National Testing Agency (NTA) has published the timeline for JEE Main 2026, which is a relief and comfort for several engineering aspirants across the country. The Joint Entrance Examination (Main), which serves as an initial step towards getting admission into prime colleges (for example, NITs, IIITs, or any other centrally funded institute), will be conducted in two sessions (January 2026 and April 2026).
As per the latest advisory released on 19 October 2025, the first session of JEE Main will occur between 21 and 30 January 2026, and the second session will occur from 1 to 10 April 2026. The online application process for the January session will begin in October 2025 on the official website (jeemain.nta.nic.in).
In an effort to widen the number of exam cities and add another step towards simplification of the application process, NTA introduced Aadhaar based authentication while registering. Now, with this announcement, we are all set for one of India’s most awaited engineering entrance examinations with enough time for students to prepare and plan themselves for both sessions.
JEE Main 2026 Important Dates
The exam will be conducted in two sessions January 2026 and April 2026 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. This initiative continues NTA’s efforts to provide multiple opportunities for students to improve their scores and reduce exam-related stress.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Session 1 (January 2026) | |
| Online Submission of Application Form | October 2025 onwards |
| Dates of Examination | Between 21 – 30 January 2026 |
| Session 2 (April 2026) | |
| Online Submission of Application Form | Last week of January 2026 onwards |
| Dates of Examination | Between 01 – 10 April 2026 |
JEE Main 2026 Application Process: Step-by-Step Guide
National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a detailed process for the candidates to apply for JEE Main 2026 in a simple, transparent, and fully online mode. The entire process from registration to the confirmation has to be done through the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in. Here’s a step-by-step guide to assist candidates in accurately filling out the JEE Main 2026 Application Form.
Step 1: Registration Form
- Access the official website for JEE Main 2026, and register for the online application form.
- Enter all personal information required such as name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number.
- Provide a password and a security question/and answer to enable you to recover your password when needed.
- Once you submit your registration details successfully, an application number will be seen advisory.
- This application number is very important as all remaining steps of the form will be completed using this number and any future communications.
- The applicant will be able to log into their own account later with this same application number and password created during registration.
- The applicant’s own unique application number will be valid for both sessions (January and April) of JEE Main 2026.
Step 2: Filling out the Application Form
- Log in with the unique application number and password you created.
- Complete the application by answering all the following:
- Personal Information
- Educational Qualifications
- Preference of Paper (B.E./B., Tech, B. Arch or B. Planning)
- Exam Cities (order of preference)
- Upload required scanned documents as per the detailed requirements below:
| Document | File Format | File Size | File Name | Additional Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate’s Photograph | JPG/JPEG | 10 KB – 300 KB | Photograph | Coloured photo with 80% face visible (without mask) and ears showing against a white background |
| Candidate’s Signature | JPG/JPEG | 10 KB – 50 KB | Signature | Must be clearly legible |
| Class X or Equivalent Certificate/Marks Sheet | 10 KB – 300 KB | Class-X Certificate | Must be clear and readable | |
| PwD/PwBD Certificate (if applicable) | 10 KB – 300 KB | Disability Certificate | Upload only if applicable |
Step 3: Pay the Fee
- After Steps 1 & 2 are completed effectively and successfully, candidates will pay the examination fee using the online fee payment option.
- Candidates will be able to pay the fee either through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI.
- Processing fees may be charged by the payment gateway and/or the bank, plus GST if applicable.
- Once payment has been successfully processed by the payment gateway, candidates can subsequently download and print the Confirmation Page as proof of the successful registration.
Aadhaar Authentication & Application Process
- To make the online application process smooth and help to mitigate errors, NTA has planned to introduce Aadhaar based authentication for JEE Main 2026.
- Candidates should ensure that the Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Photograph, and Address as per Aadhaar is correct and updated before applying.
- In the event that a candidate’s Father’s, Mother’s or Guardian’s name is not available in the Aadhaar, then it must be separately inputted in the online application form.
- The authentication process will allow for accurate verification of data, and, ensure that there is no discrepancy with respect to registration and administration of the examination.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026, candidates must ensure that they meet all the eligibility conditions set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The eligibility criteria include age limit, qualifying examinations, year of passing, and state of eligibility. Here’s a detailed overview:
1. Age Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | No upper age limit for JEE Main 2026 |
| Eligible Year of Passing Class 12 | 2023, 2024, or appearing in 2025 |
| Note | Candidates must satisfy the age criteria of the institute to which they are applying |
2. List of Qualifying Examinations (QE)
Candidates must have passed any one of the following recognized examinations to be eligible for JEE Main 2026:
| S. No. | Qualifying Examination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Final examination of the 10+2 system conducted by any recognized Central/State Board (e.g., CBSE, CISCE). |
| 2 | Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination conducted by a recognized Board/University. |
| 3 | Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defense Academy. |
| 4 | Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) with at least five subjects. |
| 5 | Any Public School/Board/University examination in India or abroad recognized as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). |
| 6 | Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination. |
| 7 | Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education of at least 3 years duration. |
| 8 | General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level. |
| 9 | High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma from Geneva. |
| 10 | Candidates who have completed Class 12 from a foreign board must produce an AIU equivalence certificate. |
| 11 | If Class 12 is not a public exam, the candidate must have passed at least one public (Board/Pre-University) exam earlier. |
3. Year of Appearance in Qualifying Examination
| Eligible Candidates | Ineligible Candidates |
|---|---|
| Those who have passed Class 12 / equivalent exam in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026 | Those who have passed Class 12 / equivalent exam in 2023 or earlier |
4. State of Eligibility
The State Code of Eligibility refers to the state from where the candidate passed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination. It is important to note that it does not depend on the candidate’s place of residence or native state.
| Situation | State Code of Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Candidate studied and passed Class 12 from Delhi but resides in Noida, Uttar Pradesh | Delhi |
| Candidate passed Class 12 from one state but appeared for improvement from another | The state where the candidate first passed Class 12 |
| Candidate studied from NIOS | The state where the NIOS study centre is located |
| Indian nationals passing Class 12 from Nepal/Bhutan | Based on the permanent address in India as given in the passport |
| OCI candidates passing Class 12 in India | Same as Indian nationals |
| OCI candidates passing Class 12 from abroad | Eligible only for Other State Quota or All India Quota seats (not Home State Quota) in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is JEE Main 2026?
A. JEE Main 2026 is the entrance examination conducted at the national level by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for students who wish to pursue studies in B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Plan Courses at NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions. It is also the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced to get admission into IITs.
Q. Who organizes the JEE Main 2026?
A. The JEE Main 2026 organizing committee is the NTA (National Testing Agency). NTA organizes everything from the release of any information to the exam forms, actually running the exam, and releasing scores.
Q. In how many sessions will JEE Main 2026 be conducted?
A. JEE Main 2026 is to be conducted in two sessions – the first one from 21 to 30 January 2026 and the second one from 1 to 10 April 2026. Candidates can appear in one or both sessions as they prefer.
Q. What is the advantage of having two sessions in JEE Main 2026?
A. The two sessions will allow a candidate to improve their score during their second attempt, and it mitigates the risk that something unexpected may occur in one session. In addition, the NTA will consider only the better of two scores when calculating the final ranking for admission.
Q. When will the JEE Main 2026 application form be available?
A. The January session application form for JEE Main 2026 will be available in October of 2025 at the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in. The April session will have its application window open in February of 2026.
Q. What are the eligibility criteria for taking JEE Main 2026?
A. Candidates must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025 and studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects (for B.E./B.Tech candidates). No age restrictions apply, but students must meet the year of passing criteria.
Q. How can a candidate apply for JEE Main 2026?
A. The candidate can apply for JEE Main 2026 through the official website and he/she needs to fill in the form for the online registration system. It consists of most of the basic registration details, filling up the application Form, uploading the same documents, photograph, and payment for the application fee will be done online.
Q. Can the candidate apply for JEE Main 2026 in two sessions?
A. Yes, the candidate can apply for JEE Main 2026 in both sessions. In that case, the best score will be taken into consideration for ranking and admission purposes.