The registration window for one of India's most crucial engineering entrance examinations is about to close. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will officially conclude the online application process for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1 on November 27, 2025.
Aspiring candidates have until 9:00 PM on that date to complete their application submissions via the official NTA websites. For those who have filled out their forms, a slightly extended grace period exists for fee payments, which can be processed until 11:50 PM on the same day.
Critical JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Schedule
With the registration deadline fast approaching, students must be aware of the entire examination timeline. The first session of JEE Main 2026 is scheduled to be conducted from January 21 to 30, 2026.
The specific cities where the exam will be held will be announced in the first week of January 2026. Admit cards, a mandatory document for entry into the examination hall, will be released on the official NTA JEE website shortly after the city intimation. Students can tentatively expect their results for Session 1 to be declared by February 12, 2026.
Why JEE Main is the Gateway to Top Engineering Colleges
JEE Main continues to hold its position as the primary national-level test for admission into premier engineering institutions across India. A good score secures entry into undergraduate programs (B.E. and B.Tech) at National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs).
Furthermore, the exam serves as the qualifying criterion for JEE Advanced. Only the top performers in JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced, which is the entrance test for the coveted Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Exam Structure and Application Process
JEE Main 2026 consists of two papers. Paper 1 is for admission to B.E./B.Tech courses and is also the qualifying paper for JEE Advanced. Paper 2 is designed for candidates seeking admission to B.Arch and B.Planning programs.
The syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12, covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The marking scheme awards +4 marks for every correct answer and deducts -1 mark for each incorrect response. There is no negative marking for questions that are left unattempted. This pattern applies to both Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Numerical Value Questions (NVQs).
In a significant move for accessibility, the examination will be conducted in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Steps to Apply for JEE Main 2026:
- Visit the official NTA JEE portals: www.nta.ac.in or jeemain.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the registration link and create a new login ID.
- Access the application form using your credentials.
- Carefully fill in all personal, academic, and examination details.
- Upload the necessary scanned documents, including photograph, signature, and relevant certificates.
- Pay the application fee using online payment methods like credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI.
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page for your records.
Education experts are strongly advising candidates not to wait until the final moments to apply. The NTA is known for its strict adherence to deadlines. Missing the November 27 cutoff means students will have to wait for the second session in April 2026, which could subsequently delay their entire admission process for the academic year.
