JEE Main 2026: Exam Dates, Syllabus, Eligibility, Application Form & More

What is JEE mains Exam?

The Ministry of Education and the Government of India established the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is an independent, and self-supporting leading testing organization under the Societies Registration Act (1860)Conducting efficient, international and open standardized tests to evaluate the competence of higher education students, to improve educational equality and quality by developing and managing research-based systems that are valid, reliable, efficient (Truthful), fair or international ratings.

Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is an all-India common engineering entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and previously conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for admission. to undergraduate programs, BE, B.Tech, and B.Arch at NITs, IIITs, other centrally funded technical institutions, institutions funded by several participating state governments, and several other institutions.

JEE Main 2026: Highlights

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 is a crucial national-level engineering entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The highlights of the JEE Main 2026 include a revised exam pattern, higher weightage for certain subjects, and a focus on conceptual understanding. The exam will be conducted in two sessions, with each session consisting of two papers – Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech programmes and Paper 2A/2B for B.Arch/B.Planning programmes. To excel in the JEE Main 2026, aspirants must prioritise a strong foundation in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, practice regularly with mock tests, and stay updated with the latest syllabus and exam guidelines.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct JEE Main 2026 in two sessions—January and April—to offer aspiring engineers greater flexibility and opportunities. Candidates seeking admission to prestigious institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other prestigious engineering colleges should stay up-to-date with the complete schedule. From the release of the official notification to the declaration of results and guidance, each phase is crucial in the admission process. The provisional JEE Main 2026 Exam Date for both sessions is presented below to help students plan their preparation and registration effectively.

JEE Main 2026 Application Form

1. The JEE Main 2026 registration process will begin the first week of November 2025.
2. The application process for JEE Main will be conducted online. Forms submitted by other means will not be accepted.
3. Students can register for one session or both. The form will be bilingual (Hindi or English).
4. No changes to the details will be allowed once the form has been submitted, so please complete the application information carefully.
5. Submit only one application; multiple applications will not be accepted. Strict action will be taken against those who submit more than one form.
6. The application process consists of several steps: online registration, filling out the application, uploading scanned images, paying the application fee, and confirming/printing the form.
7. After submitting the application, students do not need to send any documents or the confirmation slip to the authority by mail, fax, email, or hand.

JEE Main Application Fee:

1. The JEE Main 2026 application fee payable for each session will be mentioned below:
2. Candidates will be able to deposit the application fee through Debit/Credit Card/Net Banking Method/UPI:
3. Candidates from outside India will have to pay Rs 5000 (Boys), Rs 4000 (Girls), Rs 4500 (General-EWS/OBC-NCL), Rs 2500 (SC/ST/PWD) and Rs 3000 for third gender.

How to Apply for JEE Mains 2026

Candidates should check the following step-by-step process while applying for JEE Main:

1. Visit the official website (link will be given here)
2. Login using various available modes
3. Now login using system generated application number and pre-created password
4. Upload scanned image of photograph, signature and PWD certificate
5. Images should be uploaded in correct size and format
6. Re-check the complete details in the form including all images
7. Submit application fee using valid payment methods
8. A confirmation page will appear on your screen
9. Take a printout of it and keep it safe till the admission process

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The NTA will release the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria along with the information brochure. These criteria are the conditions that candidates must meet to apply for the JEE entrance exam. Candidates who have passed the 10+2 course in 2024 and 2025 and are appearing for JEE Main 2026 will be eligible to register for JEE Main 2026. In addition, candidates must meet the other eligibility criteria for the IIT JEE Main. The JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria are detailed below.

1. Passed or appeared for the 10+2 exam. Candidate in the Intermediate or Two-Year Pre-University Examination conducted by a recognised Board/University.
2. Passed the NIOS 10+2 exam with a minimum of five subjects.
3. Students with a diploma can also apply for the JEE Mains.
4. NIOS students appearing for the 10+2 exam must select their state to be eligible.

Click Here to know more about JEE Mains exam 2025 Eligibility

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern

The NTA conducts the JEE Main exam online. The exam consists of three papers: Paper 1 for BE/BTech, Paper 2A for BArch, and Paper 2B for BPlan. The total exam duration is 3 hours. Furthermore, according to the JEE Main grading system, each question is worth 4 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.

According to the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern, Paper 1 will consist of 75 questions of 4 marks each, 25 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. In Paper 2A, 25 questions will be from Mathematics, 50 from General Aptitude, and 2 from Drawing. In Paper 2B (BPlan), 50 questions will be from General Aptitude and 25 from Pattern and Syllabus. The detailed JEE Main 2025 exam pattern for all three papers can be found below.

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus

Candidates can download the JEE Mains syllabus PDF from the table below. NTA had revised the JEE syllabus last year. The removed syllabus of JEE Mains and the new JEE Mains syllabus PDF download can be checked below. The JEE Main syllabus 2026 includes topics from NCERT Class 11 and 12. For Paper 1, candidates need to study the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics of Class 11 and 12. For Paper 2A, the syllabus includes Mathematics, Drawing, and General Aptitude while for Paper 2B, students need to study Mathematics, General Aptitude, and Planning.

JEE Main Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 (BTech)

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus for Paper 2A (BArch)

JEE Main Syllabus 2026 for Paper 2B (BPlan)

Click Here to know more about JEE Mains exam Syllabus

JEE Main 2026 Preparation Tips

JEE Main is one of the toughest exams, and hence, it requires proper JEE Main 2026 Preparation Tips. To pass the exam and score good marks, candidates must have dedication and determination. Every year, more than 10 lakh candidates take the  JEE Main 2026 for admission to IITs, NITs, and other prestigious engineering institutes. Candidates can consider the following preparation tips to score well in the exam.

1. Understand the JEE Main syllabus and pattern: It is very important to know what needs to be studied. The JEE Main 2026 syllabus is huge and covers Class 11 and 12 subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Also, one has to keep the exam pattern in mind while preparing for the exam to know what type of questions will be asked and how much time is available to complete the paper.
2. Check out previous year JEE Main question papers: Previous year question papers are a great source of information. They will help students understand the difficulty level of the exam and the weightage of the topics of JEE Main 2026.
3. Prepare a timetable for study: Studying as per the timetable can help in covering the syllabus in a planned manner. Students are advised to prepare a timetable for JEE Main preparation by devoting at least two to three hours to all three subjects and one hour for revision.
4. Regular study: Since the syllabus of JEE Main is very vast, all the chapters will be covered only if studied regularly on a daily basis. Regularity is very important to crack JEE Main 2026.
5. Learning from NCERT textbooks: NCERT textbooks are the foundation of JEE Main syllabus. JEE aspirants should learn from NCERT textbooks and build a solid foundation of ideas and principles. They can also refer to other books to understand the concepts better.
6. Choosing the best reference books: JEE aspirants should refer to the best reference books covering topics from basic to advanced level.
7. Revision: Revision is as important as studying a topic. If students are not revising what they study, chances are they will not be able to remember it at the time of exam.
8. Mock Test Papers: Solve JEE Main mock test papers regularly. It is advised that students solve chapter-wise mock papers upon completion of a chapter and full-length mock test papers after completing the entire syllabus.

Best books For JEE mains 2026

Free Mock test for JEE mains

JEE Mains 2026 High Weightage Chapters

JEE Main 2026 will have equal weightage of 33.3% questions from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. 30 questions will be asked from each subject, out of which 25 have to be answered. However, within the subject, some topics have more weightage than others. Candidates are advised to focus more on high-weightage topics, which have been asked more frequently in the last few years. Here are the JEE Main 2026 weightage chapter-wise topics based on the previous year's analysis:

Physics

Chemistry

Mathematics

JEE Main 2026 City Intimation Slip

National Testing Agency NTA will make the JEE Mains 2026 exam city slip available at least a week before the exam. The link to download the JEE Main Advanced city notification will be available online at jeemain.nta.ac.in. To download the JEE Mains exam city slip notification, candidates need to enter their application number, date of birth, and course. The Advanced exam city for JEE Main exam 2026 also includes IIT JEE exam date information. Please keep in mind that the city information slip is not the same as the admit card.

Steps to Download the JEE Main City Intimation Slip 2026

1. Visit the JEE Main exam 2026 official website - jeemain.nta.ac.in.
2. Click on the exam city slip link
3. Enter the application number and date of birth.
4. Print out the city intimation slip for future reference.

JEE Main 2026 Admit Card

NTA will issue the JEE Main 2026 admit card to candidates registered on the official website. The JEE Mains admit card is an important document, without which candidates will not be allowed to enter the exam hall. The JEE Main 2026 admit card will include all the important information such as the exam date and time, center address, guidelines, and more. Follow the steps below to quickly download the NTA JEE Mains admit card.

How to download JEE Main 2026 Admit card

1. Open the official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the JEE Main exam Admit Card 2025 download link
3. Login using JEE Main application number and date of birth
4. Admit card will be displayed on the screen
5. Download and take a printout

NTA JEE Main Answer Key 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the JEE Main 2026 answer key on its official website two to three days after the exam concludes. Candidates will first receive the provisional answer key, followed by an opportunity to raise objections, and then the final answer key will be released. The NTA JEE Mains answer key helps candidates estimate their potential scores before the results are announced. Candidates must pay a fee of ₹200 per question to raise objections.

How to Download JEE Main Answer Key 2026

Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps to download the answer key

Step 1- Open the JEE Main website

Step 2- Click on JEE Main answer key link

Step 3- Login using your JEE Main 2025 application number and password/date of birth

Step 4- The answer key will be displayed on the screen along with response sheet

Step 5- Download the answer key and take its printout.

JEE Main 2026 Result

NTA will announce the JEE Mains result approximately 10 days after the exam. The JEE Main result scorecard will contain details of the candidate's normalized percentile score in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and the aggregate percentile score in all three subjects. To download the scorecard, candidates will need to use their application number and password to log in to the JEE Mains website. Candidates should download the JEE Main result and store it securely for admission purposes. Along with the JEE Mains result, NTA also announces the JEE Main percentile cutoff, the minimum marks in JEE Mains to qualify for JEE Advanced, and the list of JEE Main toppers with All India Rank. Candidates who score above the JEE Main cutoff will be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced for admission to IITs.

How to Check JEE Main Result 2026

To check the result, candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps

1. Open the official website
2. Click on JEE Mains result 2026 link
3. Login using application number and date of birth/password
4. Scorecard will be displayed on screen
5. Download and take printout of the result

Click Here to know more about JEE Mains Exam Result

JEE Main 2026 Cut Off

The NTA will release the JEE Mains 2026 cutoff score in April, along with the results for the second session. This score is the minimum percentile that candidates must obtain to appear for JEE Advanced. The cut-off score varies by category. Candidates should note that there are no minimum marks or cut-off points required to pass the JEE Main exam. The score obtained by candidates in JEE Main determines their All-India Rank, and admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs is based solely on this rank. The JEE Main cut-off score is only valid for appearing for JEE Advanced. Here you will find the JEE Main cut-off score for 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 to understand the cut-off trends over the years.

JEE Main 2026 qualifying marks (Expected)

JEE Mains 2026 Counselling

The JEE Main 2026 counselling process will be conducted by JoSAA via online mode. The complete notification of JoSAA counselling will be provided on the website. The eligible candidates in JEE Main 2026 exam will be invited to join the counselling process.

Candidates will need to undergo JEE Main 2026 counselling registration in order to appear for counselling. To secure admission in NITs, IITs and GFTIs, the counselling process will be conducted. There will be different phases in counselling, including registration, choice filing, locking of choices, allotment of seats, & payment of seat acceptance fee. Original documents of a candidate will also be needed forthe verification process.

Required Documents for Counselling:

1. JEE Main 2026 seat allotment letter issued by JoSAA
2. Three passport size photographs
3. A government issued photo identity card
4. Proof of Fee payment for JEE Main 2026 seat acceptance
5. Date of Birth Proof
6. JEE Main 2026 Admit Card
7. Class 12th mark sheet
8. JEE Main 2026 scorecard
9. Category certificate (if required), etc.

JEE Mains Cut off Percentile

JEE Main cutoff is the minimum percentile score that candidates have to score to qualify to appear in JEE Advanced. JEE Main cutoff is different for different categories. NTA has announced the JEE Main cutoff. Candidates can check JEE Main cutoff 2026 below. JEE Main cutoff for 2024, 2023 and 2022 is also available here to understand the cutoff trends in the past few years. 

Candidates should note that students do not need to score any minimum marks or cutoff to pass the JEE Main exam 2026. The marks obtained by candidates in JEE Main decide the All India Rank and admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs is solely based on the All India Rank. JEE Main cutoff is only for appearing in JEE Advanced.

JEE Mains Cutoff 2026

JEE Mains Cutoff for Previous Year

Category/Year	2023	2022	2021
General	90.7788642	88.4121383	87.8992241
OBC-NCL	75.6229025	67.0090297	68.0234447
SC	73.6114227	43.0820954	46.8825338
ST	51.9776027	26.7771328	34.6728999
Gen-EWS	37.2348772	63.1114141	66.2214845
PwD	0.0013527	0.0031029	0.0096375