India Education Headlines: CBSE Gulf Class 12 Cancelled March 16, 2026

Mar 16, 2026

Published: March 16, 2026

CBSE Cancels Class 12 Board Exams In West Asia From March 16

Exams cancelled across seven Middle East countries

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled all remaining Class 12 board examinations for students in several West Asian countries, citing the deteriorating regional security situation amid the Iran–US–Israel conflict. In a circular dated March 15, 2026, the board confirmed that all Class 12 exams scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, for CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will not be conducted. The decision affects papers that were originally on the timetable as well as those postponed earlier in March due to escalating tensions in the region.

The circular explicitly states that examinations which were earlier postponed through notices issued on March 1, March 3, March 5, March 7 and March 9, 2026, “shall also stand cancelled”, bringing an end to all Class 12 written examinations for Indian students in these Gulf and West Asian centres this year. CBSE has advised affected students and schools to remain in close contact with school authorities and to follow only official updates published via https://cbse.gov.in and board circulars shared through diplomatic missions and school managements.

Evaluation process and results to be announced separately

While cancelling the examinations, CBSE has not yet finalised the evaluation process for these candidates and has clarified that the “mode of declaration of results for Class XII candidates in these countries will be notified separately in due course”. Media reports indicate that the board is consulting local authorities, Indian missions, and school representatives to design an assessment framework that balances academic fairness with the extraordinary circumstances prevailing in the region. Students and parents have been urged not to rely on rumours or unofficial social media forwards and instead monitor official CBSE and Embassy channels for any announcement on internal assessments, moderation formulae, or alternative evaluation mechanisms that may be adopted for the 2025–26 academic cycle.

CUET PG 2026 Admit Cards Released For March 16–19 Exams

Hall tickets for March 16–19 now available online

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the CUET PG 2026 admit cards for candidates whose examinations are scheduled between March 16 and March 19, 2026. Aspirants can download their hall tickets from the official CUET PG portal at https://exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-PG/ using their application number and date of birth. According to the latest updates, CUET PG 2026 is being conducted in multiple shifts across centres nationwide, with the current phase of admit cards covering this critical four-day window starting today, March 16, 2026.

The admit card includes the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, shift timing, examination centre address and detailed exam-day instructions, and candidates are advised to carefully verify all particulars after downloading the document. On the day of the exam, students must report to their allotted centre with a printed copy of the CUET PG 2026 admit card, a valid photo identity document such as Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence, and any other documents mentioned in the NTA advisory. In case of discrepancies or technical issues in accessing the admit card, candidates can contact the NTA help desk or email the official support IDs mentioned on the CUET PG website.

CUET PG 2026 exam schedule and next releases

CUET PG 2026 began on March 6, 2026 and is scheduled to continue until March 27, 2026, covering 157 subjects in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. NTA has been issuing admit cards in phases based on exam dates: first for candidates appearing on March 6–10, then for those scheduled on March 11–13, and now for the March 16–19 slots. Admit cards for candidates whose tests fall on March 24, March 25 and March 27, 2026 are expected to be released closer to their respective exam dates and will also be available on https://exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-PG/. Students targeting postgraduate admissions in Central, state, deemed, and private universities using CUET PG scores should track daily updates from NTA’s Notice Board at https://nta.ac.in for any changes in schedule, city intimation slips, or additional advisories.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Application Window Reopened Until March 13

Reopened registration window and key deadlines

Responding to multiple requests from aspirants, NTA reopened the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (April attempt) application window from the afternoon of March 12, 2026, to March 13, 2026. Fresh registrations and fee payments for the April session were allowed up to 9:00 pm and 11:50 pm on March 13, 2026, respectively, via the official website https://jeemain.nta.nic.in. This special one-time extension came after the original registration period, which ran from February 1 to February 25, 2026, was closed and a brief correction window was offered on February 27–28, 2026.

The public notice clearly stated that the reopened window was meant only for candidates who had not yet applied for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 and that applicants who had already completed their forms earlier would not be allowed to re-register or modify existing submissions. Importantly, NTA clarified that no further correction facility would be provided after submission during this reopened window, placing full responsibility on candidates to ensure the accuracy of personal, academic and exam-city details before final submission. Coaching and guidance portals such as Careers360 and Allen have reiterated this advisory, asking students to cross-check uploaded photographs, signatures and category certificates against NTA norms.

JEE Main April 2–9 exam dates and preparation pointers

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from April 2 to April 9, 2026, across India and selected international centres. Session 1 for 2026 was held between January 21 and January 29, 2026, and its results—along with NTA scores for Paper 1 and Paper 2—have already been declared, forming the basis for eligibility and improved scores in the April attempt. Candidates appearing in Session 2 should now focus on final revision, NTA’s official mock tests and the JEE Main 2026 information bulletin available at https://nta.ac.in and https://jeemain.nta.nic.in to understand updated exam patterns, city intimation processes and exam-day guidelines. For many students, this April window represents a crucial opportunity to improve their percentile and secure eligibility for JEE Advanced and admissions to NITs, IIITs and other participating engineering institutes for the 2026–27 academic year.

NEET UG 2026 Registration Deadline Extended To March 11

Revised application and fee payment schedule

The National Testing Agency has extended the NEET UG 2026 registration deadline, giving aspirants extra time to complete their application forms for the national medical entrance test. Originally scheduled to close on March 8, 2026, the online registration window at https://neet.nta.nic.in was extended until March 11, 2026, 9:00 pm, with fee payment permitted up to 11:50 pm the same day. Official notices and major education portals emphasised that this was the final extension and advised candidates not to wait until the last minute due to heavy traffic and payment gateway issues.

The registration process, which began on February 8, 2026, requires candidates to complete one-time registration, fill the detailed application form, upload a recent photograph and signature, and pay the category-wise examination fee online. Students must also select their preferred exam city and ensure that personal details match their Aadhaar and academic records, as outlined in NTA’s advisory and the NEET UG 2026 information bulletin. Candidates can still refer to the official NEET UG 2026 syllabus and eligibility guidelines hosted at https://neet.nta.nic.in and https://nta.ac.in for clarity on subject coverage and qualification requirements.

Correction window and May 3, 2026 exam date

Following the close of registrations, NTA has scheduled an application correction window for NEET UG 2026 from March 10 to March 12, 2026, during which candidates can modify specific fields in their forms. Typically, changes are allowed in limited areas such as category, exam city and some academic details, while core identity information often remains locked; students are therefore advised to read the correction guidelines carefully when they become available on the official portal. The NEET UG 2026 examination itself is scheduled for May 3, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm in pen-and-paper mode across designated centres in India and select international locations. Performance in this single national-level exam will determine admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other undergraduate medical programmes in government and private colleges for the 2026–27 session, making adherence to timelines and instructions absolutely critical.

NTET 2026 Registration Begins For April 28 Teacher Eligibility Test

Application schedule and exam date

NTA has commenced the online application process for the National Teachers’ Eligibility Test (NTET) 2026, introducing a key national-level teacher eligibility examination in the education calendar. Candidates interested in teaching roles in specific streams, including Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, can now submit their applications through the official portal at https://exams.nta.nic.in/ntet. According to the schedule released, the NTET 2026 registration window opened on March 11, 2026 and will remain active until April 2, 2026, with fee payment allowed up to April 3, 2026.

The NTET 2026 examination is scheduled to be conducted on April 28, 2026, in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode at centres across the country. NTA has also announced a correction window from April 4 to April 6, 2026, enabling candidates to rectify specific details in their submitted forms, which is particularly important for ensuring accurate subject selection and category information. Applicants are advised to keep scanned copies of photographs, signatures and supporting documents ready in the prescribed formats and to frequently check both https://nta.ac.in and the NTET section of https://exams.nta.nic.in for bulletins, exam pattern details and updates.

Who should apply and where to find details

NTET 2026 is designed as an eligibility test for teaching positions in targeted higher-education and specialised institutions and is expected to be relevant for candidates pursuing academic careers in fields aligned with Indian systems of medicine and related disciplines. Prospective applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications, age limits (if any), reservation norms and subject-wise options, as defined in the NTET 2026 Information Bulletin hosted on the official NTA websites. Helpline numbers and official email IDs published in the notice allow candidates to seek clarifications regarding registration, fee payment or technical issues, ensuring that they can complete their applications smoothly well before the April 2 deadline.

NCET 2026 Registration For Integrated Teacher Education Programme

Application window and April 7, 2026 exam schedule

For students aiming to enter four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) courses, NTA has opened registrations for the National Common Entrance Test (NCET) 2026. The online application window for NCET 2026 runs from February 12 to March 10, 2026, with fee payment allowed up to March 11, 2026, via the dedicated portal at https://exams.nta.nic.in/ncet. As per the official notification, NCET 2026 is tentatively scheduled for April 7, 2026 (Friday), in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, with the exact date subject to change depending on the national election schedule.

NCET 2026 will be conducted across the country in 13 mediums, reflecting India’s linguistic diversity and the broad roll-out of ITEP across Central and state universities and selected institutes like IITs, NITs, Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs), and government colleges recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). Details about the scheme of examination, structure of question papers, marking scheme and subject combinations are available in the NCET 2026 Information Bulletin on the official website. Candidates must ensure that they use their own active email ID and mobile number during registration, as all communication about exam city slips, admit cards and result announcements will be sent through these channels.

ITEP admissions and counselling through NCET scores

NCET 2026 scores will be used by participating Central and state universities, IITs, NITs, RIEs and recognised government colleges to admit students to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme for the 2026–27 academic session. After the examination, counselling and admission processes will be conducted by the respective institutions, which will verify eligibility, documents and self-declarations at later stages. Aspirants targeting a career in school education, particularly under the National Education Policy’s integrated B.Ed. pathways, should monitor https://education.gov.in, https://nta.ac.in and the NCET portal for subsequent updates on answer keys, scorecards and institution-specific counselling schedules.

CUET UG 2026 Registration Window Reopened Until February 26

Fresh chance for undergraduate aspirants

For undergraduate admissions through the Common University Entrance Test, NTA reopened the CUET UG 2026 registration window, giving aspirants a final opportunity to apply after the original deadlines. The CUET UG 2026 application process initially ran from January 3 to February 4, 2026, with fee payment allowed until February 7, 2026, before being closed. Following numerous requests from students and institutions, a public notice dated February 23, 2026 announced that the online registration portal at https://cuet.nta.nic.in would reopen from the afternoon of February 23 to February 26, 2026, 11:50 pm, for fresh submissions and fee payments.

This reopened window did not include any correction facility; candidates were specifically warned that no edits would be permitted once the form was submitted during this special extension. As a result, aspirants were urged by media outlets and counselling platforms to carefully verify personal information, subject choices, university preferences and exam city selections before clicking submit. The CUET UG 2026 application form remains fully online, requiring registration, detailed form filling, document uploads and online fee payment, with login credentials later used to access admit cards, exam city slips and results.

CUET UG 2026 exam window and next steps

CUET UG 2026 is scheduled to be held in CBT mode from May 11 to May 31, 2026, across centres in India and select overseas locations, subject to final confirmation by NTA. The exam will be conducted in 13 languages and serves as a common entrance route for undergraduate admissions to Central universities as well as many state, deemed and private universities that have opted into the CUET framework. With the registration window now closed as of February 26, 2026, registered candidates should focus on aligning their preparation with the official syllabus and exam structure, while monitoring https://cuet.nta.nic.in and https://nta.ac.in for announcements on the correction window (where applicable), exam city intimation, admit card release and any special advisories.

AISSEE 2026 Results Declared For Class 6 And 9 Admissions

Scorecards available online for January 18 exam

The National Testing Agency has declared the results of the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) 2026 for Class 6 and Class 9 admissions. The exam was conducted on January 18, 2026, in pen-and-paper mode at 464 centres across 190 cities for admission to Sainik Schools and New Sainik Schools for the 2026–27 academic year. Candidates who appeared for AISSEE 2026 can download their scorecards from NTA’s exam portals, including https://exams.nta.nic.in and the dedicated Sainik Schools section at https://exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society, using their application number and password.

Students are advised to carefully verify personal details, subject-wise marks, total scores and qualification status on the result page and to retain a copy of the scorecard for subsequent counselling rounds. Merit lists and detailed information on qualified and non-qualified candidates have also been published, helping families understand competitive cut-offs for Class 6 and Class 9 across different Sainik Schools. In case of discrepancies or technical issues accessing results, candidates and parents can contact the Sainik Schools Society via the official email IDs and helplines mentioned in the notification.

E-counselling and admission process to Sainik Schools

With AISSEE 2026 results released on February 27, 2026, the admission process has now shifted to e-counselling conducted by the Sainik Schools Society. Seats in Sainik Schools and New Sainik Schools will be allotted based on AISSEE scores, category-based reservations and school-wise seat matrices, with candidates required to upload documents, verify eligibility and complete fee payment within the stipulated timelines. Aspirants must regularly check the official websites for counselling schedules, document verification dates and instructions on reporting to allotted schools, as failure to comply with deadlines can lead to forfeiture of seats.