JEE Main 2026 session 1: Applications open, apply online by November 27

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has invited applications for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026 Session 1 to be held between 21 January 2026 and 30 January 2026.

JEE (Main) comprises two papers. Paper 1 is conducted for admission to Undergraduate Engineering Programs (B.E / B.Tech) at National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IllTs), Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs), Institutions/Universities funded/recognized by participating State Governments. It is also an eligibility test for JEE (Advanced), which is conducted for admission to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Those coming among the top 2,50,000 successful candidates (including all categories) in B.E./B.Tech. Paper of JEE (Main) 2026 will be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced.

Paper 2 of JEE (Main) is conducted for admission to B. Arch and B. Planning courses in the country.

JEE (Main) - 2026 will be conducted in 13 languages—English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) will be a Computer Based Test (CBT). It will have 25 multiple choice questions each (20 objective type and 5 numerical answer type) from Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Paper 2A (B. Arch.) will have 25 multiple choice questions from Mathematics (Part I) (20 objective type and 5 numerical answer type), Aptitude Test (Part II) with 50 multiple choice questions (both are computer based) and Drawing Test (Part-III) in pen and paper (offline) mode, to be attempted on a drawing sheet of A4 size. Paper 2B (B. Planning) to be held as a Computer Based Test will have 25 multiple choice questions from Mathematics (Part I) (20 objective type and 5 numerical answer type), Aptitude Test (Part II) with 50 multiple choice questions and 25 Planning related multiple choice questions. For all papers, each multiple choice question will carry 4 marks. For each incorrect response, one mark will be deducted. For details of Papers, Scheme, Timing, applicants may check the Information Bulletin of JEE (Main)-2026 available at https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/

Eligibility: There is no age limit for appearing in the JEE (Main) 2026. Those who have passed the class XII/ equivalent Examination in 2024, 2025 or are appearing in 2026 irrespective of their age can appear in JEE (Main) 2026. However, the candidates may be required to fulfil the age criteria of the Institute(s) to which they are desirous of taking admission.

The Qualifying Examinations include the final Examination of the 10+2 system, conducted by any recognized Central/ State Board, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi; etc. and other examinations listed in the Information Bulletin.

Subject and Mark requirement for Admission to NIT+ System (NITs, IIEST, IIITs and Other-GFTIs will be as follows: For admission to Programs based on Paper 1 rank, applicant must have passed the qualifying examination with Physics, Mathematics, one from the Chemistry/ Biotechnology/ Biology/ Technical Vocational subject, a language and any subject other than the above four. For admissions to Programs based on Paper 2A rank, applicant should have passed the qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and two more subjects other than the above three and for admission to Programs based on Paper 2B rank, applicant should have passed the qualifying examination with Mathematics and four other subjects.

Applicant must have passed class XII/equivalent Board examination with a minimum of five subjects and secured at least 75% aggregate marks [at least 65%for SC, ST, and PwD candidates] for these five subjects or must have passed class XII/equivalent Board examination with a minimum of five subjects and be within the category-wise top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class XII (or equivalent) board examination.

For Academic Session 2026-27, JEE (Main) - 2026 will be conducted in two Sessions. Session 1 (January 2026) and Session 2 (April 2026). Examination of Session- 2 will be held between 2 April 2026 and 9 April 2026.

Candidates can apply for Session 1 (January 2026) Examination only now and can pay the Examination Fee accordingly. A separate opportunity will be given to the candidates to apply for Session 2 (April 2026) Examination (using the same Application Number, if applied for Session 1) along with the fee payment option, for which a notification will be issued later. If the candidate wishes to apply for Session 2 (April 2026) only, then he/she may register later and pay the Examination Fee when the Application Form is made live for that Session.

Online Submission of Application for Session 1 can be done at https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/ till 9 pm on 27 November 2025. Application fee can be paid through Credit/Debit Card/Net-Banking/UPI latest by 11.50 pm on 27 November 2025. Only one application is to be submitted by a candidate. Candidates must ensure that the e-mail address and Mobile Number provided in the Online Application Form for registration are their own or Parents/Guardians' only as all information/ communication will be sent by NTA through e-mail on the registered e-mail address or SMS on the registered Mobile Number.

Announcement of the City of Examination will be made by the first week of January 2026. The date for downloading of Admit Cards from the NTA website will be announced later on the website. Centre, Date and Shift will be indicated in the Admit Card. Dates for display of Recorded Responses and Answer Keys will be announced later at www.nta.ac.in, https://jeemain.nta.nicin/

Result of session 1 will be announced on the NTA website by 12 February 2026 (Tentative)

In case any candidate faces difficulty in applying for JEE (Main) 2026, he/she may contact 011-40759000/011-69227700 or e-mail at jeemain@nta.ac.in.

For further clarification related to the JEE (Main) 2026, candidates may visit www.nta.ac.in and https://jeemain.nta.nic.in