The online application process for JEE Main 2026 is expected to start around October 30, 2025 . Engineering students preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) can find the application form on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in . The National Testing Agency (NTA) will hold the JEE Main exam in two sessions in 2026. Session 1 exams will be from January 21 to 30, 2026 . Session 2 exams will take place from April 1 to 10, 2026 . Lakhs of students apply for this important exam to get into top engineering colleges across India.
NTA has already announced some key details and changes for the upcoming exam. One big change is how candidates will register. Their personal details like name, date of birth, gender, photo, and address will be automatically taken from their Aadhaar card. This new system needs Aadhaar authentication from UIDAI. Students are advised to keep their Aadhaar details updated before applying. If there is a name difference between your Aadhaar card and marksheet, NTA will provide an option to fix this during registration.
Important Dates for JEE Main 2026
Here are the expected key dates for JEE Main 2026:
| Particulars | Details |
| JEE Main 2026 Registration Start Date | October 30, 2025 (Expected) |
| JEE Mains Registration Time | 6 PM (Expected) |
| JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam Dates | January 21 to 30, 2026 |
| JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Dates | April 1 to 10, 2026 |
The registration window is expected to stay open for at least one month. Students should apply early to avoid any last-minute issues. Last year, the application process started on October 28.
Who Can Apply for JEE Main 2026?
To apply for JEE Main 2026, candidates must meet these rules:
- Applicants must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing for Class 12 exams in 2026.
- There is no age limit to appear for the JEE Main exam.
- No minimum percentage of marks is needed in Class 12 to appear for JEE Main. However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, candidates need at least 75% marks in Class 12 or must be in the top 20 percentile of their respective board.
- For Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), students must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. They also need Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or a Technical Vocational subject.
- For Paper 2 (B.Arch and B.Planning), students need Mathematics as a compulsory subject, along with other required subject combinations.
- Candidates can appear for the JEE Main exam a total of six times over three consecutive years (two attempts per year).
How to Fill the JEE Main 2026 Application Form
The application process for JEE Main 2026 involves a few simple steps:
- Registration: Go to the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in . Look for the JEE Main 2026 application form link and click on it. Register as a ‘New Candidate’.
- Form-Filling: After registering, log in using your new details. Fill out the application form section by section. Your basic details will be fetched automatically from Aadhaar. You will need to enter your parents' details, educational qualifications, and choose your preferred exam centres.
- Uploading Documents and Paying Fees: Upload the necessary documents in the correct format. Then, pay the application fee online. Make sure to download and save the confirmation page after paying the fees.
Documents Needed and Application Fees
Candidates will need to upload these documents during registration:
- Aadhaar card
- Class 10th marksheet
- Category certificate (for EWS, SC, ST, OBC candidates, if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
The NTA will announce the exact application fee for JEE Main 2026 soon. Based on last year's fees, here are the expected charges:
| Category | Fees for Centres in India | Fees for Centres Outside India |
| Male candidates (Unreserved/EWS/OBC) | Rs 1,000 | Rs 5,000 |
| Female candidates (Unreserved/EWS/OBC) | Rs 800 | Rs 4,000 |
| SC/ST/PwD/Transgender candidates | Rs 500 | Rs 2,500 |
Other Important Updates
- NTA plans to increase the number of JEE Main exam cities. This will make it easier for more students to reach their exam centres.
- There will be a special focus on the needs of PwD/PwBD (Persons with Disabilities) candidates for the JEE Mains 2026.
- The JEE Main exam is conducted in two shifts each day: Morning (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM) and Afternoon (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM).
- Students can apply for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), and Paper 2B (B.Planning). You can choose to apply for one or all three papers.
- It is possible to apply for both Session 1 and Session 2 exams together. The application link for Session 2 will also be available in the last week of January 2026.
- Do not fill multiple application forms, as this can lead to your application being rejected.
- The JEE Main 2026 syllabus PDF will be available on the official website soon. Until then, students can refer to the previous year's syllabus for preparation. NCERT books are highly recommended for building a strong foundation.
Approximately 14-15 lakh students register for the JEE Main exam every year. Around 12-13 lakh students actually take the test. Compatible browsers for filling the form are Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Candidates must keep their login details safe after registration and enter all details carefully to avoid any errors.
