The NIOS 12th Date Sheet 2026 for the April session was officially released on March 25, 2026, confirming that theory examinations will run from April 10 to May 6, 2026, covering all major subjects across Science, Commerce, Arts and vocational streams.
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) published the complete timetable on its official portal nios.ac.in, with a downloadable PDF also accessible through the student management portal at sdmis.nios.ac.in.
Practical examinations for the April 2026 session are already underway, running from March 17 to April 1, 2026, covering subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Home Science, Computer Science, Data Entry Operations and Natyakala.
Complete NIOS Class 12 Theory Exam Date Sheet April 2026
Here is the full subject-wise theory examination schedule for the NIOS 12th April session 2026:
| Exam Date | Subject(s) |
| April 9, 2026 | Bharatiya Darshan |
| April 11, 2026 | Early Childhood Care and Education |
| April 19, 2026 | Geography |
| April 21, 2026 | Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Odiya, Arabic, Persian, Tamil, Sindhi |
| April 22, 2026 | English |
| April 23, 2026 | Chemistry, Political Science, Mass Communication, Military Studies |
| April 24, 2026 | Computer Science, Physical Education and Yog, Sociology, Tourism |
| April 25, 2026 | Physics, History, Library and Information Science, Environmental Science |
| April 28, 2026 | Accountancy, Biology, Introduction to Law, Military History |
| May 2, 2026 | Hindi, Employability Skills and Entrepreneurship |
| May 3, 2026 | Painting (Theory) |
| May 5, 2026 | Mathematics |
| May 6, 2026 | Business Studies, Sanskrit Sahitya |
| May 7, 2026 | Data Entry Operations |
| May 8, 2026 | Home Science |
All theory examinations run from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM (3 hours) on the designated dates. Students must report to their examination centre at least 30 minutes before the start time; late entry may be denied at the invigilator’s discretion.
NIOS 12th Practical Exam Dates April 2026
Practical examinations for Class 12 are conducted before the theory exams and follow a four-batch window. The batch-wise practical schedule is as follows:
| Practical Dates | Subjects (Class 12) |
| March 17–20, 2026 | Home Science (321), Biology (314), Geography (316), Painting (332), Computer Science (330), Mass Communication (335), Early Childhood Care and Education (376) |
| March 21–24, 2026 | Chemistry (313), Physics (312), Environmental Science (333), Physical Education and Yog (373), Data Entry Operations (336), Library and Information Science (339), Natyakala (385) |
| March 25–28, 2026 | Computer and Office Applications (631), Data Entry Operations (632), Web Development (660), IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software (651), CRM Domestic Voice (661), Computer Hardware Assembly and Maintenance (663), Yog Assistant (667) |
| March 29–April 1, 2026 | House Keeping (356), Catering Management (357), Food Processing (358), Hotel Front Office Operations (360), Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables (363), Web Designing and Development (622) |
Students who missed their practical exam within the assigned window should contact their NIOS regional centre immediately, as rescheduling is subject to the centre’s discretion and seat availability.
NIOS 12th April Session 2026 Important Key Dates
A consolidated list of all critical dates for the NIOS Class 12 April 2026 session:
| Event | Date |
| Practical Timetable Release | February 20, 2026 |
| Practical Hall Ticket Release | March 9, 2026 |
| Theory Date Sheet Release | March 25, 2026 |
| Practical Exams Begin | March 17, 2026 |
| Practical Exams End | April 1, 2026 |
| Theory Exams Begin | April 9, 2026 |
| Theory Exams End | May 8, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Not publicly disclosed |
How to Download NIOS 12th Date Sheet 2026 PDF
Students can download the official NIOS Class 12 date sheet PDF through two routes:
From the official NIOS website:
- Open a browser and go to nios.ac.in
- Click on the “Examination” tab in the top navigation menu
- Select “Date Sheet / Timetable 2026” from the dropdown
- Choose “Senior Secondary (Class 12) — April 2026”
- The date sheet PDF will open in your browser — right-click and select Save as PDF
From the SDMIS student portal:
- Visit sdmis.nios.ac.in
- Log in using your NIOS enrollment number and password
- Navigate to the “Examination” or “Notifications” section
- Locate the April 2026 date sheet PDF and download it directly
Students who face login issues on the SDMIS portal should contact their study centre or call the NIOS helpline, as the portal occasionally experiences high traffic after date sheet releases.
NIOS October 2026 Session: Advance Planning Dates
Students who are appearing in or planning for the October 2026 session of NIOS Class 12 can note the following expected theory exam schedule:
| Expected October Date | Subject |
| October 3, 2026 | Early Childhood Care and Education, Sanskrit |
| October 4, 2026 | Urdu |
| October 5, 2026 | Painting |
| October 6, 2026 | Economics |
| October 7, 2026 | Bengali, Tamil, Odiya, Gujarati, Punjabi, Arabic, Persian, Malayalam |
| October 9, 2026 | Home Science |
| October 10, 2026 | Computer Science, Physical Education and Yog, Sociology, Bharatiya Darshan, Tourism |
The October session practical exams are expected in September 2026, with the full practical schedule to be released approximately four weeks before commencement.
Exam Rules and Instructions for Students
Students appearing for the NIOS 12th theory examinations must carry the following to each exam:
- Admit Card (Hall Ticket): Downloaded from sdmis.nios.ac.in — not entry without it
- Original ID Proof: Aadhaar card, school ID or government-issued photo ID
- Black or Blue ballpoint pen: Gel pens may not be accepted at all centres
- Non-programmable calculator: Only for subjects such as Mathematics, Accountancy and Physics where it is permitted
Electronic devices including smartphones, smartwatches, earphones and Bluetooth accessories are strictly prohibited inside examination halls. Students should verify their examination centre address on the admit card carefully, as NIOS assigns centres that may differ from the student’s study centre location.
