📝 JEE Main 2026 — NTA Engineering Entrance Guide

JEE Main 2026 Exam Guide: Dates, Eligibility, Pattern & Colleges Accepting JEE Main

Everything for JEE Main 2026 in one place — NTA exam dates (two sessions), eligibility, the Paper-1 pattern and marking, percentile-to-rank, plus the NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and private/state colleges that admit through JEE Main, each linked to its fees, cutoffs and placements.

12+ Years Experience Bangalore-Based Counsellors COMEDK / KCET / JEE Guidance 800+ Engineering Admissions

By Krishna Pandey, Founder & Lead Counsellor · Reviewed by Pritam Kumar, Engineering Admissions Lead · Updated 19 June 2026

Quick Answer JEE Main is India’s largest engineering entrance exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year (January and April sessions) for admission to the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs through JoSAA/CSAB counselling — and as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced (the IIT entrance). It is a computer-based test in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is expected in January 2026 and Session 2 in April 2026 — confirm exact dates at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

JEE Main — Key Facts

Conducting body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Purpose: admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs via JoSAA/CSAB counselling, qualification for JEE Advanced (the IIT entrance), and admission to many private and state engineering colleges
Mode & frequency: Computer-based, held twice a year (Session 1 in January, Session 2 in April); the better of the two NTA scores is used
Eligibility: Passed/appearing Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics

JEE Main 2026 Exam Overview

JEE Main is the gateway to the country’s premier government engineering institutes. Conducted by the NTA in two sessions each year, its score is used for admission to the NITs, IIITs and other Government-Funded Technical Institutes through centralised JoSAA and CSAB counselling, and it is the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which leads to the IITs. Many private and state engineering colleges also accept the JEE Main score.

JEE Main 2026 Important Dates (Expected)

Event	Expected window
Session 1 registration	November–December 2025
Session 1 exam	January 2026
Session 2 registration	February 2026
Session 2 exam	April 2026
Result & All-India Rank	After each session

⚠ These JEE Main dates are indicative (based on the usual cycle) — the official 2026 schedule was not released at the time of writing. Always confirm on the official portal jeemain.nta.nic.in before planning.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility

There is no age limit to appear for JEE Main. You must have passed (or be appearing in) Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects plus one of Chemistry/Biology/a technical vocational subject. For admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs you additionally need at least 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or a top-20-percentile position in your board. The top ~2.5 lakh JEE Main rankers qualify to attempt JEE Advanced.

JEE Main Exam Pattern & Marking

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech): Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics — 90 questions (attempt 75), a mix of MCQ and numerical-value questions, 3 hours
Paper 2 (B.Arch / B.Planning): Mathematics, an Aptitude test and a Drawing/Planning section

Each correct answer scores +4 and each incorrect MCQ −1; numerical-value questions carry no negative marking in the current scheme. NTA reports a normalised percentile per session and the better of your two attempts is used to compute the JEE Main All-India Rank that feeds JoSAA/CSAB counselling.

Colleges Accepting JEE Main 2026 — Full List

JEE Main scores are accepted by the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs and by many private and state engineering colleges. Below are the colleges on FindUrCollege that admit through JEE Main. Click any college for its fees, cutoffs, placements and admission process.

Thapar University · JIIT Noida · NSUT Delhi · DTU Delhi · Amity University · KIIT University Bhubaneswar · IIT Delhi · SIT Pune (Symbiosis) · Army Institute of Technology (AIT) P · MIT Bengaluru (Manipal) · PDEU Gandhinagar · DY Patil Akurdi Pune · Jain University Bangalore · I2IT Hinjawadi, Pune · MIT Manipal · Shiv Nadar University Noida · DPU School of Science & Technolo · Nirma University Ahmedabad · SRM Chennai (KTR) · Bennett University, Greater Noida · DJ Sanghvi (DJSCE) Mumbai · Indira CoE&M (ICEM) Pune · MESCOE Pune (MES Wadia COE) · PES University Bangalore · Sinhgad COE (SCOE) Pune · MIT-AOE Alandi, Pune · SASTRA University Thanjavur · Chitkara University Punjab · JUIT Solan (Waknaghat) · Mahindra University Hyderabad · Manav Rachna University (MRU), Farid · Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) · Medi-Caps University, Indore · MIT-WPU Pune · VNR VJIET Hyderabad · Anurag University Hyderabad · CBIT Hyderabad · Dayananda Sagar University (DSU) Ban · DY Patil Engineering College Pune · MMCOE Karvenagar, Pune · The NorthCap University (NCU), Gurug · SPIT Mumbai · Vasavi College (VCE) Hyderabad · Heritage Institute of Technology (HI · MVJ College of Engineering (MVJCE), · PCCOE Pune · PICT Pune · Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology · REVA University Bangalore · ABES Engineering College Ghaziabad · GH Raisoni CoE&M Pune · GL Bajaj Greater Noida · IEM Kolkata · IMS Engineering College (IMSEC), Gha · JECRC University Jaipur · JSS Academy of Technical Education ( · Noida Institute of Engineering and T · Poornima University, Jaipur · Vel Tech Chennai · VJTI Mumbai · AISSMS College of Engineering Pune · Chandigarh University (CU) Mohali · KIET University Ghaziabad · Vidyalankar Institute of Technology · Vignan University (VFSTR), Guntur · CMR University Bangalore · Cummins College Pune · Fr. CRCE Bandra Mumbai · MIT Academy of Engineering (MITAOE) · Parul University, Vadodara · SIES Graduate School of Technology ( · Thadomal Shahani Engineering College · VIT Pune (Vishwakarma) · Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engine · JSPM RSCOE Tathawade, Pune · KJ Somaiya Engineering Mumbai · LPU · MVJCE Bangalore · Sinhgad Engineering Colleges Pune · JUET Guna · Presidency University Bangalore · Saveetha School of Engineering (SIMA · BITS Pilani · JSSATE Bangalore · MSRUAS Bangalore · PVG's College of Engineering, Pune · RNSIT Bangalore · RVCE Bangalore · BMSCE Bangalore · BMSIT Yelahanka · CMRIT Bangalore · VIT Vellore · Sathyabama Chennai · Acharya Institute of Technology Bang · MSRIT Bangalore

How FindUrCollege Helps JEE Main Aspirants

From shortlisting the right colleges for your expected score/rank to counselling guidance, application strategy and document help, FindUrCollege guides JEE Main aspirants end-to-end. Use the free form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438 for a free profile review.

Frequently Asked Questions — JEE Main 2026

Who conducts JEE Main and what is it for?

JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs via JoSAA/CSAB counselling, and as the qualifier for JEE Advanced (the IIT entrance). Many private and state colleges also accept it.

How many times is JEE Main held in 2026?

Twice — Session 1 (expected January 2026) and Session 2 (expected April 2026). You may appear in both and the better NTA score is used. Confirm dates at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

What is the JEE Main exam pattern?

Paper 1 has 90 questions in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (attempt 75), a mix of MCQ and numerical-value, in 3 hours. Marking is +4 correct and −1 for a wrong MCQ.

What Class 12 percentage is needed for NIT admission?

At least 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or a top-20-percentile board position, in addition to a qualifying JEE Main rank.

Does JEE Main lead to the IITs?

Not directly — the IITs admit through JEE Advanced. You must first clear JEE Main and be within the top ~2.5 lakh rankers to be eligible for JEE Advanced.

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