JEE Main 2026 exam dates announced for January and April sessions: Check schedule and more details here

JEE Main 2026 exam dates announced for January and April sessions

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced the exam schedule for JEE Main 2026, confirming that the Session 1 exams will be conducted from January 21 to 30, 2026, while Session 2 will take place from April 1 to 10, 2026. Registration for the January session will begin in October 2025, followed by the April session registration window in late January 2026. The JEE Main, a national-level entrance test for admission to premier engineering institutes such as IITs, NITs, and IIITs, continues to be one of India’s most competitive exams. This year, NTA has also announced plans to expand exam centres to ensure wider accessibility and simplify the registration process through Aadhaar-linked verification.

JEE Main 2026: Full schedule and registration process

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 will be held over nine days, from January 21 to 30, while Session 2 will follow between April 1 and 10, 2026. The registration portal for Session 1 will go live in October 2025 on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates can log in using their Aadhaar number, mobile number, and email ID. The registration window for Session 2 will open after the declaration of Session 1 results, in the last week of January 2026. NTA has advised candidates to ensure that their personal details exactly match their Aadhaar information to avoid discrepancies during application verification. The admit cards are expected to be released three days before each session.Candidates can check the official notice issued by NTA here.

More exam centres and accessibility measures announced

In a major move aimed at improving inclusivity, the NTA will expand the number of JEE Main exam cities across India and abroad. According to the agency, several new testing locations will be added to accommodate the increasing number of aspirants and minimise travel-related stress. This expansion will particularly benefit students from remote regions who earlier faced challenges in accessing exam centres. NTA is also expected to strengthen its digital infrastructure, including mock test portals and live registration helplines.

Exam pattern for Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech

Paper 1 is for candidates seeking admission to B.E./B.Tech programmes in NITs, IIITs, and other engineering institutes. The test will have 90 questions (30 each in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics), out of which 75 must be attempted. The paper includes MCQs and numerical questions, carries 4 marks per correct answer, and penalises 1 mark for wrong answers. Duration: 3 hours. Eligible candidates must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or be appearing in 2026 with PCM as core subjects.

Exam pattern for paper 2: B.Arch and B.Planning

Paper 2 is for students aspiring for architecture or planning courses.