Samridhi
Samridhi Mishra
Senior Executive
Updated on Nov 24, 2025 14:02 IST
NTA confirms that no on-screen or physical calculator will be allowed in JEE Main 2026. The agency has corrected a typographical error in its information bulletin. Every calculation, be it addition, multiplication, square root, or percentage, needs to be done by hand. Know all that happened, and what's the latest update on the matter here.

NTA confirms that no on-screen or physical calculator will be allowed in JEE Main 2026. The agency has corrected a typographical error in its information bulletin. Know all that happened, and what's the latest update on the matter here.

Clarification on Use of Virtual Calculator in JEE Main

An important clarification for all JEE Main 2026 aspirants was released by the National Testing Agency. The original JEE Main 2026 notification had a complete section for the on-screen calculator that would be available during the exam. Just 2 days later, NTA announced that this was a typographical error. The notification released by the authorities made it clear that no calculator, virtual or physical, will be allowed in JEE Main 2026. The updated bulletin has been uploaded at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Table of contents
  • Virtual Calculator in JEE Main 2026: All That Has Happened
  • Clarification on JEE Main 2026 Calculator
  • Why This Matters for JEE Aspirants
  • JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern

Virtual Calculator in JEE Main 2026: All That Has Happened

The first version of the JEE Main 2026 bulletin, Appendix VIII, had mentioned an "onscreen calculator" that would be available in the CBT.  The news shocked many students and coaching institutes since it affects their way of preparation and performance in this test. The press release on November 2, 2025, clarified that it was a typographical error to have mentioned the calculator in that manner.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When will JoSAA choice filling window open?
A: 

The JoSAA 2026 choice filling window will open with the registration window in June 2026. Candidates will be able to register and then fill the choices of courses and colleges based on their JEE Main/Advanced ranks and category.

Q:   What is the JEE Main 2026 exam date for Session 2 ?
A: 

NTA will conduct the JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam between April 2 and 8. The exact exam dates have been announced. Check below:

Paper 1 will be held on April 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8.

Paper 2a and 2b will be held on April 7.

Q:   Are virtual calculators allowed in JEE Main?
A: 

No. NTA has not allowed calculators of kind - virtual or physical inside the JEE Main exam hall. Candidates must not carry calculators or any other electronic device in the JEE Main examination centre.

Clarification on JEE Main 2026 Calculator

NTA specified that the calculator feature belongs to its generic test-platform template and is not related to JEE Main. The notice reads, “Use of calculators in any form is not allowed in this examination.” NTA has re-uploaded a revised version of the information bulletin on its website. Moreover, the notice also reads “NTA regrets the typographic error in the information bulletin of JEE Main 2026 and for the inconvenience caused to the candidates.”

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Why This Matters for JEE Aspirants

Now, candidates have to do each calculation like addition, multiplication, square root or percentage manually. It is very tough to maintain the speed, accuracy and mental maths during the examination. Authorities can measure the conceptual understanding, problem-solving ability, and speed of calculation accurately without a calculator. If students were preparing assuming there is virtual calculator then they should change their strategy now. Focus must be on mental maths and more time has to be allocated to solve numerical problems.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How may candidates have appeared for JEE Main 2026 session 1 paper 1 exam?
A: 

NTA has conducted the JEE Main 2026 January session exam for BE/BTech candidates successfully across multiple cities in India and abroad. The exam was held on January 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 and on each day, there were 2 shifts. A total of 10 shifts were held for Paper 1. As per the official NTA data, across the 10 shifts,  13,00,368 candidates have appeared out of the 13,50,969 candidates scheduled to appear

Q:   Where can I check JEE Main 2026 exam date?
A: 

Candidates can check the allotted JEE Mains 2026 exam date on their JEE admit card and also on the city intimation slip.

Q:   Where can I find important study materials for JEE Mains preparation?
A: 
Students can check details about JEE Main important chapter and topics from this page. While it is necessary that students pay special attention to chapters with high weightage, it is highly advised that they cover the full JEE Mains syllabus. The question paper of JEE Main is prepared by considering the entire JEE syllabus which consists of topics from Physics Chemistry and Mathematics from class 11 and 12. Important study material for JEE Main like books or short notes can be checked online. Students who are taking coaching can get the study materials from the coaching institutes.

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Candidates can check here the complete details of JEE Main 2026 exam pattern. The table below covers all the important components of the JEE Main Pattern for Paper-1 (BTech).

Particulars

Details

Exam mode

CBT mode

Number of sections and subjects

3 (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics)

Duration of exam

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Type of questions

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JEE Mains Total Marks

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About the Author
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Samridhi Mishra
Senior Executive
Samridhi Mishra is a seasoned writer in the Indian engineering education sector. She understands most of the engineering competitive exams: JEE, GATE, etc. News articles, live blogs, social media scripts, anchoring
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Answered 2 days ago

95 percentile 

S

Sanganamoni Uday Kumar

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 3 days ago

If you get above 93 percentile in the 1st or 2nd session of JEE Main, take preparation of JEE advanced. You can get IIT's seat through JEE advanced. Or you can also try for NITs. If you are unable to clear the cutoff, you can also give exams for state government colleges and exams for specific colle

...Read more

T

Tufan Das

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 4 days ago

Yes, you can take admission in BTech at ABES Engineering College without appearing in JEE Mains. They can take direct admission in the B.Tech programme. Candidates with an Engineering Diploma or a B.Sc degree with a minimum of 45% marks are eligible.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

The I2IT Pune JEE Main cutoff 2025 was released in the form of ranks for the All India categories. For the General AI category, the BE in the Computer Engineering branch had the overall cutoff ranging from 42136 in the first round to 52834 in the last round. Hence, General AI students needed to atta

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

The selection process for the All India quota students is based on their JEE Main ranks. Students who want admission to I2IT Pune need to appear in the CAP counselling process to avail a seat for any BE course. 

The minimum rank required for admission was 68635 for the General AI category. Hence, stu

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

The minimum rank required to get admission at I2IT Pune would depend on the category you belong to. The I2IT Pune JEE Main cutoff 2025 for the General AI category says that a rank of at least 61370 is required to be eligible for admission to the BTech in Information Technology department. This categ

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

Students who attempted the JEE Main  should start preparing for the JEE Advanced entrance examination if they want admission at IITs. Those who score above the 98th percentile in JEE Main session 2 should start to study for the JEE Advanced exam.

Students who get around the 95th  and 98th  percentile

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

As of now, the easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 April session was the April 4 shift 2 exam.

C

Chanchal Pandey

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 5 days ago

No, JEE Main is not compulsory for Intellipaat School of Technology, Pune BTech admissions. The institute conducts an in-house test based on which seats are given. Aspirants have to appear for the ISTEE to get admission in the institute. 

A

Anupama Garg

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 5 days ago

Yes, MITS Deemed to be University accepts valid score in JEE (Main) for admission in its BTech programme. Students can also choose take the MITSUCET instead which is conducted by the university for BTech admission.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10