Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is one of India’s most significant national-level engineering entrance exams. This exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It serves as the gateway for admissions into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which leads to IIT admissions.
Every year, lakhs of candidates across the country appear for JEE Main to secure a rank that enables them to pursue B.E./B.Tech. Tech, B.Arch, or B.Planning courses in premier institutes.
Here’s a detailed overview of JEE Main 2026:
JEE Main 2026 Overview
| Parameter | Details |
| Full Form | Joint Entrance Examination Main |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Purpose | Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs; Qualifying exam for JEE Advanced |
| Courses Covered | B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Planning |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (Online) for B.E./B.Tech & B.Planning; Computer + Pen-Paper (Drawing) for B.Arch |
| Frequency | Twice a year (January and April sessions) |
| Languages | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu |
JEE Main 2026 Important Dates (Session 1 & 2)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the official schedule for JEE Main 2026 on its website – jeemain.nta.ac.in. Through the exam calendar, candidates will know when registration opens, the last date to submit forms, admit card availability, exam dates, result announcements, and other key events.
Since the exam is held in two sessions (January and April), NTA will issue separate notifications for each phase. Below are the expected timelines based on previous years:
JEE Main 2026 – Important Dates (Tentative)
Session 1 (January 2026)
| Event | Tentative Date |
| Information Brochure Release | Last week of October 2025 |
| Start of Registration | November 2025 |
| Closing of Application Window | December 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | First week of January 2026 |
| Exam Dates | Mid–January 2026 |
| Result Announcement | February 2026 |
Session 2 (April 2026)
| Event | Tentative Date |
| Notification Release | November 2025 |
| Registration Start Date | February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | March 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Last week of March 2026 |
| Exam Dates | April 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Last week of April 2026 |
Note: These dates are tentative and subject to change once the official notification is published. Aspirants should keep visiting the NTA’s official website regularly for updated information.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for JEE Main 2026, candidates must carefully go through the eligibility requirements set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These rules ensure that only qualified candidates apply for the exam. Below is the detailed breakdown of all conditions related to age, academics, subjects, attempts, and other factors.
1. Age Limit
- There is no upper age limit to appear in JEE Main 2026.
- Candidates of any age can apply, provided they meet the year of passing and subject requirements.
- However, for admission into certain institutes (like IITs), age policies may vary and must be checked separately.
2. Year of Passing (Qualifying Exam)
Eligible candidates include:
- Students who have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024 or 2025
- Students who are appearing in Class 12 in 2026
Note: Candidates who passed Class 12 before 2024 are not eligible.
3. Minimum Marks to Appear
- NTA does not specify any minimum percentage in Class 12 for appearing in JEE Main.
- Candidates who fulfill the year of passing and subject requirements are eligible to register.
4. Admission to NITs, IIITs & GFTIs (Through JEE Main Rank)
For securing admission into National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs):
- General/OBC/EWS candidates: Must score 75% marks in Class 12 OR be in the top 20 percentile of their board.
- SC/ST candidates: Need 65% marks in Class 12.
5. Subject Requirements
For B.E./B.Tech (Paper 1)
Candidates must have studied in Class 12:
- Physics (compulsory)
- Mathematics (compulsory)
- One of the following: Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / Technical Vocational Subject
For B.Arch (Paper 2A)
Compulsory subjects in Class 12:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
For B.Planning (Paper 2B)
Compulsory subject in Class 12:
- Mathematics
6. Number of Attempts
- Candidates can appear in JEE Main for three consecutive years.
- Since the exam is held twice every year (January & April sessions), this gives a total of 6 attempts.
- Appearing in both sessions of the same year is allowed, and the best score will be considered.
7. Nationality
Eligible candidates include:
- Indian Nationals
- NRIs (Non-Resident Indians)
- OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India)
- PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin)
- Foreign Nationals
8. Domicile Requirement
- JEE Main itself has no domicile restriction.
- However, domicile may be required to claim state quota seats in certain state-level colleges or NITs.
9. Accepted Boards for Class 12
Candidates must have passed their qualifying exam from:
- Any recognized Central or State Board
- NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)
- International Boards recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
10. Eligibility for Droppers (JEE Main 2026)
Students taking a gap year can also apply. Key points:
- No age limit – droppers of any age can appear.
- Year of passing – must have passed Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or be appearing in 2026.
- Attempt limit – allowed for 3 consecutive years (maximum 6 attempts across sessions).
- Subjects – must have taken at least 5 subjects in Class 12, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects.
- Minimum marks – no specific requirement for JEE Main, but institutes may ask for qualifying percentages (especially NITs/IIITs).
JEE Main 2026 Syllabus
The JEE Main 2026 syllabus is officially released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and follows the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. It covers Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics topics to test candidates’ understanding, analytical skills, and problem-solving ability.
A thorough understanding of the syllabus is crucial for planning preparation, managing time efficiently, and scoring well in the exam. Candidates who qualify JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced for IIT admissions.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the JEE Main 2026 syllabus for all papers.
JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
Mathematics Syllabus
| Unit | Topics |
| 1 | Sets, Relations, and Functions |
| 2 | Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations |
| 3 | Matrices and Determinants |
| 4 | Permutations and Combinations |
| 5 | Binomial Theorem and Its Applications |
| 6 | Sequence and Series |
| 7 | Limits, Continuity, and Differentiability |
| 8 | Integral Calculus |
| 9 | Differential Equations |
| 10 | Coordinate Geometry |
| 11 | Three-Dimensional Geometry |
| 12 | Vector Algebra |
| 13 | Statistics and Probability |
| 14 | Trigonometry |
Physics Syllabus
Section A – Theory
| Unit | Topics |
| 1 | Units and Measurement |
| 2 | Kinematics |
| 3 | Laws of Motion |
| 4 | Work, Energy, and Power |
| 5 | Rotational Motion |
| 6 | Gravitation |
| 7 | Properties of Solids and Liquids |
| 8 | Thermodynamics |
| 9 | Kinetic Theory of Gases |
| 10 | Oscillations and Waves |
| 11 | Electrostatics |
| 12 | Current Electricity |
| 13 | Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism |
| 14 | Electromagnetic Induction & AC |
| 15 | Electromagnetic Waves |
| 16 | Optics (Wave & Ray Optics) |
| 17 | Dual Nature of Matter & Radiation |
| 18 | Atoms and Nuclei |
| 19 | Electronic Devices |
Section B – Experiment Skills
| S. No | Experiment |
| 1 | Vernier Caliper: Measure internal & external diameter, depth |
| 2 | Screw Gauge: Determine thickness/diameter of wire |
| 3 | Simple Pendulum: Plot amplitude vs. time |
| 4 | Metre Scale: Determine mass using principle of moments |
| 5 | Young’s Modulus of wire |
| 6 | Surface Tension by capillary rise |
| 7 | Viscosity measurement using terminal velocity |
| 8 | Speed of sound in air using resonance tube |
| 9 | Specific heat of solids & liquids (method of mixtures) |
| 10 | Resistivity using metre bridge |
| 11 | Resistance via Ohm’s law |
| 12 | Galvanometer: Resistance & figure of merit |
| 13 | Focal length: Convex/Concave mirrors & lens (parallax method) |
| 14 | Prism: Angle of deviation vs. angle of incidence |
| 15 | Refractive index of glass slab |
| 16 | PN junction diode characteristics |
| 17 | Zener diode characteristics & breakdown voltage |
| 18 | Identification of electronic components (diode, LED, resistor, capacitor) |
Chemistry Syllabus
Section A – Theory
| Branch | Topics |
| Physical Chemistry | Basic Concepts, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Solutions, Equilibrium, Redox & Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics |
| Inorganic Chemistry | Periodicity, p-block, d-block, f-block, Coordination Compounds |
| Organic Chemistry | Principles of Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons, Halogen Compounds, Oxygen & Nitrogen Compounds, Biomolecules, Purification & Characterisation |
Section B – Practical Skills
| S. No | Experiment/Principle |
| 1 | Detection of elements in organic compounds (N, S, Halogens) |
| 2 | Detection of functional groups: Hydroxyl, Carbonyl, Carboxyl, Amino |
| 3 | Preparation of compounds: Mohr’s salt, Potash alum, Acetanilide, etc. |
| 4 | Titrimetric exercises: Acid-base, redox reactions |
| 5 | Qualitative analysis of salts: Cations & Anions |
| 6 | Thermochemistry & Kinetics: Enthalpy of solution/neutralization, reaction rates |
JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch)
Mathematics
- Same as Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
General Aptitude
| Section | Topics |
| Part I | Awareness of objects, materials, persons, places; Visualizing 3D objects from 2D; Analytical reasoning (verbal, numerical, visual) |
| Part II | 3D perception, scale & proportion, forms, harmony, texture, color & contrast; Drawing & designing abstract/geometrical shapes; 2D/3D transformations; Sketching urban & rural scenes from memory |
Drawing
- Sketching objects, urban and rural landscapes, human activities, monuments, markets, and natural scenes.
JEE Main Paper 2B (B.Planning)
Planning Syllabus
| Unit | Topics |
| Unit 1 – General Awareness | Knowledge of prominent cities, development issues, government programs |
| Unit 2 – Social Science | Nationalism, colonialism, industrialization, resources, economy, urbanization, rural development, democracy, constitution, population & inequality |
| Unit 3 – Thinking Skills | Comprehension of unseen passages, map reading, scale & distance, critical reasoning, interpretation of charts/graphs, basic statistics, and quantitative reasoning |
Note: The Mathematics and General Aptitude syllabus for B.Planning is the same as B.Arch.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern
Understanding the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern is crucial for candidates. It provides clarity on the structure of the question paper and helps plan an effective preparation strategy. The exam pattern outlines details such as the mode of the exam, types of questions, marking scheme, subject-wise distribution, and duration.
For JEE Main 2026, the paper will have two types of questions:
- Section A → 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) per subject
- Section B → 10 Numerical Answer Value (NAV) questions per subject (students need to attempt 5 out of 10)
Note: Negative marking will apply to both MCQs and numerical-type questions.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for B.E./B.Tech (Paper 1)
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (Online) |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Total Questions | 90 (60 MCQs + 30 Numerical Value Questions) → Students need to attempt 75 questions |
| Subject-wise Question Distribution | Physics → 20 MCQs + 5 Numerica Chemistry → 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical Mathematics → 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical |
| Type of Questions | MCQs + Numerical Value (NAV) |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Marking Scheme | +4 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each incorrect answer |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Language Options | English, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu |
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for B.Arch (Paper 2A)
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Online (CBT) for Mathematics & Aptitude Offline (pen & paper) for Drawing |
| Subjects | Mathematics, General Aptitude, Drawing |
| Total Questions | 82 (75 + 2 Drawing Tasks + 5 NAV) |
| Subject-wise Distribution | Mathematics → 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical General Aptitude → 50 MCQs Drawing → 2 Questions |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Type of Questions | MCQs + Numerical Value + Drawing |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct answer -1 for wrong answer Drawing is evaluated out of 100 marks |
| Language Options | English, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu |
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for B.Planning (Paper 2B)
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (Online) |
| Subjects | Mathematics, General Aptitude, Planning |
| Total Questions | 105 |
| Subject-wise Distribution | Mathematics → 20 MCQs + 10 Numerical (only 5 to be attempted) General Aptitude → 50 MCQs Planning → 25 MCQs |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Type of Questions | MCQs + Numerical Value |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct answer -1 for wrong answer |
| Language Options | English, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu |
Also See: Class 11 JEE Preparation – How to Build a Strong Foundation in Physics, Chemistry & Maths
JEE Main 2026 Application Form
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the JEE Main 2026 application form on its official portal http://jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates who fulfill the eligibility requirements can register and submit their applications for the exam.
The application process is online and consists of four main steps:
- Registration
- Filling out the application form
- Uploading necessary documents
- Payment of the application fee
How to Apply for JEE Main 2026
1. Registration
- Candidates must first complete the registration process.
- During registration, candidates will need to provide:
- Full name
- Parent/guardian details
- Gender
- Identification number (Aadhar/other ID)
- Contact information
2. Filling the Application Form
- After registration, candidates must fill out the detailed application form, including:
- Personal and contact details
- Aadhaar number
- Choice of exam centre
- Educational qualifications
- Additional details like PwD status or category
3. Uploading Documents
- Candidates must upload scanned copies of the following:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Address proof
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
4. Payment of Application Fee
- The final step is paying the application fee.
- Payment can be made through:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Net banking
- UPI
- Once the payment is successful, the application form is considered submitted.
JEE Main 2026 Application Fee – Indian Exam Centres
| Category | Single Paper (B.E./B.Tech or B.Arch or B.Planning) | Two Papers (Any Combination) | All Three Papers |
| General – Male | ₹1000 | ₹2000 | – |
| General – Female | ₹800 | ₹1600 | – |
| EWS/OBC-NCL – Male | ₹900 | ₹2000 | – |
| EWS/OBC-NCL – Female | ₹800 | ₹1600 | – |
| SC/ST/PwD/Transgender | ₹500 | ₹1000 | ₹1000 |
JEE Main 2026 Application Fee – Foreign Exam Centres
| Category | Single Paper (B.E./B.Tech or B.Arch or B.Planning) | Two Papers (Any Combination) | All Three Papers |
| General – Male | ₹5000 | ₹10000 | – |
| General – Female | ₹4000 | ₹8000 | – |
| EWS/OBC-NCL – Male | ₹4500 | ₹5000 | – |
| EWS/OBC-NCL – Female | ₹4000 | ₹5000 | – |
| SC/ST/PwD/Transgender | ₹2500–₹3000 | ₹5000 | – |
Key Points to Remember
- Ensure that all information is accurate before submitting the form.
- Keep scanned copies of the photograph and signature ready in the required format.
- Check the category certificate or PwD certificate if applicable.
- Payment must be completed to successfully submit the application.
Note: Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official portal for updates on registration dates, fee deadlines, and the corrections window.
JEE Main 2026 – Latest Updates
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the official JEE Main 2026 notification in the final week of October 2025. This notification will serve as the definitive guide for all aspirants and will contain crucial information such as:
- Opening and closing dates for registration
- Detailed exam schedule for both January and April sessions
- Updates to the syllabus or addition/removal of topics
- Changes in the exam pattern or question distribution
- Guidelines for document submission, eligibility, and fee payment
Any modifications or new instructions for JEE Main 2026 will be published in the official NTA information brochure, making it the primary source for accurate details. Aspirants are advised to regularly check the official JEE Main portal to stay informed about updates and avoid missing important deadlines. Staying aware of the latest changes ensures better planning, a smoother preparation journey, and reduces last-minute confusion.
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