JEE Main 2026 is one of the most important national-level entrance exam for students aspiring to pursue engineering and architecture courses in India. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE Main serves as the gateway to admission into undergraduate engineering programmes at NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs), as well as universities and institutions funded or recognized by participating State Governments. It is also the mandatory eligibility test for JEE Advanced, which opens the door to the prestigious IITs.
JEE Main 2026 consists of two papers. Paper 1 is conducted for admission to B.E. and B.Tech programmes, while Paper 2 is held for admission to B.Arch and B.Planning courses. To give students more flexibility and a better chance to perform well, JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in two sessions. Candidates can appear in one or both sessions, and if they attempt the exam more than once, the best score will be considered for preparing the merit list.
The application period for the JEE Main Exam 2026 (Session 1, January 2026) opens on 31 October and closes on 27 November 2025, while the exam itself will take place between 21 January and 30 January 2026. Whoever wants to take the Session 2 (April 2026) exam has the option to apply again; to do so, these candidates will use their application number from the Session 1 exam when applying during the Session 2 window.
This blog will provide you with all of the information regarding the JEE Main Exam 2026, including when it is going to take place, eligibility requirements, what the exam pattern is and how to apply, as well as helpful tips on how to prepare so you can make the best decision for you.
JEE Main 2026 Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Courses Offered | B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Planning |
| Exam Sessions | Two Sessions (January 2026 and April 2026) |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT); Drawing Test for B.Arch in Pen & Paper mode |
| Question Type | MCQs and Numerical Value Questions |
| Subjects (Paper 1) | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Papers Available | Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), Paper 2B (B.Planning) |
| Duration of Exam | 3 Hours (4 Hours for PwD/PwBD with scribe) |
| Maximum Marks | 300 (Paper 1), 400 (Paper 2A & 2B) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer |
| Medium of Exam | 13 Languages including English and Hindi |
| Eligibility | Class 12 passed in 2024, 2025 or appearing in 2026 |
| Official Website | jeemain.nta.nic.in |
| Use of Score | Admission to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs and eligibility for JEE Advanced |
| Website | https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/ |
JEE Main 2026 Important Dates
JEE Main 2026 examination will be conducted in two sessions, giving candidates more than one opportunity to improve their scores. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases a detailed schedule for each session, covering application dates, admit cards, exam dates, and result announcements. Below is the session-wise important dates table for JEE Main 2026.
JEE Main 2026 Important Dates – Session 1 (January 2026)
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Online submission of application form | 31 October 2025 to 27 November 2025 (up to 09:00 PM) |
| Last date for successful fee payment | 27 November 2025 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Application correction window | To be announced on NTA website |
| City intimation slip | First week of January 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card download | 3–4 days before the exam |
| Dates of examination | 21 January 2026 to 30 January 2026 |
| Display of question paper and answer key | To be announced on NTA website |
| Declaration of result | By 12 February 2026 |
JEE Main 2026 Important Dates – Session 2 (April 2026)
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Online submission of application form | Last week of January 2026 onwards |
| Last date for successful fee payment | To be notified later |
| Application correction window | To be announced on NTA website |
| City intimation slip | Second week of March 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card download | 3–4 days before the exam |
| Dates of examination | 02 April 2026 to 09 April 2026 |
| Display of question paper and answer key | To be announced on NTA website |
| Declaration of result | By 20 April 2026 |
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for JEE Main 2026, candidates must carefully check the eligibility criteria prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The eligibility conditions mainly cover age limit, qualifying examinations, year of passing Class 12, and state code of eligibility. Meeting these criteria is mandatory to appear for the examination; however, final admission eligibility will depend on the rules of the respective institutes.
| Eligibility Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | No age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026 |
| Eligible Passing Years | Class 12 passed in 2024 or 2025, or appearing in 2026 |
| Ineligible Candidates | Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2023 or earlier |
| Qualifying Examination | Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board |
| Minimum Subjects | As per institute requirements (PCM for B.E./B.Tech) |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
List of Qualifying Examinations
Candidates must have passed or be appearing in one of the following recognized qualifying examinations:
- Class 12 examination conducted by a recognized Central or State Board (CBSE, CISCE, etc.)
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination
- Final examination of the two-year course of Joint Services Wing of NDA
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by NIOS with at least five subjects
- Public school/board/university examination recognized by AIU as equivalent to Class 12
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination
- Diploma of at least 3 years duration recognized by AICTE or a State Board
- GCE Advanced (A) Level examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka)
- Cambridge University High School Certificate or International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Class 12 or equivalent examination passed outside India (with AIU equivalence certificate)
- Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education (BOSSE), Sikkim
Note: If the Class XII examination is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one public examination earlier.
JEE Main 2026 Mode of Examination
According to the exam format approved by JEE Main 2026, there are various modes for each type of JEE Main exam based on the specific paper selected by Candidates. For example: Candidates taking Paper 1 (BE/B.Tech) will complete their JEE Main exam using a Computerised Based Test (CBT) option.
Paper 2A B.Arch) consists of a written portion which includes both Mathematics and an Aptitude Test using CBT and an Offline (Paper Based) Drawing Test which will be administered on a standard A4-size sheet of paper.
Paper 2B (B.Planning), on the other hand, consists entirely of a Computerised Based Test (CBT) Mode of Testing that includes Mathematics and an Aptitude Test as well as Planning-based questions.
JEE Main 2026 Choice of Medium of Question Papers
JEE Main will be held during 2026 in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) in a manner which allows students to choose the language in which they wish to take the exam. Students may select their preferred language when they submit their electronic application to take the exam. JEE Main will be offered in 13 languages including English; Hindi; Assamese; Bengali; Gujarati; Kannada; Malayalam; Marathi; Odia; Punjabi; Tamil; Telugu; and Urdu.
The languages available to candidates for taking the exam depend on their exam center’s location. All JEE Main exam centers in India and out of India will provide materials in English, and the regional languages will be available only to specific states and areas. The question paper will be provided in both English and the selected regional language, but in case of any discrepancy, the English version will be considered final.
Candidates need to be sure to select their language option carefully when they submit their application because they cannot change their chosen language option at any point after submitting the application to take the exam. During the exam itself, candidates are required to attempt the questions in the language medium they chose when registering for the exam.
JEE Main 2026 Scheme of Examination
In the JEE Main 2026 Examination, the Scheme of Examination is dependent upon which of the two papers a candidate selects. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) contains 3 subjects (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) that are all assessed using objective questions such as MCQs or questions that require a numerical answer. Each Subject weighs equally and the exams are taken through CBT only.
Paper 2A (B.Arch) examines candidates using three parts. Part I (Mathematics) and part II (Aptitude Test) of the paper are conducted in the CBT mode as objective-type questions. Part III is a Drawing Test that evaluates a candidate’s drawing skills through an offline test using an A4-sized drawing sheet.
Candidates taking Paper 2B (B.Planning) will be evaluated based on three parts: Part I Mathematics, Part II Aptitude Test and Part III Planning-Based Questions. The three parts consist of objective type MCQs and numerical value-based questions and will be evaluated using CBT.
JEE Main 2026 Pattern of Examination
JEE Main 2026 examination pattern differs for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), and Paper 2B (B.Planning), but all papers follow an objective-based evaluation system with defined marking rules.
Paper 1: B.E. / B.Tech (CBT Mode)
| Subject | Section A (MCQs) | Section B (Numerical) | Total Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Physics | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 60 | 15 | 75 | 300 |
Key Points:
Section A consists of MCQs and Section B has numerical value questions. Negative marking applies in both sections. Merit is prepared using NTA scores by merging all shifts.
Paper 2A: B.Arch (CBT + Offline Drawing)
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | Mathematics | 20 (MCQs) + 5 (Numerical) | 100 | CBT |
| Part II | Aptitude Test | 50 | 200 | CBT |
| Part III | Drawing Test | 2 | 100 | Pen & Paper |
| Total | — | 77 | 400 | — |
Key Points:
Negative marking applies to Mathematics and Aptitude sections. Drawing Test is evaluated out of 100 marks without negative marking.
Paper 2B: B.Planning (CBT Mode)
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | Mathematics | 20 (MCQs) + 5 (Numerical) | 100 |
| Part II | Aptitude Test | 50 | 200 |
| Part III | Planning Based Questions | 25 | 100 |
| Total | — | 100 | 400 |
Key Points:
All sections are computer-based with negative marking for both MCQs and numerical value questions.
Marking Scheme (Common)
| Question Type | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Unanswered |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQs | +4 | -1 | 0 |
| Numerical Value | +4 | -1 | 0 |
Exam Duration
| Paper | Duration (Non-PwD) | Duration (PwD with Scribe) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) | 3 Hours | 4 Hours |
| Paper 2A (B.Arch) | 3 Hours | 4 Hours |
| Paper 2B (B.Planning) | 3 Hours | 4 Hours |
| Paper 2A + 2B | 3 Hours 30 Minutes | 4 Hours 10 Minutes |
PwD/PwBD candidates eligible for scribes receive compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour.
JEE Main 2026 Application Fee
Candidates applying for JEE Main 2026 are required to pay the application fee separately for each session (Session 1 and Session 2), depending on the paper(s) they choose. The fee must be paid online only through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
JEE Main 2026 Fee for Single Paper
(Paper 1 OR Paper 2A OR Paper 2B)
| Category | Gender | Centres in India (Rs.) | Centres Outside India (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Male | 1000 | 5000 |
| General | Female | 800 | 4000 |
| Gen-EWS / OBC (NCL) | Male | 900 | 4500 |
| Gen-EWS / OBC (NCL) | Female | 800 | 4000 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD | Male | 500 | 2500 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD | Female | 500 | 2500 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD | Third Gender | 500 | 3000 |
JEE Main 2026 Fee for Multiple Papers
(Any two or all three papers combined)
| Category | Gender | Centres in India (Rs.) | Centres Outside India (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Gen-EWS / OBC (NCL) | Male | 2000 | 10000 |
| General / Gen-EWS / OBC (NCL) | Female | 1600 | 8000 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD | Male | 1000 | 5000 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD | Female | 1000 | 5000 |
| SC / ST / PwD / PwBD | Third Gender | 1000 | 5000 |
JEE Main 2026 Application Procedure
JEE Main 2026 application process will be conducted online only via NTA’s official site. It is essential for candidates to follow each step carefully when completing their applications because any kind of mistake or missing information could cause the application’s rejection.
Step 1: Registration Form
The first step in registering for JEE Main 2026 will be to create an online registration using basic information about yourself.
Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a system-generated application number. You will also be prompted to set a password, select a security question, and create the answer for that question.
The unique application number that will be assigned to you will be used for both JEE Main sessions 1 & 2 as well as for all correspondence regarding JEE Main 2026. Therefore, please note and keep your application number secure because you will need it whenever logging into the system.
Step 2: Application Form Filling Out
After registration is done, you will receive an application number and then log in to finish the online form for JEE Main 2026 using your application number and a valid password.
The Online form will have all the details about yourself, your academic qualification(s) (if any), which papers you want to take, and the location(s) of the JEE Main. You also need to upload all required documents/images with your completed online application.
Document/Image Requirements:
- Live Photograph (taken with a webcam or mobile device) JPG/JPEG Format. Size between 10 kB to 200 kB, 80% Face visible, White Background
- Scanned Photograph (JPG/JPEG ) Format, 10 kB to 200 kB, 80% Face visible, White Background
- Signature (JPG/JPEG )(Format JPG/JPEG ) Format, 10 kB to 100 kB
- Class 10 Certificate/Marksheet (PDF)Format, 50kb to 300 kB
- Identification Proof (If Applicable) (JPG/JPEG )Format, 10 kB to 200 kB
- Certificate of Person with Disability (if applicable).(PDF )Format, 50kb to 300 kB.
Candidates are required to only upload their own original documents, any false, forged, or inappropriate document will be considered as UFM (unfair means) which could result in cancellation of candidature.
Step 3: Fee Payment
After completing the application form, candidates must pay the examination fee online through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI. Processing charges and GST, if applicable, will be charged separately by the payment gateway.
Once the payment is successful, the Confirmation Page will be generated. Candidates must download and print this page for future reference. If the confirmation page is not generated, candidates should contact the concerned bank or payment gateway and complete a fresh transaction if required.
Important Instructions Regarding Password
Candidates must create a password that:
- Is 8 to 13 characters long
- Contains one uppercase letter
- Contains one lowercase letter
- Contains one numeric digit
- Contains one special character (!@#$%^&*-)
Candidates should not share their password with anyone. Passwords can be reset using:
- Security question and answer
- OTP sent to the registered mobile number
- Reset link sent to the registered email ID
Candidates are advised to log out after every session to avoid unauthorized access.
Reservation Policy – Category-wise Seat Allocation
JEE Main–based admissions, reservation of seats for Indian nationals is provided as per the rules and guidelines of the Government of India. Eligible candidates belonging to reserved categories are admitted against seats earmarked for their respective categories, subject to fulfillment of the prescribed conditions and submission of valid certificates.
| Category | Reservation Percentage | Important Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| General – Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS) | 10% | Applicable only to General category candidates who meet EWS criteria as per Government of India notifications |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% | Candidate must be listed in the Central OBC list and belong to the non-creamy layer |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% | Applicable to candidates recognized under the SC category by the Government of India |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% | Applicable to candidates recognized under the ST category by the Government of India |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) | 5% | Horizontal reservation within each category (GEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST) |
JEE Main 2026 Admit Card
National Testing Agency (NTA), via its online portal at https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/, will be providing JEE Main 2026 e-Admit Cards solely. Those who have completed the application procedure appropriately, paid the necessary fee, and met all requirements set by NTA will receive an electronic copy of their admit card.
Candidates must access their admit card online from the NTA website before showing up for their JEE examination, as identified within their admit card for either time or location. Candidates arriving late to their respective examination locations will not gain permission to enter the examination facility. Candidates must arrive at the appropriate time and venue listed on their admit card.
JEE Main 2026 Display of Answer Key for Challenges
NTA will publish the provisional answer key and the recorded responses of the candidates to the official site of NTA through a public notice. This service will allow candidates to see their answer keys and to provide an opportunity for candidates to challenge the provisional answer key if they have any dispute.
Challenges may only be submitted online with a non-refundable fee of Rs.200 for each question and must be submitted within the specified time period, which is usually within a period of two to three days. Only those challenges submitted on the official challenge link with a valid justification for the challenge will be accepted.
All challenges will be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who will review the challenges and prepare the final answer key. All future JEE Mains results will be created according to this final answer key. NTA’s decision will be final, and no complaints will be taken into consideration after the results have been announced.
Normalization Procedure Based on Percentile Score (Short)
JEE Main Examination for 2026 is going to be conducted in different sessions, so candidates may receive question papers that are slightly different in difficulty level. To maintain fairness and equal opportunity to candidates, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has developed a normalization method using percentile scores instead of raw marks.
A candidate’s percentile score indicates how he/she performed in relation to the other candidates that took the exam during the same session. A candidate’s percentile score is the percentage of candidates who scored less than or the same as the candidate during that specific session.
A candidate who obtains the highest score during a particular session will receive a score of 100 as a percentile score, even though the raw score will differ.The percentile score is calculated using the formula:
Percentile Score = (Number of candidates in the shift who scored equal to or less than the candidate ÷ Total number of candidates in that shift) × 100
NTA converts raw marks into normalized percentile scores, which are calculated up to seven decimal places to reduce ties.These percentile scores, and not the raw marks, are used to prepare the merit list and rankings.
Once NTA calculates the percentile scores for each shift, NTA combines the results of all shifts to create the final NTA score. By doing this, NTA ensures that no candidate has received an unfair advantage or disadvantage because of differences in test difficulty, and therefore NTA is able to determine an accurate measure of true merit for each candidate.
List of Examination Cities for JEE Main 2026
JEE Main exam will be scheduled to take place at multiple locations throughout both India (a number of test centre cities) as well as internationally. Candidates wishing to take the JEE Main exam will have the opportunity to choose their test centres (in an application process) based upon where it is most convenient.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a complete list, on their official website, outlining the JEE Main 2026 exam testing locations (test centres) within both India and internationally, and all of the new test centre locations added for this year. Click Here to view the full list of examination cities for JEE Main 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is JEE Main 2026?
A. JEE Main 2026 is an exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for students who wish to apply to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and several other universities that are based on the B.E./B.Tech. degree programs, B.Arch. Degree Programs, as well as B.Planning degree programs.
Q. How many sessions will JEE Main 2026 be conducted in?
A. JEE Main 2026 has 2 sessions, session one will take place in January, while session two will take place in April.
Q. Can a candidate appear in both sessions of JEE Main 2026?
A. A candidate can take part in either session of JEE Main 2026; however, only the best NTA score will be used to determine their ranking.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for JEE Main 2026?
A. Anyone who graduated from Class 12 within the years 2024 or 2025 or is currently in Class 12 in 2026 can apply.
Q. What is the mode of examination for JEE Main 2026?
A. Both Paper-1 and Paper-2B of the examination will be computer-based tests. However, the drawing part of Paper-2A will be conducted using offline (written) method.
Q. When will JEE Main 2026 be conducted?
A. The first session will be conducted between 21st January 2026 and 30th January 2026, and the second session of JEE Main 2026 will be conducted between 02nd April 2026 and 09th April 2026.
Q. When will the JEE Main 2026 application process start?
A. The application process for Session 1 will begin on 31 October 2025, while applications for Session 2 will open separately in the last week of January 2026.
Q. When will the results of JEE Main 2026 be declared?
A. The result for Session 1 is expected to be declared by 12 February 2026, and the Session 2 result is likely to be announced by 20 April 2026.