Engineering
Mar 20, 2026
JEE Advanced 2026: IIT Kanpur to Open Registration on April 25; Check Eligibility and Schedule
R
Rajesh Iyer
Mar 20, 2026
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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the organizing institute for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2026, has officially released the detailed information brochure and the schedule for the upcoming examination. According to the announcement made on March 20, 2026, the online registration process for the prestigious engineering entrance exam is scheduled to commence on April 25, 2026. This comes shortly after the expected declaration of the JEE Main Session 2 results, which serve as the primary eligibility hurdle for the Advanced stage.
Only the top 2,50,000 candidates who qualify in the JEE Main 2026 examination will be eligible to apply for JEE Advanced. These candidates are vying for approximately 17,500 seats across the 23 IITs located across the country. The official notification highlights that the exam will be conducted on Sunday, May 24, 2026, in two mandatory shifts. Paper 1 will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by Paper 2 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Both papers are compulsory for all candidates seeking admission to undergraduate programs at the IITs.
IIT Kanpur has also clarified the eligibility criteria regarding the number of attempts and age limits. Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years. For the 2026 cycle, candidates should have been born on or after October 1, 2001, with a five-year relaxation provided to SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Furthermore, the 75% aggregate marks requirement in Class 12 board examinations (or being in the top 20 percentile) remains a mandatory criterion for final admission, despite various student representations seeking its removal.
In terms of the registration fee, there has been a slight upward revision. General category male candidates will now have to pay INR 3,200, while female candidates and those from reserved categories will pay INR 1,600. The registration portal will remain open until May 4, 2026, and the last date for fee payment is May 5. Candidates are advised to keep their scanned documents ready, including Class 10 and 12 certificates, category certificates (if applicable), and a valid government ID.
Experts suggest that this year's paper might see a slight shift in the weightage given to numerical-based questions. Prof. Manish Gupta, a veteran faculty member at a leading coaching institute, stated, 'With IIT Kanpur at the helm, students should expect a paper that focuses heavily on fundamental concepts and their application in multi-step problems. The focus on Physics and Mathematics is expected to be particularly rigorous this year.' Students are encouraged to take mock tests available on the official JEE Advanced portal to familiarize themselves with the Computer Based Test (CBT) interface.
As the countdown begins, the NTA and IIT Kanpur have assured that all logistical arrangements, including advanced security measures and AI-based proctoring for center monitoring, are being finalized. The admit cards are expected to be available for download from May 18, 2026. Aspirants are advised to monitor the official website regularly for any further updates or changes to the examination protocol.
Only the top 2,50,000 candidates who qualify in the JEE Main 2026 examination will be eligible to apply for JEE Advanced. These candidates are vying for approximately 17,500 seats across the 23 IITs located across the country. The official notification highlights that the exam will be conducted on Sunday, May 24, 2026, in two mandatory shifts. Paper 1 will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by Paper 2 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Both papers are compulsory for all candidates seeking admission to undergraduate programs at the IITs.
IIT Kanpur has also clarified the eligibility criteria regarding the number of attempts and age limits. Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years. For the 2026 cycle, candidates should have been born on or after October 1, 2001, with a five-year relaxation provided to SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Furthermore, the 75% aggregate marks requirement in Class 12 board examinations (or being in the top 20 percentile) remains a mandatory criterion for final admission, despite various student representations seeking its removal.
In terms of the registration fee, there has been a slight upward revision. General category male candidates will now have to pay INR 3,200, while female candidates and those from reserved categories will pay INR 1,600. The registration portal will remain open until May 4, 2026, and the last date for fee payment is May 5. Candidates are advised to keep their scanned documents ready, including Class 10 and 12 certificates, category certificates (if applicable), and a valid government ID.
Experts suggest that this year's paper might see a slight shift in the weightage given to numerical-based questions. Prof. Manish Gupta, a veteran faculty member at a leading coaching institute, stated, 'With IIT Kanpur at the helm, students should expect a paper that focuses heavily on fundamental concepts and their application in multi-step problems. The focus on Physics and Mathematics is expected to be particularly rigorous this year.' Students are encouraged to take mock tests available on the official JEE Advanced portal to familiarize themselves with the Computer Based Test (CBT) interface.
As the countdown begins, the NTA and IIT Kanpur have assured that all logistical arrangements, including advanced security measures and AI-based proctoring for center monitoring, are being finalized. The admit cards are expected to be available for download from May 18, 2026. Aspirants are advised to monitor the official website regularly for any further updates or changes to the examination protocol.