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.
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.
- 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.
Commonly asked questions
NTA conducted the JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam between April 2 and 8.
JEE Main exam is held for 3 hours continuously without any break. Candidates are allowed to leave exam hall only after 3 hours of the test are over.
National Testing Agency generally conducts the JEE Main exam two times in a year. The first attempt is conducted in January and the second attempt in April. JEE Main 2026 exam dates have been announced by the NTA for both sessions. The first attempt of JEE Main 2026 will be conducted from January 21 to 30 while the second attempt will be conducted from April 2 to 9. Only in the year 2022, NTA conducted JEE Mains in four sessions due to COVID-19. The number of sessions and date for any year is announced by the NTA at the time of release of application form.
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.”
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.
Commonly asked questions
JEE Main exam is conducted in online mode as a computer based test. This is conducted in 3 different courses. The exam for B.Tech and B. Plan is completely online while the exam for B.Arch is partially online and drawing part is conducted offline.
Yes, you must carry your original PwD certificate (or UDID card) to the JEE Main exam centre to avail of relaxation or scribe services.
National Testing Agency conducts JEE Main exam in a total of 13 languages. The languages in which paper is conducted are Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu in addition to Hindi English and Gujarati. Students can select the language of their choice from the available options while filling the application form. The language of JEE Main question paper during the exam will be available in 3 languages- English Hindi and the language selected by the candidates. The language of paper can be switched among these 3 languages during the exam.
Students are not allowed to carry calculators inside the exam centre in JEE Main exam. Students can use the virtual calculator available on the screen during the exam. Virtual calculators will be available on the computer screen of students during the JEE Main exam.
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JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern
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 |
3 hours (180 minutes) 4 hours for PwD candidates |
| Type of questions |
MCQs: 4 options with only 1 correct option Numerical Value Questions: Questions whose answers are to be filled in as a numerical value |
| Section A (MCQ) |
Mathematics: 20 |
| Section B (Numerical Value) |
Mathematics: 5 In Section B, candidates have to attempt all five questions from each section. |
| How many questions are in JEE Mains |
75 |
| JEE Mains Total Marks |
300 marks |
| Language of paper |
Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu in addition to Hindi, English, and Gujarati |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 12 hours ago
DCRUST closed its JEE (Main) last round cutoff 2026 (General- All India) at 115363 for its BTech (Computer Science and Engineering). While the JEE (Main) last round cutoff 2026 (General- Home state) at DCRUST closed at 70662. JEE (Main) is required to qualify the eligibility criteria at the univer
a
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 19 hours ago
Yes, JEE Main compulsory to get admission in BTech at Doon University. The university requires valid score in JEE Main to get admission in the four-year BTech in Computer Science & Engineering (Hons/Hons with Research).
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Shiv Nadar University BTech admissions board sets aside specific scholarship categories for top JEE Main rankers. Students with exceptionally high percentiles can qualify for direct tuition fee waivers. The exact slab criteria are updated on the website during the application cycle.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered Yesterday
Yes, Dayananda Sagar University accept JEE Main for admission. Dayananda Sagar University admission is entrance-based. Students can appear for national level entrance exams or DSAT. Students can appear for JEE Main/ COMED K/ DSAT for admisison in BTech at Dayananda Sagar University. The univeristy a
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
To join the BTech course at Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, out-of-state students can absolutely use their national JEE Main scores. The college reserves a specific percentage of seats as an All-India quota. You do not need to take the local state entrance test. Instead, you apply online using
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, you can get admission in B.E. at Chitkara University without JEE (Mains) on the basis of Class 12 merit if you get minimum 70% aggregate in Class 12 or minimum 70% aggregate in PCM.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, more students are exploring this option than you might realise. Several BTech colleges in Uttar Pradesh provide direct admission on the basis of Class 12th scores. Some well-known ones are Amity University Noida, Galgotias University, UPES, and KCC Institute of Technology and Management. Severa
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
I got 97th percentile in JEE Mains, and from that I got IIIT Kalyani CSE in the 5th round of JOSSA.
A
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 6 hours ago
With 57.8 percentile in JEE Main and 73% in Class 12, your chances depend on your category, home state, and JEE rank.
- Eligibility: Your 73% in Class 12 satisfies the basic B.Tech eligibility requirement (minimum 45% aggregate in PCM for General category in AKTU-affiliated colleges).
- CSE through UPTAC
K
Beginner-Level 5
Answered a week ago
Yes, as per the JEE Main 2026 cutoff rank for CSE, it is possible to get a CSE seat at the University of Delhi with a cutoff rank of 41000. During Round 1 seat allotment, the maximum rank required for CSE admission was 81869 for the students belonging to the OBC category under the AI quota. So, 410
R
Contributor-Level 10