National Testing Agency (NTA)
JEE Main 2026 — Complete Guide (Session 1 & Session 2)
Important Dates
Eligibility
Passed or appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects from any recognised board. No age limit — NTA removed the age restriction. No minimum percentage required in Class 12 to appear in JEE Main. However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling, candidates must have secured at least 75% marks in Class 12 (or be in the top 20 percentile of their board) — 65% for SC/ST. Diploma holders in Engineering/Technology are also eligible for JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech).
Syllabus
Mathematics: Sets, Relations and Functions, Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Matrices and Determinants, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, Sequences and Series, Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Coordinate Geometry (Straight Lines, Circles, Conic Sections), Three Dimensional Geometry, Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability, Trigonometry, Mathematical Reasoning. Physics: Units and Dimensions, Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work Energy Power, Rotational Motion, Gravitation, Properties of Solids and Liquids, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Oscillations and Waves, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Optics, Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation, Atoms and Nuclei, Electronic Devices, Communication Systems. Chemistry: Physical Chemistry — Basic Concepts, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, States of Matter, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Surface Chemistry; Organic Chemistry — Purification, Basic Principles, Hydrocarbons, Haloalkanes, Alcohols, Carbonyl Compounds, Amines, Polymers, Biomolecules, Chemistry in Everyday Life; Inorganic Chemistry — Classification, s/p/d/f Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Environmental Chemistry.
Official Links
JEE Main 2026 — Everything You Need to Know
JEE Main is the national-level engineering entrance exam that opens the door to NITs, IIITs, and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) across India. It also acts as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced — the route to IITs.
JEE Main 2026 was held in two sessions:
- Session 1: January 21–29, 2026
- Session 2: April 2–9, 2026
Both sessions are now complete and results have been declared on jeemain.nta.nic.in. If you appeared in both sessions, NTA considers your better score from the two for the final merit list.
Session Dates at a Glance
| Session | Exam Dates | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | January 21–24 & 28, 2026 | Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) |
| Session 1 | January 29, 2026 | Paper 2A (B.Arch) & 2B (B.Planning) |
| Session 2 | April 2–9, 2026 | Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) |
| Session 2 | April 2026 | Paper 2A & 2B |
Application Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Session 1 Registration Opens | October 31, 2025 |
| Session 2 Registration Opens | February 1, 2026 |
| Session 2 Registration Closes | February 25, 2026 |
| Session 2 Registration Reopened | March 12–13, 2026 |
| Session 1 Exam | January 21–29, 2026 |
| Session 2 Exam | April 2–9, 2026 |
| Results | Declared (check jeemain.nta.nic.in) |
| JoSAA Counselling | Typically June–July after results |
Application Fee
| Category | Single Paper | Both Papers (2A & 1, or 2B & 1) |
|---|---|---|
| General (Male) | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 |
| General (Female) / OBC | ₹800 | ₹1,600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Transgender | ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
Payment via credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI on jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Eligibility
Educational Qualification:
- Passed or appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects
- Diploma holders in Engineering/Technology are also eligible for Paper 1
Age Limit: No age limit. NTA removed the upper age restriction — any student who meets the academic criteria can appear.
Minimum Marks in Class 12:
- No minimum percentage required to appear in JEE Main
- For admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA: you need 75% aggregate in Class 12 (or top 20 percentile of your board) — SC/ST need 65%
Number of Attempts: You can appear in JEE Main for up to 3 consecutive years after passing Class 12.
Exam Pattern — Paper 1 (B.E. / B.Tech)
Paper 1 is a Computer Based Test (CBT). Each subject has two sections — Section A (MCQ) and Section B (Numerical Value Type with internal choice).
| Subject | Section A (MCQ) | Section B (NVT — attempt 5 of 10) | Total Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 | 5 (from 10 given) | 25 | 100 |
| Physics | 20 | 5 (from 10 given) | 25 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 5 (from 10 given) | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 60 | 15 | 75 | 300 |
Marking Scheme:
- MCQ (Section A): +4 correct, –1 wrong
- NVT (Section B): +4 correct, 0 wrong — no negative marking for numerical questions
Duration: 3 hours
Mode: Computer Based Test (online, no pen and paper for Paper 1)
Language: Available in 13 languages — English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Paper 2A — B.Arch and Paper 2B — B.Planning
If you want to pursue Architecture or Urban Planning, you appear in Paper 2:
| Paper | For | Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2A | B.Arch | 77 (Maths + Aptitude + Drawing) | 400 |
| Paper 2B | B.Planning | 100 (Maths + Aptitude + Planning) | 400 |
Drawing section in B.Arch is pen-and-paper even though the rest is CBT.
What JEE Main Score Gets You
Score in JEE Main → Admission to:
- NITs (National Institutes of Technology) — 31 NITs across India
- IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology) — 25 IIITs
- GFTIs (Government Funded Technical Institutes)
- State government engineering colleges that accept JEE Main scores
Score in JEE Main → Eligibility for:
- JEE Advanced (only top 2.5 lakh Paper 1 candidates qualify each year)
- JEE Advanced → IIT admissions
Counselling — JoSAA
After results, seat allotment for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs happens through JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) at josaa.nic.in. The process typically runs June–July. You fill your college and branch preferences, and seats are allotted based on your JEE Main rank, category, and preference order.
IIT seats are filled in parallel through JoSAA using JEE Advanced ranks.
Preparation Strategy
JEE Main tests conceptual clarity, not rote memory. Here's what works:
Mathematics:
- Master calculus, coordinate geometry, and algebra — these carry the most weight
- Practice Numerical Value Type (NVT) questions — no negative marking means you should attempt all of them
Physics:
- Mechanics (Chapters 1–9 from Class 11) is the backbone — get it right
- Modern Physics and Optics are high-reward chapters — scoring for prepared students
- Use HC Verma for concepts, then solve previous year JEE Main papers
Chemistry:
- Organic Chemistry takes time to build — start early in the next cycle
- NCERT is gold for Inorganic Chemistry — chapters on p-block and coordination compounds are directly tested
- Physical Chemistry needs formula practice — electrochemistry, kinetics, equilibrium
Best Books:
- Mathematics: RD Sharma + Cengage or Arihant's JEE Maths
- Physics: HC Verma (Concepts of Physics) + DC Pandey
- Chemistry: NCERT (Inorganic) + OP Tandon (Physical) + Morrison Boyd (Organic basics)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I appear in both sessions of JEE Main in the same year? Yes. You can appear in Session 1 (January) and Session 2 (April) in the same year. NTA considers your better score from the two sessions.
Q: Is there an age limit for JEE Main? No. NTA removed the age limit — any student who has passed or is appearing in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics is eligible.
Q: How many times can I appear in JEE Main in total? You can appear in JEE Main for up to 3 consecutive years after passing Class 12. Since there are 2 sessions per year, that is a maximum of 6 attempts across 3 years.
Q: Does Class 12 percentage matter for JEE Main eligibility? No minimum percentage is required to sit the exam. But for admission to NITs and IIITs through JoSAA, you need 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST).
Official Links
- JEE Main Official Portal: jeemain.nta.nic.in
- NTA Main Site: nta.ac.in
- JoSAA Counselling: josaa.nic.in
Disclaimer: All information is sourced from official NTA notices and the JEE Main 2026 information bulletin. Since both sessions of JEE Main 2026 are complete, this page serves as a reference for students planning for JEE Main 2027. Always verify information at jeemain.nta.nic.in.