JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Shift 1 & 2 Question Papers & Analysis (OUT): Check Student Reactions

National Testing Agency has issued a warning to students and parents against false claims of JEE Main 2026 question paper leaks being circulated on social media platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp. In an official notice shared on X formerly Twitter, NTA clarified that these claims are false and are part of online scams.

Read more: No JEE Main 2026 Paper Leak: NTA Cautions Students About Online Scams

After the day of the JEE Main 2026 exam today, experts advise candidates to prioritise quality over quantity to avoid losing marks to negative marking. Eliminating incorrect options and avoiding guesswork (tukka) are essential strategies for a better rank. Managing time effectively, especially during the Mathematics section, is highlighted as the key to a successful attempt.

NTA successfully concluded the first day of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 on January 21. Candidates are now able to check the comprehensive paper analysis for both morning and evening shifts.

The overall difficulty for both shifts on January 21 was rated as moderate by students and subject experts. While Shift 1 followed trends from previous years, Shift 2 was perceived as approachable yet challenging in specific sections.

Check below the JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 2 question paper with solution PDF is now available by Sri Chaitanya.

👉 Download JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Shift 2 Question Paper PDF

JEE Main is an important exam for all aspiring engineers in India. With intense competition and limited seats in NITs, IIITs and other GFTIs, candidates must have a clear understanding of their performance and prospects. JEE Main Rank Predictor helps students in understanding their expected All India Rank and also the right college for admissions based on the rank they get in the exam.

Shiksha.com provide a rank predictor tool to help candidates estimate their rank in the exam based on their expected marks and percentile in the JEE Main 2026 exam.

The table given below provides details of the marking scheme and total marks of JEE Main 2026 exam for Paper 1 & Paper 2.

Day 2 of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 (January attempt) is scheduled for tomorrow, January 22, 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) exam in two shifts across multiple centres on January 22, 23, 24 and 28. The day 1 exam was held today - Jan 21.

• Chemistry - 99 percentile in 70 marks
• Maths - 99 percentile in 45 to 50 marks
• Physics - 99 percentile in 75 marks

For the JEE Main January 21 exam, scoring between 170 and 180 marks is projected to land you very close to or just within the 99 percentile bracket.

The JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 exam on January 21, held from 3 pm to 6 pm, was rated as moderate in difficulty. While many students found it slightly more approachable than the morning shift, the Mathematics section remained a significant challenge due to its lengthy nature. 

• Syllabus was followed: The paper strictly followed the prescribed NCERT and NTA syllabus, with no out-of-syllabus questions reported. However, some students stated that questions came from tangent which is now not in JEE Main syllabus.
• Attempt Trends: The average number of attempted questions for well-prepared students was approximately 40, with some reaching over 50 attempts.
• Cutoff Expectations: Experts suggest that a score of approximately 110 marks may be sufficient to qualify for the JEE Main cutoff for Advanced based on initial trends.

The JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 exam, conducted on January 21, 2026, from 9 am to 12 noon, was rated as moderate in difficulty by students and experts.

• Question Distribution across the Paper: Approximately 40% of the questions were easy, 30% were moderate, and the remaining 30% involved tricky or lengthy concepts.
• Comparison to Previous Years: Many candidates felt the paper was similar to the January 2025 session, though slightly tougher due to the length of the Mathematics and some Chemistry questions.
• New this year: Some students reported a Chemistry question with seven statements, which added to the time pressure, making the section lengthy.

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 began today, January 21, 2026, with both shifts successfully concluded. Overall, the papers were rated as moderate to moderate-to-tough by students and experts.

Shift 1 Overview (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

Initial feedback describes the morning shift as moderate, closely following the trends of previous years.

• Mathematics (Tough/Lengthy): Reported as the most challenging and time-consuming section. High-weightage topics included Vectors & 3D, Calculus, Matrices, and Algebra.
• Physics (Moderate): Described as formula-based and manageable. Questions focused on Mechanics, Modern Physics, Current Electricity, and Thermodynamics.
• Chemistry (Easy/Moderate): Generally the easiest and most scoring section. Questions were predominantly NCERT-based, covering Coordination Compounds, Organic Reaction Mechanisms, and Chemical Bonding.

Shift 2 Overview (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

The second shift of the day was generally perceived as easy to moderate.

• Mathematics (Moderate but Tough): While still time-consuming, some students found it slightly less daunting than Shift 1. Key topics included Calculus, Vectors, and 3D Geometry.
• Physics (Moderate): Remained formula-based with questions on Capacitors, Ray Optics, and Waves.
• Chemistry (Easy/Doable): Highly scoring with a strong focus on Organic Chemistry and familiar NCERT concepts.

As per various experts, here is the expected cutoff afterthe  shift 1 exam held today:

• 99 Percentile: 180 to 200 Marks
• 98 Percentile: 152 to 162 Marks
• 95 Percentile: 120 to 140 Marks
• 90 Percentile: 100 to 120 Marks

As per experts and students, observing the JEE Main 2026 exam held today, for chemistry, the NCERT books are a must.

Questions in Chemistry were from organic, but the weightage of inorganic was more in the shift 2 exam today.

Yes, like every year, Maths was the most challenging section and was the toughest in shift 2 as well as in shift 1.

Questions in Physics  were from - Thermodynamics, fluids, energy, and EM waves, Friction, Gravitation, Potential Energy, Wave optics in Shift 2 of the JEE Main Jan 21 exam.

Students can assume 150+ marks in JEE Mains 2026 January 21 session as a safe score. According to students who attempted JEE Main 21 Jan Shift 1 exam, for 99 perecentile, they need to score 180 marks.

In shift 2 of the January 21 exam:

• Physics was moderate and formula-based; Capacitors, Modern Physics, and Ray Optics were some topics asked in the exam.
• Chemistry was Doable and it was moderately easy; it featured a significant focus on Organic Chemistry.
• Mathematics Hard & Lengthy and is perceived as the most challenging section; it heavily features Calculus and Vectors.

In Maths section of JEE Mains shift 2 Jan 21 paper, questions came from vector and calculus, differential, coordinate, circle and ellipse.

JEE Main 21 Jan Shift 1 & 2 is now over. Shift 1 was held from 9 AM to 12 Noon and Shift 2 from 3 PM to 6 PM.

There were no out-of-syllabus questions in the JEE Main 2026 shift 2 Jan 21 exam.

JEE Main April 2026 exam will be held April 2 to 9. NTA will announce confirmed JEE Main exam dates for April session soon.

Questions asked in JEE Main 2026 shift 2 Jan 21 exam were as follows:

• Capacitor
• Vector and calculus

• Ray optics

• Modern physics

• The overall exam was Moderate
• Maths was Tough
• Physics was Moderate
• Chemistry was Easy

JEE Main 21 Jan Shift 2 paper analysis will be available soon. Candidates can check difficulty level, important topics, subject wise weightage and more thorugh JEE Main paper analysis 2026.

JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 has ended. Candidates have started to leave examination hall. Initial student reactions and JEE Main paper analysis will be available here soon.

The shift 2 exams are now over and candidates are now leaving their hall. Soon students reaction will be available here.

JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 has ended. Stay tuned here for JEE Main 2026 paper analysis and student reactions.

JEE Main January 2026 official answer key is expected to be released by NTA in the first week of February. Through answer key, they can access correct responses to JEE Mains question paper.

Check detailed question analysis by Sri Chaitanya for JEE Main 21 Jan Shift 1 exam.

JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 is expected to be moderate to tough. According to JEE Main 21 Jan Shift 1 paper analysis, exam was moderately difficult. Students are expected next shift to be similar in level of difficulty.

The JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 2 exam will end at 6 PM. The candidates will be able to check memory based questions and answer after the exam here.

Candidates can check JEE Main 21 Jan Shift 1 Physics answer key by Resonance below.

The JEE Main 2026 admit card for the January 28 and 29 exam will be available on January 24, tentatively.

The JEE Main 2026 session 2 registrations will begin in the third week of January at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

The JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam results will be out by February 12. The result will be announced on the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in.

NTA has issued an advisory on social media regarding fake paper leak claims. Students are advised to avoid sharing personal details or make personal payments in any social media platform. 

The January 21 Shift 2 analysis and memory based qiestions will be available after 6 pm.

Check below the JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 analysis below:

Candidates can use the JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 question paper with solutions and calculate their expected scores. Check the steps below to calculate the score using JEE Main memory based questins and answers:

• Use the JEE Mains Jan 21 shift 1 question paper answer key pdf and compare your answers with it.
• Note down the number of correct and incorrect answers.
• Once you have the numbers, put them in the following formula:

4 X (Number of Correct Answers) - 1 X (Number of Wrong Answers) = Scores

The JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 2 exam is ongoing. The exam will end at 6 pm, and after the exam ends, candidates will be able to check here the memory-based questions with solutions and also the students' reactions.

As per Sri Chaitanya, in the JEE Main 2026 shift 1 exam, across subjects, numerical value questions were noticeably more calculation-intensive than MCQs, adding to the overall cognitive load. Effective time management played a decisive role, with Mathematics acting as the primary bottleneck for many students. In terms of difficulty and structure, the paper closely mirrored the January 2025 session, reinforcing the importance of consistent, concept-driven preparation.

As per the experts from Sri Chaitanya, check below the subject wise abalysis of JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Shift 1 exam:

Mathematics: The Paper’s Speed-Breaker

Mathematics proved to be the most challenging section of the paper. Several questions were time-consuming and required lengthy calculations, making speed and accuracy critical for success. While the concepts themselves were largely in line with the syllabus, execution under pressure became the key differentiator. The section demanded significant time investment, often forcing students to make strategic choices about question selection. Learners with strong calculation skills and sustained practice in handling complex problems were better positioned to navigate this section effectively.

Chemistry: Moderate with Tricky Elements

Chemistry maintained a moderate level of difficulty, offering a balanced mix of straightforward and thought-provoking questions. A few questions from Organic Chemistry stood out as particularly tricky, requiring careful reading and a strong grasp of fundamentals. Students who relied on conceptual understanding rather than surface-level memorisation were better equipped to handle these nuances. Overall, Chemistry remained approachable but demanded attentiveness and precision. Chemistry was all about in-depth concepts at a granular level.

Physics: Conceptual and Manageable

Physics emerged as relatively easier compared to Mathematics and Chemistry, though it was not entirely direct. The section leaned more towards conceptual understanding than simple formula application. Well-prepared students with clarity in fundamentals would have found this section manageable and confidence-building, allowing them to secure steady scores without excessive time pressure.

The shift 2 JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 exam has started. The candidates have entered the exam hall and the exam will end at 6 pm.

The question paper pdf of JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 exam is over. Candidates can check here the paper pdf for understanding the topic-wise weightage and difficulty level.

JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Question Paper with Solutions - Shift 1

The JEE Main 2026 exam date session 2 is April 2 to 9. The registration for JEE Main session 2 will start in the last week of January.

The second shift exam of JEE Main 2026 January 21 will start soon. Candidates will be provided here the exam analysis of shift 2 around 6 pm after the exam concludes.

The JEE Main 2026 shift 1 paper January 21 has been releaed. Candidates can check the JEE Main 2026 21 Jan shift 1 paper PDF here.

JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Question Paper with Solutions - Shift 1 

NTA released an advisory for candidates on January 20 in the official website. The advisory was related to exam day instructions, items prohibited, allowed as well as the subject-wise instructions for candidates. Candidates can check the advisory on the JEE Main official website - jeeemain.nta.nic.in.  

Check what topics were covered in JEE Main 2026 today paper.

In the Physics section today in shift 1, these were the most asked topics: Gravitation, Semiconductor, EMF, Current Electricity, Heat & Thermodynamics, Atoms & Nuclies, AC, SHM

In the Maths section today in shift 1, these were the most asked topics: Sets and Relations, Vectors & 3D, Matrices, Limits, Differentiability, Probability

In the chemistry section today in shift 1, these were the most asked topics: Isomerism, Organic and Physical Chemistry Questions, Coordination Chemistry, p-block, General Organic Chemistry, Chemical Thermodynamics, Chemical Bonding, Molecular Structure, Electrochemistry, Redox Reactions, Ionic Equilibrium

Check below the initial weightage of Chemistry chapters in JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 exam by Sri Chaitanya:

Check below the initial weightage of Physics chapters in JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 exam by Sri Chaitanya:

Check below the initial weightage of Maths chapters in JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 exam by Sri Chaitanya:

The overall difficulty of JEE main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 can be checked below:

The JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 exam was moderate, and many candidates have reported that Maths was easier than expected this year.

The reporting for the JEE Main 2026 shift 2 exam has started. The candidates who are scheduled for shift 2 exam today, must reach the exam hall by 1 pm and the gates will close at 2:30 pm sharp.

In JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), there are 90 questions in total (30 per subject: Physics, Chemistry, Maths), but candidates must attempt only 75 (25 per subject), mixing 20 MCQs and 5 numerical value questions (NVQs) from each subject's Section B, with 10 optional NVQs in each subject. Paper 2A (B.Arch) has around 82 questions plus 2 drawing questions, while Paper 2B (B.Plan) has 100 questions.

Candidates can check the following space for the subject-wise JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 question with solutions.

The JEE Main 2026 today paper analysis is OUT.

Check the overall analysis of today paper in shift 1 below:

• Overall paper Moderate
• Maths was Tough
• Physics was Moderate
• Chemistry was Easy

• Safe attempt: 40 to 50 questions
• Safe score: 150+ marks
• For 99 percentile, candidates need to score 180 marks

Most of the students are saying that they could easily attempt 50 to 55 question in three hours.

Some students are reporting that in Chemistry, there were 5 to 6 options in some questions. JEE mains generally has 4 options to all questions asked. But this year some students claim the there were 5 to 6 options in some questions.

As per the students, the organic part of the chemistry subject has less weightage. Overall exam was balanced, and questions were there from all topics.

The difficulty level of the paper in shift 1 was similar to last year.

In maths most questions came from vector and 3d.

• Students are saying the overall paper was Moderate to Tough.
• Physics and Maths were tough
• Chemistry was easy

There are Jammers in the JEE Main 2026 exam centres. Candidates are coming out of the centre, currently.

The students will soon share their reactions when they are out of the centre.

Students need to drop their rough sheets and fill in the admit card at the centre drop box.

The candidates of shift 1 exam are leaving the exam hall. The JEE Main 2026 student reactions for the shift 1 exam today will be out soon and will be covered here. Stay tuned for live reactions from students here.

Shift 1 of the JEE Main 2026 exam has ended, and the candidates are leaving the exam hall now. Soon, the student reaction and paper analysis will be made available here.

The JEE Main 2026 January 21 shift 1 exam will end at 12 noon. After the exam ends, candidates can check here the exam analysis, student reactions and memory-based question paper with solutions.

As per NTA official guidelines, apart from the biometric attendance and frisking at the JEE Main 2026 centre entry, if a candidate goes bio-break/toilet, they have to undergo the mandatory frisking and biometrics again.

JEE Main 2026 January 21 exam is being held in two shifts today. The shift 1 exams started at 9 and will end at 12 noon. On the other hand, the shift 2 will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.

The JEE Main 2026 session 1 official answer keys will be available in the first week of February 2026. The candidates will be able to challenge the provisional answer keys online on the official JEE Main 2026 website - jeemain.nta.nic.in.

However, today after the exam, candidates will be able to check January 21 shift wise memory based question paper with solutions and answer keys here. Stay tuned for live updates.

NTA will soon release the JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 and 29 exam admit card at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

To download the JEE Main 2026 session 1 admit card for Jan 28 and 29, candidates have to use their login credentials  - application number and password. On the exam day, candidates have to carry the printed copy of the admit card with a valid government ID proof. Without the NTA JEE Main admit card, no candidate will be allowed inside the exam centre.

All important details about the exam, like the allotted exam centre name, address, shift, JEE Main exam day guidelines, instructions, and reporting time, will be available on the JEE Mains exam admit card.

Check the most popular NITs among the JEE Mains aspirants below:

• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• Electronics & Communication Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Production Engineering

These courses witness very high JEE Main admission cutoffs and are very competitive. Candidates aiming to take admission to these courses must strategise their exam preparation and admission goals accordingly.

JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam result will be announced by February 12, as informed by NTA officially. Also, the second attempt registrations will start from the third week of January 2026.

The candidates appearing for the January 2026 session can also apply for the April session.

JEE Main 2026 application form session 2 will be released online on the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in.

JEE Main experts advise candidates appearing for the 2026 Session 1 exams to eliminate incorrect options by avoiding guesswork (tukka), manage their time effectively, and prioritise quality over quantity to prevent losing marks due to negative marking.

The expected cutoff for JEE Main 2026 is as follows:

The candidates who have their exams in JEE Main 2026 shift 2 today must report at the exam centre at 1 pm. The gates for the shift 2 exams will close at 2:30 pm.

The shift 2 exam will start sharply at 3 pm and will end at 6 pm.

Candidates can check here the memory based JEE Main 2026 questions and answers after the shift 1 ends today at 12 noon. The immediate reaction of the students regarding the difficulty level of the shift, types of questions asked, weightage of topics, and more will also be made available here. JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff to qualify for JEE Advanced will also be shared after analysis of the exam by experts. Stay tuned for all updates.

Candidates cannot carry the below items:

• Pencil/Geometry Box or any other stationery

• Handbag

• Purse

• Any kind of paper or printed material

• Eatables and Water (loose or packed)

• Electronic items and instruments such as Mobile Phone, Ear Phone, Microphone, Pager, Calculator

• Instruments such as DocuPen, Slide Ruler, Log Tables, Camera, Tape Recorder

• Any type of watch including electronic watches with a calculator, any metallic item or electronic gadgets/ devices in the examination hall/room

Candidates have to carry the below items:

• Self-Declaration Undertaking: Candidates will have to carry a printed copy of the self-declaration undertaking, which is a part of admit card downloaded from NTA’s website.

• Ball Point Pen: This time candidates have to carry a ballpoint pen to the exam hall.

• Photograph: Candidates are also requested to carry one passport-size photograph to the test centre. This should be the same as uploaded while filling the online application form. The photograph needs to be pasted on a specific space in the attendance sheet at the examination hall.

• Any one of the authorized photo IDs (must be original, valid and non-expired) –

  • PAN card

  • Driving license

  • Voter ID

  • Passport

  • Aadhaar Card (with the photograph)

  • Aadhaar enrolment number/Ration card

JEE Main 2026 January session day 1 shift 1 is ongoing. Candidates of the shift 1 exam will come out of their respective centres after the exam is over at 12 noon. As soon as the exam is over, the JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 student reaction, analysis, memory-based questions and answers will be available.

As the JEE Main 2026 shift 1 exam has commenced across the nation today, January 21, all the candidates who are due to appear for the shift 2 exams have already started to report at the centre.

Parents and students are waiting outside the centres. 

Check out the current situation at one of the JEE Main 2026 exam centres on day 1 of the exam:

In Image: JEE Main 2026 Exam Centre on Day 1