JEE Main Exam Timing 2026 Session 2 (OUT): Shift Wise Time & Paper Schedule for All Days
Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 ( JEE Main )
Result - 20 Apr '26
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main shift timings for the session 2 exam. The April session exam is being conducted on April 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2026. The exam will be held in two shifts - morning and evening. The morning JEE Main shift timing is 9 am to 12 pm, and the evening shift timing is 3 pm to 6 pm. Read more on this page to know JEE Main reporting time for the exam, gate closing time, and other important exam day timings.
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Timings
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Timings: NTA is conducting the JEE Main Session 2 exam on April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 for Paper 1 (BE/BTech), whereas the Paper 2 (BArch/BPlan) exam date is April 7. On each JEE Main 2026 exam date, the test will be held in two shifts - morning and afternoon. The JEE Main shift timing for morning is 9 am to 12 noon, and the shift 2 (afternoon) paper will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Candidates can check their JEE Main shift timings 2026 through admit card. Candidates must report to the exam centre as per the reporting time mentioned in their JEE Main 2026 admit cards. Candidates must carefully check the JEE Main exam date and time so as to reach exam centre on time. In this article, we have provided complete details on JEE Main 2026 exam timing, reporting time, entry gate closing time, etc., for the slot 1 and slot 2 of the session 2 exam. Read below.
Also Check: JEE Mains April 2 Exam 2026 Live Question Paper Analysis
| JEE Main 2026 April 2 Shift 1 Paper with Answer Key Solution | JEE Main 2026 April 2 Shift 2 Paper with Answer Key Solution |
- JEE Main Session 2 Shift Timings 2026 - Shift 1 and Shift 2
- JEE Main Paper 1 Exam 2026 Time - BE/BTech
- JEE Mains 2026 Paper 2a Exam Time - BArch
- JEE Main 2026 Paper 2b Exam Time - BPlan
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Time for Paper 2a and 2b - BArch and BPlan
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Centre Reporting Time and Gate Closing Time for Shifts 1 & 2
- Important Events & Their Timeline for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Day
- On the JEE Mains 2026 Exam Day - Carry These Items
JEE Main Session 2 Shift Timings 2026 - Shift 1 and Shift 2
On each exam day, the JEE Main 2026 will be held In two shifts of 3 hours each. This period includes the time which is available for the candidates only to attempt the questions. During this time, candidates will be seated at their designated seats in the exam hall and attempt the exam. The centre reporting time and frisking time is over and above the shift timing.
Note: Compensatory time for PwD/PwBD Candidates of 20 minutes for a one-hour Examination will be given to those who are eligible for Scribe.
| Want to know what your JEE Main 2026 rank will be based on your score and percentile? Check out the JEE Main rank predictor 2026 by Shiksha.com, which predicts your rank after analysing several years’ percentile/marks vs rank data. JEE Main Rank Predictor 2026 |
JEE Main Paper 1 Exam 2026 Time - BE/BTech
Check below the exam time for JEE Main 2026 session 2 paper 1:
| Shift | Paper 1 (BE/BTech) start time | Paper 1 (BE/BTech) end time |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main Morning Shift Timing |
09:00 AM |
12 Noon |
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Timing |
03:00 PM |
6:00 PM |
JEE Mains 2026 Paper 2a Exam Time - BArch
Check below the exam time for JEE Main paper 2a:
Note that in the JEE Main 2026 session 2, the paper 2a will be held in one shift only.
| Shift | Paper 2a (BArch) start time |
|---|---|
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Starts at |
3 PM |
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Ends at |
6 PM |
JEE Main 2026 Paper 2b Exam Time - BPlan
Check below the exam time for JEE Main paper 2b:
Note that in the JEE Main 2026 session 2, the paper 2b will be held in one shift only.
| Shift | Paper 2b (BPlan) start time |
|---|---|
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Starts at |
3 PM |
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Ends at |
6 PM |
JEE Main 2026 Exam Time for Paper 2a and 2b - BArch and BPlan
The candidates who applied for BArch and BPlan both have to appear for the JEE Main exam as per the schedule below:
Note that in the JEE Main 2026 session 2, the papers 2a and 2b will be held in one shift only.
| Shift | Paper 2a & 2b (BArch & BPlan) start time |
|---|---|
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Starts at |
3 PM |
| JEE Main Afternoon Shift Ends at |
6:30 PM |
JEE Main 2026 Exam Centre Reporting Time and Gate Closing Time for Shifts 1 & 2
Apart from the exam time, candidates have to follow a specific timeline on the exam day. This includes reporting time at the centre, entry time, gate closing time and more. Note that no candidate will be allowed to enter the JEE Mains exam centre if they arrive after the gate closing time. Hence, all candidates have to be present at the exam centre before the gate closes for their respective shifts.
Check below the timings for the exam day of the JEE Main April exam, which all candidates have to follow in the morning and afternoon slots:
Session |
Morning Shift |
Afternoon Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting time |
7:00 AM |
1:00 PM |
| Entry to the examination centre/ Hall/ Room Frisking Biometric registration Record of manual attendance by the Invigilator Document verification Cross-checking of admit card, signature and photo match |
7.00 AM to 8.30 AM | 1:00 PM to 2.30 PM |
| Entry gate closing time | 8:30 AM sharp | 2:30 PM sharp |
| Instructions by the invigilator(s) | 8.30 AM to 8.50 AM | 2.30 PM to 2.50 PM |
| Candidates log in to read instructions | 8.50 AM | 2.50 PM |
| Test commences | 9.00 AM | 3.00 PM |
| Test ends | 12 Noon | 6 PM |
Also Read: How to Check JEE Main Exam Date 2026: City Slip & Admit Card Guide
Important Events & Their Timeline for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Day
On the exam day, candidates have to follow the process below:
- Security Check, document verification & biometric verification (1 hour almost)
- Candidates should occupy their seats as allotted in the exam hall.
- Instructions by the invigilator and login instructions (almost 30 minutes)
Since all these processes take time, candidates are asked to reach the exam centre much before the exam starts.
| Curious about which college you may get based on your JEE Main 2026 performance? Check out the JEE Main college predictor 2026 by Shiksha.com, which predicts college based on your JEE Main marks, ranks and percentile after analysing data from previous year cutoffs. JEE Main College Predictor 2026 |
On the JEE Mains 2026 Exam Day - Carry These Items
Candidates need to carry the following items to the exam centre.
- Admit card along with the filled-in Self Declaration
- Two passport-size photos
- Any one photo ID proof among – valid School Identity Card/ PAN card / Voter ID/ Passport/ Aadhaar Card (with photograph)/ e-Aadhaar with photograph/ Class 12 Board Admit Card with photograph/ Bank Passbook with Photograph.
- Medical certificate (for PwD/PwBD candidates to avail scribe service)
- A simple transparent Ball Point Pen
Note: For the BArch paper, candidates must bring their own geometry set, colour pencils, erasers and pencils. No watercolours are required
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
Yes, you can gain admission at Vishwakarma Government Engineering College with a JEE Main rank of 4000 if you belong to the OBC category under the All India category.
The VGEC JEE Main cutoff 2025 ranged from 900523 to 905928, according to the first and last round closing ranks. B.E. in Computer Eng
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
There is no decided cutoff for JEE Main for admission in HKBK College of Engineering. The BTech admission in HKBK is based on JEE merit and available seats. However, for candidates who get a decent percentile, there is a benefit in their favor.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, you can get a seat at Vishwakarma Government Engineering College with a JEE Main rank of 20000 if you belong to the General AI category. For this category, the overall VGEC JEE Main cutoff 2025 ranged from 900116 to 903773. Hence, a rank of 20000 might get you admission to this college.
If you
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
| Scenario | Priority | Recommended Action |
| Want to stay in tech/coding | Branch | Take CSE/IT in a Tier-2/3 college over Civil in a Tier-1 college. |
| Aiming for non-tech roles | College | Take any branch in a Top-Tier college for the brand and network. |
| Confused about career | College | Go for the best possible brand; it gives you 4 years to explore. |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
| Event | Date |
| Exam Dates | April 2 to April 8, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | April 11, 2026 |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | April 11 to April 13, 2026 |
| Result Declaration (Tentative) | April 20, 2026 |
| JEE Advanced 2026 Exam | May 17, 2026 |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
| Route | Best Colleges | Selection Criteria |
| University Exams | BITS, VIT, SRM, Manipal | Entrance Exam Rank |
| Merit-Based | LPU, CU, Amity, Thapar | 12th Board Marks (PCM %) |
| Management Quota | RVCE, MSRIT, MAIT, BPIT | 12th Marks + Admission Fee |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
| Category | 2025 Closing Rank (HS) | Estimated Percentile (2026) | Target Marks (out of 300) |
| General (OPEN) | ~16,008 | 98.8 – 99.1% | 165 – 180 |
| OBC-NCL | ~5,44,590* | 82% + | 90 – 110 |
| EWS | ~1,905 | 83% + | 100 – 120 |
| SC | ~2,066 | 64.5% + | 65 – 85 |
| ST | ~688 | 51% + | 50 – 65 |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
| Category | Quota | Round 1 Closing Rank | Last Round Closing Rank |
| General (OPEN) | Other State (OS) | 3,122 | 4,245 |
| General (OPEN) | Home State (HS) | 4,273 | 7,853 |
| OBC-NCL | Other State (OS) | 1,011 | 6,791 |
| EWS | Other State (OS) | 972 | 2,045 |
| SC | Other State (OS) | 407 | 26,996 |
| ST | Other State (OS) | 729 | - |
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, a JEE Main All India Rank (AIR) is required to qualify for the merit-based scholarships offered at Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College (AKGEC) for B.Tech students.
The college provides tuition fee waivers based on specific rank brackets in the JEE Main examination. These scholarships are applica
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 6 days ago
A percentile of 90 in JEE Main would translate to approximately 1,00,000 to 1,55,000 rank in the exam. With this rank, you might get into Netaji Subhas University of Technology.
This university had the last round cutoff ranging between 55963 and 148808. Students can click here to know more.
N
Contributor-Level 10
I have 40000 rank in OBC in the JEE Main, can I get into Vishwakarma Government Engineering College through this rank?