JEE Main 2026
Joint Entrance Examination (Main) — Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
What's New in JEE Main 2026
Important updates you must know
No Calculator Allowed
NTA has clarified that calculators (physical or virtual) are NOT permitted in JEE Main 2026
Aadhaar-Based Registration
Candidate details automatically fetched from Aadhaar for accuracy
CBSE Class 11 Registration Number Required
Candidates must provide their CBSE Class 11 registration number during application
Live Photo Capture
Live photograph capture feature added during registration process
Expanded Test Centers
33 new exam centers added across India for student convenience
Exam Pattern (Paper 1)
For B.E./B.Tech admission
Syllabus Overview
Based on Class 11 & 12 NCERT curriculum
physics
chemistry
maths
Note: NTA has reduced the syllabus considering changes in CBSE/NCERT curriculum. Download the official syllabus from the NTA website for complete details.
Eligibility Criteria
- Passed Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026 from a recognized board
- Physics and Mathematics are compulsory subjects
- One additional subject: Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational subject
- No age limit to appear in the exam
- Candidates can appear for JEE Main up to 6 attempts (2 per year for 3 consecutive years)
- For NITs/IIITs/CFTIs admission: 75% marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or Top 20 percentile
- Indian nationals, Foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs are eligible
Documents Required
Application Fees
Category-wise fee structure
Preparation Tips
Expert guidance for JEE Main 2026
1. Focus on NCERT
Master NCERT textbooks thoroughly, especially for Chemistry. About 70% of Chemistry questions come directly from NCERT.
2. Practice Mental Math
Since calculators are not allowed, strengthen your mental calculation and approximation skills for quick problem-solving.
3. Solve Previous Papers
Practice previous 10 years' question papers to understand exam patterns, difficulty levels, and important topics.
4. Time Management
Take regular mock tests to improve speed and accuracy. Allocate approximately 2 hours for Section A and 1 hour for Section B.
5. Section B Strategy
In Section B numerical questions, there is negative marking. Attempt only those questions you are confident about.
After JEE Main 2026
What happens next? Your pathway to admission
JEE Advanced 2026
Gateway to IITs - conducted by IIT Roorkee
Eligibility for JEE Advanced
- ▸Top 2,50,000 candidates from JEE Main 2026 (including all categories)
- ▸Expected qualifying percentile: ~93-95 for General, ~81 for EWS, ~80 for OBC-NCL, ~62 for SC, ~49 for ST
- ▸Age limit: Born on or after October 1, 2000 (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD)
- ▸Maximum 2 attempts in consecutive years
- ▸No minimum Class 12 percentage requirement (removed from 2023)
- ▸Physics and Mathematics mandatory in Class 12
JoSAA Counselling 2026
Joint Seat Allocation Authority
Centralized counselling for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
121+ Premier Institutes
7-Step Counselling Process
Registration
Register on josaa.nic.in using JEE Main/Advanced credentials
⏰ Early June 2026Choice Filling & Locking
Select preferred colleges and branches in order of preference. You can fill unlimited choices
⏰ June 2026 (7-10 days)Mock Seat Allotment
Two mock allotments released to help refine choices
⏰ Before Round 1Seat Allotment (6 Rounds)
Seats allocated based on rank, category, preferences, and availability
⏰ June - July 2026Accept Seat & Pay Fee
Choose: Freeze (accept & exit), Float (accept but upgrade), or Slide (same college, better branch)
⏰ After each roundDocument Verification
Upload scanned documents online and verify at allotted institute
⏰ Within deadlinePhysical Reporting
Report to allotted college, complete admission formalities
⏰ As per college schedule💰 Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF)
* Non-payment of SAF leads to seat cancellation
📄 Documents for Verification
Official Website: josaa.nic.in
CSAB Special Round
After JoSAA Round 6 (Late July 2026)
Central Seat Allocation Board conducts special rounds for seats vacant after JoSAA
Eligibility: Candidates who participated in JoSAA or missed JoSAA rounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a calculator in JEE Main 2026? ▼
No. NTA has officially clarified that calculators (both physical and virtual/on-screen) are NOT permitted in JEE Main 2026. All calculations must be done manually.
Is there negative marking in JEE Main? ▼
Yes, there is negative marking of -1 mark for each incorrect answer in both MCQs and Numerical Value Questions.
Can I appear in both Session 1 and Session 2? ▼
Yes, candidates can appear in both sessions. The best score from the two sessions will be considered for the final ranking and counselling.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for JEE Main 2026? ▼
Yes, Aadhaar card is mandatory for registration. Candidate details will be automatically fetched from Aadhaar during the application process.
What is the minimum percentage required in Class 12? ▼
There is no minimum percentage to appear in JEE Main. However, for admission to NITs/IIITs/CFTIs, you need 75% marks (65% for SC/ST) in Class 12 or be in the top 20 percentile of your board.
How many times can I attempt JEE Main? ▼
Candidates can attempt JEE Main up to 6 times over 3 consecutive years (2 attempts per year). There is no age limit.
What happens after JEE Main results? ▼
Top 2.5 lakh candidates become eligible for JEE Advanced (for IIT admission). All qualified candidates can participate in JoSAA counselling for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs starting in June 2026.
What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced? ▼
JEE Main is for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. JEE Advanced (conducted by IITs) is only for IIT admission and requires JEE Main qualification. Only top 2.5 lakh JEE Main candidates can appear for JEE Advanced.
Important Dates
Need Help?
Helpdesk: 011-40759000
Email: jeemain@nta.ac.in
Website: jeemain.nta.nic.in
Sources: National Testing Agency (NTA) Official Website - jeemain.nta.nic.in
Last Updated: November 2025 | All information is subject to change. Please refer to the official NTA website for the most current details.