NTA SWAYAM January 2026 exam from June 17; check schedule

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) exam dates. SWAYAM-16 January semester exams will be conducted on June 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2026. The buffer dates are June 22 and 23. The upcoming semester will conduct exams for 900 courses offered under various academic and professional bodies, including IGNOU, CEC, INB, NITTTR, AICTE, UGC, and INI.

The exam will be conducted in two shifts. Shift 1 will be conducted from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, while shift 2 will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.

SWAYAM 16 Schedule

Also read IIT Bombay launches five-month certificate course in strategic project management for working professionals

SWAYAM-16 Application fee details

How to apply for SWAYAM 16?

Candidates can apply for a maximum of 10 courses as per schedule and shifts available.

• Visit the official SWAYAM website: exams.nta.nic.in/swayam
• Register using your email ID and mobile number
• Log in to your SWAYAM account
• Browse and select the desired course
• Click on “Enroll” to join the course
• For certification, register separately for the NTA proctored exam and pay the fee

Also read QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: IIM Kozhikode breaks into top 100 for management

Exam Pattern: 66 papers will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying 1 mark each, while 463 papers will have 50 MCQs carrying 2 marks each. In addition, 65 papers will be conducted in hybrid mode with a total of 35 questions, including 20 MCQs in CBT mode, 10 short-answer questions in pen-and-paper mode, and 7 long-answer questions in pen-and-paper mode.

In the hybrid format, Section A includes 1-mark MCQs, Section B consists of 3-mark short-answer questions, and Section C carries 10-mark long-answer questions. As per the marking scheme, there will be no negative marking for incorrect answers in the MCQ sections.

Notice on official website reads, "In case any candidate faces difficulty in applying for SWAYAM-2026 (January Semester), he/she may contact 011- 40759000 or e-mail at swayam@nta.ac.in. The candidates are also advised to be in touch with the NTA website(s)"