What's New in JEE Main 2026 Registration: Complete Guide to Latest Updates
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is among the five most difficult exams that are undertaken annually by lakhs of students in India. Nonetheless, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has implemented several JEE Main 2026 new changes this year that have a direct impact on the registration of students, uploading of documents, and the choice of the exam city.
So, if you are a candidate for JEE Main 2026, you don't need to go through several blogs each having pieces of information scattered here and there. This single guide is a perfect source of all the essential updates and the JEE Main 2026 new changes that refer to the revised passport photo guidelines and the changed city selection, along with the updated eligibility criteria.
JEE Main 2026 Registration: Important Dates to Remember
It is very important to keep track of the official timetable. Missing any important date for JEE Main 2026 can be a reason that you will not be able to take the test, which is one of the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India. The schedule shows the dates for the registration, the payment of the fee, and the exam, and all of them are explained below.
JEE Main 2026 Changes in Photo Upload: Live Photo Capture Is Now Mandatory
One of the most discussed JEE Main latest updates is the live photo requirement in the NTA JEE Main 2026 form changes. This implies:
You cannot use a pre-clicked passport-size photo.
Rather, you are required to take a live photo with the camera of your device during the registration process.
The system then matches the live photo with the photo in the database to verify the identity.
It has been introduced to stop the impersonation of a candidate and also to make sure the photo is of the same person on the day of the exam.
Guidelines for Live Photo Upload
Use the following steps if you want to first capture a live photo and later use it during the registration process to make a post:
Make sure that your background is plain and that the lighting is sufficient.
Avoid wearing masks, caps, or sunglasses.
Make sure your face is clearly visible and properly aligned.
The photo must be recent and match your appearance on exam day.
Device Compatibility Tips
These tips will help you upload your live photo without any chances of mistakes while uploading your picture:
Have a laptop or smartphone that has a functional camera.
Web Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge (newest versions) use them for better compatibility and performance when uploading your photo.
Use no incognito mode and make sure that camera permissions are turned on.
In case the photo is not uploaded, delete the cache or change the device.
City Selection Rules: No Changes Allowed After Submission
Earlier, candidates were allowed to change their city of exam preference during the correction window. However, the JEE Main latest updates reveal an announcement that indicates:
During registration, you have to pick four cities where you want to take the exam.
It is not allowed to change the place of the exam after the submission of the form.
NTA will be the one to decide about the test centers on the basis of your choices and availability.
This change is meant to help the situation in the distribution of exam venues and, thus, facilitate the entire process.
Tips for City Selection
Resourcing the cities near your living place will allow you to save the travel time and energy for the day of the exam.
Make sure you submit your application well before the deadline so that it will be easier to get your first choices.
Do not decide to get your application done at the last minute, as you will have to go far to take your exam if that is the case.
JEE Main 2026: Eligibility Criteria
The National Testing Agency has changed the eligibility requirements of the JEE Main 2026 a bit, although they have retained most of the previous ones.
The eligibility criteria were restricted to the past two years, whereby students should have passed their Class 12, and those who were appearing in the current year were also eligible to apply. It was 75 percent of marks for the General category and 65 percent for the SC/ST category. The difference of the 2026 update was that it was clearly stated that the three years were not consecutive; the eligibility of the last two years and the current one only was considered.
1. Eligibility Criteria 2026 (Updated)
An applicant should be a student of class 12 in 2024 or 2025 or a candidate appearing in 2026.
2. The minimum requirements for admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs are:
General category: A minimum of 75% of the total marks in Class 12 is required.
SC/ST category: A minimum of 65% of the total marks in Class 12 is required.
There won't be any age limit to take JEE Main 2026.
Subject Combinations
Students should keep in mind the subject matter requirements of the course they are going to pursue. Given below are the courses and required subjects for admission in JEE Main 2026:
Refer to the JEE Main Information for complete details of subjects and board-specific requirements.
Reservation Categories
Students should also make sure their certificates are valid and have been uploaded correctly to avoid being rejected at the time of verification.
There are also benefits of reservation to OBC-NCL and EWS candidates.
The competent authorities should issue certificates and revise them for the current financial year.
Format: PDF under 300 KB.
Dual Session Strategy: Should You Apply Both?
In case you do not do well in one session, the other session can save you from losing your rank or reduce the stress of the exam.
JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in two semesters, January and April.
You may apply to either one or both sessions.
The highest score will be taken into account to be admitted.
Session 2 is an opportunity to advance your performance.
JEE Main Correction Window: What Can Be Edited?
Although the choice of the city is final, NTA typically permits corrections to:
Name, gender, category, and education information.
Documents uploaded (except live photo and city choices).
Pay attention to the correction window dates and instructions announcements.
Data Privacy and Security
Students should keep track of the NTA Official Notification for the latest security measures to be informed.
Live photo and personal information are safely stored.
Verification is only used in exams.
Access by a third party is not allowed.
JEE Main 2026 Registration: Step-by-Step Guide
The following are the procedures that you can use to register for the JEE Main 2026 exam:
Step 1: Visit the site of NTA JEE Main, and in the next step, you need to follow the link that is called Apply for JEE Main 2026.
Step 2: You can create your profile by entering your Full Name, Mobile Number, Email ID, and creating a password. Mobile and Email by OTP confirmation should be confirmed.
Step 3: Hand in the application form along with personal information, academic history, exam options, and desired location of test centre.
Step 4: Take a live picture and post it.
Step 5: Once the documents are uploaded, an application fee must be paid to finalize the process through the options provided, such as Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
Step 6: Fee Payment for Application: After uploading the documents, one needs to pay the application fee to complete the process via the available payment options like Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Students should consider the JEE Main latest updates in the document upload to avoid these common mistakes:
They usually upload old photos instead of taking a new one on the spot.
If you make an incorrect city selection, don’t forget that you will not be able to make changes later on.
Document mismatches: Be sure that all your uploads are consistent with each other.
Not meeting the deadlines: You could place reminders for important dates to be punctual.
Final Thoughts: Stay Ahead with Smart Preparation
The JEE Main 2026 new changes aim at making the exam more transparent, lessening the chances of fraudulent activities, and simplifying the whole registration process. It may be that the live photo capture and locked city selection give a somewhat 'strict' impression, but these measures are there to ensure that justice is done and the procedure is efficient for all the candidates.
Knowing about the JEE Main latest updates will help you in such a manner that you will be able to expect and avoid those common traps and hence be able to carry out your registration without any doubt. Be it that you are well-prepared, take care of the instructions issued by the concerned authorities, and do not stop from visiting reliable sources to see if there are any new notifications.
Like what you see? Share this news on :
