B.Des |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass |
| Campuses | Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vijayawada, others |
| Seats | ~800 |
How to Choose Which Exams to Attempt
Not every exam suits every student. Use this decision framework:
| If You Want... | Primary Exam | Secondary Exam | Board Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT admission | JEE Main → JEE Advanced | BITSAT, WBJEE | PCM |
| NIT / IIIT admission | JEE Main | State CET, BITSAT | PCM |
| MBBS / BDS | NEET UG | — | PCB |
| DU / JNU / BHU | CUET UG | — | Any stream |
| Law (NLU) | CLAT | AILET, LSAT | Any stream |
| Army / Navy / Air Force | NDA | CDS (after graduation) | PCM preferred |
| Design / Fashion | NIFT, NID | UCEED | Any stream |
| Private Engineering | VITEEE, SRMJEE | WBJEE, COMEDK | PCM |
Key Principle: Do not attempt more than 3–4 major exams. Spreading too thin reduces your score in all of them. Pick your top priority and one backup.
Preparation Strategy: Boards + Competitive Exams Together
The biggest challenge for Class 12 students is balancing board preparation with competitive exam preparation. Here is the reality:
- 70% of JEE Main syllabus overlaps with CBSE Class 12 PCM
- 80% of NEET syllabus overlaps with CBSE Class 12 PCB
- CUET UG domain subjects are largely based on NCERT Class 12 content
This means board preparation and competitive preparation are not separate activities — they are the same work at different depths.
October–December: Focus on NCERT completion and board exam fundamentals. Use NCERT for concept clarity.
January–February: Board exam revision + JEE Main Session 1 / CLAT.
March: Board exams.
April–May: NEET, JEE Main Session 2, CUET UG.
For more on this balancing act, see trending courses after Class 12 to understand which career paths these exams lead to.
Exam-Wise Preparation Resources
| Exam | NCERT Enough? | Extra Resources Needed |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | For 150–180/300 | HC Verma, Cengage, PYQ |
| JEE Advanced | No | Advanced problem sets, coaching material |
| NEET | Yes, for 550/720 | NCERT line-by-line + PYQ |
| CUET UG | Yes, mostly | NCERT + NTA mock tests |
| CLAT | Not applicable | Current affairs, legal reasoning, GK |
| NDA | Partially | R.S. Aggarwal, Lucent GK |
| BITSAT | Partially | Speed-based practice, NCERT+ |
Registration Timeline and Fees
| Exam | Registration Opens | Fee (General) | Fee (SC/ST/PwD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | November 2026 | ₹1,000 | ₹500 |
| NEET UG | February 2027 | ₹1,700 | ₹1,000 |
| CUET UG | March 2027 | ₹750 | ₹350 |
| CLAT | October 2026 | ₹4,000 | ₹3,500 |
| BITSAT | January 2027 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,500 |
| VITEEE | November 2026 | ₹1,200 | ₹1,200 |
| NDA | December 2026 | ₹100 | Free |
Fees are approximate and based on 2026 patterns. Check official websites for exact amounts.
Can I appear for JEE Main and NEET both in the same year?
Technically yes — the exam dates do not usually clash. However, JEE requires PCM and NEET requires PCB. Unless you are studying PCMB (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and Biology), preparing for both at a competitive level is extremely difficult. Most successful students pick one primary exam and attempt the other only if dates allow and they have genuine interest in both fields.
How many times can I attempt JEE Main?
You can attempt JEE Main for a maximum of 3 consecutive years. Within each year, NTA conducts 2 sessions (January and April). Your best score across both sessions is considered for ranking. This means you have up to 6 attempts over 3 years to get your best score.
Is CUET mandatory for DU admission?
Yes. Since 2022, Delhi University admissions are 100% based on CUET UG scores through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). Your Class 12 board marks determine eligibility (you need to pass), but the ranking and seat allocation are entirely based on CUET performance. This applies to all central universities participating in CUET.
What if I do not qualify for any competitive exam?
You still have options. Many good private universities accept Class 12 marks directly (without CUET). State universities in many states still use board marks for admission. IGNOU and state open universities accept all students. Diploma courses, ITI, and skill-based programs are also viable paths. See our guide on what to do after Class 12 for a complete overview.
Should I take a drop year if I do not get a good rank?
A drop year makes sense only if you have a clear improvement plan, scored within striking distance of your target (within 20–30% of cutoff), and can handle the mental pressure of a second attempt. For JEE, a well-planned drop year can improve ranks significantly. For NEET, droppers form nearly 60% of the test-taking population. For CUET, a drop year is rarely worth it — better to take admission and try to transfer or upgrade later.
Are state CET exams easier than national exams?
State CETs generally have lower difficulty levels than JEE Main or NEET. However, competition varies — MHT CET (Maharashtra) and KCET (Karnataka) are highly competitive due to the large number of applicants relative to seats. If you are preparing for JEE Main, state CETs require minimal additional preparation. The syllabus overlap is 85–95%.
Related Guides
- Complete Guide to CUET 2027 After Class 12
- Trending Courses After Class 12 India 2027
- Class 12 Marks vs College Cutoff — Board Wise
- Board Exam 2027 — What Changed All Boards
- Daily Study Timetable for Board Exams — CBSE Class 10 & 12
- Fear of Failing Board Exams — Anxiety Management
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