Engineering aspirants for 2026 admissions will begin entrance exams in January, with the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main leading the schedule. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct JEE Main 2026 Session 1 from January 21 to January 30 . JEE Main, the country’s third-largest entrance exam, offers admissions to NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs). It also serves as the mandatory qualifying examination for JEE Advanced, which is required for direct admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Competition for limited seats in premier engineering institutes remains exceptionally high. Last year, 54,378 candidates qualified for JEE Advanced, competing for approximately 18,000 seats available across all IITs. While core engineering disciplines such as Computer Science, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering traditionally remain top preferences, recent trends show a significant surge in interest towards new-generation specializations. Fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science are gaining popularity, reflecting evolving industry demands and career opportunities.
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Schedule
The JEE Main 2026 examination is scheduled in two sessions to offer candidates multiple opportunities. The advance city intimation slip for Session 1 will be issued in the first week of January. IIT Roorkee will exclusively conduct JEE Advanced 2026. JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) conducts a combined counseling process for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced qualified candidates, streamlining the admission process for top technical institutions.
| Exam | Details | Dates | Registration Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main Session 1 | Country’s third-largest entrance exam for NITs, IIITs, CFTIs; JEE Advanced qualifier. | Jan 21 – Jan 30, 2026 | To be announced |
| JEE Main Session 2 | For NITs, IIITs, CFTIs; JEE Advanced qualifier. | Apr 1 – Apr 10, 2026 | To be announced |
| JEE Advanced 2026 | For IIT admissions. Only top 2.5 lakh JEE Main rank holders eligible. | May 17, 2026 (9 AM-12 PM & 2:30-5:30 PM) | Apr 23 – May 2, 2026 |
State-Level Engineering Entrance Exams
Beyond the national JEE examinations, several states conduct their own entrance exams for B.E. and B.Tech admissions to affiliated state and private engineering colleges. Dates, eligibility criteria, and specific requirements often differ by state.
| Exam | State | Exam Dates | Specific Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP EAPCET 2026 | Andhra Pradesh | Engg: May 12-15, 18 Agri/Pharma: May 19-20 |
Approximately 3 lakh aspirants appear annually. |
| TS EAMCET 2026 | Telangana | Engg: May 9-11 Agri/Pharma: May 4-5 |
Conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH). |
| TNEA 2026 | Tamil Nadu | No separate exam. | Admissions based on Class 12 marks. Common counseling for Anna University, affiliated, and private colleges. |
| MHT CET 2026 | Maharashtra | Apr 11 – Apr 19 (PCM Group) | APAAR ID and Aadhaar card mandatory. A 10% application fee hike is planned. |
| GUJCET 2026 | Gujarat | March 29 (10 AM – 4 PM) | Registration open till January 6, 2026 . Approximately 1.3 lakh candidates appear. |
University-Level Engineering Entrance Exams
Many deemed and private universities across India conduct their own entrance tests for B.E. and B.Tech admissions. While some universities may also accept JEE scores, final selection generally depends on meeting their specific eligibility and admission criteria.
| Exam | University | Exam Dates | Registration Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| BITSAT 2026 | BITS Pilani (and campuses) | Session 1: Apr 15-17 Session 2: May 24-26 |
Till March 16, 2026 |
| VITEEE 2026 | Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Apr 28 – May 3 | Till March 31, 2026 |
| SRMJEEE 2026 | SRM University of Science and Technology | Phase 1: Apr 23-28 Phase 2: Jun 10-15 Phase 3: Jul 4-5 |
Phase 1: Till April 16, 2026 |