JEE Main Exam 2026

The Joint Entrance Examination (Main), popularly known as JEE Main, is one of the most prestigious national-level engineering entrance exams in India. Below are the key highlights for the 2026 cycle:

• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Frequency: Twice a year (Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April)
• Exam Level: National
• Mode of Exam: Computer Based Test (CBT), except for the Drawing test in B.Arch
• Courses Offered: B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning
• Official Website: jeemain.nta.nic.in

While the official notification is usually released in late 2025, the tentative schedule for JEE Main 2026 is as follows:

• Session 1 (January 2026):
  • Registration: November - December 2025
  • Admit Card: 3 days before the exam
  • Exam Dates: Last week of January 2026
  • Result: February 2026
• Session 2 (April 2026):
  • Registration: February - March 2026
  • Exam Dates: First/Second week of April 2026
  • Result: Late April/Early May 2026

JEE Main is a standardized entrance examination conducted for admission to undergraduate engineering and architecture programs in India. It serves two primary purposes: acting as the entrance test for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, and serving as the preliminary qualifying round for JEE Advanced, which is the gateway to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The full form of JEE Main is the Joint Entrance Examination Main. It was previously known as the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) before being rebranded and restructured under the NTA.

The JEE Main exam has evolved significantly. Initially conducted by the CBSE, the responsibility was handed over to the National Testing Agency (NTA) in 2019. Since then, the exam has transitioned to a fully computer-based format and has seen changes in the number of sessions (from once a year to twice, and briefly four times during the pandemic) to provide students with more flexibility and opportunities to improve their scores.

To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Age Limit: There is no specific age limit for appearing in JEE Main.
• Qualifying Exam: Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or be appearing in 2026.
• Subject Requirements: For B.E./B.Tech, candidates must have studied Physics, Mathematics, and one of (Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational Subject).
• 75% Rule: For admission to NITs/IIITs/GFTIs, candidates usually need at least 75% marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST).

The application process is entirely online. Steps include:

1. Registration: Create a profile using email and mobile number on the NTA portal.
2. Application Form: Fill in personal, educational, and contact details.
3. Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, and category certificates (if applicable).
4. Fee Payment: Pay the application fee via Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI.
5. Confirmation Page: Download and print the confirmation page for future reference.

The subjects vary depending on the paper chosen:

• Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech): Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• Paper 2A (B.Arch): Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Drawing Test.
• Paper 2B (B.Planning): Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Planning (Multiple Choice Questions).

The syllabus is primarily based on the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. Physics includes Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Electromagnetism. Chemistry covers Physical, Organic, and Inorganic branches. Mathematics includes Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, and Coordinate Geometry. Students are advised to check the official 2026 information bulletin for any minor topic deletions or additions.

The exam pattern for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) generally consists of:

• Total Questions: 90 (Candidates attempt 75).
• Structure: Each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) has 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value Questions (NVQs). Candidates must attempt only 5 out of the 10 NVQs.
• Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect answers (applicable to both MCQs and NVQs).
• Duration: 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates).

The admission journey follows these steps:

1. Registration and Application.
2. Appearing for the Exam (Session 1 and/or Session 2).
3. Declaration of Results and All India Ranks.
4. Registration for JoSAA/CSAB Counselling.
5. Seat Allocation based on rank, category, and preferences.
6. Physical Reporting and Document Verification at the allotted institute.

Over 100 institutes participate in the centralized counselling process, including:

• 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
• 30+ Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
• Numerous private universities and state-level colleges that accept JEE Main scores for their own admission processes.

The NTA releases the result in the form of a Percentile Score. This normalized score represents the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below a particular candidate in that session. The final All India Rank (AIR) is calculated after the second session, considering the best of the two scores for candidates who appeared in both sessions.

After the results are declared, candidates have two main paths:

• Qualifiers for JEE Advanced: The top 2,50,000 candidates (approx.) are eligible to register for JEE Advanced to seek admission into IITs.
• JoSAA Counselling: Candidates can participate in the Joint Seat Allocation Authority process for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs based on their JEE Main AIR.

Counselling is conducted by JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority). It involves several rounds of seat allotment. Candidates must fill their choices of colleges and branches in order of preference. If a seat is allotted, the candidate must choose to Freeze, Float, or Slide their option and pay the seat acceptance fee.

There are two types of cut-offs:

• Qualifying Cut-off: The minimum percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced. This varies by category (General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST).
• Admission Cut-off: The opening and closing ranks for specific branches at participating institutes, which are determined by seat availability and student demand.

For queries regarding the exam, candidates can reach out to the NTA:

• Address: First Floor, NSIC-MDBP Building, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi, Delhi 110020
• Helpdesk: 011-40759000
• Email: jeemain@nta.ac.in
• Official Portal: jeemain.nta.nic.in