NIOS Date Sheet 2026 covers two exam sessions. The April 2026 theory exams for Class 10 and Class 12 ran from 10 April to 6 May 2026, after NIOS released the schedule on 25 March 2026. As of 11 September 2026, the October 2026 theory date sheet has not yet been published on the official NIOS portals.
This page keeps both sessions in one place: the verified April 2026 subject-wise tables, what is confirmed and what is still awaited for October 2026, and a study-gap analysis showing how NIOS spaced core papers last time. Use it to plan revision now, instead of waiting for the next PDF.
Written by Prateek Talwar, Founder, Unnati Educations. Reviewed by Jyoti Sharma, Senior NIOS Counsellor. Last updated 11 September 2026.
NIOS Date Sheet 2026 at a Glance
| Session | Theory exam window | Theory date sheet released | Practical window | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | 10 April to 6 May 2026 (completed) | 25 March 2026 | 17 March to 1 April 2026 | Class 12 declared 4 June 2026; Class 10 declared in June 2026 |
| October 2026 | Awaited from NIOS | Not released as of 11 September 2026 | Fixed by your study centre before theory papers | Expected in January 2027, based on past October sessions |
Most NIOS theory papers are held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, with 15 minutes of reading time before writing begins. Several vocational and certificate papers finish earlier, at 4:00 pm or 4:30 pm, so always read the end time printed against your own subject code.
NIOS October 2026 Exam Schedule Status
NIOS publishes each theory date sheet as a PDF on nios.ac.in and sdmis.nios.ac.in. For the October 2026 session, that PDF is still awaited, so any subject-wise October dates circulating on other websites are estimates rather than official dates. This page will be updated with full October tables once NIOS releases them.
Practical exams come first and are conducted by study centres. For how the practical windows were split subject-wise in the last cycle, read our NIOS practical exam date sheet 2026 guide, then confirm your own slot with your study centre.
While you wait, three checks save the most trouble later: confirm that your subjects and examination fee status show correctly on sdmis.nios.ac.in, make sure your address and mobile number in the learner profile are current, and finish any pending TMA before the theory window opens.
NIOS Class 10 Time Table April 2026 Subject-wise
The Secondary (Class 10) theory papers ran over 20 exam days. Core papers were spread out, starting with Mathematics 211 on 20 April and closing with Science and Technology 212 on 4 May. If you are appearing in October, map each paper against the NIOS Class 10 syllabus so revision follows lesson weight.
| Date | Day | Subjects and codes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 April 2026 | Friday | Folk Art (244), Sanskrit Sahitya (248), Logistics and Supply Chain Management (258), Principles of Inventory Management (259) |
| 11 April 2026 | Saturday | Hindustani Sangeet (242) |
| 13 April 2026 | Monday | Regional languages: Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Assamese, Nepali, Malayalam, Odia, Arabic, Persian, Tamil, Sindhi |
| 16 April 2026 | Thursday | Sanskrit (209), Urdu (206), Indian Sign Language (230), Bodh Darshan (241) |
| 17 April 2026 | Friday | Economics (214), Natyakala (285) |
| 18 April 2026 | Saturday | Carnatic Sangeet (243), Bharatiya Darshan (247), Employability Skills (250), Military Studies (274) |
| 20 April 2026 | Monday | Mathematics (211). Karnataka: 7 May 2026 |
| 21 April 2026 | Tuesday | Psychology (222) |
| 22 April 2026 | Wednesday | English (202) |
| 23 April 2026 | Thursday | Business Studies (215) |
| 24 April 2026 | Friday | Indian Culture and Heritage (223) |
| 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Painting (225), Physical Education and Yog (273) |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Data Entry Operations, theory (229) |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Sanskrit Vyakaran (246), Entrepreneurship (249) |
| 29 April 2026 | Wednesday | Home Science (216) |
| 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Social Science (213) |
| 2 May 2026 | Saturday | Hindi (201) |
| 4 May 2026 | Monday | Science and Technology (212) |
| 5 May 2026 | Tuesday | Bakery and Confectionery (256), Cutting and Tailoring (605), Dress Making (606), Certificate in Basic Computing (608), Beauty Culture and Hair Care (612), Desktop Publishing (613), Certificate in Yog (614), Indian Embroidery (628), Beauty Therapy (640), Hair Care and Styling (641), Hand and Foot Care (642) |
| 6 May 2026 | Wednesday | Accountancy (224), Veda Adhyayan (245) |
NIOS Class 12 Time Table April 2026 Subject-wise
The Senior Secondary (Class 12) schedule also ran from 10 April to 6 May 2026. The final day carried twelve vocational papers together, so learners with more than one vocational subject needed each one ready in advance. Match your codes with the NIOS Class 12 syllabus before you plan.
| Date | Day | Subjects and codes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 April 2026 | Friday | Sanskrit Vyakaran (346), Early Childhood Care and Education (376), Inventory Management (378), Basics of Transportation |
| 11 April 2026 | Saturday | Urdu (306), Sanskrit Sahitya (348), Krishi (383) |
| 13 April 2026 | Monday | Geography (316), Transportation and Warehouse Management, Natyakala (385), Indian Sign Language (382) |
| 16 April 2026 | Thursday | Biology (314), Accountancy (320), Introduction to Law (338), Military History (375) |
| 17 April 2026 | Friday | Hindi (301), Employability Skills and Entrepreneurship (350) |
| 18 April 2026 | Saturday | Physics (312), History (315), Environmental Science (333), Library and Information Science (339) |
| 20 April 2026 | Monday | Home Science (321). Karnataka: 7 May 2026 |
| 21 April 2026 | Tuesday | Chemistry (313), Political Science (317), Mass Communication (335), Military Studies (374) |
| 22 April 2026 | Wednesday | Psychology (328) |
| 23 April 2026 | Thursday | Sanskrit (309), Gender Studies (340) |
| 24 April 2026 | Friday | Economics (318), Bodh Darshan (381) |
| 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Mathematics (311) |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Bharatiya Darshan (347), Entrepreneurship (349) |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | English (302) |
| 29 April 2026 | Wednesday | Business Studies (319) |
| 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Computer Science (330), Sociology (331), Tourism (337), Physical Education and Yog (373) |
| 2 May 2026 | Saturday | Regional languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Odia, Arabic, Persian, Tamil, Sindhi |
| 4 May 2026 | Monday | Data Entry Operations, theory (336), Veda Adhyayan (345) |
| 5 May 2026 | Tuesday | Painting (332) |
| 6 May 2026 | Wednesday | Housekeeping (356), Catering Management (357), Food Processing (358), Hotel Front Office Operations (360), Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables (363), Web Designing and Development (622), Computer and Office Applications (631), Data Entry Operations (632), Web Development (660), CRM Domestic Voice (661), Computer Hardware Assembly and Maintenance (663), Yog Assistant (667) |
NIOS State-wise Exam Date Changes in April 2026
NIOS shifted some April 2026 papers in six states: Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The reasons given were Assembly elections, competitive examinations and state holidays falling on the national exam dates.
The clearest example is Karnataka, where Class 10 Mathematics 211 and Class 12 Home Science 321 moved from 20 April to 7 May 2026. The official PDF prints every state change beside the subject it affects, so learners in these states should check each paper they are taking, not only the first one.
How the NIOS April 2026 Schedule Spaced Core Papers
Most date sheet pages stop at the table. We counted the clear study days between core papers for the most common subject combinations in April 2026. The result shows exactly where the pressure points were, and it is a useful rehearsal for your October revision plan.
| Subject combination | Papers in exam order | Tightest stretch | Longest break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 12 Science | Biology 314 (16 Apr), Physics 312 (18 Apr), Chemistry 313 (21 Apr), Mathematics 311 (25 Apr) | 1 clear day between Biology 314 and Physics 312 | 3 clear days between Chemistry 313 and Mathematics 311 |
| Class 12 Commerce | Accountancy 320 (16 Apr), Economics 318 (24 Apr), English 302 (28 Apr), Business Studies 319 (29 Apr) | no clear day between English 302 and Business Studies 319 | 7 clear days between Accountancy 320 and Economics 318 |
| Class 12 Arts | Geography 316 (13 Apr), History 315 (18 Apr), Political Science 317 (21 Apr), Psychology 328 (22 Apr), Sociology 331 (30 Apr) | no clear day between Political Science 317 and Psychology 328 | 7 clear days between Psychology 328 and Sociology 331 |
| Class 10 core five | Mathematics 211 (20 Apr), English 202 (22 Apr), Social Science 213 (30 Apr), Hindi 201 (2 May), Science 212 (4 May) | 1 clear day between Hindi 201 and Science 212 | 7 clear days between English 202 and Social Science 213 |
Two lessons stand out. Commerce learners had English 302 and Business Studies 319 on consecutive days, so both had to be revision-ready well before 28 April. Arts learners faced the same squeeze with Political Science 317 and Psychology 328. The October order may differ, so treat this as a planning drill, not a forecast.
The fastest way to test a revision plan is a timed paper. Sit with NIOS previous year question papers in three-hour exam conditions, then give your weakest subject the longest break in your own plan.
Get NIOS revision help on WhatsApp
How to Download the NIOS Date Sheet 2026 PDF and Hall Ticket
- Open nios.ac.in or sdmis.nios.ac.in and go to the notifications or examination section.
- Open the theory date sheet PDF for your session and save it on your phone and in print.
- For the admit card, choose the hall ticket option on sdmis.nios.ac.in and enter your enrolment number with the details the portal asks for.
- Download the Intimation-cum-Hall Ticket and print it on paper.
- Check your name, photograph, exam centre address and every subject code, and report any mistake to your Regional Centre straight away.
A phone screenshot of the hall ticket is not a safe substitute for a printout. Keep the NIOS Date Sheet 2026 PDF and your hall ticket together, and compare the two once, subject by subject, the day you download them.
NIOS Exam Day Rules and Reading Time
Carry your printed hall ticket and a valid government photo ID to every paper, not only the first one. Reach the centre at least 30 minutes before 2:30 pm so you are seated before reading time starts. Leave your mobile phone outside the exam hall.
Use the 15 minutes of reading time to plan, not to worry. Pick your long answers, estimate time per section and decide your answering order. Learners who plan during reading time rarely run out of time before the last section.
NIOS April 2026 Result and Mark Sheet Delivery
NIOS indicated results about seven weeks after the last paper. The Senior Secondary (Class 12) result for April 2026 was declared on 4 June 2026 at results.nios.ac.in, and the Secondary (Class 10) result followed in June. Requests to correct result details must be made within 30 days of declaration.
Mark sheets and migration certificates reach learners through their Accredited Institution. If that institution is no longer accredited, NIOS posts the documents to the address in the learner profile, which is why the profile check in the October section above matters.
NIOS Exam Preparation Support from Unnati Educations
Unnati Educations is an independent academic support platform in Vikaspuri, New Delhi, established in 2008. Our NIOS team helps Class 10 and Class 12 learners with solved TMAs, subject notes, previous year papers, practical files and one-to-one counselling. See our NIOS Class 12 TMA solutions if your assignments are still pending.
Call 9654279279 or 9899436384, or send your subject codes on WhatsApp and a counsellor will tell you what to revise first.
WhatsApp Unnati Educations: 9654279279
NIOS Exam Schedule FAQs
When will NIOS release the October 2026 date sheet?
NIOS has not released the October 2026 theory date sheet as of 11 September 2026. In past October sessions, the schedule has usually appeared between early September and early October, a few weeks before the first paper. Check nios.ac.in and sdmis.nios.ac.in directly, and treat any subject-wise October dates on unofficial websites as estimates until the official PDF is published.
When did the NIOS April 2026 theory exams start and end?
The NIOS April 2026 theory exams for Class 10 and Class 12 started on Friday, 10 April 2026 and ended on Wednesday, 6 May 2026. The date sheet was released on 25 March 2026. Practical exams for the same session were held earlier, from 17 March to 1 April 2026, at the study centres allotted to each learner.
What is the NIOS exam timing for theory papers?
Most NIOS theory papers run from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and learners get 15 minutes of reading time before writing starts. Several vocational and certificate papers finish earlier, at 4:00 pm or 4:30 pm. Always read the end time printed against your own subject code on the official date sheet and on your hall ticket.
Were NIOS April 2026 exam dates different in some states?
Yes. NIOS shifted some April 2026 papers in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh because of Assembly elections, competitive exams and state holidays. In Karnataka, Class 10 Mathematics 211 and Class 12 Home Science 321 moved to 7 May 2026. Learners in these states had to check every subject against the state note in the official PDF.
How do I download the NIOS hall ticket for my exam?
Open sdmis.nios.ac.in, choose the hall ticket option for the current session and enter your enrolment number with the details the portal asks for. Download the Intimation-cum-Hall Ticket, print it on paper and check your name, photograph, exam centre address and subject codes. Report any mistake to your NIOS Regional Centre straight away, well before the first paper.
When was the NIOS April 2026 result declared?
The NIOS Senior Secondary (Class 12) result for the April 2026 session was declared on 4 June 2026, and the Secondary (Class 10) result followed in June. Results are published at results.nios.ac.in. Requests to correct details on the result must be made within 30 days of declaration, and October session results have usually come out in January.
Where can I get help preparing for NIOS October 2026 exams?
Unnati Educations supports NIOS Class 10 and Class 12 learners with solved TMAs, subject notes, previous year papers, practical files and one-to-one counselling from Vikaspuri, New Delhi. Share your subject codes on WhatsApp at 9654279279 and our NIOS counsellors will suggest what to revise first, based on your subjects and the time left before your papers.
Sources: NIOS theory date sheet notice dated 25 March 2026 and the official NIOS portals nios.ac.in, sdmis.nios.ac.in and results.nios.ac.in. Always confirm your dates on the official NIOS website before an exam.
Disclaimer: Unnati Educations is an independent academic support platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). NIOS names and codes are used only to help learners find the correct schedule.
