JEE MAIN

The NTA is likely to publish the JEE Main 2026 notification in November 2025, with registration expected around December 2025. Session 1 is anticipated in January 2026 and Session 2 in April 2026.

There is no age restriction to sit for JEE Main, but admission to top NITs, IIITs and GFTIs typically requires at least 75% in Class 12.

Visit the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in regularly for updates on the application form, admit card, syllabus and results.

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JEE Main 2026, organised by the NTA, serves as the gateway to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. The exam will be computer-based, with the Drawing portion of Paper 2A (B.Arch) conducted offline.

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The Ministry of Education and the NTA have updated procedures for JEE Main 2026 to improve transparency, fairness and the overall exam framework.

Registration for JEE Main 2026 session 1 is expected to open in the first week of November 2025 via the official portal jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Applicants must fill in accurate details, upload required documents, pay the application fees and download the confirmation page.

Fees for JEE Main 2026 will be paid online through debit/credit card, net banking or UPI. The registration fee depends on category, gender and paper selection.

Full payment is required to complete the registration process.

The fee structure above reflects 2025 rates and may change for 2026; exact details will be published in the official notification on jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Attendance at JEE Main has been high, with roughly 95% of registered candidates appearing. Female participation grew by about 35% year-on-year, indicating a significant rise in interest among women.

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The JEE Main eligibility criteria do not prescribe subject-wise minimum marks in Class 12. However, for admission to IITs, NITs and GFTIs, General/OBC candidates generally need 75% aggregate in Class 12, while SC/ST candidates require 65%.

OBC candidates should meet the following Class 12 eligibility marks.

The 75% rule remains in effect for admission to NITs and IITs. Candidates with less than 75% may still appear for JEE Main, but they will not be eligible for BE/BTech admissions at NITs and IITs.

The JEE Main 2026 exam pattern follows a clear structure. It will be a Computer-Based Test combining MCQs and numerical value-based questions, with some optional numerical items to offer flexibility.

For BE/BTech, Paper 1 will feature 75 questions — 25 each from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Each correct answer earns +4 marks and each incorrect MCQ results in -1; the maximum score is 300.

Source: JEE Main official brochure

The JEE Main 2026 syllabus will be published on the official website and is expected to align with NCERT Class 11 and 12 topics.

The syllabus covers Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Physics includes topics such as Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics and Optics; Chemistry covers Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding and Organic Chemistry; Mathematics includes Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus and Probability.

There is no further reduction in the JEE Main syllabus for 2026 — it remains the same as last year’s syllabus, which the NTA reduced in 2024.

The JEE Main syllabus aligns with NCERT topics for Class 11 and 12. Topics removed in 2024 continue to be excluded for 2026.

For 2026, candidates should focus their preparation on the current, reduced syllabus that contains topics retained after the 2024 revision.

From 2018 to 2025 there has been an overall increase in JEE Main registrations and attendance. Registrations dipped during 2020–2022 due to the pandemic, but a steady recovery began in 2023 and continued afterwards.

With rising competition, candidates need strong conceptual clarity and efficient time management to secure top percentiles.

Monitor cutoff trends closely and aim for consistent performance across shifts, since normalisation affects final scores.

JEE Main 2025 Session 1: Registered vs Appeared

January 2025 showed noticeable variation in shift difficulty, with ratings between 5.8 and 8.4. The 28 January Shift 1 was rated the toughest, while 22 January Shift 2 appeared most balanced — underscoring the impact of shift differences and the normalisation process.

For JEE Main 2026 Session 1, expect a balanced but slightly challenging paper across Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, similar to the patterns seen in 2024–2025 and with emphasis on Class 12 topics.

Based on trend analysis, candidates preparing for JEE Main 2026 should note the following:

Comparing 2024 and 2025, Calculus weightage dropped by about 6.6 percentage points while Algebra rose by around 5.9 points. Geometry remains important in Mathematics. Physics has seen greater focus on Optics and Electrostatics, and Chemistry emphasizes Organic topics and redox reactions.

Prepare smartly for JEE Main 2026:

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum NTA percentile required to be eligible for JEE Advanced. It varies yearly with exam difficulty and normalisation. The top 2.5 lakh rank holders across categories who clear the cutoff can register for JEE Advanced.

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JoSAA manages online counselling and seat allocation for IITs, NITs, IIITs and other GFTIs. Candidates who meet the JEE Main qualifying mark can participate in counselling for these institutes.

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To score well, adopt a structured approach: focus on core concepts, solve practice papers and manage time effectively. Expert preparation tips follow below.

Take regular mock tests to simulate exam conditions — they are crucial for time management, understanding the pattern and familiarising with question types. Use both full-length and section-wise mocks.

JEE Main is held twice annually, in January and April. Candidates may attempt the exam up to six times — two attempts per year for three consecutive years.

Practising past-year question papers is one of the best strategies to understand format, difficulty and common question types.

Below are the last five years' question papers of JEE Main along with their answer keys:

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Solving JEE Main PYQs is an essential part of preparation; it helps candidates understand question patterns and difficulty. Refer to the table below for chapter-wise PYQ PDFs.

JEE Main scores play a crucial role in admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and many state/private engineering colleges. Higher scores generally lead to better ranks and improved chances of getting preferred branches. The table below maps score ranges to likely ranks and admission outcomes.

Top score ranges usually secure seats in premier branches such as Computer Science, Electrical and Mechanical at leading IITs and NITs.

This competitive range still yields high-demand branches at NITs, IIITs and top private colleges like BITS Pilani and VIT.

Students in this band can often obtain popular streams like ECE, Mechanical and Civil in good NITs, IIITs and reputable state colleges.

Those in this category typically gain admission to mid-level branches at NITs, GFTIs and state institutions; top branches may be out of reach, so careful JoSAA preference filling is important.

Students here may get lower-demand streams at NITs, state colleges or private institutes. Admissions remain possible, though core options will be limited.

Choices become limited, with options largely in state government or private engineering colleges — candidates may need to compromise on branch or location.

Domain and institute options narrow further, often to district-level government colleges or less competitive private institutions.

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NTA will conduct JEE Main 2026 in two phases: Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April. The official notification is expected around November 2025, with the application window in October 2025. Around 15–16 lakh candidates are likely to register, and female participation grew 35% in 2025.

Open to Indian and foreign nationals, the exam has no maximum age limit. Candidates should have passed or be appearing in Class 12 in 2024, 2025 or 2026 with Physics, Mathematics and one science subject. The CBT includes MCQs and numerical questions: +4 for each correct MCQ, -1 for wrong MCQs, and no negative marking for numerical questions.

The 2026 syllabus corresponds with NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks and has remained unchanged since 2024.

Qualifying cutoffs for JEE Advanced rose across categories in 2025, with the General category cutoff at the 93.10th percentile. Subject trends point to the importance of Algebra and Geometry in Mathematics, Optics and Electrostatics in Physics, and Organic Chemistry in Chemistry.

JoSAA counselling for JEE Main 2026 is expected in July/August 2026 and will allocate seats in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. With competition increasing and attendance at an all-time high (95% in 2025), candidates should focus on Class 12 topics, practice shift-based mock tests and attempt both sessions to maximise their scores and improve admission chances.

Ques. When will JEE Main 2026 be held?

Ans. Official dates are not yet released. Based on recent patterns, Session 1 is likely in the 2nd–3rd week of January 2026 and Session 2 in the 1st–2nd week of April 2026, with the notification expected around November 2025.

Ques. Who administers JEE Main 2026?

Ans. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will organise JEE Main 2026, including issuing the notification, conducting both sessions, releasing answer keys and declaring results.

Ques. What is the format planned for JEE 2026?

Ans. JEE 2026 will be a Computer-Based Test featuring MCQs and numerical value questions in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) will contain 90 questions; Papers 2A (B.Arch) and 2B (B.Planning) follow their specific formats with drawing and planning components. The duration is 3 hours.

Ques. How many sessions will JEE Main 2026 have?

Ans. JEE Main 2026 will be held in two sessions:

Ques. Will JEE Main 2026 be difficult?

Ans. The difficulty level changes each year and across shifts. Based on past analyses:

Ques. Which IIT typically sets the toughest paper?

Ans. JEE Advanced is prepared by an IIT on rotation; historically IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi have produced tougher papers, though no single IIT is officially the hardest every year.

Ques. Is there an age limit for JEE Main 2026?

Ans. There is no upper age limit for JEE Main 2026. However, candidates must meet the academic eligibility requirements.

Ques. Can I crack JEE Main within six months?

Ans. Yes — with focused, disciplined preparation it is possible to crack JEE Main in six months. Key strategies are listed below.

Key Summary
  • JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in two sessions — January and April — organised by the NTA.
  • Session 1 applications are likely in October 2025, with exams in January 2026; these dates are provisional.
  • Eligible applicants should have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (2024–2026) with Physics, Mathematics and an additional subject such as Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical subject.
  • There is no upper age limit and foreign nationals can apply.
  • Applicants must upload a passport-size photo, signature and a valid government photo ID while applying.
  • The B.Tech paper includes a mix of MCQs and numerical questions; correct answers receive +4 marks and wrong MCQs incur -1.
  • JEE Main scores are accepted for admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and many state and private engineering colleges across India.
Particulars Details
Conducting Body National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Purpose Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and qualification for JEE Advanced
Sessions 2 (January & April 2026)
Papers
  • Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
  • Paper 2A (B.Arch)
  • Paper 2B (B.Plan)
Mode of Exam Mostly CBT; Drawing test for B.Arch is offline
Exam Pattern Paper 1: 75 compulsory questions (20 MCQs + 5 numerical per subject)
Marking Scheme
  • +4 for correct
  • -1 for incorrect
  • 0 for unattempted
Duration 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates)
Eligibility No age limit; must have passed or be appearing in Class 12
75% Criteria Applies for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, not for appearing in the exam
Medium of Exam Available in 13 languages including English, Hindi and regional languages
Official Website jeemain.nta.nic.in
Stage Description
Online Registration Register on the official website using basic details such as name, email and mobile number.
Application Form Filling Fill in personal, academic and exam centre preferences and other required details.
Document Upload Upload scanned passport photo, signature and category certificate (if applicable) as per NTA specifications.
Fee Payment Pay the application fee online via net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. The amount varies by category and papers selected.
Confirmation Page After payment, download and save the confirmation page as proof of successful registration.
Category Paper 1 or Paper 2 (per session) Both Papers (per session)
General (Male – OBC/Unreserved) ₹1,000 ₹2,000
General (Female – OBC/Unreserved) ₹800 ₹1,600
SC/ST/PwD (Male & Female) ₹500 ₹1,000
Foreign Candidates ₹5,000 ₹10,000
Event Tentative Date
Release of Application Form October 2025
Correction Window for Application Form November 2025
Admit Card Release 3 days before the actual exam date
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam January 2026
Provisional Answer Key, OMR Sheet & Response Display February 2026
Final Answer Key Release February 2026
Declaration of Result & Cut-off February 2026
Start of Counselling Process (JoSAA) July/August 2026
Category Eligibility Marks in Class 12th
General/OBC 75%
SC/ST 65%
Particulars Details
Category OBC
Qualifying Examination 12th
Marks Required 75%
Aspect Details
Mode of Exam Computer-Based Test (CBT) for all sections except the Drawing Test (Pen & Paper mode)
Subjects - Paper 1 (B.Tech): Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics - Paper 2A (B.Arch): Mathematics, Aptitude, Drawing - Paper 2B (B.Planning): Mathematics, Aptitude, Planning
Total Questions - B.Tech: 90 questions (30 each in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) - B.Arch: 82 questions - B.Planning: 105 questions
Question Types Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Numerical Value-Based Questions
Marking Scheme +4 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect MCQs, no negative marking for numerical questions
Exam Duration 3 hours (180 minutes)
Optional Questions 10 numerical questions per subject (only 5 need to be attempted in each subject)
Language Options English, Hindi, and regional languages
Particulars BE/BTech BArch BPlanning
Section-wise Number of Questions 25 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics Mathematics 25, Aptitude 50, Drawing 2 Mathematics 25, Aptitude 50, Planning 2
Total Number of Questions 75 77 77
Marking Scheme
  • +4 for each correct answer
  • -1 for each incorrect answer
  • +4 for each correct answer
  • -1 for each incorrect answer
  • +4 for each correct answer
  • -1 for each incorrect answer
Total Marks 300 400 400
JEE Main 2025 Syllabus for Paper 1, Paper 2A, and Paper 2B Download PDF
Subject Excluded Topics Percentage of Reduction
Physics Magnetism in Matter, parts of Vector Theory 5%
Mathematics Selected subtopics in Three-Dimensional Geometry 3%
Chemistry Polymerisation methods and some everyday chemicals 4%
Year Unique Registered Applicants Unique Appeared Applicants
2018 1,259,000 1,043,000
2019 1,237,892 1,147,125
2020 1,174,000 1,023,000
2021 1,048,012 939,008
2022 1,026,799 905,590
2023 1,162,398 1,113,325
2024 1,476,557 1,415,110
2025 1,539,848 1,475,103
Category Female Registered Male Registered Female Appeared Male Appeared
General 18184 16880 12609 10814
EWS 3956 5134 2994 3660
SC 5304 6689 3608 4362
ST 2324 3509 1583 2307
OBC-NCL 17039 17546 12271 12636
NTA FINAL SCORE for JEE Main 2025 Download PDF
Year Students Appeared in Session 1 Students Appeared in Session 2 % of Students Reappearing
2025 1258136 992350 79%
2024 8,43,000 6,75,000 80%
2023 8,60,000 7,00,000 81%
2022 8,72,000 7,12,000 82%
2021 6,20,000 5,40,000 87% (highest)
2020 9,34,000 7,80,000 83% 
Date Shift Overall Difficulty (out of 10)
22 Jan Shift 1 6.5
22 Jan Shift 2 5.8
23 Jan Shift 1 6.8
23 Jan Shift 2 6.2
24 Jan Shift 1 6.0
24 Jan Shift 2 5.9
28 Jan Shift 1 8.4 (Toughest)
28 Jan Shift 2 7.1
29 Jan Shift 1 7.0
29 Jan Shift 2 6.0
Subject Expected Difficulty Level Key Focus Areas
Physics Moderate Focus on conceptual clarity and numerical practice in Mechanics, Modern Physics and Thermodynamics.
Chemistry Easy Concentrate on NCERT-based Inorganic topics, straightforward Organic concepts and Physical Chemistry numericals.
Mathematics Tough Prepare for lengthy, time-consuming problems from Algebra, Calculus and Coordinate Geometry.
Overall Moderate to Difficult Strong time management and integration across chapters will be essential.
Criteria JEE Main 2024 (Session 1) JEE Main 2025 (Session 1)
Overall Difficulty Moderate to Difficult Moderate; slightly easier overall
Most Difficult Shift Jan 30 – Shift 2 Jan 28 – Shift 1 (Rated 8.4/10)
Mathematics Tough, lengthy problems Toughest again; required time + concept clarity
Physics Moderate; mix of numerical/theory Moderate; formula + concept balanced
Chemistry Easy; NCERT-based Easiest; largely theory-based
Question Type Trends Assertion-Reason, Match-the-Following Assertion-Reason, Concept-based Direct Questions
Syllabus Focus Class 11 & 12 balanced More weight to Class 12 chapters
Time Management Need Needed for lengthy Math Crucial, especially for Mathematics
Student Feedback Chemistry was scoring; Math was hard Chemistry was predictable & easiest; Math most challenging
Sub-Discipline 2024 Weightage 2025 Weightage Change
Calculus 37.3 % 30.7 % –6.6 pp
Algebra 33.5 % 39.4 % +5.9 pp
3D Geometry 13.3 % 12.0 % –1.3 pp
2D Geometry 12.3 % 15.4 % +3.1 pp
Trigonometry 3.5 % 2.5 % –1.0 pp
Chapter Weightage
Optics 12.6 %
Electrostatics 10.2 %
Solids & Liquids Properties 8.6 %
Rotational Motion 6.2 %
Magnetic Effects & Magnetism 6.0 %
(Other mid-weight chapters, ≤6 %)
Chapter Group Weightage Estimate
Organic with Oxygen & Coordination High
Redox & Electrochemistry High
Category Cutoff Percentile (2025) Cutoff Percentile (2024)
General (UR) 93.10 90.77
EWS 80.38 75.62
OBC-NCL 79.43 73.61
SC 61.15 51.97
ST 47.90 37.23
PwD 0.008 0.001
NTA Score for JEE Main 2025 of Paper 1 (BE/BTech) Download PDF
NTA Score for JEE Main 2025 of Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) Download PDF
State Avg. Score (2025) Top Rank (All India) No. of Students in Top 10,000
Andhra Pradesh 225 AIR 4 1,200
Rajasthan 215 AIR 6 1,050
Telangana 220 AIR 2 1,100
Maharashtra 205 AIR 12 950
Delhi NCR 210 AIR 9 870
Counseling Stage Details
Registration Begins after JEE Main results; register at josaa.nic.in to participate.
Choice Filling Enter and prioritise preferred courses and institutes.
Mock Seat Allotment Two mock rounds help refine choices based on initial trends.
Seat Allotment Rounds Multiple rounds allocate seats according to rank and category.
Freeze Option Accept the allotted seat and exit further rounds.
Float Option Keep the current seat while being considered for higher preferences.
Slide Option Retain the institute but seek an upgrade to a preferred course within it.
Seat Acceptance Fee Fee: General/OBC ₹35,000; SC/ST/PwD ₹15,000, payable online.
Document Verification Submit and verify required documents to confirm admission.
Dual Reporting Report twice if changing between certain seat categories.
Withdrawal Option Withdraw admission within deadlines to exit the process.
Tip Key Focus Recommended Hours/Day
Understand Syllabus & Pattern Prioritise high-weightage topics for efficiency. 1-2 hours
Time Management Create and follow a subject-wise schedule. 5-6 hours
Solve Previous Papers Practice past questions to identify patterns. 1-2 hours
Practice Mock Tests Simulate exam conditions to boost accuracy. 2-3 hours (weekly tests)
Daily Revision Reinforce key concepts and improve weak areas. 1 hour
Mock Test Link
JEE Main Full Length Mock Test Check Here
JEE Main Physics Mock test Check Here
JEE Main Chemistry Mock test Check Here
JEE Main Mathematics Mock test Check Here
Particulars Details
Total Number of Attempts Allowed 6
Number of Consecutive Years 3
Number of Attempts Each Year 2
Year Question Paper Link
2025 JEE Main Question Paper 2025
2024 JEE Main Question Paper 2024
2023 JEE Main Question Paper 2023
2022 JEE Main Question Paper 2022
2021 JEE Main Question Paper 2021
2020 JEE Main Question Paper 2020
JEE Main 2025 Exam Date JEE Main 2025 Question Paper JEE Main 2025 Solution PDF
JEE Main 2025 Jan 22 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 22 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 23 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 23 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 24 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 24 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 28 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 28 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 29 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 29 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 Jan 30 Shift 1 B.Arch Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 2 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 2 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 3 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 3 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 4 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 4 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 7 Shift 1 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 7 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 8 Shift 2 Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 9 B.Arch Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 9 B.Planning Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
JEE Main 2025 April 9 B.Arch & B.Planning Question Paper Download PDF Check Solutions
Year of Paper Download Link
JEE Main 2024 Question Paper Download Here
JEE Main 2023 Question Paper Download Here
JEE Main 2022 Question Paper Download Here
JEE Main 2021 Question Paper Download Here
JEE Main 2020 Question Paper Download Here
JEE Main 2019 Question Paper Download Here
JEE Main 2018 Question Paper Download Here
Marks Range Estimated Rank Range Admission Possibilities
280 - 300 1 to 1,000 Top branches at IITs and NITs (Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical, etc.)
250 - 279 1,000 to 4,000 High-demand branches in NITs, IIITs and leading private institutes
200 - 249 4,000 to 10,000 Popular branches in NITs, IIITs and several state engineering colleges
150 - 199 10,000 to 30,000 Admissions in NITs, GFTIs and state colleges
100 - 149 30,000 to 50,000 Lesser-competitive branches in NITs, state-run and private institutions
50 - 99 50,000 to 80,000 Limited opportunities, mainly in state-level colleges and some private institutes
0 - 49 Above 80,000 Mostly options in private universities or state-run institutions