Registration for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1 is expected to open in October 2025 . The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts this examination for admissions into India’s top engineering institutions, including NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs. Interested candidates must register online via the official NTA JEE Main website,jeemain.nta.nic.in.
JEE Main is administered twice annually, in January and April . The examination takes place in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The NTA will release the exact registration schedule and detailed information closer to the opening date.
Previous Year Registration and Exam Trends
Analysis of past JEE Main cycles provides insight into the typical timelines for registration and examination. The following table details the Session 1 schedules for the last three years:
| Examination Year | Session 1 Registration Date | Session 1 Examination Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | November 1 to December 4, 2023 | January 24 to February 1, 2024 |
| 2023 | December 15, 2022, to January 12, 2023 | January 24 to February 1, 2023 |
| 2022 | March 1 to April 5, 2022 | June 23 to 29, 2022 |
Note: The JEE Main 2022 Session 1 examination dates were adjusted due to scheduling conflicts with Class 12 Board examinations.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Requirements
Candidates applying for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 must fulfill specific eligibility criteria set by the NTA. These requirements cover educational qualifications, mandatory subjects, and minimum aggregate marks.
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed or be appearing for their Class 12 or an equivalent examination in the years 2024, 2025, or 2026 .
- Recognized Board: The qualifying examination must be from a recognized board. This includes CBSE, various State Boards, NIOS, or equivalent international boards such as GCE (A-level) or International Baccalaureate (IB).
- Diploma Holders: Candidates holding a 3-year diploma approved by the AICTE or a State Technical Board are also eligible to apply.
- Mandatory Subjects by Course:
- For B.E./B.Tech courses: Physics and Mathematics are compulsory. Candidates must also have one additional subject from a NTA-specified list.
- For B.Arch courses: Physics , Chemistry , and Mathematics are required.
- For B.Planning courses: Mathematics is a compulsory subject.
- Minimum Aggregate Marks:
- General, OBC, and EWS category candidates require a minimum of 75% aggregate marks in their Class 12 or equivalent examination. Alternatively, they must be in the top 20 percentile of their respective board.
- SC and ST category candidates require a minimum of 65% aggregate marks in their Class 12 or equivalent examination.
Candidates should regularly check the official NTA JEE Main website,jeemain.nta.nic.in, for the latest updates and complete information regarding JEE Main 2026 registration and examination details.