JEE Main 2026: Exam Dates, Syllabus, Eligibility

Every year, over 12 lakh students compete in JEE Main for a limited number of seats in top engineering colleges of India. If you’re aiming for JEE Main 2026, knowing the right dates, eligibility, syllabus, and strategy early can make all the difference.

Joint Entrance Examination Main also known as JEE Main is a highly competitive engineering entry test in India. Organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE Main is the selection criterion in the admission to the B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Planning programmes in the NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and is the qualifying test in JEE Advanced, which is the entry point of the IITs.

With the upcoming academic session 2026, students are eager to learn more about the up-to-date information regarding application forms, examination dates, syllabus, and eligibility criteria. All this and much more has been discussed in this detailed blog.

Important JEE Main Dates (2026)

Here’s a schedule for JEE Main 2026:

Note: The above dates are tentative and based on previous year trends. Official dates will be confirmed by NTA

JEE Main 2026 Application Form

The application process for Session 1 of JEE Main 2026 began on:

October 31, 2025
Last date to apply: November 27, 2025 (11:50 PM)

For Session 2, candidates can register once the application window opens, generally in the last week of January 2026.

How to Apply Online

Students must apply using the official NTA JEE Main portal: https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/

Steps to complete the application:

1. Registration: Enter basic personal details (name, email, mobile)
2. Filling the Form: Provide academic information, exam session preference.
3. Uploading Documents:
   1. Scanned passport-size photograph
   2. Signature
   3. Class 12 or equivalent certificates
4. Fee Payment: Pay the required fee online to confirm registration.

Tip: Keep all documents ready (Aadhaar, UDID for PwD category, certificates) before starting the form to avoid last-minute rush.

Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026

Here is what is needed to be eligible to appear for JEE Main.

1. Academic Qualifications
   1. Candidates must have passed (Class 12 or equivalent) in 2024, 2025 or appearing in 2026 from a recognized board. 
   2. For B.E./B.Tech, subjects must include:
      1. Physics
      2. Mathematics
      3. One of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational Subjects
2. Age Criteria
   1. There are no age restrictions for those who wish to appear in JEE Main.
3. Attempts Limit
   1. A candidate may appear in JEE Main for three consecutive years from the year of passing their qualifying exam.
4. Nationality
   1. Indian nationals, Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO students are eligible to apply.
   2. Specific document requirements vary (check official NTA notification).

JEE Mains 2026 Syllabus & Exam Pattern

JEE Mains test students on core topics from Class 11 and 12. The syllabus is broadly aligned with the NCERT curriculum, ensuring that aspirants focus on foundational science and mathematics concepts.

Syllabus Structure

1. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)

2. Paper 2  (B.Arch & B.Planning)

• B.Arch: Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Drawing Test
• B.Planning: Mathematics, Aptitude, Planning Based Questions

JEE Mains 2026 Marking Scheme

JEE Mains Marking Scheme (Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech)

Understanding the marking scheme is essential to avoid unnecessary negative marking and maximize score.

Note: Numerical questions require careful calculation, as no options are provided.

JEE Mains Marks vs Rank

While exact ranks vary each year depending on difficulty and number of candidates, the table below gives a realistic estimate:

Ranks may differ across sessions.

👉 For a more accurate estimate, students can use a JEE Main Rank Predictor to predict rank based on their marks.

JEE Main Cut-off Scores (Last 5 Years)

JEE Mains Qualifying Cut-off for JEE Advanced

Note: These are qualifying cut-offs in percentile, not marks, and do not represent admission cut-offs.

JEE Main Counselling Procedure

Admissions to NITs, IIITs, IITs (via JEE Advanced), and GFTIs are conducted by JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority).

Step-by-Step Counselling Process

Step 1: Online Registration

• Register on the JoSAA portal using JEE Main credentials.

Step 2: Choice Filling & Locking

• Select colleges and branches in order of preference.
• Lock choices before the deadline.

Step 3: Seat Allotment Rounds

• Multiple rounds based on rank, category, and availability.
• Options available:
  • Freeze
  • Float
  • Slide

Step 4: Document Verification

Online document upload and verification.

Step 5: Fee Payment & Reporting

• Pay seat acceptance fee.
• Report to allotted institute (online/offline as applicable).

Note: Students should carefully analyze rank, cut-offs, and seat matrix before filling choices.

Participating Colleges Through JEE Main

JEE Main scores are accepted by 100+ government and private institutes, including

Government Institutes

• National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
• Government Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs)

Private & Deemed Universities

• State engineering colleges
• Centrally aided technical institutes
• Select private universities accepting JEE Main scores

(Admission cut-offs vary by institute, branch, category, and state quota.)

Preparation Strategy

Preparing for JEE Main requires focus, direction and consistency. Here’s a proven strategy many toppers follow:

1. Understand the Syllabus Deeply

Start with the official syllabus and categorize topics into:

• Easy
• Moderate
• Difficult

Plan your study time based on topic weightage and difficulty.

2. Master Concepts with NCERT + Reference Guides

Begin with NCERT textbooks and use reference books for deeper understanding and practice.

3. Practice Previous Year Papers & Mock Tests

Regularly solve:

• Previous year JEE Main question papers
• Full-length mock tests under exam conditions

This helps you improve time management, understand the actual exam pattern, and build the right exam mindset.

To practice authentic, topic-wise questions, students can refer to JEE Main Previous Year Questions (PYQs) curated by Bosscoder School of Technology: Link

Conclusion

JEE Main 2026 offers aspirants a wide platform to enter premier engineering institutes in India. With application forms already open, the time to start preparation is now. Use this guide as your blueprint, augment it with quality learning resources, and stay consistent in practice.

FAQs on JEE Main 2026: