JEE Main 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Items to Carry, Prohibited Items, Important Guidelines

NTA will hold JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam from January 21 to 30 and the session 2 exam from April 2 to 9. Candidates appearing in the exam must follow JEE Main 2026 Exam Day Guidelines to appear for the examination. Also read last-minute tips to score high and do's and don'ts related to the exam days ahead.

JEE Main Exam Day Guidelines 2026- The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the session 1 of JEE Mains from January 21 to 30. The exam will be held in two shifts, from 9 AM to 12 PM (morning shift) and from 3 PM to 6 PM (evening shift) in various test centres across the country and abroad. 

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 admit card will be out soon. Candidates can download their JEE Main admit card online from the website jeemain.nta.nic.in using their application number and password/date of birth. 

JEE Main admit card mentions important exam day instructions and guidelines to be followed by candidates. All important JEE Main 2026 exam day guidelines and instructions have been provided here as mentioned in the admit card.

It is advised that candidates be relaxed and cheerful on the day of the exam and give it their best shot. This will also help you avoid things on the final day which tend to trigger the level of anxiety. Here are some important points you should remember for JEE Main 2026.

Also Check: JEE Mains Dress code for male and female

JEE Main is the first stage of the exams conducted for engineering aspirants to get into the elite IITs; the second one is JEE Advanced. If you don’t have faith in yourself and believe that getting into these top-notch institutes is extremely tough and is not your cup of tea then your chances of getting through are low. You must persuade yourself to believe that the students who make it to these top-notch institutes are like you and me and not special in any respect.

Things To Remember On JEE Main 2026 Exam Day

• Visit your JEE Main exam centre a day before the exam to familiarise yourself with the location and assess factors like time and distance.

• Ensure you reach the test centre at least an hour before the reporting time mentioned in your JEE Main 2026 Admit Card. Candidates, reporting after the gate closes, will not be allowed to enter the test venue. Candidates will be undergoing various mandatory processes, thus reaching on time is important.
• Candidates must write their name and roll number at the top of the rough sheets and must return them along with the admit card to the Invigilator, before leaving the exam hall.
• Enter your required details in the attendance sheet in legible handwriting, put your signature, Left Hand Thumb Impression and paste the Photograph at the appropriate place. The Left-Hand Thumb Impression is clear and not smudged.

Important Instructions for Candidates Before Appearing in Exam 

• To attempt the paper with a relaxed mind candidates need to take adequate rest and enough sleep before the final day of the exam to avoid strain and anxiety.
• Have faith in yourself and before going off to sleep create your virtual picture of completing the exam. This practice helps reduce your stress levels and infuse confidence.   
• Take a shower and go fresh to the examination centre.
• It is extremely important to keep your body and mind in balance on the day of the exam. Therefore, taking a light breakfast on an empty stomach might also stimulate anxiety.
• Just before appearing for the exam, you may go through your notes once. But, do not refer to any new question or topic. This is highly prohibited as it’ll increase your stress level which can harm your performance. But you can check out some of your flashcards or revision notes.

What To Carry To JEE Main 2026 Exam Centre

Remember to check all the necessary items before leaving for the examination centre including:

• JEE Main admit card 2026 along with Self Declaration (Undertaking) downloaded from the NTA Website (a clear printout on A4 size paper) duly filled in.
• A simple transparent Ball ballpoint pen.
• Additional photograph, to be pasted on the attendance sheet
• Personal hand sanitiser (50 ml)
• Personal transparent water bottle
• Special privilege: Diabetic students will be allowed to carry eatables like sugar tablets/fruits (like banana/apple/ orange) and transparent water bottles to the test centre. However, they will not be allowed to carry packed foods like chocolates/candy/sandwiches etc.

Important note: Candidates will not be allowed to enter their JEE Main 2026 exam centre without identity verification.

What Not To Carry JEE Main 2026 Exam Centre

Stationary: Do not carry any stationery including pen, paper, pencil, textual material (printed or written material)pencil box, geometry box etc. Pen/ Pencil and blank paper sheets for rough work will be provided in the examination room.

ID Cards: ID cards issued by schools/ colleges/ universities/coaching centres will not be considered as valid ID. Even photocopies or images stored in mobile phones will not be accepted. Thus, do not carry any of these.

Eatables: Do not carry eatables (loose or packed) and water inside the exam hall. These will not be allowed.

Electronics/Gadgets: Any metallic item or electronic gadgets/ devices will not be allowed in the exam hall. This includes Mobile Phone, Ear Phone, Microphone, Pager, Calculator, DocuPen, Slide Rules, Log Tables, Camera, Tape Recorder etc.  Aspirants will also not be allowed to wear/carry any type of watch including Electronic Watches with facilities of calculator, any metallic item or electronic gadgets/ devices in the Examination Hall/Room.

Handbags: Candidates will not be allowed to carry any kind of handbag or purse.

Note: There may not be any provision for the safekeeping of valuables at JEE Main 2026 exam centre.

How to Mark Attendance in JEE Main 2026?

JEE Main aspirants will be required to enter the required details in an attendance sheet provided by the invigilator. They will have to put their signature and left-hand thumb impression on the attendance sheet. Candidates are also required to paste their coloured passport-sized photograph which should be the same as that in the application form. They should ensure that their left-hand thumb impression is clear and not smudged with any tattoo or henna (Mehendi).

Read more:

• JEE Main Marks vs Percentile vs Rank 2026: Calculate Percentile and Rank Using Marks
• How NTA Determines JEE Main Paper Difficulty Level
• JEE Main 2026 Chapter Wise Weightage: Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics