The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the schedule for JEE Main 2026, confirming that the exam will be held in two sessions. Session 1 is scheduled from January 21 to 30, 2026, while Session 2 will take place from April 1 to 10, 2026.

Registration for the January session will open in October 2025, and the April session application window will begin in the last week of January 2026. Candidates can register via the official websites jeemain.nta.nic.in and jeemain.nta.ac.in.

The JEE Main is a national-level entrance exam for admission to premier engineering institutes, including IITs, NITs, and IIITs, and remains one of India’s most competitive examinations. This year, NTA will expand the number of exam centres across India and abroad to improve accessibility, particularly for students from remote regions.

Simplified registration process

To minimize the procedural difficulties of JEE (Main) 2026 aspirants while filling the online application form, NTA had issued a public notice on September 29, 2025 with the objective of supporting aspirants across the country by encouraging timely and accurate updation.

NTA will be obtaining Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Photograph and Address from UIDAI through Aadhaar Authentication (for updation in Aadhaar, please follow UIDAI guidelines). However, since Father/Mother/Guardians name etc. is not recorded in Aadhaar, candidates would have to fill such details separately in the online application form.

In case of name mismatch in Aadhaar Card and 10th Educational Certificate/Mark sheet of any candidate, an option will be given to overcome this issue during the online application stage.

Admit cards are expected to be released three days before each session. 

Exam pattern

Paper 1 – B.E./B.Tech

  • 90 questions (30 each in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics); 75 must be attempted
  • Includes MCQs and numerical questions
  • 4 marks per correct answer; 1 mark deducted for incorrect answers
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Eligibility: Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or are appearing in 2026, with PCM as core subjects

Paper 2 – B.Arch and B.Planning

  • Paper 2A (B.Arch): Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing (pen-and-paper for Drawing section)
  • Paper 2B (B.Planning): Mathematics, Aptitude, and Planning-based questions (all in CBT mode)
  • Each paper carries 400 marks; candidates may opt for either or both papers

For full details and official notifications, candidates are advised to visit the NTA website and plan their preparation accordingly.