JEE Main Exam Dates 2026: Exam Pattern, Total Marks, Slot Timings and Schedule

JEE Main Exam Dates 2026: Exam Pattern, Total Marks, Slot Timings and Schedule

The JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates are set to take place for Session 1 and Session 2 from January 21-30, and April 2-9, 2026. The NTA has opened the JEE Main 2026 registration process on October 31, 2025, for both Sessions, which will continue till November 27 by 11:50 PM.

The NTA will start the JEE Main 2026 registration process for Session 2 from January 31, which might continue till the third week of February 2026. Students aspiring to apply for the JEE Main 2026 exam can apply for both sessions during the registration period for session 1.

Candidates from Class 12 who wish to apply for the NTA Joint Entrance Exam (Main) can do so by visiting jeemain.nta.nic.in. The purpose of this exam is to assess the potential of millions of candidates for admission to IITs, IIITs, NITs, and CFTIs.

Explore these tactics and suggestions to attain excellent scores on the JEE Main 2026 exam. Read the entire post for more information about the JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates, Exam Pattern, Total Marks, and What to Expect.

Latest Updates - JEE Main 2025 Exam Dates

The JEE Main 2026 Notification was made available for public review on October 31, 2025.

The JEE Main 2026 exam dates for sessions 1 and 2 are provisionally scheduled for January 21–30, 2026, and April 2–April 9, 2026, respectively. Candidates who wish to apply for the exam can register at jeemain.nta.ac.in.

The online JEE Main 2026 registration period for Session 1 was opened on October 31, 2025.

Students can register online for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam by November 27, 2025, till 11:50 PM.

The online JEE Main 2026 registration period for Session 2 will open on January 31, 2026, and run through February 2026.

It is anticipated that the application form's correction window for Session 1 and Session 2 will open in the last week of November 2025.

Last year, NTA made several changes in the exam pattern and syllabus of the JEE Main exam, which will continue this year. No further changes were introduced for this year’s JEE Main exam, according to the notification.

The JEE Main 2026 Admit Card for Sessions 1 and 2 will be made available 3-4 days before the JEE Main 2026 exam dates, probably in the third week of January 2026 for Session 1, and in the last week of March 2026 for Session 2.

JEE Main 2026 Results for Sessions 1 and 2 are anticipated to be released on February 12, 2026, and April 20, 2026, respectively.

The tentative release dates for the City Intimation Slip are the first week of January 2026 for Session 1 and the second week of March 2026 for Session 2.

What is JEE Main 2026?

JEE Main 2026 is the second toughest exam in the world after the Gao Kao exam in China. This exam is conducted twice a year to screen potential candidates on a pan-India basis.

Anyone aspiring to study at the top engineering universities in India, like the IITs, NITs, IITs, and CFTIs, can take the exam after completing their intermediate education. The National Testing Agency administers the two-stage computer-based exam (NTA).

The main features of JEE Main 2026 are broken down as follows:

• Eligibility: Students who have passed Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) in Class 12 or its equivalent are eligible.
• Exam Structure: Two-phased, with Paper 1 for BE/B. Tech and Paper 2 for B. Arch and B. Plan sessions held in January and April.
• Paper 1: There are 75 questions (300 marks) altogether, 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and 5 numerical value type (NVT) questions in each of the subjects of physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
• Paper 2: B. Arch will have 77 questions, while B. Plan will have 100 questions with a total mark of 400. It emphasizes general aptitude, drawing, and mathematics.
• Exam Duration: 2 hours for Paper 2B (B. Plan) and 3 hours for Papers 1 and 2A (B. Arch).
• Selection Process: JEE Advanced 2026 is the second step after clearing the JEE Mains exam in the selection process for admission to IITs. The top 250000 rankers will make their way into the JEE Advanced 2026. Others may apply for admission to participating NITs and other colleges using their JEE Main 2026 scores.

Now, let's learn more about the JEE Main 2026 Exams.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates

With our extensive table detailing the JEE Main 2026 exam dates for the upcoming session in January, you can stay updated and prepare ahead of time. You may stay informed about important JEE Main 2026 exam dates, such as registration deadlines, exam dates, results announcements, and more, by using this table. Make sure you are prepared for the JEE Main 2026 by putting these important dates on your calendar.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Schedule

The JEE Main 2026 exam schedule is shown in detail in the table below. It details test start timings, instructions, and admission times, with separate morning and afternoon sessions. All aspirants should have an efficient and well-organized exam day thanks to this planned timetable.

JEE Main 2026 Notification

The JEE Main 2026 Notification was made public under the directions of the National Testing Agency NTA on its official JEE Main Portal on October 31, 2025. With this announcement, candidates will receive information on the IIT JEE Main entrance exam 2026, including JEE Main 2026 exam dates, registration dates, the syllabus, and other aspects.

To stay updated about the JEE Main 2026 exam dates, make sure to keep visiting the NTA official website now and then.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern

It is of paramount importance for engineering aspirants to learn the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern by heart before they start devising their JEE Main preparation strategy. JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern, along with the JEE Main syllabus, are two of the primary elements of an effective JEE preparation strategy, enabling students to explore the crucial topics they need to prepare. 

• Candidates need to answer five mandatory Numerical Value Questions (NVQs) in each subject in Paper 1 (No more optional questions available), along with 20 Multiple-Choice Questions.
• Candidates who want to pursue a B. Arch degree need to take Paper 2A's Drawing test.
• Candidates who want to take B. Planning need to take the Planning-Based Questions in Paper 2 B.

Below is a tabular form of the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern, which includes the combination of subjects, types of questions, and exam mode for each paper.

JEE Main 2026 Total Questions and Marks

The table below provides information on the number of questions by subject.

Paper 1 (BE/B. Tech)

Paper 2A (B. Arch)

Paper 2B (B. Plan)

Marking Scheme

JEE Main 2026 Exam City Slip and Admit Card Dates

The JEE Main 2026 admit card will be distributed by NTA a few days before the test in the third week of January 2026 for Session 1. Applicants can use their application number, password, or birthdate to get it from the official website.

The City Intimation Slip is expected to be released in the first week of January 2026 for Session 1, and in the 3^rd week of March 2026 for Session 2.

Important information, including the candidate's name, roll number, exam centre address, exam date and time, paper specifics, and crucial instructions, will all be included on the admit card. Candidates should carefully go over all the information after downloading, and they must contact the NTA helpdesk right away if there are any discrepancies.

JEE Main 2026 Answer Key Dates

Within two to three days following the exam, the NTA will post the JEE Main 2026 Answer Key PDF on its official website, probably in the first week of February 2026, for Session 1, and in the second week of April 2026 for Session 2.

• Candidates will be able to contest inconsistencies by paying ₹200 for each question within the allotted time once a preliminary answer key is made available.
• The final answer key, which is used to determine the JEE Main results and scores, will be released following the evaluation of all objections.
• Through their JEE Main login, candidates may also view their PDF response sheet and question paper.

JEE Main 2026 Result Dates

The JEE Main 2026 results will be made public on February 12, 2026, around ten days after the exam for Session 1, and April 20, 2026, for Session 2.

• Candidates can use their application number, birthdate, and password to download their scorecard from the official website.
• Percentile scores for mathematics, physics, chemistry, and the total are included in the scorecard.
• NTA will release the toppers list and cut-off percentile in addition to the results.
• JEE Advanced 2026 is open to those who meet the cut-off.

JEE Main 2026 Counselling Dates

JEE Main 2026 Counselling will start in July/August 2026, conducted by the JoSAA for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs. The counselling will have several rounds and includes registration, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment, seat acceptance, spot round, and college visit.

What’s new in the JEE Main 2026?

The JEE Main NTA information pamphlet contains any updates regarding the JEE Main 2026 exam.

• This year's JEE Main 2026 application form contains three new sections: live photo capture, APAAR ID, and disability data.
• Additionally, candidates who select an identity verification method other than Aadhaar or Digilocker must upload a scanned copy of it. Uploading a UDID or, if relevant, a disability certificate is a possibility.
• The JEE Main 2026 registration document requirements have been modified.
  Additionally, this year's JEE Main 2026 exam locations have been expanded.

What to expect from the Upcoming JEE Main 2026?

Since JEE Mains is one of the most competitive engineering entrance tests in India, it is expected to remain at the same high level as in prior years.

Difficulty level

JEE Mains questions have traditionally ranged in difficulty from moderate to demanding, and 2026 is predicted to follow suit by emphasizing application-based topics and key concepts.

However, because of modifications to the question distribution, the addition of new problem categories, and the general intricacy of the test, the level of difficulty may differ slightly from year to year.

Future Trends and Readiness

Changes in the education sector, such as the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) and any curriculum modifications that the NTA may introduce, may have an impact on the JEE Main 2026 level.

But the fundamental idea behind JEE Main 2026, which is to assess analytical, problem-solving, and application skills, has not altered.

Also Read:

• JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Maximum & Minimum Age Limit, Reservation & Other Requirements
• JEE Main Syllabus 2026 (Updated): Topic-Wise Weightage of Physics, Chemistry, and Maths
• Download JEE Main Admit Card 2025: Hall Ticket Release Date & Official Link
• JEE Main Answer Key 2026: Release Date, Download PDF and Score Calculation Guide
• JEE Main Preparation Tips 2026: Study Plan, Time Table Schedule and Mock Test for High Scores
• JEE Main Result Date 2026: Check Rank, Cut Off and Download Score Card PDF

FAQs for JEE Main Exam Dates 2026: Exam Pattern, Total Marks, Slot Timings and Schedule

Q1. What is the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern?

Each of the two sessions of the JEE Main 2026 exam lasts three hours. Each paper will consist of Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) in Section A, and numerical value answer (NVQ) questions in Section B. Candidates are required to undertake all five mandatory NVQs in Section B. Negative marking is present in both parts.

Q2. Has the JEE Main 2026 syllabus changed?

The physics, chemistry, and mathematics curricula have not changed since last year, and students must study from the NCERT books from the 11th and 12th classes to prepare for the exam.

Q3. Which IIT will create JEE papers in 2026?

IIT Roorkee is expected to create the JEE paper in 2026.

Q4. Is JEE 2026 difficult?

Sure, JEE 2026 can be challenging, but even a mediocre student can do well with constant revision.