Government Exam Deadlines October–November 2026: NTPC, NICL AO, APPSC AEE, AP DSC, Coast Guard and Group 2
Six large recruitments are open or about to open at the same time. Together they list about 8,144 vacancies, and their deadlines overlap in November 2026. This calendar puts every confirmed date in one place, in date order, with a link to the detailed guide for each exam. It reflects the notifications as of 15 October 2026; dates marked "due" come from the brief notifications and may shift in the detailed notices.
The next three deadlines
- 21 October: Indian Coast Guard applications close at 5:30 PM.
- 28 October: NICL AO applications close.
- 6 November: RRB NTPC Graduate applications close at 23:59.
Dates in Order
| Date | Exam | What happens | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 2026, 5:30 PM | Indian Coast Guard (CGEPT 01/2027, 02/2027) | Last date to apply | Read guide |
| 28 Oct 2026 | NICL AO (321 posts) | Last date to apply (applications opened 8 Oct) | Read guide |
| 2 Nov 2026 | APPSC AEE (503 posts) | Detailed notification due and applications open | Read guide |
| 3 Nov 2026 | AP DSC 2026 (2,721 posts) | Detailed notifications due on or before this date | Read guide |
| 6 Nov 2026, 23:59 | RRB NTPC Graduate (3,548 posts) | Last date to apply (opened 8 Oct); fee payment till 8 Nov | Read guide |
| 9–18 Nov 2026 | RRB NTPC Graduate | Application modification window (₹250 per change) | Read guide |
| 10 Nov 2026 | APPSC Group 2 (686 posts) | Detailed notification due and applications open | Read guide |
| 17 Nov 2026 | NICL AO | Phase I (Prelims) scheduled | Read guide |
| 22 Nov 2026, 11:59 PM | APPSC AEE | Last date to apply | Read guide |
| 30 Nov 2026, 11:59 PM | APPSC Group 2 | Last date to apply | Read guide |
| 22 Dec 2026 | NICL AO | Phase II (Mains) scheduled | Read guide |
The Six Exams Side by Side
| Exam | Vacancies | Headline pattern | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRB NTPC Graduate | 3,548 | Stage 1: 100 Q, 90 min; 1/3 negative | Read guide |
| NICL AO | 321 | Prelims 100 Q, 60 min; 0.25 negative | Read guide |
| APPSC AEE | 503 | 3 papers × 150 Q; 1/3 negative | Read guide |
| AP DSC 2026 | 2,721 | CBT; pattern awaited | Read guide |
| Indian Coast Guard | 365 | Stage-I 100 Q, 60 min; no negative | Read guide |
| APPSC Group 2 | 686 | Screening 150 Q; 1/3 negative | Read guide |
How to Plan If You Are Eligible for Several
- Apply in deadline order. The Coast Guard and NICL windows close first, and RRB NTPC follows on 6 November. Missing a window cannot be fixed later.
- Find the overlaps in preparation. NTPC, APPSC Group 2 and NICL all test reasoning and quantitative aptitude; Group 2 and DSC share current affairs and general studies. Build a common core first.
- Mind the negative marking rules. Railways and APPSC use 1/3, NICL uses 1/4 and the Coast Guard Stage-I has none, so your guessing policy must change from exam to exam. Our time-management guide explains the break-even rule.
- Keep documents ready. Degree certificates and marks memos, category and EWS certificates, a recent photograph and signature scans are needed for almost all of them.
- Use only official portals. Pay fees only on the official application page linked from the conducting authority's website.
Dates still to be announced
- RRB NTPC: both CBT dates and document verification.
- APPSC AEE, Group 2: exam and CPT dates.
- AP DSC: application dates and exam date (detailed notification due by 3 November).
- NICL AO: call letter dates.
Sources & verification. Dates compiled from the NTPC, NICL AO, APPSC AEE, AP DSC, Indian Coast Guard and APPSC Group 2 notification summaries published on APDSC.net and APTeachers.in. Figures are provisional and can change in the detailed notification. Always confirm dates, eligibility, fees and the application link on the official website of the conducting authority before you apply. KeyGuru is an independent resource and is not affiliated with any recruiting organisation.
About the author. Thaseen Fathima is a B.Tech CSE (AI) student at Vignan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Visakhapatnam, who builds examination calculators and writes the guides behind them.Find Your Exam Calculator
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