The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main shift timings for both January and April sessions. The exam was 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 Exam Timings: The National Testing Agency has released the exam and shift timing for JEE Mains 2026 exam. As per the details mentioned in the official website, the exam is held in two shifts. On each JEE Main 2026 exam date, the test is 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 was held from 3 pm to 6 pm.
NTA conducted the JEE Main Session 2 exam on April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 for Paper 1 (BE/BTech). Paper 2 (BArch/BPlan) exam was held on April 7. The sesison 1 exam was held from January 21 to 28.
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.
- JEE Main 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 Shift Timings 2026 - Shift 1 and Shift 2
On each exam day, the JEE Main 2026 was 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 |
Commonly asked questions
Candidates can check the allotted JEE Mains 2026 exam date on their JEE admit card and also on the city intimation slip.
NTA has not issued any strict guidelines on what to wear and what to avoid. NTA has only stated that shoes with a thick sole and garments with large buttons are not allowed.
Also, Sikh candidates are allowed to carry religious or customary attire such as a Kara or Kirpan.
In 2026, NTA is conducting JEE Main 2026 in 315 cities in India and 15 cities abroad.
No. NTA has clearly mentioned that ot will not change the dates of JEE Main exam of there is a clash of dates with any other examinations.
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
Commonly asked questions
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.
JEE Main exam is in two shifts each day. First shift is from 9 am to 12 noon and second shift is from 3 pm to 5 pm. Exam is conducted over a period of 5-6 days. In total JEE Main has 10-12 shifts per session. Each session has different question paper set. The exam is for 3 hours.
Yes, you must carry your original PwD certificate (or UDID card) to the JEE Main exam centre to avail of relaxation or scribe services.
NTA conducted the JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam between April 2 and 8.
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 |
Commonly asked questions
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.
NTA Score in JEE Main result is the normalised score or percentile scores secured by the candidate.
As per many experts, JEE Main 2026 exam held in session 1 was the toughest in recent history.
Chemistry was the easiest subject and NCERT based. It was lengthy and tricky this year.
Maths was the toughest, and physics was also moderate to tough. Overall paper was lengthy, and candidates found it difficult to manage time and complete paper on time.
No. Any kind of calculator - virtual or physical - is not allowed at the JEE Main exam centres.
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
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
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.
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.
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.
Explore more B.Tech exams with upcoming dates
22 Jul '26
BITSAT
16 Jul '26 - 21 Jul '26
17 Jul '26 - 21 Jul '26
21 Jul '26
WBJEE
20 Jul '26 - 22 Jul '26
20 Jul '26 - 24 Jul '26
Explore colleges based on JEE Main
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jun '26 | JoSAA 2026 starts |
1 Jun '26 | JEE Advanced 2026 Result Date |
22 Jul '26 | BITSAT 2026 Iteration-IV Annou... |
25 Jul '26 | BITSAT 2026 Iteration-IV fee p... |
9 Jul '26 | SRMJEEE Phase 3 Result 2026 |
4 Jul '26 - 5 Jul '26 | SRMJEEE 2026 Exam (Phase 3) |
14 Jul '26 - 24 Jul '26 | COMEDK 2026 Counselling: Round... |
28 Jul '26 | COMEDK 2026 Counselling: Round... |
24 Jul '26 - 26 Jul '26 | WBJEE 2026 counselling registr... |
28 Jul '26 | WBJEE 2026 seat allotment - Ro... |
Oct '26 | VITEEE 2027 Registration Start... |
Apr '27 | VITEEE 2027 Mock Test Release ... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 11 hours ago
A JEE Main rank of 2000 will get you admission at this institute in the first round if you belong to the General AI category. For this category, the highest round 1 closing rank was 163769. So, admission with a rank of 2000 is possible. Check the table below to know the branch-wise cutoff 2026 for r
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes, students can get admission at Shivalik University with JEE Main scores. To get admission in engineering courses at Shivalik University, students must have 65% in Class 12 with valid subjects. The final selection is base don JEE Main/ UKSEE. To get admission, students must fulfil the eligibility
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
No, JEE Main is not compulsory to get admission in BTech at Chanakya University. The university considers valid score of entrance exams such as: JEE, KCET, COMEDK or any other state entrance exam.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, candidates can apply for BTech admission at Manav Rachna University, Faridabad without appearing in JEE Main. Aside from this entrance exam, MRU also accepts scores of SAT, MRNAT, MRSAT and CUET-UG for BTech admissions.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, the university opens distinct institutional counseling phases based on individual exam score availability for BTech admissions at KIET University. JEE Main high-rankers generally get priority seating selections during the initial registration weeks of the academic cycle. CUET applicants and mer
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
You can access official, free mock tests directly on the National Testing Agency (NTA) Mock Test Portal.
N
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, JEE Main is required for admission to IIT Bombay's BTech programmes. It is an eligibility requirement for JEE Advanced. Students cannot get admission to IIT Bombay using only the JEE Main score. Aspirants must appear for JEE Advanced and participate in JoSAA counselling for final seat allotment
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
HBTU JEE Main cutoff 2026 ranged from 51696 to 98963 for the OBC AI category in the third round. As per this range, BTech in Computer Science and Engineering was the most competitive branch for admission, with a cutoff of 51696.
On the other hand, the least competitive branch was Chemical Technolog
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, Bhopal has plenty of flexible options for students without a JEE score. Most private colleges in Bhopal accept MP DTE counselling scores or offer direct admission based on Class 12 marks and personal interviews. Colleges like VIT Bhopal accept VITEEE scores, while many other private institution
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
You can apply to the state counselling by Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University, formerly Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), via JEE scores.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Currently - Deputy Manager, Content
Role - News and Feature Writer, Content Editor
Expertise - Engineering Education and Counselling
Mamona Majumder specialises in news and feature writing and content editing. With
Read Full Bio