JEE Main 2026 April 2 Live: Shift 1 from 9 am, Shift Timings, Dress Code & NTA Exam Day Advisory

As per the official reporting time, candidates must report at the JEE Main 2026 test centre 2 hours before the exam starts. Candidates will be allowed inside the JEE Main test centre at 7 AM for the morning shift and after 1 PM for the afternoon shift. Although entry inside the test centre starts 2 hours before the exam, candidates must enter the JEE Main test centre at least 30 minutes before the exam starts.

Candidates appearing for JEE Mains 2026 Apr 2 exam must note that they are required to submit their admit card before leaving the test centre. JEE Main exam centres will have a designated dropbox to drop the hall ticket as soon as the exam concludes. Candidates failing to drop their JEE Main admit card may not get their answers evaluated.

JEE Main score of 120 marks typically means a percentile score between the range of 96 to 97.5. JEE Main cutoffs change after considering factors like difficulty standards, total seats, past cutoff trends and more.

Candidates need to carry all mandatory documents on the JEE Main 2026 exam day. Documents required to appear for JEE Mains 2026 exam include:

• Hard copy of JEE Main hall ticket with the filled self-declaration and non-Aadhaar declaration (if required)
• Valid photo ID proof (same as uploaded during online registration) in ORIGINAL. Photocopy or digital copy of the ID proof in not accepted at JEE Main exam centre.
• 2 photographs same as the ones uploaded in the application form
• Photo verification document (for candidates who received an email from NTA)
• PWD certificate, if required.

As per the data from the past few years, 100 marks in JEE Mains can be around 94 to 96 percentile marks. Check the table below for more details:

NTA has officially announced that the JEE Main 2026 April session result will be out by April 20 at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

It is expected that NTA will issue the JEE Mains official answer keys in the second week of April 2026. The answer keys will have correct answers to all questions asked in the exam, which will help students calculate their most probable score in the JEE Main 2026 session 1 exams.

Candidates who are appearing for the JEE Main 2026 exam today, April 2, must avoid guesswork. Each incorrect response marked by the candidates will bring a negative marking. With negative marking in place, candidates will get a score deducted for cases where they don't know the answer but attempt the question. Also, take care of the time spent on each question.

JEE Main April 2 exam will be held in two shifts. Gates at JEE Main exam centres close 30 minutes before the test start time. The morning shift of JEE Main April 2 exam will commence from 9 AM. Therefore, the test centre officials will close the gates at 8:30 AM. For the afternoon shift of JEE Main 2 April 2026 exam, which starts at 3 PM, the test centre entry gates will close at 2:30 PM.

No candidate will be allowed to enter the JEE Main exam centre once the gates are closed.

The candidate must enter the required details on the attendance sheet in legible handwriting.

• They have to put their signature, Left Hand Thumb Impression, and paste the Photograph at the appropriate place during the examination.
• Candidates have to ensure that their Left-Hand Impression is clear and not smudged.

The candidate should ensure that the JEE Mains 2026 question paper available on the computer screen is as per their opted subject/medium indicated in the admit card.

In case the subject/medium of the question paper is other than their opted option, they must report the issue to the Invigilator at the exam hall.

Apart from that, candidates should listen carefully to all the instructions given to them at the exam hall by the invigilators at all times.

The candidates who have not registered for the JEE Main 2026 exam with Aadhaar have to follow the following instructions:

Live photo mistmatch: Candidates whose live photographs did not match with the photographs available in their Aadhaar during the filling of the application form or those who registered using any other identity proof must carry the photo verification certificate in original duly signed/attested by the Principal /Head Master or any Class-I Gazetted Officer, such as Tehsildar, Revenue Officer, SDM, DM/Class-I Gazetted Officer ofthe Indian Embassy (for NRI candidates), as per format shared in their registered email IDs of the candidates.

Non aadhaar declaration form: A Non-Aadhaar declaration form is available on the 4th page of the admit card. Candidates should fill it and carry it to the exam centre today.

JEE Main 2026 April Paper 2 exam will be held on April 7.

For the shift 2 JEE Main 2026 exam to be held today, candidates have to report at the exam centre by 1:30 pm.

For the shift 1 exam today, April 2, candidates have to report at the exam centre at 7 am.

The JEE Main 2026 April 2 exam today is the first day of the session 2 exam. The shift 1 exam will be held from 9 am to 12 noon, and the shift 2 will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.

Similar to the female students, male candidates should take care of some rules when it comes to the JEE Main dress code:

• Plain jeans or simple trousers are allowed. Ensure they are basic and do not have excessive pockets, metallic studs, or heavy chains.
• Wear simple slippers, floaters, or open-toe sandals with low soles.
• Do not wear any clothing with metallic zippers, large decorative buttons, badges, or metal-threaded embroidery.
• All accessories like caps, stoles, and belts should be avoided.
• Strictly avoid all jewellery, including rings, bracelets, watches (digital or analogue) and neck chains.

NTA has not mentioned any specific dress code officially, other than "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."

However, the candidates should follow the above guidelines to go through the frisking process without any issues.

The candidates who are appearing for JEE Main 2026 exam on April 2, must note that, NTA has officially stated the following instructions about the dress code:

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.

However, to increase the chances of a smooth frisking process at the exam centre, the female students should follow the following:

• Wear plain jeans (without metallic studs or chains), simple trousers, or leggings/jeggings.
• Wear simple slippers or open flat sandals.
• Avoid underwired bras, as they might cause problems during frisking.
• Try to avoid any kind of jewellery.
• Do not carry scarves or any other accessories.

The April 2 exam for JEE Main 2026 April session will be held TODAY. This is the first day of the session 2 exam.

All candidates must report to the allotted exam centre as per the time given on their admit card.

The exam will be held in CBT mode and for paper 1 (BE/BTech) candidates.

Candidates should carry all important documents on the exam day, which include:

1. Admit card along with filled in Self Declaration
2. Two passport-size photo
3. 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.
4. Medical certificate (for PwD/PwBD candidates to avail scribe service)

Candidates must check the following as indicated on the JEE Main admit card 2026 before attending the exam today:

1. Date of Examination
2. Shift and Timings of Test
3. Venue of Test
4. Reporting Time at Centre
5. Gate closing time of the Centre

Today is the first day of the JEE Mains session 2 exam. Candidates should report to their respective exam centres as per the shift timing and reporting time on their admit card. Shift 1 will start at 9 and Shift 2 at 3 pm.