The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to open the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 registration this week, marking the start of the national-level engineering entrance cycle. According to official updates, the online application form for Session 1 will go live on the NTA’s portal – jeemain.nta.nic.in – in October 2025. Candidates must complete their JEE Main registration online using their Aadhaar card, ensuring that personal and academic details are accurate to avoid discrepancies during the process.
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026, while Session 2 is scheduled from April 1 to 10, 2026, as officially announced by NTA. Both sessions will be conducted in computer-based mode across multiple exam cities. The results of Session 1 will be declared in February 2026, followed by Session 2 results in April 2026, after which candidates will qualify for JEE Advanced 2026 based on their scores.
For more latest updates, check: JEE Main 2026 Registration Date and Time Live: Application Form Out Soon at jeemain.nta.nic.in; Check Steps and Direct Link to Apply
JEE Main 2026: Important Dates Announced
The National Testing Agency has officially announced the key dates for the JEE Main 2026 examination. The exam will be conducted in two sessions: the first session from January 21 to 30, 2026, and the second session from April 1 to 10, 2026. The table below provides a breakdown of the key dates for JEE Main 2026.
JEE Main registration for the January session will commence in October 2025 on the official NTA website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, while the application process for the April session is expected to begin in the last week of January 2026.
Candidates are advised to ensure that their Aadhaar details and academic certificates are accurate before applying, as the registration process will now be Aadhaar-linked to reduce errors. NTA has also announced an increase in the number of exam cities and special provisions to accommodate PwD candidates.
The category certificate (EWS/SC/ST/OBC-NCL) should be updated to avoid any discrepancies, grievances, or rejection at a later stage for JEE Main 2026.
For the B. Planning programme, candidates must have passed a qualifying examination with Mathematics.
Candidates must pass the Class 12 examination with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Must have passed Class 12 examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with one of the Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/Technical Vocational subjects.
The National Testing Agency released an advisory and instructions on the updation of UDID Card before applying to streamline the process for JEE (Main) 2026. UDID Card (for Persons with Disabilities) should be valid, updated, and renewed as required.
According to an advisory released on September 29, 2025, all eligible aspirants are advised to ensure that their Aadhaar Card is updated well in advance/ before applying for the JEE (Main) 2026, to avoid any discrepancies, grievances, or rejection at a later stage. To streamline the process for JEE (Main) 2026, the Aadhaar Card should be updated with the correct name, date of birth (as per Class 10th certificate), latest photograph, address, and father’s name.
Indian nationals belonging to certain categories are admitted under the seats reserved for them in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Government of India.
Scheduled Castes (SC) have 15% reserved seats.
Scheduled Tribes (ST) have 7.5% reserved seats.
Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) have 27% reservation.
Economically Weaker Sections (GEN-EWS) receive 10% reservation.
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) are allocated 5% reservation across all categories.
Candidates must select their appropriate category during application, upload valid certificates, and verify documents during counselling to avail reservation benefits.
Part I: Mathematics (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical Value Questions)
Part II: Aptitude Test (50 MCQs)
Part III: Planning-Based Questions (25 MCQs)
+4 marks for each correct answer (MCQs and Numerical)
-1 mark for each incorrect MCQ
No negative marking for numerical questions
Part I: Mathematics (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical Value Questions)
Part II: Aptitude Test (50 MCQs)
Part III: Drawing Test (2 questions)
+4 marks for each correct answer (MCQs and Numerical)
-1 mark for each incorrect MCQ
No negative marking for numerical questions
Drawing Test evaluated for 100 marks
The JEE Main 2026 Paper 1, for B.E./B.Tech admissions, follows a well-defined examination pattern:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options each.
Numerical Value Questions where candidates input a numeric answer.
+4 marks for each correct response.
-1 mark for each incorrect MCQ answer.
No negative marking for numerical value questions.
Read below the scheme of examination for Paper 2B (B. Planning):
Part I: Mathematics – Objective MCQs and Numerical Value Questions (CBT)
Part II: Aptitude Test – Objective MCQs (CBT)
Part III: Planning-Based Questions – Objective MCQs (CBT)
All papers are designed to assess candidates for their respective courses using a combination of computer-based and offline tests, ensuring fairness and accessibility for all aspirants.
Given below are the details on the scheme of examination for Paper 2A (B.Arch):
Part I: Mathematics – MCQs and numerical value questions in CBT mode.
Part II: Aptitude Test – MCQs in CBT mode.
Part III: Drawing Test – Offline pen and paper-based test on A4-size drawing sheets.
Check below the scheme of examination for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech):
Each paper and section is designed to assess the student’s understanding in all three subjects using both MCQs and a numerical answer format, ensuring thorough evaluation.
Check below the mode of examination for JEE Main 2026.
Candidates should prepare accordingly for online and offline components, especially practicing digital answering methods for CBT and traditional drawing skills for the offline Drawing test.
Check below the list of important abbreviations for JEE Main 2026:
List of Abbreviations:
In case an aspirant’s Aadhaar card name differs from their 10th class certificate or marksheet, the NTA will provide an online correction window during form submission. Candidates may also refer to the earlier NTA notice, dated November 6, 2024, which contains guidelines on “Advisory and Instructions on Aadhaar Card Name Mismatch,” applicable for JEE Main 2026 as well.
The NTA issued a public advisory on October 19, 2025, for the aspirants of JEE Main 2026, outlining the tentative examination schedule, registration timeline, and procedural updates.
For more details, check: JEE Main 2026 Advisory Explained: NTA Announces Exam Schedule for January and April Sessions
To reduce procedural errors during the application process, the NTA will obtain key details directly from the UIDAI database, including:
However, parental details (Father/Mother/Guardian’s name) must be filled manually by the candidate.
Candidates are advised to ensure that their Aadhaar details and academic certificates are accurate before applying, as the registration process will now be Aadhaar-linked to reduce errors.
Read below the exam pattern for Paper 2B (B.Plan):
Read below the exam pattern for Paper 2A (B.Arch):
Read below the exam pattern for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech):
JEE Main 2026 consists of three distinct papers catering to different courses:
Candidates can appear for either Paper 1 alone or both Paper 2A and 2B, depending on their chosen courses. All papers have a duration of around 3 hours, with combined papers receiving extended time.
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026, and Session 2 from April 1 to 10, 2026, tentatively, as per an official advisory released by the NTA.
According to an official notification dated October 19, 2025, the registration for Session 1 begins in October 2025, with Session 2 registration opening in the last week of January 2026.
All JEE Main 2026-related notices, registration links, and the official information brochure will be published only on jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor official announcements and avoid relying on unofficial websites.
Candidates can apply only through the official NTA JEE portal (jeemain.nta.nic.in) once the registration begins. The key steps for application include:
The National Testing Agency is set to expand the network of examination cities for JEE Main 2026 across India. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility and convenience by allowing more candidates to take the exam closer to their hometowns, especially benefiting students from smaller towns and remote areas.
Before applying, ensure these are ready in digital format:
Candidates must ensure that their Aadhaar, name, and DOB match their academic records exactly.
JEE Main 2026 is scheduled in two sessions: Session 1 from January 21 to 30, 2026, and Session 2 from April 1 to 10, 2026.
The National Testing Agency will open JEE Main 2026 Session 1 registrations in October 2025 on the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in.
