JEE Main 2026 — Complete Exam Guide
Overview
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination – Main) 2026, India’s top national engineering entrance exam for admission to undergraduate engineering programs across the country.
Official website: https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/
- Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Frequency: Twice yearly (January & April Sessions)
- Languages: 13 languages including English, Hindi, and regional languages
- Purpose: Gateway to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and JEE Advanced (IITs)
Papers Offered
- Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
- Paper 2A: B.Arch (Math, Aptitude Test, Drawing)
- Paper 2B: B.Planning (Math, Aptitude Test, Planning)
Important Dates 2026
JEE Main 2026 Official Calendar
Session 1 (January 2026)
- Registration: October 31, 2025 – November 27, 2025 (Closed)
- Application Correction Window: December 1-2, 2025
- City Intimation Slip: First week of January 2026
- Admit Card: 3-4 days before exam date (January 2026)
- Exam Dates: January 21-30, 2026
- Provisional Answer Key: February 2026
- Result Declaration: By February 12, 2026
Session 2 (April 2026)
- Registration: Last week of January 2026 onwards
- Application Correction Window: Last week of February 2026
- Admit Card: April 2026 (3-4 days before exam)
- Exam Dates: April 1-10, 2026
- Provisional Answer Key: April 2026
- Result Declaration: April 2026
Counselling & Admissions
- JoSAA Counselling: July-August 2026
Important Note: NTA has clarified that if JEE Main 2026 dates clash with any other national/state-level examination, the JEE Main dates will NOT be changed.
Syllabus
Official Updates Feed
Latest Notifications from NTA
Session 1 Status (as of December 23, 2025):
- Registration Period Closed (Ended: November 27, 2025)
- Application Correction Window Completed (December 1-2, 2025)
- City Intimation Slip: Expected in First Week of January 2026
- Admit Card: Available 3-4 days before exam
Key Clarifications from NTA:
- Exam dates are fixed and will not change even if they clash with other exams
- Best of two session scores will be considered for final ranking
- Normalization will be applied for comparability across shifts
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Requirements
For B.E./B.Tech (Paper 1):
- Class 12 Subjects: Physics + Mathematics + (Chemistry OR Biology OR Biotechnology OR Technical Vocational)
- Minimum Marks: No minimum for appearing in JEE Main
- For NIT/IIIT Admission: 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) OR Top 20 percentile in respective board
For B.Arch (Paper 2A):
- Subjects: Mathematics + Physics + Chemistry
For B.Planning (Paper 2B):
- Subjects: Mathematics (compulsory)
Other Eligibility Conditions
- Age Limit: No upper age limit
- Attempts: Maximum 3 attempts (within 3 consecutive years: 2025, 2026, 2027)
- Year of Passing: Current year (2025) or previous 2 years (2023-2024)
- Nationality: Indian/NRI/PIO/OCI/Foreign nationals
Duration of Examination
| Duration of Examination for each Session of JEE (Main) – 2026 |
|---|
| Paper 1 (B. E/ B. Tech.) Or Paper 2A (B. Arch.) Or Paper 2B (B. Planning) | 03 Hours |
| B. Arch & B. Planning (Both) | 03 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Timing of Examination for each Session: JEE (Main) – 2026 |
|---|
| Duration of Examination | First Shift | Second Shift |
| For 03 Hours Paper | 09:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon (IST) | 03:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M. (IST) |
| For 03 Hours 30 Minutes Paper | 09:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (IST) | 03:00 P.M. to 06:30 P.M. (IST) |
Mode of Examination
The JEE (Main) – 2026 is being conducted in the following modes:
- Paper 1 (B.E. /B. Tech.) in “Computer Based Test (CBT)” mode.
- Paper 2A (B. Arch): Mathematics (Part-1) and Aptitude Test (Part-II) in “Computer Based Test (CBT)” mode and Drawing Test (Part-III) in pen and paper (offline) mode, to be attempted on a drawing sheet of A4 size.
- Paper 2B (B. Planning): Mathematics (Part-1), Aptitude Test (Part-II), and Planning-Based Questions (Part-III) in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Choice of Medium of Question Papers
Drawing from the National Education Policy (NEP), the JEE (Main) 2026 will be conducted in thirteen languages i.e. English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu the details are given below:
|
Sr. No. |
Language |
Examination Centres |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
English |
All Examination Centres in India and Abroad |
|
2 |
English and Hindi |
All Examination Centres in India |
|
3 |
English and Assamese |
Examination Centres in Assam |
|
4 |
English and Bengali |
Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
|
5 |
English and Gujarati |
Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
|
6 |
English and Kannada |
Examination Centres in Karnataka |
|
7 |
English and Malayalam |
Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
|
8 |
English and Marathi |
Examination Centres in Maharashtra |
|
9 |
English and Odia |
Examination Centres in Odisha |
|
10 |
English and Punjabi |
Based on present and permanent address in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi/New Delhi (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Noida/ Greater Noida) |
|
11 |
English and Tamil |
Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
|
12 |
English and Telugu |
Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
|
13 |
English and Urdu |
All Examination Centres in India |
Note
- The option of language for Question Paper should be exercised carefully while filling up the online Application Form and it cannot be changed at a later stage. Candidates while attempting the QP must choose the same medium as opted while registering in the Application form.
- The Question Paper will be in both English and the language opted by the candidate. English version will prevail in the event of any difference of opinion.
Marking Scheme
| Paper 1: B.E./ B. Tech. in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode: | |||||
1. | Subject-wise distribution of Questions, Total Number of and Marks Questions, | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks | |
| Section A | Section B | ||||
| Mathematics | 20 | 05 | 100 | ||
| Physics | 20 | 05 | 100 | ||
| Chemistry | 20 | 05 | 100 | ||
| Total 75 | 300 | ||||
2. | Marking Scheme for MCQS | Correct Answer ог the Most Appropriate Answer | Four marks (+4) | ||
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) | ||||
| Unanswered / Marked for Review (without selecting any option) | No mark (0) | ||||
3. | Marking Scheme for questions for which the answer is a Numerical value | Correct Answer | Four marks (+4) | ||
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) | ||||
| Unanswered / Marked for Review (without filling any Numerical value) | No mark (0) | ||||
| Paper 2A (B. Arch): Mathematics (Part-I) and Aptitude Test (Part-II) in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and Drawing Test (Part-III) in Pen and Paper Based (offline) mode, to be attempted on a drawing sheet of A4 size. | ||||
1. | Subject-wise distribution of Questions, Total Number of Questions, and Marks | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
| Part I: Mathematics | 20 (Section A) and 05 (Section B) | 100 | ||
| Part II: Aptitude test | 50 | 200 | ||
| Part III: Drawing Test | 02 | 100 | ||
| Total 77 | 400 | |||
2. | Marking Scheme for MCQS | Correct Answer ог the Most Appropriate Answer | Four marks (+4) | |
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) | |||
| Unanswered / Marked for Review (without selecting any option) | No mark (0) | |||
3. | (a) Marking Scheme for questions for which the answer is a Numerical value | Correct Answer ог the Most Appropriate Answer | Four marks (+4) | |
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) | |||
| Unanswered / Marked for Review (without filling any Numerical value) | No mark (0) | |||
| (b) Marking Scheme for Drawing Test (Part III) | Two questions are to be evaluated out of 100 marks. | |||
| Paper 2B (B. Planning) Part-I: Mathematics, Part-II: Aptitude Test, and Part-III: Planning- Based Questions in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. | ||||
1. | Subject-wise distribution of Questions, Total | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
| Part I: Mathematics | 20 (Section A) and 05 (Section B) | 100 | ||
| Number of Questions, and Marks | Part II: Aptitude test | 50 | 200 | |
| Part-III: Planning | 25 | 100 | ||
| Total | 100 | 400 | ||
2. | Marking Scheme for MCQS | Correct Answer ог the Most Appropriate Answer | Four marks (+4) | |
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) | |||
| Unanswered / Marked for Review (without selecting any option) | No mark (0) | |||
3. | (a) Marking Scheme for questions for which the answer is a Numerical value | Correct Answer ог the Most Appropriate Answer | Four marks (+4) | |
| Incorrect Answer | Minus one mark (-1) | |||
| Unanswered / Marked for Review (without filling any Numerical value) | No mark (0) | |||
The total time duration for Paper 1 (B.E. / B. Tech.), Paper 2A (B. Arch), Paper 2B (B. Planning) and Paper 2A (B. Arch) & Paper 2B (B. Planning) both are given in the table below:
| Paper | Subject | Total Time Duration | ||
| For Non-PwD/PWBD Candidates | *For PwD/PWBD Candidates (who are eligible for scribe) | |||
| Paper 1 (B.E. / B. Tech.) | Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics | 03 hours | 04 hours | |
| Paper 2A (B. Arch) | Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Drawing Test | 03 hours | 04 hours | |
| Paper 2B (B. Planning) | Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Planning Based Questions | 03 hours | 03 hours | |
| Paper 2A (B. Arch) & Paper 2B (B. Planning) both | Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Drawing Test, and Planning Based Questions | 03 hours 30 minutes | 04 hours 10 minutes | |
Note: Compensatory time for PwD/PwBD Candidates of 20 minutes per hour of Examination will be given to those who are eligible for Scribe.
Application Process
Step-by-Step Registration (Session 1 – Closed; Session 2 – Coming Soon)
Session 1 (Already Closed):
- Registration Period: October 31 – November 27, 2025
- Correction Window: December 1-2, 2025
Session 2 (Upcoming):
1. Online Registration
- Visit: jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Create account with email and mobile
- Generate application number and password
2. Application Form Filling
- Personal and academic details
- Choose paper(s): 1, 2A, 2B (can select multiple)
- Select session: April 2026
- Exam language preference (13 options)
- Test city choices (4 preferences)
3. Document Upload
- Photograph: 10-200 KB (3.5cm × 4.5cm)
- Signature: 4-30 KB (3.5cm × 1.5cm)
- Category certificates (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
4. Fee Payment
|
Category |
Paper 1/2A/2B (Single) |
Paper 1 + 2A/2B |
All Papers |
|---|---|---|---|
|
General/EWS (Boys) |
₹1,000 |
₹1,800 |
₹2,600 |
|
General/EWS (Girls) |
₹800 |
₹1,600 |
₹2,400 |
|
SC/ST/PwD/Transgender |
₹650 |
₹1,300 |
₹1,950 |
5. Final Submission & Confirmation
- Review all details carefully
- Submit and download confirmation page
- Print for records
Admit Card / Answer Key / Result
Admit Card Download
- Timeline: 3-4 days before actual exam date
- Access: Official portal using application number and password
- Contents: Exam date, shift, center address, important instructions
- Required at Center: Admit card + valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Driving License)
Answer Key Process
- Provisional Key: February 2026 (Session 1) / April 2026 (Session 2)
- Challenge Window: Candidates can challenge with specified fee per question
- Final Key: Published after expert review of valid challenges
- Access: Download from official portal using login credentials
Result Declaration
Components of Scorecard:
- NTA Score (normalized percentile score)
- All India Rank (AIR)
- Category rank (if applicable)
- Section-wise marks and percentiles
Declaration Timeline:
- Session 1: By February 12, 2026
- Session 2: April 2026
Percentile Calculation: (Number of candidates with raw score ≤ your score / Total candidates) × 100
Cutoffs & College Prediction
Institute-wise Opening & Closing Ranks (2025 Reference – Updated for 2026)
Top NITs (General Category – AIR Ranks):
| Institute | Branch | Approx. Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | CSE | 1,200-1,500 |
| NIT Warangal | CSE | 1,800-2,200 |
| NIT Surathkal | CSE | 2,200-2,800 |
| NIT Calicut | CSE | 3,000-4,000 |
| NIT Allahabad | CSE | 4,000-5,000 |
Top IIITs (General Category – AIR Ranks):
| Institute | CSE Approx. Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad | 400-600 |
| IIIT Delhi | 800-1,200 |
| IIIT Allahabad | 3,500-5,000 |
| IIIT Gwalior | 8,000-10,000 |
JEE Advanced Qualification:
- Expected Cutoff (2026): Approx. AIR 2,50,000
- Criteria: Top performers + category-wise distribution
- Best Performance: 90+ percentile recommended for safe qualification
Score vs. Rank Analysis (Estimated)
- 270+ marks: AIR 1-5,000 (Strong JEE Advanced eligibility)
- 240-270 marks: AIR 5,000-20,000 (Good NIT chances)
- 200-240 marks: AIR 20,000-80,000 (NIT possible, IIIT unlikely)
- 160-200 marks: AIR 80,000-2,00,000 (Average NIT/GFTI)
- 120-160 marks: AIR 2,00,000-5,00,000 (State college range)
Counselling Process
JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority)
Expected Timeline: July-August 2026
Participating Institutions:
- All 31 NITs across India
- 25 IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology)
- 26 GFTIs (Government Funded Technical Institutions)
- Other centrally funded technical institutions
Counselling Phases:
Phase 1: Registration (July 2026)
- Online registration on josaa.nic.in
- Document verification at designated centers
- Fee payment and seat acceptance deposit
Phase 2: Choice Filling & Locking (July 2026)
- Fill institute and branch preferences (unlimited options)
- Strategic ordering based on preference and cutoff analysis
- Lock choices before deadline (no changes after locking)
Phase 3: Seat Allotment (July-August 2026)
- Round 1: Fresh seat allotment across all choices
- Round 2: Vacant + fresh seats
- Round 3: Vacant seats only
- Round 4 & 5: Special rounds for remaining vacant seats
Phase 4: Seat Acceptance & Reporting
- Accept allotted seat online
- Report to allotted institute within stipulated time
- Complete admission formalities and fee payment
- Option to participate in subsequent rounds for upgradation
CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board)
- Special Rounds: For remaining vacant seats post-JoSAA
- Timeline: Usually August-September 2026
- Eligibility: Candidates who didn’t get seats in JoSAA + fresh registrations
Required Documents for Counselling
- JEE Main scorecard and rank letter
- Class 10th and 12th certificates and mark sheets
- Character certificate from school
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL) – if applicable
- PwD certificate – if applicable
- Income certificate for EWS category
- Domicile certificate – if required
- Passport-size photographs (4-6 copies)
- Aadhar card and other valid ID proofs
About JEE Main & Authorities
National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Established: 2017 under Ministry of Education, Government of India
- Mandate: Conduct transparent, reliable, and standardized entrance examinations
- Other Exams: NEET, CUET, UGC NET, ICAR, and other national-level tests
Key Features of JEE Main 2026:
- Computer-based testing ensuring accuracy and efficiency
- Multiple shift examinations with NTA score normalization
- Immediate provisional answer key release (within 2-3 days)
- Transparent grievance redressal and challenge mechanism
- Clear communication of exam dates (will not change due to clashes)
Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA)
- Purpose: Centralized seat allocation for premium engineering institutions
- Transparency: Merit-based allocation with statutory reservation policies
- Participating Institutes: 82+ institutions across India
- Annual Counselling: Manages ~2.5 lakh seats annually
- Expected Timeline for 2026: July-August 2026