India Education Headlines Today – January 19, 2026

Published: January 19, 2026

JEE Main 2026 Admit Card Confirmed Released – January 17

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 admit cards for candidates appearing on January 21, 22, 23, and 24, 2026. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official website at jeemain.nta.nic.in by logging in with their application number and password.

The admit card contains essential information, including the candidate's name, exam date, shift timing, test centre address, reporting time, and candidate photograph. Admit cards for exams scheduled on January 28 and 29, 2026, will be released separately, following NTA's standard practice of releasing hall tickets three to four days before the examination date.

Direct Link: jeemain.nta.nic.in

Important Note: Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License) to the examination centre. Entry will not be permitted without these documents.

CBSE Board Exam Admit Cards Released for Private Candidates

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released admit cards for Class 10 and Class 12 board examination 2026 for private candidates on January 17, 2026. These students can now download their hall tickets from the official CBSE website at cbse.gov.in using their roll number, school code, and date of birth.

The CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations are scheduled from February 17 to April 9, 2026. The admit card is mandatory for entry into the examination centre and includes critical details such as the candidate's name, board roll number, subject-wise examination dates, exam centre address, and centre code.

Regular school candidates' admit cards remain pending release. The board typically releases regular student admit cards within 3-4 weeks before the examination period begins.

ICAI CA Intermediate Paper 5 Postponed – Revised Date Pending

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced the postponement of CA Intermediate Paper 5 (Auditing and Ethics), originally scheduled for January 19, 2026, across all centres in India and abroad. A revised examination date will be announced by ICAI shortly.

The postponement affects candidates appearing for CA Intermediate Group II. However, all other scheduled CA examination dates remain unchanged. CA Final Group I exams concluded January 5-9, CA Final Group II concluded January 11-16, CA Intermediate Group I exams were held January 6-10, and CA Intermediate Group II exams on January 12 and 15 proceeded as scheduled.

Official Source: Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (icai.org)

IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card Available for Download

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has released the IIT JAM (Joint Admission Test for Master's) 2026 admit card as of January 13, 2026. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official JOAPS portal at jam2026.iitb.ac.in.

The IIT JAM 2026 examination is scheduled for February 15, 2026. Candidates must carry the printed admit card along with a valid photo ID proof to the examination centre. The admit card includes crucial information such as the candidate's name, exam date, exam time, test centre address, roll number, and reporting instructions.

Portal Link: jam2026.iitb.ac.in (JOAPS)

NIFT 2026 Application Deadline – Today Is the Last Day for Late Submission

Today, January 19, 2026, is the final deadline to submit NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) 2026 applications with a late fee of Rs 5,000 (in addition to the regular application fee). The National Testing Agency (NTA) is accepting late submissions through January 19 only.

Candidates can apply online at exams.nta.nic.in/niftee using their credentials. The application fees are Rs 2,000 for General/OBC/EWS categories and Rs 500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. The NIFT entrance examination is scheduled for February 8, 2026, in computer-based test (CBT) mode.

Application Fee Note: Late fee of Rs 5,000 applies only for submissions from January 17-19, 2026. Regular registration without late fees closed on January 16, 2026.

Telangana Model School MSAT 2026 Applications Opening on January 28

The Telangana Model Schools have announced the schedule for the Telangana Model Schools Admission Test (MSAT) 2026, which will be held for admissions to Class 6 and for filling vacant seats in Classes 7 to 10 for the academic year 2026-27.

Important Timeline:

• Application Window: January 28 to February 28, 2026

• Hall Ticket Release: April 9, 2026

• Admission Test Date: April 19, 2026 (Sunday)

• Exam Timings: Class 6 exam from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM; Classes 7-10 exam from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Application Portal: tgms.telangana.gov.in

Application Fee: Rs 200 for Open Category students; Rs 125 for BC, SC, ST, PWD, and EWS students. The examination will be conducted at Model Schools located in the respective mandals where candidates reside.

UP Board Makes Vocational Education Mandatory in Classes 9 & 11 from 2026

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UP Board) has made vocational education compulsory for students of Classes 9 and 11 starting from the 2026 academic session, announced on January 16, 2026.

According to UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh, subject committees have approved and submitted comprehensive curricula for multiple vocational trades, including Information Technology and Allied Fields, Electronics, Apparel, Beauty & Wellness. The employment-oriented curriculum incorporates practical, skill-based, and job-focused content to enhance student employability and align school education with industry expectations.

The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 objectives and aims to foster skill development, self-reliance, and vocational proficiency among students. The Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal, provided support in preparing these courses, with contributions from renowned subject experts.

Odisha to Introduce 55 New Textbooks for Classes 1-8 from 2026-27 Session

The Odisha government will introduce 55 new textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 from the 2026-27 academic year, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, announced Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on January 16, 2026.

The new textbooks have been translated and contextualised from NCERT materials to reflect Odisha's local needs, culture, and heritage. To ensure seamless implementation, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has trained 1,000 master resource persons, who will subsequently train over 1.66 lakh primary teachers across the state.

Three new subjects have been introduced to promote holistic development: Art Education, Physical Education & Well-being, and Vocational Education. The initiative emphasises mother-tongue-based instruction at least up to Class 5 and strengthens schemes like PM-Poshan and "bagless school days" for Classes 6-10.

Delhi-NCR Schools Shift to Online/Modified Schedules Amid Severe Air Quality

Schools across Delhi-NCR are implementing emergency measures on January 19, 2026, due to hazardous air quality conditions. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced GRAP Stage IV restrictions as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 428, falling in the "severe" category.

Current School Status by Region:

• Delhi: Schools have shifted to a complete online mode for all classes

• Noida/Gautam Budh Nagar: Schools remain open with revised timings from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM due to dense fog and extreme cold conditions

• Pune: Educational institutions closed on January 19 for the Pune Grand Tour 2026 international cycling event, which requires major road closures

For Classes 10 and 12 Board Exams: Despite air quality concerns, exam schedules remain unchanged. Exam centres will operate with necessary precautions. Candidates preparing for board exams are advised to stay updated with their respective school and district administration announcements.

IGNOU Re-Registration Deadline Extended to January 31, 2026

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the re-registration deadline for the January 2026 session to January 31, 2026 (originally January 15, 2026). Students enrolled in all undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate courses must complete re-registration through the official portal at onlinerr.ignou.ac.in.

Re-registration is mandatory for all existing learners who wish to continue their programmes in the upcoming cycle. The extension provides additional time for students to update their details and ensure seamless progression in their studies.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Concluded – Results Awaited

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducted the SSC CGL 2025 Tier 2 examination on January 18 and 19, 2026, with over 1.39 lakh candidates appearing for the test. Paper 1 Section IV (Data Entry Speed Test) was conducted on January 18, while Paper 1 Sections I-III (Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge Test) and Paper 2 (Statistics) were held on January 19.

The Tier 2 answer key and results are expected to be released by late January or early February 2026. Candidates are advised to check ssc.gov.in for official updates and result announcements.

NEET UG 2026 Expected in May – Application Window February 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the NEET UG 2026 notification in early February 2026, with the application window opening in the first week of February 2026 and closing in the first week of March 2026.

The NEET UG 2026 examination is tentatively scheduled for May 3, 2026 (the first Sunday of May), following the pattern of previous years. This year marks a significant shift as NEET 2026 will be conducted entirely in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, eliminating the traditional OMR sheet approach.

The exam will feature 180 compulsory multiple-choice questions with no optional questions—45 questions each from Physics and Chemistry and 90 questions from Biology—to be completed in 180 minutes (3 hours). Admit cards are expected to be released in late April 2026.

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Key Deadlines & Important Dates to Remember

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Sources

• National Testing Agency (NTA): jeemain.nta.nic.in, exams.nta.nic.in, jam2026.iitb.ac.in

• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): cbse.gov.in

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI): icai.org

• Telangana Model Schools: tgms.telangana.gov.in

• Staff Selection Commission (SSC): ssc.gov.in

• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU): ignou.ac.in

• Indian Express Education: indianexpress.com

• NDTV Education: ndtv.com

• Times of India Education: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

• Careers360: careers360.com

• Shiksha.com: shiksha.com

• India Today Education: indiatoday.in