JEE Main 2026: Are you ready? Registration opens this October for India’s toughest engineering exam
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced the full schedule for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026. According to the release, Session 1 will be held from 21 to 30 January 2026, while Session 2 is scheduled between 1 and 10 April 2026.
Online registration for the January session is expected to start in October 2025, followed by April session registrations in the last week of January 2026, after the declaration of Session 1 results. Candidates can complete their applications through the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
The JEE Main serves as India’s national-level entrance test for admission to leading engineering institutes, including IITs, NITs, and IIITs. For 2026, NTA will continue the existing exam format. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) will feature 90 questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, of which 75 must be attempted. Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) will each carry 400 marks, testing aptitude, mathematics, and drawing or planning-based skills.
To streamline registration, NTA has introduced Aadhaar-linked verification, enabling automatic retrieval of key personal details such as name, date of birth, and address from UIDAI. Candidates will still need to manually input parental details. In case of a name mismatch between Aadhaar and academic certificates, the agency will allow corrections during the application process.
The NTA has also announced an expansion of exam centres across India and abroad to improve accessibility. Enhanced mock test portals and round-the-clock helplines will be available to assist candidates during registration and exam preparation.
Admit cards for both sessions are expected to be released three days before the exam. Candidates are advised to ensure all personal details are accurate and match their Aadhaar information to avoid discrepancies during verification.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed that JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in two sessions — the first in January and the second in April 2026. The agency stated that the exam will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
- Session 1: 21–30 January 2026
- Session 2: 1–10 April 2026
- Registration (Session 1): Opens October 2025
- Registration (Session 2): Opens late January 2026
Candidates must apply online at jeemain.nta.nic.in, using their Aadhaar number, mobile number, and email ID. NTA’s Aadhaar-linked authentication aims to reduce discrepancies and improve data accuracy.
Students must upload a recent photograph and signature as per NTA’s guidelines and ensure that all details match their academic and Aadhaar records. Any mismatch in name or date of birth can be corrected during registration.
NTA has expanded exam centres across multiple cities in India and abroad, with special provisions for PwD and PwBD candidates to ensure inclusivity.
For Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), there will be 90 questions—30 each in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics—with 75 to be attempted. For Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning), each paper will carry 400 marks, focusing on aptitude, mathematics, and drawing or planning-based questions.
The admit cards will be made available three days before each exam, and any discrepancy must be reported immediately through the official helpline.
In a message to aspirants, NTA extended festive greetings and urged candidates to stay focused and confident in their preparation, reiterating its commitment to maintaining transparency and fairness in the examination process.