India Education Headlines: JEE Main Result Day February 16, 2026

Feb 16, 2026

Published: February 16, 2026

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Result To Be Declared Today, February 16

Result time, official websites and scorecard details

February 16, 2026 is the revised result date for JEE Main 2026 Session 1, after the National Testing Agency (NTA) postponed the earlier timeline of February 12 mentioned in the information bulletin. The latest updates from major exam portals confirm that NTA will declare the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result “by February 16, 2026,” with the scorecard link to be activated on the official JEE website jeemain.nta.nic.in and through nta.ac.in. Candidates who appeared for the January session between January 21 and January 29, 2026 will be able to download their scorecards using their application number and password or date of birth.

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result will provide NTA percentile scores for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, along with the overall NTA score, All India Rank (AIR), category rank (where applicable), and qualification status for JEE Advanced 2026. The final result is based on the revised answer key issued after the completion of the challenge process for the provisional key; this final answer key is expected alongside or just before the result publication. Students should access their results only through the official portals at https://jeemain.nta.nic.in and https://nta.ac.in to avoid fake links and misinformation.

Impact on JEE Advanced and counselling

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result on February 16, 2026, will serve as the first filter for admission to NITs, IIITs and centrally funded technical institutions, and for shortlisting top performers for JEE Advanced 2026. As per current practice, only candidates within the top 2.5 lakh ranks (across categories) will become eligible to register for JEE Advanced 2026 once NTA and the IITs publish the official cut-offs later in the year. Students aiming for premier institutes should download and save multiple copies of the JEE Main scorecard today, as it will be required for JoSAA counselling, state engineering counselling processes, and institutional seat allotment rounds.

For those who do not secure their target percentile in the January session, the February 16, 2026, result also acts as a benchmark for planning improvement in the April 2026 Session 2, where fresh attempts can help raise scores before final rank computation. Candidates are advised to track all official updates exclusively via https://jeemain.nta.nic.in and to read NTA’s detailed instructions on result interpretation and the absence of any re-evaluation provisions.

CBSE Board Exams 2026 From February 17: Strict 10 AM Entry Rule And Digital Evaluation For Class 12

Exam-day reporting time and advisory for over 46 lakh students

CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exams 2026 begin on February 17, 2026, with more than 46 lakh students appearing across India and in 26 countries abroad. The Central Board of Secondary Education has reiterated that all morning-shift papers will commence at 10:30 AM, and entry to examination centres will be strictly barred after 10:00 AM, with question papers distributed from 10:15 AM. In recent advisories, CBSE has urged students and parents to factor in local traffic, weather and security restrictions and to visit their test centres in advance, so that they can comfortably reach by 10:00 AM on all exam days. Official guidance clearly instructs schools to actively assist students with route planning and to reinforce reporting-time rules during pre-board meetings and class assemblies.

Detailed exam-day do’s and don’ts have been issued for Class 10 and 12 candidates, emphasising that they must carry only permitted stationery, valid admit cards and essential documents, while avoiding electronic devices, smartwatches, heavy jewellery and metal accessories. CBSE and leading education channels have also reiterated that dress should be simple and comfortable, not fashionable or elaborate, to ensure smooth frisking and adherence to security norms. With CBSE’s revised date sheet already in circulation and exams running from February 17 to March 11, 2026 for Class 10 and until April 10, 2026 for Class 12, students are advised to cross-check subject-wise dates on the official portal https://cbse.gov.in before each paper.

Digital evaluation and end of post-result marks verification for Class 12

Alongside exam-conduct rules, CBSE has announced a major structural reform: from the 2026 cycle, Class 12 answer scripts will be evaluated entirely through a digital On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, and the traditional post-result “verification of marks” facility will be discontinued. As explained by CBSE officials and detailed in the February 2026 explainer by Careers360, Class 12 answer sheets will be scanned and evaluated online using secure software, with automated totalling and direct mark entry to central servers—minimising manual errors and making post-result re-verification redundant.

Under this framework, evaluation timelines for Class 12 are expected to shrink from roughly 12 days to around 9 days, allowing faster declaration of results while ensuring that no response remains unchecked. Teachers will evaluate scanned scripts remotely from designated centres, including overseas schools, using standardised rubrics within the OSM platform. For the 2026 exams, digital evaluation will apply to Class 12, while Class 10 evaluation continues predominantly in offline mode, though further reforms are anticipated in future cycles. Students appearing for exams starting February 17, 2026, should therefore note that their Class 12 marks for this cycle will be treated as final, without the option of post-result verification, and rely only on official communications from CBSE and its website for clarification.

CUET PG 2026 Exam Schedule Released For March 6–27 CBT Window

Detailed exam window and shift timings

The National Testing Agency has released the complete timetable for the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate programmes (CUET PG) 2026, confirming that the exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from March 6 to March 27, 2026. As per the official schedule and news reports, examinations will be held on March 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 27, 2026, across more than 40 shifts over multiple days to accommodate 157 subjects and over four lakh registered candidates. The test will run in three daily slots—Shift 1 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, Shift 2 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM, and Shift 3 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM—depending on the subject combination chosen by candidates.

NTA has advised students to download the subject-wise schedule and check their specific exam dates and timings carefully through the CUET PG section of its exam portal at https://exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG. The examination will be conducted across more than 290 cities, including multiple international centres, to facilitate nationwide access for aspirants seeking admission to postgraduate programmes at central and participating universities.

Key dates for admit cards, city intimation and results

According to the CUET PG 2026 exam calendar published by leading education portals, the application correction window ran from January 28 to January 30, 2026, and the city intimation slips and admit cards are scheduled to be released in March 2026 through the NTA portal. Candidates must regularly check https://exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG and use their application number, date of birth or password to download the city slip first, followed by the admit card for each testing date.

Post-exam, the provisional answer key will be released in April 2026, followed by a brief challenge window, with the final answer key and CUET PG 2026 results expected in May 2026. Successful candidates will then participate in institution-level counselling processes, with central universities and other participating institutions issuing their own cut-offs and admission schedules based on CUET PG scores. Aspirants targeting March 6–27, 2026, exams are advised to align revision with the officially published syllabus and pattern, carry printed admit cards and photo ID to centres, and track only the official NTA portal and verified education news outlets for any changes.

NCET 2026 Applications Open For Four-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP)

Registration window, exam date and eligibility

The National Testing Agency has opened registrations for the National Common Entrance Test (NCET) 2026, the gateway for admission to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) for the 2026–27 academic session. As per detailed notices collated by official preparation portals, the NCET 2026 online application form was released on February 12, 2026, and the last date to submit the form is March 10, 2026. Candidates can apply via the official NTA websites at https://nta.ac.in and the dedicated NCET portal https://exams.nta.ac.in/NCET/ by completing registration, filling academic details, uploading documents and paying the applicable fee.

NCET 2026 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, tentatively on April 17, 2026, across around 178 cities in India, in 13 languages including Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The test is targeted at aspirants seeking four-year integrated teacher education in institutions such as central and state universities, IITs, NITs and Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs), with exam content broadly mapped to the Class 12 syllabus.

Why NCET matters for future school teachers

NCET 2026 is a key component of the National Education Policy 2020 vision for teacher preparation, as the four-year ITEP is designed as a dual-major programme that combines school-stage specialisation with a disciplinary major. Admission to participating ITEP institutions will be based primarily on NCET scores, followed by counselling and institutional procedures, replacing fragmented state-level teacher entrance tests for many programmes.

Candidates planning to apply should carefully study the official information bulletin on https://exams.nta.ac.in/NCET/, verify eligibility criteria such as educational qualification (Class 12 or equivalent) and category-based age limits, and note key dates: February 12 to March 10, 2026 for application, fee payment until March 11, 2026, and correction window from March 12 to March 14, 2026. With teaching careers increasingly requiring rigorous professional training, NCET 2026 represents a critical opportunity for students who wish to enter integrated B.Ed.-type programmes aligned with NEP 2020.

Bihar Board 2026 Class 10 Matric Exams From February 17 To 25

Official timetable, shifts and exam centres

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will conduct the Bihar Board Class 10 (Matric) Exams 2026 from February 17 to February 25, 2026, as per the official timetable first published on the board’s website and widely reported by exam portals. According to Shiksha and other education platforms, the BSEB 10th exams will be held in two daily shifts: a morning shift from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM and an afternoon shift from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM. The detailed subject-wise schedule shows core language papers on February 17, Mathematics on February 18, followed by Social Science, Science, English and optional subjects across the remaining days in both sittings.

Practical examinations for relevant subjects are scheduled in January 2026, with schools instructed to complete internal assessments before theory papers begin. Students can download the official Bihar Board Class 10 time table PDF and centre details from the official board portal https://biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in, with consolidated versions also available on leading exam guides. Reports from earlier BSEB updates indicate that over 15 lakh students are expected to appear in the Class 10 exams this year, highlighting the scale of the matriculation exercise.

What Bihar Board students should prioritise this week

With exams beginning on February 17, 2026, Bihar Board students now have only a short window to complete final revisions, arrange documentation and plan logistics. Candidates must carefully verify the shift (first or second sitting) printed on their admit cards, as reporting times and gate closure rules differ by shift, even though the broad schedule runs from February 17 to February 25, 2026, for all students.

Students should print multiple copies of their admit card, familiarise themselves with the exam centre location in advance, and strictly follow instructions on allowed items—primarily pens, pencils, a simple transparent pouch and board-authorised materials. BSEB has repeatedly emphasised fair conduct and strict anti-cheating measures, so candidates are advised to avoid any prohibited electronic devices and to rely only on official notices and trusted portals like Shiksha and Careers360 for clarification. Last-minute focus should be on revising frequently tested topics in Mathematics, Science and Social Science and practising past papers within the actual time limits corresponding to their allotted shift.

Punjab Board To Roll Out On-Screen Digital Evaluation For March 2026 Board Exams

On-Screen Marking pilot and QR-coded answer sheets

In a major policy shift aligning with CBSE’s digital reforms, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has announced that it will introduce end-to-end digital evaluation through an On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for the March 2026 board examinations. According to statements by Punjab’s Education Minister reported in NDTV Education and regional media, teachers will evaluate scanned copies of answer sheets on computers instead of handling physical scripts, with marks recorded directly within a secure digital environment. The OSM system was piloted during the September 2025 supplementary examinations, where around 23,000 answer sheets were evaluated digitally, demonstrating faster and more accurate processing.

Each page of the newly designed answer books will carry a unique QR code, allowing secure scanning, tracking and uploading to a central dashboard. Once scanned, answer sheets will be accessible to evaluators through an online interface with structured marking schemes, automated totalling and real-time progress monitoring at the central control room. Initial implementation will focus on selected subjects in the March 2026 Matric and Senior Secondary examinations, with phased expansion across more subjects and classes in subsequent cycles as infrastructure scales up.

Impact on evaluation speed, accuracy and transparency

Punjab’s move towards digital evaluation is expected to significantly reduce manual errors in totalling and mark posting, similar to the objectives outlined by CBSE for its own Class 12 OSM framework. Media reports quote state officials emphasising that automated mark computation, system-level checks for unmarked answers and real-time audit trails will collectively enhance fairness, consistency and transparency in board results. By reducing the physical movement of lakhs of answer books across evaluation centres, the digital process also aims to lower logistical costs and time delays that have historically affected result timelines.

For students appearing in the March 2026 Punjab board exams, the immediate change will be mostly on the back-end evaluation system rather than in exam-day procedures; however, they can expect quicker result declaration and fewer post-result discrepancies once the OSM system is fully stabilised. Parents and schools should follow official updates from PSEB at https://www.pseb.ac.in and verified national outlets for technical FAQs and any future expansion of digital evaluation to more subjects.

IIT Mandi Summer Internship 2026 And Ashoka University YIF: Key Higher Education Opportunities

IIT Mandi Summer Internship 2026: Stipend, last date and eligibility

Beyond exams, February 2026 also brings important opportunities in higher education and research. IIT Mandi has invited applications for its Summer Internship Programme 2026, targeted at pre-final year undergraduate and postgraduate students from institutions that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Mandi. As per the official announcement and NDTV’s detailed report, the internship period will run approximately from May 25, 2026 to July 24, 2026, with selected interns receiving a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month for up to two months. The application deadline is March 30, 2026 (5:00 PM), and students can access guidelines and the official poster via the institute’s website at https://www.iitmandi.ac.in.

Internship positions span a wide range of research areas, including Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Biosciences and Bioengineering, Chemical Sciences, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computing and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Management, Humanities and Social Sciences, Human-Computer Interaction and emerging interdisciplinary themes. Eligible applicants are typically those in the pre-final year of a Bachelor’s programme in Engineering/Technology or in the first year of a postgraduate programme, enrolled at MoU partner institutions.

Ashoka University Young India Fellowship: Deadlines and who should apply

Ashoka University has opened applications for the 16th cohort of its flagship Young India Fellowship (YIF), Class of 2026–27, with key deadlines falling in February and March 2026. According to Ashoka’s press information reported by NDTV and News18, the fellowship application is free, reviewed on a rolling basis, and open to candidates from all academic backgrounds—including engineering, commerce, humanities, sciences, arts and professional fields—who will hold a recognised bachelor’s degree by July 2026.

The priority application deadline is February 23, 2026, allowing applicants to receive earlier decisions, while the final round of applications closes on March 23, 2026. The one-year residential postgraduate diploma focuses on interdisciplinary coursework across roughly 18 subjects, critical thinking and expression, experiential projects, and mentorship from faculty and distinguished practitioners. For many aspirants, especially those considering transitions across sectors or preparing for future careers in policy, academia, development or leadership roles, YIF represents a high-impact option alongside conventional master’s programmes. Prospective applicants should study the eligibility criteria and selection process on Ashoka’s official website (https://www.ashoka.edu.in) and the official fellowship pages linked in NDTV and News18 coverage before submitting detailed applications.