Published: January 7, 2026
UPSC Notification Set for January 14, 2026 – Civil Services Registration Opens Today
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the official notification for the highly competitive Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 on January 14, 2026. This critical milestone marks the beginning of the application window for aspiring IAS, IPS, and IFS officers across the country.
The application portal will go live immediately upon notification release, with candidates having until February 3, 2026, to submit their applications. The UPSC Prelims examination is scheduled for May 24, 2026, followed by the Mains from August 21-25, 2026. This marks one of the most significant recruitment cycles of the year, with the results expected in January 2027.
Aspirants should note that the application process is entirely online via upsconline.nic.in and upsc.gov.in. Early registration is recommended as the deadline approaches quickly, allowing only three weeks for form submission.
JEE Main 2026 City Intimation Slip Released – January 21 Exams Begin
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main 2026 city intimation slip for Session 1, as announced on January 6, 2026. This crucial document informs approximately 13 lakh registered engineering aspirants of the city where their examination centre is located.
The JEE Main Session 1 examinations are scheduled between January 21-30, 2026, with two shifts daily: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Candidates must download their city slip from jeemain.nta.nic.in using their application number and password. The formal admit card, containing the exact centre address and exam instructions, will be issued 3-4 days before the exam date.
Notably, NTA has moved 33 new cities to the examination centre list for 2026, providing broader geographical coverage. This development allows students from more locations to take the exam without extensive travel.
Session 2 registrations are expected to begin in the last week of January, allowing candidates a second attempt opportunity. JEE Main results are scheduled by February 12, 2026, for Session 1.
CBSE Launches Free Psycho-Social Counselling Support for Board Exam Takers
In a landmark initiative prioritising student mental health, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officially launched comprehensive psycho-social counselling services on January 6, 2026. The program will run through June 1, 2026, covering Classes 10 and 12 students preparing for board examinations.
The support mechanism includes three key components:
24×7 Toll-Free Helpline (1800-11-8004): Students can access the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) round-the-clock in both Hindi and English. The service provides guidance on stress management, exam preparation strategies, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Live Tele-Counselling Services: From 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, students and parents can connect with a panel of 73 trained professionals. This network includes school principals, counsellors, special educators, and qualified psychologists, with 61 based in India and 12 located abroad in Nepal, Japan, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
Digital Resources: CBSE has curated online materials focused on stress management, effective study strategies, and emotional well-being, all available on www.cbse.gov.in.
This initiative reflects growing recognition of exam-related anxiety among Indian students and represents a significant shift toward holistic student welfare.
CBSE Board Exam Dates Revised – Classes 10 and 12 Schedules Adjusted
The CBSE revised its board examination schedule in late December 2025, with major date changes affecting lakhs of students. Class 10 examinations will run from February 17 to March 11, 2026, with the Mathematics papers scheduled for March 17, 2026, instead of the originally planned March 3.
For Class 12 students, exams commence February 17 and extend through April 10, 2026, with core papers scheduled from February 20 onwards. Physics is set for February 20, Chemistry for February 28, and Biology for March 27. All major papers will be conducted in a single morning shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
CBSE has also mandated that practical examinations must be completed within the window of January 1 to February 14, 2026, with schools required to update coordinators on their schedules.
NDA 1 2026 Notification Already Released – Applications Closed December 30
The Union Public Service Commission released the NDA (National Defence Academy) Examination (I) 2026 notification on December 10, 2025, with the application window closing on December 30, 2025. The examination is scheduled for April 12, 2026.
Candidates who met the deadline have completed registration, while those who missed this opportunity must wait for NDA Examination (II) 2026, with notifications expected in May 2026.
NEET UG 2026 Document Advisory Released – Registration Expected January-February
The National Testing Agency issued a critical advisory on January 5, 2026, directing NEET UG 2026 aspirants to verify and update essential documents well before the registration process begins. The notice highlights the importance of ensuring Aadhaar details, category certificates, and academic records match official Class 10 documentation to avoid registration delays.
While the official NEET UG 2026 examination date is anticipated in May 2026, registration is expected to commence in late January or early February. The advisory emphasises that candidates should regularly monitor neet.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in for official announcements.
IIT Council Recommends Adaptive Testing Model for JEE Advanced
The IIT Council has proposed transformative changes to the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) assessment methodology, as detailed in meeting minutes released on January 6, 2026. The recommendation calls for developing an adaptive testing model where questions dynamically adjust based on individual student performance.
According to IIT Kanpur Director Prof Manindra Agrawal, this innovation aims to reduce coaching dependency, diminish emotional stress on families, and enhance fairness in assessment. Under the adaptive model, candidates would begin with questions of varying difficulty levels, with subsequent questions automatically adjusting based on their responses.
The IIT Council has recommended that an optional pilot adaptive test be conducted two months before the 2026 JEE Advanced examination (typically held in May) to gather performance data. An expert committee led by the JEE Apex Board and IIT Kanpur will evaluate operational feasibility and prepare a phased transition roadmap.
BITSAT 2026 Registration Extended – Last Date March 16
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani) continues accepting applications for the BITSAT 2026 Session 1 with a deadline of March 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Registration commenced on December 15, 2025.
BITSAT Session 1 examinations are scheduled for April 15-17, 2026, with Session 2 planned for May 24-26, 2026. The institute has revised the eligibility criteria this year, imposing new restrictions on full re-attempts of Class 12.
AI Curriculum Coming to All Schools by 2026-27
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that India will introduce an artificial intelligence curriculum across all schools starting from Grade 3, beginning the 2026-27 academic year. The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
By December 2025, CBSE established an expert committee, led by IIT Madras Professor Karthik Raman, to design comprehensive AI and computational thinking (AI & CT) curricula. Teacher training programs through NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement) are being structured to prepare educators.
The government emphasises that AI education should be positioned as a fundamental universal skill, supporting India's vision for Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
Cold Wave Extends School Closures Across Multiple States
Multiple states extended winter vacations on January 7, 2026, due to severe cold wave conditions. Punjab extended holidays through Wednesday, January 7, while Jharkhand declared school closures till January 8 for students from pre-nursery to Class 12. Uttar Pradesh extended closures for Classes 1-8 till January 15, though Classes 9-12 reopened with shortened operating hours.
Rajasthan and Delhi maintained scheduled winter breaks through January 15, 2026. Educational authorities have emphasised that while classroom operations remain suspended, pre-board examinations continue as scheduled in some regions.
Sources
- Times of India – NEET UG 2026 Document Advisory, January 5, 2026
- Sarvgyan – NTA Exam Calendar 2026
- Times of India – January 2026 Registrations: NEET UG, WBJEE, KCET Updates, December 31, 2025
- Onjob.io – UPSC 2026 Exam Date, December 31, 2025
- Reddit – NDA 1 2026 Notification & Exam Date, October 25, 2025
- Indian Express – JEE Mains City Intimation Slip LIVE Updates, January 5, 2026
- Careers360 – UPSC Calendar 2026, June 2, 2025
- Careers360 – Upcoming Government Exams 2026, January 5, 2026
- College Dekho – NEET 2026 Exam Date LIVE Updates, January 5, 2026
- Indian Express – News Headlines for School Assembly January 7, 2026, January 5, 2026
- NDTV – School Assembly News Headlines January 7, 2026, January 5, 2026
- Shiksha – CBSE Exam Dates 2026 Revised LIVE Updates, January 3, 2026
- Jagran Josh – School Holiday on January 7, 2026, January 6, 2026
- India Today – NTA Releases Important Notice for NEET UG 2026, January 5, 2026
- JobYaari – CBSE Class 10 & 12 Date Sheet 2026 Revised, December 30, 2025
- Times of India – CBSE Class 10, 12 Practical Exams 2026 Guidelines, January 3, 2026
- Indian Express – IIT Council for Adaptive JEE Advanced, January 6, 2026
- NDTV – CBSE Offers Tele-Counselling and Digital Resources, January 5, 2026
- NDTV – JEE Main 2026 Session 1 City Intimation Slip Release, January 6, 2026
- CoinGeek – India to Introduce AI Curriculum in All Schools by 2026, November 10, 2025
- Shiksha – BITSAT 2026 Exam Details, December 31, 2025
