The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit cards for the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main 2026) Session 1. Exams will take place from January 21 to January 29, 2026 . Candidates must download their admit cards from the official NTA JEE Main website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
JEE Main serves as a national-level entrance examination. It is a qualifying test for admission to undergraduate engineering (B.Tech), architecture (B.Arch), and planning (B.Plan) programs across various institutions in India. Top scorers also become eligible for the JEE Advanced exam, which grants admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Downloading Your Admit Card
Candidates need their application number and password to access the admit card. The document contains vital information. This includes the candidate’s name, roll number, photograph, and signature. It also specifies the examination date, time, reporting schedule, and exam centre address. Candidates must verify all details on their admit card immediately after downloading it.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Schedule
The NTA will conduct the JEE Main 2026 exams in two daily shifts. The first shift runs from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM . The second shift is scheduled from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM . Separate admit cards will be issued for remaining exam dates, typically two to three days prior to those specific exams.
Exam Dates by Program
| Program | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) | January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 2026 |
| Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) & Bachelor of Planning (B.Plan) | January 29, 2026 |
Contact for Assistance
Candidates experiencing issues downloading their JEE Main 2026 admit card should contact the NTA helpline. The contact number is +91-11-40759000 . Alternatively, candidates can email their queries to jeemain@nta.ac.in for support.
JEE Main Paper 1 Structure (B.Tech)
Paper 1, designed for Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) admissions, is a computer-based test. The examination duration is three hours for general candidates. Candidates with disabilities receive four hours to complete the paper.
Subjects and Questions
Paper 1 covers three main subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each subject features 25 questions, totaling 75 questions for the entire paper. Questions are divided into two types:
- Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Section B: Numerical Value-Based Questions
Marking Scheme
The total marks for Paper 1 are 300. The NTA applies a standardized marking scheme:
| Response Type | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +4 Marks |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 Mark |
| Unattempted Question | 0 Marks |
Path to IITs: JEE Advanced
Candidates who qualify in JEE Main 2026 will be eligible to appear for the JEE Advanced exam. This exam is the gateway to admissions at the Indian Institutes of Technology. Registration for JEE Advanced 2026 opens on April 23 and closes on May 2 . Candidates can register through the official website: jeeadv.ac.in.