JEE Main Entrance Exam 2026: The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is one of India's most competitive engineering entrance exams. It is the gateway to admission in NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded technical institutes. JEE Main also serves as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which is required for entry into the IITs.
For the 2026 exam, there will be two sessions. Session 1 was conducted from 21 January 2026 to 30 January 2026 and Session 2 is scheduled from 2 April 2026 to 9 April 2026. JEE Main last date to apply for the January session exam from 31 October to 27 November 2025 and April session registration was open from 1 February to 25 February 2026. NTA re-opened the JEE Mains session 2 applications on 12 March 2026 and closed on 13 March 2026. Session 2 admit cards have been made available on 29 March 2026 for Paper 1 (B.E./B. Tech) which are scheduled on 2 & 4 April 2026, while for the remaining exams, they were released on 1 April 2026.
To be eligible, candidates must have passed or be appearing in their Class 12 (or equivalent) exams with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with either Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a technical vocational subject. There is no age limit, but candidates must meet the eligibility criteria of the institutes they desire to join.
Features | Details |
| Exam Name | Joint Entrance Examination (Main) - JEE Main |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | Undergraduate engineering entrance |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a year (January and April sessions) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (Online) |
| Courses Covered | B.Tech (BE), B.Arch, B.Plan |
| Exam Dates | Session 1: 21 January 2026 to 30 January 2026 Session 2: 2 April 2026 to 9 April 2026 |
| Application Start Date | Session 1: 31 October 2025 Session 2: 1 February 2025 |
| Application Last Date | Session 1: 27 November 2025 (Up to 11:50 PM) Session 2: 13 March 2026 (Up to 9:00 PM) |
| Admit Card Release | Session 1: 28-29 January 2026 Session 2: 29 March & 1 April 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Session 1: 16 & 24 February 2026 Session 2: 20 April & 05 May 2026 |
| Total Marks | 300 for B.E./B.Tech; 400 for B.Arch and B.Plan |
| Marking Scheme | 4 for correct answer, -1 for wrong answer |
| Languages Available | 13 languages including English and Hindi |
| Number of Test Cities | 323 in India, 15 outside India |
| Official Website | https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/ |
JEE Main Entrance Exam 2026 Important Dates
Event | Session 1 (January 2026) | Session 2 (April 2026) |
| Online Application Window | 31 October - 27 November 2025 | 1 February - 13 March 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 27 November 2025 | 13 March 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 1-2 December 2025 | 27-28 February 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 28 and 29 January 2026 | 29 March & 1 April 2026 |
| Exam Dates | 21 January 2026 to 30 January 2026 | 2 April 2026 to 9 April 2026 |
| Result Declaration | 16 & 24 February 2026 | 20 April & 05 May 2026 |
Note:-The dates are subject to change based on official notification.
The JEE Main eligibility criteria ensure that candidates meet the necessary academic qualifications and other conditions to appear for the exam. Below is a detailed list of requirements:
Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognised board such as CBSE/ICSE or other state boards.
Subjects Required: For B.E./B. Tech candidates must have studied Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a Technical Vocational subject.
Minimum Marks: There is no minimum percentage required to appear for the exam, However, for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs via JoSAA, candidates must have secured 75% marks in Class 12 (or 65% for SC/ST), or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective board.
Age Limit: There is no upper age limit to appear for JEE Main entrance exam 2026. However, candidates must meet the age criteria of the institutes they are applying to.
Number of Attempts: Candidates can appear for three consecutive years, with two sessions per year. The best score out of the sessions is considered for ranking.
Nationality: Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs and foreign nationals are eligible to apply.
JEE Main Entrance Exam 2026 Application Form
The JEE Main 2026 registration form was released separately for both sessions by the National Testing Agency on its official website. For Session 1, the application window was open from 31 October 2025 to 27 November 2025, while Session 2 applications were accepted from 1 February to 13 March 2026. The JEE Mains session 2 2026 registration last date was 13 March 2025. Candidates were required to register online, fill in personal and academic details, upload scanned documents and pay the examination fee to complete the process.
Applicants who registered for Session 1 could use the same credentials to apply for Session 2. The form correction windows for JEE Main session 1 was available from 1-2 December 2025 and for session 2 from 27-28 February 2026. It’s important to note that only online submissions are accepted and incomplete or incorrect forms are liable for rejection.
The admit card for session 1 was released on 28 and 29 January 2026 by the conducting body on its official website, while the JEE Main exam date for session 1 was from 21 to 30 January 2026. JEE Mains session 2 admit card released on 29 March 2026 for exams on 2 & 4 April 2026 and is now available from 1 April 2026 for further exams, which are scheduled on 5-8 April 2026. To download the admit card, candidates had to log in using their application number and date of birth, or password. The admit card includes essential details such as the exam date, shift timing, exam center address and candidate instructions.
JEE Main Entrance Exam 2026 Answer Key
The JEE Main 2026 final answer key for Session 1 was released in February 2026. The provisional key and the conclusion of the objection window were also opened in February 2026. In this period, candidates had the opportunity to raise any obligations, complaints or problems in the answer key. The answer key includes correct responses for all questions asked in the examination. To access the answer key, candidates must visit the official website and download the PDF directly, which requires no login details. Candidates can use it to estimate their scores and compare them with expected cut-offs. JEE Mains session 2 answer key is expected to be released on 19 February 2026 (Tentative) and candidates have a chance to challenge the answer key from 19-20 February 2026 (Tentative).
The JEE Main 2026 result for session 2 has been declared on 20 April 2026 for Paper 1 (B.E. / B. Tech.) and 05 May 2026 for Paper 2 (B. Arch and B. Planning) on the official website by the NTA. Candidates can access their scorecards by logging in with their application number and date of birth. Candidates securing good ranks and scores will be given the first preference to take admission at the first-choice IITs and NITs. The result displays subject-wise NTA percentile scores, overall score and for eligible candidates, their All India Rank (AIR), which is a key criterion for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs and for qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026. Candidates are advised to download and secure their scorecards, as counseling and admission procedures through JoSAA 2026 are expected to begin shortly after the results.
JEE Main Entrance Exam 2026 Cutoff
The JEE Main cutoff marks the minimum percentile required for candidates to qualify for JEE Advanced and gain eligibility for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. Released by the NTA on April 19, 2025, the JEE Main 2025 cutoff varies by category and is based on factors like exam difficulty, number of candidates and seat availability. Only candidates meeting or exceeding these percentiles are eligible to register for JEE Advanced 2026. Candidates can refer to the previous year's cutoff marks to get an approximate idea about the JEE Main 2026 cutoff. Here’s the official category-wise qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2025 based on JEE Main cut-off 2025 scores:
Category | Cutoff Percentile (2025) |
| General (UR) | 93.1023262 |
| EWS | 80.3830119 |
| OBC-NCL | 79.4313582 |
| SC | 61.1526933 |
| ST | 47.9026465 |
| PwD (UR) | 0.0079349 |
Note: These cutoffs are used for qualifying purposes only. Admission cutoffs for specific colleges and branches will be released separately during JoSAA counselling.
The JEE Main entrance exam pattern 2026 includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and numerical value questions (NVQs). The exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and includes three papers: Paper 1 for B.E./B. Tech, Paper 2A for B.Arch and Paper 2B for B.Planning. Each paper is of 3 hours duration. Note that optional questions in Section B have been discontinued and candidates must now attempt all questions.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern
Paper | Subjects | Total Questions | Total Marks | Mode |
| Paper 1 | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | 75 (25 per subject) | 300 | CBT (Online) |
| Paper 2A (B.Arch) | Mathematics, Aptitude, Drawing | 77 | 400 | CBT + Pen & Paper (Drawing) |
| Paper 2B (B.Plan) | Mathematics, Aptitude, Planning-Based Questions | 100 | 400 | CBT (Online) |
JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme
The marking scheme is consistent across all papers and sections, with negative marking applicable to both MCQs and NVQs.
Question Type | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Unanswered |
| MCQs (All Papers) | +4 | –1 | 0 |
| NVQs (All Papers) | +4 | –1 | 0 |
| Drawing (Paper 2A only) | Evaluated subjectively | — | — |
JEE Main Sectional Division (Paper-wise)
Each paper is divided into specific sections to assess different skill sets:
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
Subject | Section A (MCQs) | Section B (NVQs) | Total Questions | Marks |
| Physics | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Mathematics | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
Paper 2A (B.Arch)
Section | Questions | Marks |
| Mathematics (MCQ + NVQ) | 25 | 100 |
| Aptitude (MCQ) | 50 | 200 |
| Drawing | 2 | 100 |
Paper 2B (B.Planning)
Section | Questions | Marks |
| Mathematics (MCQ + NVQ) | 25 | 100 |
| Aptitude (MCQ) | 50 | 200 |
| Planning-Based (MCQ) | 25 | 100 |
The JEE Main syllabus 2026, officially released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), includes the topics from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics that candidates must prepare. The syllabus is largely inspired by the NCERT Class 11 and 12 curriculum. However, some topics have been revised or removed, so it’s essential to refer to the updated version.
For a better understanding of the syllabus, here is a subject-wise breakdown of the JEE Main 2026 syllabus:
JEE Main Syllabus 2026
Subject | Topics Covered |
| Physics | Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work, Energy & Power, Rotational Motion, Gravitation, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Oscillations & Waves, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Currents, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Dual Nature of Matter, Atoms & Nuclei, Electronic Devices, Experimental Skills |
| Chemistry | Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Structure of Atom, Chemical Bonding, States of Matter, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Hydrogen, The s-, p-, d- and f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Organic Chemistry (Basic Principles, Hydrocarbons, Haloalkanes, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, Amines), Biomolecules, Polymers, Chemistry in Everyday Life |
| Mathematics | Sets, Relations & Functions, Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Sequences & Series, Binomial Theorem, Limits, Continuity & Differentiability, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Coordinate Geometry, 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Statistics & Probability, Trigonometry, Mathematical Reasoning, Matrices & Determinants |
To access and get a detailed syllabus about the JEE mains exam, candidates can refer to the syllabus PDF given below or visit the official website of JEE Main:- JEE Mains Syllabus PDF
JEE Main Counselling and Seat Allotment Process
The JEE Main counselling and seat allotment process is being conducted by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) for admission into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and other participating institutions. For the year 2026, the process began in June 2026, shortly after the declaration of JEE Advanced results. It includes six rounds of seat allocation based on the candidate's JEE Main or Advanced ranks, category and preferences. Candidates must complete each step within the specified deadlines to secure their seats.
Here is a Step-by-Step guide on JEE Main Counselling & Seat Allotment Process
Registration: Visit josaa.nic.in and register using your JEE Main application number and password.
Choice Filling & Locking: Fill in your preferred colleges and courses. Lock your choices before the deadline.
Mock Allotments: JoSAA releases two mock allotments to help candidates refine their choices.
Seat Allotment Rounds: Seats are allotted in six rounds based on merit, preferences and category.
Seat Acceptance: If allotted a seat, choose one of the following:
Freeze: Accept the seat and exit further rounds.
Float: Accept the seat but remain open to higher preferences.
Slide: Accept the seat but seek a better course in the same institute.
Fee Payment: Pay the Seat Acceptance Fee. This fee can differ for different categories. (INR 15,000 for SC/ST/PwD, INR 30,000 for others).
Document Upload & Verification: Upload required documents for online verification.
Reporting to the Institute: After the final allotment, report to the allotted institute to confirm admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exams are held in two sessions: Session 1 from January 21 to 30, 2026 and Session 2 from April 2 to 9, 2026.
Candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as core subjects. Additionally, there is no age limit to apply.
The Session 1 result was announced on 16 & 24 February 2026, whereas the Session 2 results are announced on 20 April & 05 May 2026. Candidates can download their scorecards from jeemain.nta.nic.in using their application number and date of birth.
The maximum number of attempts for JEE Mains are 6 including both sessions.
After the result declaration, candidates participate in JoSAA counseling, where they register, fill choices and go through up to six rounds of seat allotment based on rank, category and preferences.