JEE Main 2026: Dates, Latest Updates, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation, Application Form, Eligibility

Check the in-depth overview of JEE Mains 2026 on this page that covers dates, exam pattern, preparation tips, eligibility, the application process, latest updates, trends, etc. This article provides essential information on JEE Mains 2026 for anyone looking forward to knowing about the exam or who wants to appear in it for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs or other best colleges of the nation.

Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026

NTA JEE Main 2026: Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is held for students looking for higher education in engineering courses after completing class 12 from the best colleges of the nation. Held at the national level, this entrance exam is a gateway for admission to the NITs, IIITs, and other central engineering institutions (GFTIs). Apart from that, it is the qualifying exam for the JEE Advanced exam for IIT admissions.

Not just the IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, the JEE Main exam also opens doors to some of the best colleges of the nation. In short, all candidates with good JEE Main ranks get priority for admission in premier colleges of India.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) organises the JEE Main 2026 exam twice a year - in January and April. The two attempts give students a chance to improve their scores. Candidates can appear for both or anyone session as per their convenience.

This year, NTA is conducting the JEE Mains 2026 exam between January 21 to 30 and then from April 2 to 9.

What is JEE Main - Purpose of the Exam?

JEE Main is a national-level entrance exam held in computer-based test mode across the nation and also in some foreign nations. In the JEE Mains exam, questions come from the class 11 and 12 level syllabus of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM). More than 12 lakh candidates appear in the exam every year, making it one of the most competitive exams in India.

Purpose of JEE Mains: NTA conducts JEE Main for admission to the following colleges for BE/BTech, BArch and BPlanning courses:

• 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
• 47 Government Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs)

These colleges are run and funded by the central government of India.

Other colleges also accept JEE Main scores: Apart from the above colleges, the best private and state-run universities also accept JEE Main scores for admission to their engineering courses.

Qualifying exam for JEE Advanced: JEE Main also serves as the qualifying exam for IIT admission. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are prestigious autonomous public engineering and technology institutions established under the Ministry of Education.

JEE Main 2026: Latest Important Updates

Candidates can check all the latest and important updates on JEE Main 2026 at jeemain.nta.nic.in or at nta.ac.in. Here are some latest and important updates on the JEE Main 2026 exam:

JEE Main 2026 exam Date: For the upcoming academic session (2026-27), JEE Main 2026 exam will be held on the following dates:

• Session 1 - JEE Main January session exam date: January 21 to 30, 2026 (In the coming days, NTA will release the exact JEE Main exam dates for the session 1 exam to be held in this duration.)
• Session 2 - JEE Main April session exam date: April 2 to 9, 2026

JEE Mains 2026 Shifts: The NTA JEE Mains 2026 exam will be held over multiple days and in 2 shifts per day. The shifts will be allotted to the candidates via the JEE Mains admit card.

• Shift 1 (Morning) is held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Shift 2 (Afternoon) is held from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

JEE Main 2026 city intimation slip release: NTA will release the JEE Mains city intimation slip 2026 for session 1 exams in the first week of January 2026.

JEE Main 2026 session 1 admit card release: NTA will release the JEE Main 2026 session 1 admit card 3 to 4 days before the exam on the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in.

JEE Main 2026 Dates - Session 1 and Session 2

Check below the session 1 and session 2 dates of JEE Main 2026 exam:

NTA JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Detailed Explanation

Candidates must be sure they check the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria before they apply for the exam.

Age limit to apply for JEE Mains 2026:

There is no age limit in JEE Mains that restricts the candidates from appearing in the exam.

Year of passing the qualifying exam:

The candidates should have passed the class 12 / equivalent examination in 2024, 2025 or are appearing in 2026, to be eligible for JEE Main 2026.

To apply for JEE Main 2026, you need to qualify ANY ONE of the following exams:

1. Candidates should pass the final exam of the 10+2 system (class 12 board exam), conducted by any recognised Central/State Board.
2. Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination conducted by a recognised Board/ University.
3. Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy.
4. Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling, with a minimum of five subjects.
5. Any Public School/ Board/ University examination in India or any foreign country is recognised as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
6. Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination
7. A diploma recognised by AICTE or a State board of technical education of at least 3 years duration.
8. General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level
9. High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva
10. Candidates who have completed the Class XII (or equivalent) examination outside India or from a Board not specified above should produce a certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to the effect that the examination they have passed is equivalent to the Class XII Examination.
11. In case the Class XII Examination is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one public (Board or Pre-University) examination earlier.
12. Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education (BOSSE), Sikkim.

What is 75% Criteria for JEE Mains 2026 Exam?

Most of the time, candidates confuse ther 75% criteria requirement with JEE Main eligibility. Let us clear this for you:

Candidates do not need any minimum marks in class 12 or any qualifying exam to be eligible for JEE Main 2026 exam.

Minimum 75% in class 12 is a criteria that is needed for admission to IITs, NITs, IIIT and GFTIs. Check details below:

• A candidate who does not have 75% in class 12 will not be eligible for admission, even if they have JEE Main ranks.
• Candidates must have either at least 75% (65% for the reserved category) or must be within the category-wise top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class 12 (or equivalent) board examination. The top 20 percentile cutoff data is released by the various class 12 boards of the nation every year.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme, Pattern & Scoring

The JEE Main 2026 exam has three papers. Based on the course that the candidates want to pursue, they can appear for any one, paper any two, or all three papers.

• JEE Main 2026 paper 1 is for BE/BTech aspirants
• JEE Main paper 2a is for the BArch aspirants
• JEE Mains paper 2b is for the BPlan candidates.

Below we have described the detailed JEE Main exam pattern for each of the above papers:

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 1 (BE/BTech)

The JEE Main paper 1 is for BE/BTech aspirants only. The pattern of this paper is as follows:

• Questions come from Maths, Physics and Chemistry
• Each subject has two sections - Section A with MCQs and Section B with NATs
• Two types of questions come in this paper:
1. Objective Type - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
2. NATs (Numerical answer type) - Questions for which the answer is a numerical value
• The exam is held in computer-based test mode
• Each question carries 4 marks in all sections.
• Each incorrect answer leads to a negative marking of -1 in all sections.
• 0 marks for no attempts.

Marks and question distribution of JEE Main 2026 paper 1:

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 2A (BArch)

The JEE Main paper 2a is for BArch aspirants only. The pattern of this paper is as follows:

• This paper will have three parts:
1. Part 1: Mathematics
2. Part 2: Aptitude Test
3. Part 3: Drawing Test
• Part 1 and 2 of the exam is held in computer-based test mode. Part 3 will be held in pen and paper mode.
• Part 1 (Maths) of the paper will have two sections - Section A with MCQs and Section B with NATs
• Parts 2 and 3 will have no NATs.
• Each question carries 4 marks in all sections.
• Each incorrect answer leads to a negative marking of -1 in part 1 and part 2. Part 3 will have no negative marking.
• 0 marks for no attempts.

Marks and question distribution of JEE Main 2026 paper 2a:

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 2B (BPlan)

The JEE Main Paper 2b is for BPlan aspirants only. The pattern of this paper is as follows:

• This paper will have three parts:
1. Part 1: Mathematics
2. Part 2: Aptitude Test
3. Part 3: PlanningTest
• The complete exam is held in computer-based test mode.
• Part 1 (Maths) of the paper will have two sections - Section A with MCQs and Section B with NATs
• Parts 2 and 3 will have no NATs.
• Each question carries 4 marks in all sections.
• Each incorrect answer leads to a negative marking of -1 in part 1 and part 2.
• 0 marks for no attempts.

Marks and question distribution of JEE Main 2026 paper 2b:

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus Overview and Topics

 The JEE Main syllabus PDF is released on the official website by NTA every year. Also, the syllabus usually stays the same each year.

The NTA JEE Mains syllabus is broadly based on the class 11 and 12 topics that the students study at their school level. Candidates must follow the latest JEE Main 2026 syllabus PDF that NTA uploads on the official website to prepare for the exam.

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus for Paper 1 (BE/BTech): Check below the JEE Main 2026 syllabus for Paper 1 exam. These are the topics from the JEE Main syllabus, and the detailed syllabus can be downloaded from the official website of JEE Mains.

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus for Paper 2a (BArch): Check below the JEE Main 2026 syllabus for Paper 2a exam. These are the topics from the JEE Main syllabus, and the detailed syllabus can be downloaded from the official website of JEE Mains.

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus for Paper 2b (BPlan): Check below the JEE Main 2026 syllabus for Paper 2b exam. These are the topics from the JEE Main syllabus, and the detailed syllabus can be downloaded from the official website of JEE Mains.

JEE Mains 2026 Preparation Plan and Strategy

To prepare for JEE Main 2026, candidates need dedication, focus, hard work, as well as smart work, discipline, motivation and a strategy. We have curated some tips on how to prepare for JEE Mains 2026 exam that are recommended by the JEE Main toppers and experts. Check below:

• Create a detailed study plan: First, get into the habit of following a schedule. This will bring discipline to your academic career, too. Make a daily, weekly, and monthly timetable.
• Exam pattern and syllabus: Get hold of the exam pattern as well as the syllabus of JEE Main 2026. Understand all about the syllabus and figure out the topics you are weak at and topics that are your strength. Figure out the high weightage topics and prepare them first.
• Strong hold on basics with NCERT: NCERT books should be a bible for every JEE aspirant. Get hold of all the basic concepts using the NCERT books. All pages of the NCERT book should be familiar to you, and all concepts should be crystal clear. After NCERT, candidates can move on to some advanced level books for JEE Main preparation 2026.
• Solve previous year JEE Main papers daily: Solve as many previous year papers as possible. Target solving one full length paper and one subject wise paper every day.
• JEE Main mock test: Mock tests will form the backbone of your JEE Main 2026 preparation. Take mock test in an exam-like environment to improve speed, accuracy, and time management. After each JEE Main 2026 mock test, analyse your performance. Take mock exams to improve your speed as well as accuracy, as in JEE Mains, time management plays a significant role.

JEE Main 2026 Registration & Application Process: A Step-By-Step Guide

JEE Main application process is an online process. Candidates have to make sure they fill correct details in the JEE Main 2026 application form, as the information filled will be used even in the admission process.

• The first step in applying for JEE Main is online registration on the official NTA JEE website. Once the registration is successful, candidates get their application number which is an important information.
• After registration, candidates have to fill the detailed JEE Main application form. Here, the candidates have to select the paper they want to apply for, exam city choice, educational details, personal details, etc.
• The next step involves uploading scanned documents needed for JEE Main 2026 registration in the format required by NTA.
• Once the documents are uploaded, candidates must pay the application fee online using debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.

 JEE Mains Application Fee 2026

The JEE Main application fee for this year is given below:

JEE Main Form Correction Window

After submission, NTA usually opens an application correction window, which allows candidates to edit certain details such as exam city preferences, uploaded images, or category information. However, not all fields are editable, and some corrections may require an additional fee. Therefore, candidates should fill the form carefully from the beginning.

NTA JEE Main City Instimation Slip 2026

JEE Mains 2026 city intimation slip is issued to the registered candidates a few weeks before the exam. It is a document that NTA issues in advance so that the candidates can make travel plans to the JEE Main exam centre on the exam day.

This document is issued to the candidates under their respective logins of the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in.

JEE Main 2026 advanced city slip informs the candidates of their allotted exam city and date. Students should ensure that if their city allotted to them is far from their home, they should make travel arrangements accordingly so that on the allotted exam date, candidates reach the centre on time.

JEE Main 2026 Admit Card

JEE Main 2026 admit card is one of the most important documents that the candidates should keep safe. Without the admit card and a valid government ID proof, candidates will not be allowed to take the JEE Main 2026 exam.

The admit card is issued to all the registered candidates 3 to 4 days before the allotted exam date. Candidates can download the JEE Main admit card 2026 from their respective logins of the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Via the JEE Main admit card, candidates are allotted the exam centre name, address and the exam time. Apart from that, the admit card also has important information like:

• JEE Main roll number
• Name of the Paper applied for (BE/BTech, BArch, BPlan)
• Date of exam
• Shift of the exam
• Reporting time
• Gate closing time
• State and city of the test centre
• Test centre name and address
• Self declaration
• Important exam day guidelines

JEE Main 2026 Exam Day Guidelines - What to Carry & Avoid

 Candidates must take care of the following guidelines for 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.
• Carry the JEE Main admit card 2026 along with the Self Declaration (Undertaking) downloaded from the NTA Website (a clear printout on A4 size paper) duly filled in.
• Do not carry any stationery, including pen, paper, pencil, textual material (printed or written material), pencil box, geometry box, etc.
• Blank paper sheets for rough work will be provided in the examination room.
• Wear simple clothes without any metallic embellishments to make the frisking process at the exam centre easy.
• Carry your own pen and a personal transparent water bottle

Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff and Past Trends

JEE Main cutoff means the minimum percentile that candidates need to qualify for JEE Advanced exam. Only those candidates who score more than or equal to the qualifying percentile get to apply for JEE Advanced.

Based on the previous few year trends, the expected JEE Main cutoff for this year is as follows for various categories of candidates:

• General: around 93.5 to 95 percentile
• EWS: around 80 to 81 percentile
• OBC-NCL: around 79 to 80.2 percentile
• SC: around 60 to 62.2 percentile
• ST: around 47.9 to 49 percentile 

Previous year JEE Main cutoff trends:

Check below JEE Main cutoff for 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 to understand the cutoff trends over the years.

NTA JEE Main Answer Key 2026

After the exam, NTA upload the answer keys that contain the correct answer to all questions asked in the JEE Main exam. After the exam alongiwth the answer key, the JEE Main question papers and response sheets of the candidates are also uploaded on the website.

The JEE Main answer keys are released so that there is transparency between the candidates and NTA about the calculation of marks.

Using the answer keys, candidates can calculate their own marks in the exam even before NTA announces the result. To calculate the score, they need to note down their correct and incorrect answers as per the answer key and JEE Main response sheet. Add 4 marks for every correct answer and deduct 1 mark for incorrect answers. This way, candidates can calculate their score using the JEE Mains answer keys.

Challenging JEE Main answer keys: Also, NTA allows the candidates to challenge the JEE Main 2026 answer keys if they think the answers are not accurate. Candidates can object the answer key, and if NTA accepts those objections, changes are made to the answer key and a final key is released.

Based on the answers in the final JEE Mains 2026 answer key, NTA will prepare the scores of the candidates for the result.

JEE Main 2026 Result

 The JEE Main result is released on the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in. The result is made available as the JEE Mains scorecard. Along with the JEE Main result 2026, NTA also announces the JEE Main toppers.

The JEE Main result is prepared as follows:

1. The raw marks of the candidates are calculated first using the marking scheme of the exam.
2. Next, the raw marks are converted to the JEE Main percentile score.
3. The ranks are allotted to the candidates based on the percentile of the candidates. The higher the percentile, the better the rank.
4. The candidates who appear for both JEE Mains 2026 session 1 and JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam get their final result based on the best scores out of both attempts.

What Comes After JEE Mains - Counselling, JEE Advanced, Admissions

After the JEE Mains result is out, candidates have the following options that they can follow:

1. The top 2.5 lakh candidates who qualify the JEE Main cutoff for JEE Advanced can apply for the JEE Advanced exam for IIT admissions.
2. The rest of the candidates with JEE Main ranks can apply for JoSAA counselling for NIT, IIIT and CFTIs admissions.
3. If the JEE Main rank is not as per expectations, candidates can apply for admission in private colleges or state level counsellings with JEE Main ranks.

JEE Advanced 2026

JEE Advanced exam is organised by one of the seven zonal IITs under the guidance of the IIT Joint Admission Board (JAB). This is an exam held for admissions to 23 IITs. This exam is also considered one of the toughest exams in the world.

JEE Advanced is also held in CBT mode across the nation and in some cities outside India. Candidates have to face questions asked from Physics, Chemistry and Maths, just like in JEE Mains. However, the difficulty level of IIT JEE Advanced is quite higher than that of Mains.

JoSAA Counselling 2026

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts the JoSAA counselling for admission to IITs, NITs, IIEST, IIITs, and other GFTIs. Admission to IITs in JoSAA is done based on JEE Advanced ranks, and JEE Main ranks are used for seat allotment to NIT, IIIT, IIEST and CFTIs.

JoSAA counselling is a national-level centralised counselling process that has five to six rounds, and each round includes registration, choice filling, mock seat allotment, final allotment, payment & confirmation of allotment, verification of documents and reporting to the allotted institute.

IIT, NIT, IIIT and GFTIs Admission via JEE Mains 2026

All candidates who want to take admission to the IIT, NIT, IIIT and GFTIs will have to appear in JEE Main exam. Without appearing for JEE Main, candidates can not apply for admission to these institutions.

IIT admission process:

• Appear in JEE Main and qualify the cutoff for JEE Advanced exam.
• Register and appear in JEE Advanced.
• Qualify the JEE Advanced exam.
• Register for JoSAA counselling with JEE Advanced ranks for seat allotment to the IITs.
• Complete the JoSAA counselling and finalise your admission to the allotted IIT.

NIT, IIIT and GFTIs admission process:

• Appear in JEE Main.
• No minimum marks are needed in JEE Main to qualify the exam. All candidates who appear in the exam get a rank.
• Register for JoSAA counselling with JEE Main ranks for seat allotment to the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.
• Complete the JoSAA counselling and finalise your admission to the allotted college.

In conclusion, JEE Mains is not just an entrance exam, but a major stepping stone for all candidates who want to build a strong career in engineering and related fields. With its two-session format, candidates get the flexibility to take the exam at their convenience and also improve their score. The exam conducting body, NTA, conducts the exam on a large scale in a computer-based test format and releases the exam results. The result of JEE Mains forms the basis of admission to UG engineering courses in the best colleges of the country.

For all updates on NTA JEE Main 2026 exam, candidates can visit - jeemain.nta.nic.in.