The JEE Main 2026 (Joint Entrance Examination) is the most critical gateway for students aspiring to join India’s premier engineering institutes, including NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam serves as the qualifying round for JEE Advanced.
1. JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates (Revised)
The NTA has confirmed the schedule for both the January (Session 1) and April (Session 2) attempts. Notably, the April session window has been slightly condensed.
| Event | Session 1 (January) | Session 2 (April) |
| Online Registration | Oct 31 – Nov 27, 2025 | Feb 1 – Feb 25, 2026 |
| City Intimation Slip | January 8, 2026 | March 21, 2026 (Live Now) |
| Admit Card Release | 3 days before exam | Expected March 28, 2026 |
| Exam Dates | Jan 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 | April 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Result Declaration | February 16, 2026 | April 20, 2026 |
2. Eligibility Criteria for 2026
To appear for the exam, candidates must meet the following academic and age requirements:
- Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for JEE Main 2026.
- Qualifying Exam: Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or be appearing in 2026.
- Attempt Limit: A candidate can appear for JEE Main for three consecutive years starting from the year they pass Class 12.
- Subject Requirements: For B.E./B.Tech, candidates must have studied Physics, Mathematics, and one of (Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Technical Vocational Subject).
- Admission Criteria (75% Rule): While there is no minimum mark to take the exam, admission to NITs/IIITs requires 75% aggregate marks (65% for SC/ST) in Class 12 or being in the top 20 percentile of the respective board.
3. JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The 2026 pattern continues the “Pre-Pandemic” format introduced last year, which removes optional questions in the numerical section.
Paper 1 (B.E. / B.Tech) Structure
- Total Questions: 75 (25 each in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
- Section A: 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – Compulsory.
- Section B: 5 Numerical Value Questions – All 5 Compulsory (No choice).
- Total Marks: 300.
- Duration: 3 Hours (180 minutes).
Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer: +4 marks.
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (Applicable to both MCQs and Numerical questions).
- Unattempted: 0 marks.
4. Required Documents for Registration
Students must ensure their Aadhaar Card details (Name, DOB, Gender) match their Class 10 Certificate exactly to avoid rejection.
- Photograph: 10 KB – 300 KB (White background, 80% face visible).
- Signature: 10 KB – 50 KB (Black/Blue ink on white paper).
- Class 10 Marksheet: PDF format for DOB verification.
- Category Certificate: Required for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS (must be issued after April 1, 2025, for OBC/EWS).
5. Registration Fee Structure (India Centers)
Fees are payable via Net Banking, UPI, or Debit/Credit Card.
| Category | Male | Female |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹1,000 | ₹800 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | ₹500 | ₹500 |
Thus, all of the information required for budding JEE Main aspirants has been listed in this detailed article. And also to know and understand which are among the top non-IIT/government engineering colleges you always choose just in case your dream of joining an IIT isn’t fulfilled, you can refer to our latest engineering survey of 2025.
