JEE Main Provisional Answer Key 2026 Session 1

NTA will release JEE Main Provisional Answer Key 2026 session 1 in the first week of February 2026. Students who attempted JEE Mains Jan 2026 exam can download the question paper, answer key, and response sheet at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Read the complete details regarding JEE Mains Provisional Key 2026 details below. 

The National Testing Agency will issue JEE Main provisional answer key 2026 session 1 on its official website along with the recorded responses of the applicant. The provisional key of JEE Mains 2026 will be available online for two to three days for candidates to challenge the answer key. The expected JEE Mains 2026 answer key release date can be checked below. JEE Main 2026 Session 1 was conducted on January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and 29.

JEE Main Provisional Answer Key 2026 Session 1 Release Date

The provisional answer key date will be announced soon. According to the past trends, the provisional key is expected to release in the first week of February 2026. Along with JEE Mains 2026 session 1 provisional answer key, the NTA will also open facility to challenge answer key. The JEE Main answer key 2026 (provisional) will be displayed for two to three days. 

Get Real-Time Updates: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Registration Live Updates

Students can check tentative JEE Main answer key dates for session 1 below -

What is JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Provisional Answer Key PDF?

The provisional key is an official document that is released by NTA on its official website. The JEE Mains provisional answer key of session 1 will have correct answers to the question asked in the exam.  

Also read: JEE Main 2026 question paper and answer key solutions

JEE Main Provisional Answer Key 2026: Important Points

• The NTA will release provisional answer key of JEE 2026 along with recorded responses of the candidate.
• The authorities will also provide facility to challenge the answer key. Candidates can object answer key by paying a fee of INR 200 (non-refundable) per question.
• The provisional answer key will be made available for two to three days.
• Only paid challenges (within the given deadline) will be considered. 
• Students who want to challenge JEE provisional answer key must provide proper justification and evidence for the question.
• After the submission, the subject experts will examine all challenges received and based on that final answer key will be displayed on the website.
• The JEE Main 2026 session 1 result will be based on the final answer key. No changes or request will be made after result declaration.

JEE Main Response Sheet 2026 and Display of Question Paper Attempted

The National Testing Agency will display the recorded responses and question paper attempted by the students before the declaration of result. The recorded responses will be available for two to three days. Candidates are advised to download JEE Mains 2026 response sheet from the official website. 

Through response sheet, candidates can compare their answers with correct responses provided in the official JEE Main answer key PDF. Using the marking scheme, students can evaluate their estimated score before the declaration of JEE Mains Result 2026. 

How to download JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Provisional Answer Key?

The provisional answer key of JEE Main 2026 will be available online only. The process to download can be checked below -

• Visit the official website 
• Click on the answer key link, students will be redirected to JEE Main login 2026
• Login using application number and password
• The answer key will be displayed on the screen.
• Download and take printout of the recorded responses, answer key, and question paper.

How to calculate scores using Official JEE Main Answer Key?

To calculate scores, students need to follow the marking scheme under JEE Main exam pattern 2026. Candidates can check steps below -

• Download JEE Mains official answer key and response sheet
• You need to tally the answers from both provisional and response
• Add 4 marks for correct answer and deduct 1 mark for wrong answer.
• Follow the same process for all questions.
• Calculate estimated scores. 

Also read: How to calculate JEE Main Percentile Score: Know Normalisation Process

How to challenge JEE Main Provisional Answer Key 2026 Session 1?

If a candidate is not satisfied with the response provided by the authorities, then he/she can challenge the provisional answer key of JEE Main 2026 session 1. Doing this will lead to fairness in result announcement. 

The steps to challenge answer key can be checked below -

• Go to official website
• Click on challenge answer key 
• Login using application number, date of birth, and security pin.
• Question IDs will be displayed in sequential order
• Next to ID will have the correct option. 
• If you wish to challenge, then use any one or more of the option IDs
• Upload supporting documents 
• Save you claim and pay fees
• Select accepted payment mode and submit

Accepted payment mode: credit card, debit card, netbanking, UPI, PayTM service

Read here: How to challenge JEE Main Official Answer Key 2026?

JEE Main 2026 Provisional Vs Response Sheet

The provisional answer key is basically the official answer key document that is released after the exam. It contains all the correct answer and is open for challenge. On the other hand, the response sheet contains the recorded answers of the student, that he/she had marked during the JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam.

JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key Release Date

If the challenges made by the candidate are found to be correct, then NTA (National Testing Agency) will publish final answer key. Based on the JEE Main final answer key 2026, the result will be prepared and declared. 

JEE Mains Result 2026 Date

NTA will announce JEE Main result 2026 on February 12. The result link will be activated on the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates who had appeared session 1 exam will be able to check their scores at candidate login using their application number and date of birth. Along with result, NTA will also announce JEE Main toppers list. 

Students can also use JEE Main rank predictor and JEE Main college predictor to check their admission chances. 

Students must note that there is no minimum qualifying mark to pass JEE Mains. However, the cutoff of JEE Advanced and AIR will be declared along with session 2.

Also read:

• Minimum JEE Main marks required to qualify JEE Advanced
• How to calculate JEE Main rank from percentile?