JEE Main Exam 2026

The Joint Entrance Examination (Main), or JEE Main, is one of the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India. Managed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), it serves as the gateway for undergraduate admissions to top-tier technical institutes.

• Exam Name: JEE Main 2026
• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Frequency: Twice a year (Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April)
• Exam Level: National
• Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Courses Offered: B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Planning

While official notifications are typically released in late 2025, the tentative schedule for JEE Main 2026 is as follows:

• Session 1 Notification: November 2025
• Session 1 Application Window: November to December 2025
• Session 1 Exam Dates: Last week of January 2026
• Session 2 Registration: February to March 2026
• Session 2 Exam Dates: First and second week of April 2026
• Declaration of Result: Within 15-20 days post-exam

JEE Main is a national-level entrance examination conducted for students seeking admission to various undergraduate engineering and architecture programs in India. It is the first stage of the JEE system and acts as a qualifying exam for the JEE Advanced, which is the entry point for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The full form of JEE Main is the Joint Entrance Examination Main. It is a standardized test designed to assess the aptitude of students in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics for technical education.

Historically, the exam was known as the AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination). In 2013, it was rebranded as JEE Main. Over the years, the exam has transitioned from a pen-and-paper format to a fully Computer Based Test (CBT). In 2019, the responsibility of conducting the exam was shifted from the CBSE to the National Testing Agency (NTA), which introduced the system of conducting the exam twice a year to reduce student stress.

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

• Qualifying Exam: Must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026.
• Subjects: Must have studied Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational subjects.
• Age Limit: There is no age limit for appearing in JEE Main, though individual institutes may have their own age criteria.
• 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 for JEE Main 2026 is entirely online. Candidates must follow these steps:

1. Visit the official NTA JEE website.
2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
3. Fill in the personal and academic details in the application form.
4. Upload scanned documents, including a photograph and signature.
5. Pay the application fee via online payment gateways (Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI).
6. Download and print the Confirmation Page for future reference.

The JEE Main 2026 exam covers three primary subjects for the B.E./B.Tech paper:

• Physics: Focuses on concepts ranging from Mechanics to Modern Physics.
• Chemistry: Divided into Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry.
• Mathematics: Covers Algebra, Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, and Trigonometry.

For B.Arch, an additional Drawing Test is included, and for B.Planning, a Planning-based objective test is conducted.

The syllabus for JEE Main 2026 is largely based on the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. It includes:

• Physics: Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Thermodynamics, Electrostatics, Optics, etc.
• Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Equilibrium, Hydrocarbons, Biomolecules, etc.
• Mathematics: Sets, Relations and Functions, Matrices, Integrals, Probability, etc.

The exam pattern for B.E./B.Tech consists of 90 questions, where students need to attempt 75:

• Section A: 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) per subject (Mandatory).
• Section B: 10 Numerical Value Questions per subject (Attempt any 5).
• Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect answers (applicable to both sections).
• Duration: 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates).

The admission process involves several stages:

1. Appearing for the JEE Main exam.
2. Qualifying the minimum cutoff percentile.
3. Participating in the JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) or CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) counselling rounds.
4. Document verification and payment of admission fees at the allotted institute.

JEE Main scores are accepted by a wide range of prestigious institutions, including:

• 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
• 30+ Government Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs)
• Many State Government Universities and Private Engineering Colleges.

The JEE Main 2026 Result will be declared in the form of an NTA Score (Percentile). This percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below a particular candidate. If a student appears in both sessions, the best of the two NTA scores is considered for the final All India Rank (AIR).

After the declaration of JEE Main results:

• The top 2,50,000 qualifiers become eligible to register for JEE Advanced 2026 to compete for seats in the IITs.
• Other successful candidates can apply for counselling for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
• Candidates can also apply to various private universities that accept JEE Main scores.

The JoSAA Counselling is a centralized process for seat allocation. Candidates must register online, fill in their choices of branches and institutes in order of preference, and lock them. Seats are allotted based on the All India Rank (AIR), category, and availability of seats across multiple rounds.

There are two types of cutoffs:

• Qualifying Cutoff: The minimum score required to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
• Admission Cutoff: The opening and closing ranks for admission into specific institutes.

The cutoff varies each year based on the difficulty of the paper and the number of appearing candidates.

For queries regarding the application or exam, candidates can contact the NTA:

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