[Updated on 28 March, 2026] Several government examinations scheduled to take place in India during the months of April and May may face postponement. Foremost among these is the NEET 2026 examination, in which approximately 2.5 million (25 lakh) students participate. Additionally, other examinations—such as UPSC NDA & CDS (I), UPSC CDS (I), RRB NTPC, UPSC Civil Services Prelims, CUET UG, CA Intermediate, SSC CHSL (Tier-I), etc. could also be affected.
Why, exactly, is there a possibility of these examinations being postponed? The primary reason is the ongoing conflict in West Asia. A tense, war-like situation currently prevails between Iran and the US-Israel alliance. Although former US President Donald Trump had previously initiated peace talks, current reports indicate that no agreement has been reached between the two sides; consequently, this conflict may persist and potentially take a grave turn.
Upcoming Examinations Scheduled for April–May 2026
NEET UG 2026: May 3, 2026
UPSC NDA & NA (I): April 12, 2026
UPSC CDS (I): April 12, 2026
UPSC Civil Services Prelims: May 24, 2026
CUET UG: May 11 – May 31, 2026
RRB NTPC (Stage 1 CBT): Scheduled for April – May 2026
OSSSC RI/ARI Mains: April 26, 2026
SSC CGL (Tier-I): Commencing May 5, 2026
CA Intermediate Group I: May 3, 5, 7, 2026
CA Intermediate Group II: May 9, 11, 13, 2026
SSC CHSL (Tier-I): May 2026 (Tentative)
Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police & CAPF: May 2026 (Paper-I)
AP EAPCET (Engineering): May 21 – May 27, 2026
IIFCL Grade A/B: Phase 1 (May/June)
UP PGT: May 9 – May 10, 2026
This situation is also impacting India, as the country imports 90 percent of its oil supply via the ‘Strait of Hormuz.’ Currently, due to the ongoing conflict, this route remains closed, resulting in a persistent oil shortage within India.
Consequently, should the war situation deteriorate further, the country could face a severe oil crisis. Under such circumstances, the domestic transportation system would come to a complete standstill, rendering it impossible to conduct examinations such as NEET or UPSC. These are the nation’s largest entrance examinations, involving hundreds of thousands of students. Recently, in a speech, Prime Minister Modi stated that the country must remain prepared for any eventuality; even if a situation is not as severe as the COVID-19 pandemic, significant disruptions to transport services could still occur.
Under such circumstances, it would not be feasible to conduct examinations. Given that these examinations are scheduled for April and May, arranging for transport and examination centers across the country would become extremely difficult due to potential oil shortages. This challenge regarding logistics and arrangements could, in turn, pose major obstacles to conducting the examinations on schedule. However, the NEET 2026 examination, UPSC 2026, and other exams will be postponed only if the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel persists and the resulting oil shortage adversely impacts the country.
The NEET 2026 examination is currently scheduled to take place in May. If, as the examination date approaches, successful diplomatic negotiations are concluded between these two warring nations and the United States (which is involved in this conflict) leading to a cessation of hostilities and a resumption of oil imports then the NEET 2026 examination and other exams will be conducted on their scheduled dates, in accordance with the established timetable.
Bhavesh Gaikwad
Content Editor – MedicoDrive.com
Bhavesh Gaikwad is a highly experienced content editor and writing with over 10 years of expertise in the field of digital journalism.