The January-April 2026 NPTEL session’s final exams ran this very week (June 17-21, 2026) — that cycle is essentially closed out. What’s actually open right now, and relevant if you’re reading this, is the July 2026 session, live since May 27, 2026, with enrollment closing soon.
NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) — a joint initiative of seven IITs and IISc Bangalore, under the Ministry of Education, offering free online courses taught by IIT/IISc faculty, with an optional paid certification exam.
Official Portals: nptel.ac.in | swayam.gov.in
Quick Answer (Current Status as of June 21, 2026): July 2026 session: OPEN since May 27, 2026 — 1,055 courses available (132 new, 923 rerun/upgraded) Enrollment deadline: July 27, 2026 (4-week/8-week courses) or August 17, 2026 (12-week and Set 2 courses) Courses begin: July 20, 2026 Enrollment cost: Free Certification exam fee: ₹1,000 standard (discounted rates for certain categories — see below)
⭐ NPTEL Runs Two Sessions Per Year — Know Which One Applies
| Session | Typical Registration Window | Typical Exam Period |
|---|---|---|
| January-June | Around December-January | May-June |
| July-December | Around May-July | November-December |
If you’re reading this outside the July 2026 window, check nptel.ac.in or onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in directly for the currently active session’s exact dates, as these shift slightly each cycle.
Registration — Step by Step (Course Enrollment)
Step 1: Visit nptel.ac.in or swayam.gov.in
Step 2: Click “Sign In/Register” — use your Google account or create a new one
Step 3: Browse the course list by domain (Engineering, Science, Management, Humanities, Data Science/AI, Soft Skills, etc.)
Step 4: Select your course, review the timeline and prerequisites
Step 5: Click “Enroll”
Step 6: You’re enrolled — course access and assignment updates follow via email
Enrollment is completely free. No fee applies unless you choose to register separately for the certification exam.
⭐ Certification Exam — Separate Registration Required
Enrolling in a course does NOT automatically register you for the certificate exam — this is a separate step with its own registration window and URL.
Step 1: Visit examform.nptel.ac.in
Step 2: Login using the same email and password linked to your course enrollment (important — using a different account means your assignment scores won’t map correctly)
Step 3: Select up to the permitted number of course exams (check the current session’s limit)
Step 4: Choose your preferred exam centre city
Step 5: Upload your photograph and signature
Step 6: Pay the exam fee
Step 7: Submit and download/print your confirmation page
⭐ Exam Fee — Category-Based Discounts
| Category | Fee per Course |
|---|---|
| General/EWS/OBC-NCL | ₹750 (or up to ₹1,000 depending on course) |
| Additional courses (General categories) | ₹600 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹500 |
| Additional courses (SC/ST/PwD) | ₹400 |
Confirm the exact current fee for your specific course on the official exam registration portal — rates can vary slightly by course and may be revised each session.
⚠️ Official Fraud Warning
NPTEL has issued an explicit public notice: certain persons and organizations have been falsely using the NPTEL/IIT name. Always verify you’re on the genuine nptel.ac.in or swayam.gov.in domain before entering any personal or payment details. NPTEL does not authorize third parties to collect registration or exam fees on its behalf.
What You’ll Need
- Valid email ID (Google account works directly for enrollment)
- Internet connection and a device (mobile/laptop)
- Government ID — required specifically for exam registration, not course enrollment
- Scanned photograph and signature — for exam registration
Common Problems + Fix
“Confused — saw an article mentioning Jan-April 2026 registration starting December 2024”: That timeline doesn’t apply to the current cycle. The relevant, currently open session is July 2026 (enrolled since May 27, 2026). Always check nptel.ac.in directly for the live session’s actual dates.
“Course enrollment worked but can’t register for the exam”: Confirm you’re using examform.nptel.ac.in (a separate portal from course enrollment) with the exact same email/password used during enrollment.
“Page not loading or showing errors”: Clear your browser cache, try incognito mode, or switch to Firefox. If issues persist, contact [email protected].
“Received a message/call claiming to be from NPTEL asking for payment”: Be cautious — NPTEL has explicitly warned about fraudulent use of its name. Verify any communication directly against official nptel.ac.in announcements before paying anything.
“Missed the assignment deadline for one week”: Check your course’s specific grading policy — most courses weight assignments significantly (often around 25%), so missing several can affect eligibility for certification even if you pass the final exam.
FAQ
Is the NPTEL July 2026 session still open for registration? As of this writing (June 21, 2026), yes — enrollment closes July 27, 2026 for 4-week/8-week courses, or August 17, 2026 for 12-week and Set 2 courses.
Is NPTEL course enrollment free? Yes, completely free. Only the optional certification exam carries a fee.
How much does the NPTEL certification exam cost? Generally ₹1,000 per course for general categories, with discounted rates (around ₹500-750) for certain categories including SC/ST/PwD — confirm exact current rates on the exam registration portal.
Are course enrollment and exam registration the same step? No — they’re separate. Enroll in courses at nptel.ac.in/swayam.gov.in; register for the certification exam separately at examform.nptel.ac.in.
How many times a year does NPTEL run? Twice — a January-June session and a July-December session.
Is there a real fraud risk with NPTEL? NPTEL has issued an explicit warning about third parties falsely using its name — always verify you’re on the official domain before sharing payment details.
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Course Enrollment | nptel.ac.in / swayam.gov.in |
| Exam Registration | examform.nptel.ac.in |
| Support | [email protected] |
The student who checks nptel.ac.in directly for the live session’s actual dates — rather than relying on a cached article with stale timelines — is the one who actually makes the registration deadline instead of discovering it’s already passed.
If you want to enroll in NPTEL courses, check nptel.ac.in right now for the currently open session (July 2026 as of this writing), and remember that course enrollment and certification exam registration are two completely separate steps on two different portals.
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