NTA Opens JEE Mains 2026 Registration in October
NTA will start JEE Mains 2026 registration in October for January and April sessions.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to commence online registration for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 in October 2025, as per an official advisory released earlier this week. This national-level entrance exam, a key gateway for undergraduate engineering admissions across India, will be conducted in two sessions: Session 1 in January 2026 and Session 2 in April 2026. The application window for Session 1 will be available on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, with candidates urged to monitor nta.ac.in for precise dates and updates. JEE Main attracts over a million aspirants annually, serving as a qualifier for admissions to National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other centrally funded institutions, while also determining eligibility for the prestigious JEE Advanced for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
To ensure a smooth application process, NTA has advised candidates to update essential documents in advance to prevent rejections or discrepancies. Key requirements include an Aadhaar card aligned with Class 10 certificate details (name, date of birth, latest photograph, address, and father's name), a valid Unique Disability Identification (UDID) card for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) applicants, and updated category certificates for Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) candidates. Eligibility extends to those who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025 or are appearing in 2026, with no age limit but a requirement for at least 75% aggregate marks (65% for SC/ST) in qualifying exams for NIT/IIIT admissions.
The exam comprises two papers: Paper 1 for BE/BTech programmes at participating institutions and Paper 2 for BArch and BPlanning courses nationwide. Top performers in Paper 1, typically the top 2.5 lakh candidates, qualify for JEE Advanced. The computer-based test will span multiple days per session, conducted in two daily shifts: 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, to accommodate the large applicant pool and minimise logistical issues.
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Applying is straightforward via the NTA portal. Candidates should visit jeemain.nta.nic.in, click the registration link, enter details to create an account, fill out the form, upload documents, pay the fee (Rs 1,000 for male general candidates for one paper, with variations by category and paper choice), and submit. Download and print the confirmation page for records. With registrations imminent, aspirants are encouraged to prepare early amid rising competition in India's engineering education landscape.
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