Government Exam Calendar 2026 – Upcoming Recruitment Exams in India

Government Exam Calendar 2026 covers upcoming UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence, and Teaching exam dates in one place. This page is updated periodically to help aspirants plan their preparation and mock-test schedule.

Last updated: July 2026.

Keeping track of every government exam notification, application window, and exam date across UPSC, SSC, IBPS, RBI, and Railways can be overwhelming. This calendar consolidates the major recruitment exams scheduled for the rest of 2026 (and the earliest 2027 dates already announced) so you can plan your preparation timeline in one place.

Who Should Read This?

Aspirants tracking multiple government exam options — UPSC, SSC, banking, railways, or teaching — who want a single reference for upcoming exam windows instead of checking ten different notification pages.

Upcoming Government Exams: July 2026 Onward

Note on IBPS RRB: “RRB” stands for Regional Rural Bank recruitment conducted by IBPS — a banking exam, not related to Indian Railways. Railway recruitment is handled separately by the Railway Recruitment Boards (see the Railways section below).

Note: RRB NTPC (Graduate and Undergraduate levels) CBT 1 exams for the current recruitment cycle were largely conducted between March and June 2026; candidates should watch the official RRB regional websites for CBT 2 schedules and further stages.

Exam Calendar by Category

UPSC (Civil Services, NDA, CDS)

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 was held on 24 May 2026, with the Mains scheduled for 21 August 2026. NDA 2 and CDS 2 written exams are both scheduled for 13 September 2026. Explore our Civil Services mock tests and Defence exam mock tests to start preparing, or read our guide to top government exams after graduation for an overview of UPSC’s various services.

SSC (CGL, CHSL, and more)

SSC released the CGL 2026 notification on 21 May 2026, with Tier 1 expected in August-September 2026. SSC CHSL Tier 1 is scheduled between July and September 2026 as per the SSC Calendar 2026-27. Always check the official SSC examination calendar for confirmed dates, since SSC periodically revises its schedule. Browse our full test library as SSC mock tests are added.

Banking (IBPS, SBI, RBI)

Banking recruitment dominates the second half of 2026: IBPS PO Prelims on 22-23 August, SBI PO Prelims in August and Mains in September, RBI Grade B Phase 2 on 25-26 July, and IBPS Clerk and RRB exams running from October 2026 through January 2027. Explore mock tests for IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, IBPS RRB, or the full Banking category.

Railways (RRB NTPC, Group D)

The RRB NTPC 2026 cycle (CEN 06/2025 for graduate-level and CEN 07/2025 for undergraduate-level posts) has been running through the first half of 2026, with CBT 1 exams largely completed by June 2026. Candidates awaiting CBT 2 or further stages should monitor their respective RRB region’s official website, since dates vary by zone.

Teaching (CTET)

CTET’s September 2026 session (Paper 1 and Paper 2) is scheduled for 6 September 2026, with registrations that opened between 11 May and 10 June 2026. Explore our teaching exam mock tests to prepare.

State Government Exams (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)

Alongside central government exams, several state-level recruitment exams are relevant for AP and Telangana aspirants. Dates for most of these are announced closer to the recruitment cycle — check the official commission websites directly:

• APPSC (Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission) — Group 1, Group 2, and other state services
• TGPSC / TSPSC (Telangana Public Service Commission) — Group 1, Group 2, and other state services
• AP Police recruitment (Constable, SI)
• Telangana Police recruitment (Constable, SI)
• DSC (District Selection Committee) teacher recruitment
• State TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) — AP TET / TG TET

We’ll expand this section with specific dates and dedicated guides as state commissions release their 2026 calendars.

Preparation Countdown

Once you’ve identified your target exam and its expected date, use this general countdown to structure your remaining preparation time:

Adapt the exact timings if you have more or less runway before your exam, but keep the underlying shift from learning to practice to revision. See our daily study timetable guide for how to structure each phase day-to-day.

How to Use This Calendar Effectively

An exam calendar is only useful if you act on it early. Once you identify an exam you’re targeting, work backward from the exam date to plan your syllabus coverage, and begin taking mock tests at least 8-10 weeks before the exam date so you have time to identify and fix weak areas. Set a reminder to re-check the official notification 2-3 weeks before your expected exam date, since government exam schedules are frequently revised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which government exam comes first in 2026?

Based on this calendar, RBI Grade B Phase 2 (25-26 July) is the nearest confirmed exam as of this update, followed by SSC CHSL and CGL in the August-September window.

Which exams overlap in 2026?

UPSC NDA 2 and CDS 2 are both scheduled for 13 September 2026. SSC CHSL and CGL Tier 1 windows also overlap in August-September. Check the full table above before finalising your exam calendar.

Can I prepare for SSC and IBPS together?

Yes. Many aspirants target both since core sections like reasoning and quantitative aptitude overlap significantly, though each has its own specific syllabus areas worth studying separately closer to each exam.

How often is this exam calendar updated?

This calendar reflects officially announced or widely reported dates as of July 2026. Because conducting bodies frequently revise schedules, always confirm the final date on the official notification before your exam.

What happens if an exam date changes?

Conducting bodies typically publish a revised notification or corrigendum on their official website and notify registered candidates via email/SMS. We periodically refresh this page, but the official notification is always the final word.

Where can I find the official exam calendar for each exam body?

UPSC, SSC, IBPS, and RBI each publish their own annual calendars on their official websites — see the Official Websites section below for direct links.

Do all these exams release separate notifications for each stage?

Yes. Prelims, Mains, and any subsequent stages (interview, physical test, document verification) each have their own notification and admit card release, even though the exam calendar lists an approximate cycle.

Official Websites for Exam Notifications

• UPSC Exam Calendar: upsc.gov.in
• SSC Official Calendar: ssc.gov.in
• IBPS Official Calendar: ibps.in
• RBI Opportunities: rbi.org.in
• SBI Careers: sbi.co.in/web/careers
• Railway Recruitment Boards: indianrailways.gov.in (RRB portal)
• CTET Official: ctet.nic.in

Found Your Target Exam?

Now start preparing before the notification rush. Take free mock tests, identify weak areas, and build a study plan around your exam date.

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