JEE Main 2026
Complete Exam GuideComplete guide to India's largest engineering entrance examination conducted by NTA for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs.
Exam Conducted By
NTA
Exam Mode
Computer Based
Sessions
Two Sessions
Total Papers
2 (B.Tech & B.Arch)
About JEE Main 2026
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is a national level competitive exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate engineering programs (B.E/B.Tech) at NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and other participating institutions. It also serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which is required for admission to IITs.
2.5 Lakh+
Seats Available
12 Lakh+
Annual Aspirants
600+
Participating Colleges
JEE Main 2026 Official Timeline
| Event | Session 1 (January) | Session 2 (April) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Start | October 31, 2025 | February 2026 |
| Registration End | November 27, 2025 | March 2026 |
| Exam Dates | January 21-30, 2026 | April 2-8, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | February 12, 2026 | April 20, 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria
No age restriction - candidates of any age can apply
Must have passed 10+2 or equivalent in 2025 or 2026
Required subjects: Physics, Mathematics & Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology
Minimum 75% aggregate (65% for SC/ST/PwD) in qualifying exam
Maximum 3 attempts in 3 consecutive years from passing year
Indian nationals, OCI/PIO cardholders, and foreign nationals eligible
Exam Pattern - Paper 1 (B.Tech/B.E)
300
Total Marks
3 Hours
Duration
75
Total Questions
| Subject | Total Qs | To Attempt | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 30 | 25 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 30 | 25 | 100 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 25 | 100 |
Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answer, -1 for wrong answer (MCQs only), 0 for unattempted. No negative marking for numerical questions.
Syllabus Overview
Physics
- • Mechanics & Thermodynamics
- • Electrostatics & Magnetism
- • Optics & Modern Physics
- • Current Electricity
- • Waves & Oscillations
Chemistry
- • Physical Chemistry
- • Organic Chemistry
- • Inorganic Chemistry
- • Environmental Chemistry
- • Biomolecules & Polymers
Mathematics
- • Calculus
- • Algebra & Coordinate Geometry
- • Trigonometry & Vectors
- • Probability & Statistics
- • Mathematical Reasoning
Application Process & Fee
Step-by-Step Process:
1
Online Registration
Fill personal details on jeemain.nta.nic.in
2
Upload Documents
Photo, signature, category certificates
3
Pay Application Fee
Online payment via Credit/Debit Card/Net Banking/UPI
4
Confirmation
Download confirmation page
Application Fee:
General / OBC / EWS₹1000
Per paper (B.Tech or B.Arch)
SC / ST / PwD / Female₹500
Per paper (all categories)
Preparation Tips & Strategy
1
Focus on NCERT
Start with NCERT books for strong foundation in all subjects
2
Practice PYQs
Solve previous 5 years JEE Main papers to understand pattern
3
Take Mock Tests
Regular mock tests improve speed and identify weak areas
4
Time Management
Divide time equally among Physics, Chemistry, Maths
5
Conceptual Clarity
Focus on understanding concepts rather than rote learning
6
Short Notes
Prepare concise notes for quick revision before exam
7
Numerical Problems
Practice at least 20 numerical problems daily per subject
8
Regular Revision
Revise topics weekly to retain information longer
Quick Links
Frequently Asked Questions
When were JEE Main 2026 exams conducted?
JEE Main 2026 was conducted in two sessions: Session 1 from January 21–28, 2026 (result declared February 16) and Session 2 from April 2–8, 2026 (result declared April 20). Over 13 lakh candidates appeared across both sessions. The final JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoff for General category was 93.41 percentile.
What is the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026?
Eligibility for JEE Main 2026: (1) No age limit, (2) Must have passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 (or appearing in 2026), (3) Required subjects — Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology, (4) Minimum 75% aggregate (65% for SC/ST/PwD) in Class 12, (5) Maximum 3 consecutive years of attempts from the year of passing Class 12.
What is the exam pattern for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.Tech)?
JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E/B.Tech): 3 subjects — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | 75 questions total (25 per subject) | 300 marks | Duration: 3 hours | 20 MCQs + 5 numericals per subject | Marking: +4 for correct, −1 for incorrect MCQs, no negative for numericals | Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT).
What was the JEE Main 2026 cutoff for JEE Advanced eligibility?
The JEE Main 2026 cutoff percentile for JEE Advanced eligibility: General — 93.41, EWS — 75.72, OBC-NCL — 73.01, SC — 52.37, ST — 43.08, PwD — 0.0096. Top 2,50,182 unique candidates from both sessions qualified for JEE Advanced 2026.
What is the application fee for JEE Main?
JEE Main application fee: General/OBC-NCL/EWS male — ₹1,000 per paper | SC/ST/PwD/all female — ₹500 per paper | For both Paper 1 and Paper 2: General/OBC male — ₹2,000, SC/ST/PwD/female — ₹1,000. Payment is accepted via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The fee is non-refundable.
How many attempts are allowed for JEE Main?
JEE Main allows up to 3 consecutive years of attempts from the year of passing Class 12, with 2 sessions per year (maximum 6 total attempts). For example, if you passed Class 12 in 2026, you can attempt JEE Main in 2026, 2027, and 2028. There is no upper age limit.
What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?
JEE Main is conducted by NTA for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, and serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced is conducted by IITs exclusively for admission to 23 IITs. Only the top 2,50,182 JEE Main qualifiers can appear for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced has a higher difficulty level and different question formats including multiple-correct and integer-type questions.
How many students appeared for JEE Main 2026?
Over 13 lakh candidates appeared for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 across both sessions. In Session 2 (April 2–8), approximately 10.34 lakh candidates appeared. In Session 1, 26 students scored 100 percentile in Session 2 and 12 in Session 1. The top 2,50,182 qualifiers became eligible for JEE Advanced 2026.
What rank can I expect with 90 percentile in JEE Main 2026?
A 90 percentile in JEE Main 2026 roughly corresponds to a rank between 1,00,000 and 1,20,000 (varies by session difficulty). At this rank, you can expect admission to lower-ranked NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs in non-CS branches. For top NITs in CSE or ECE, you generally need 97+ percentile. Home-state quota can significantly improve your NIT chances.
When will JoSAA 2026 counselling start for JEE Main qualifiers?
JoSAA 2026 counselling is expected to begin in June 2026, shortly after the JEE Advanced result on June 1. JEE Main qualifiers can register on josaa.nic.in to fill choices for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Seat allotment happens in 6 rounds. Keep your JEE Main scorecard, Class 12 marksheet, and category certificate ready.
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