What are the new changes in the JEE Mains 2026?

The JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) Main is recognized as one of the most popular and competitive exams in India for admissions into engineering programs. The JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is one of the ways to get into the best engineering colleges in India, e.g., NITs (National Institutes of Technology), IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology), and CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutions).

The JEE Main exam is given by thousands of students each year, and even the smallest change in the exam format, JEE Main syllabus, or qualifications can have a major impact on how the students will prepare for the exam. Questions are being asked by thousands of JEE Main aspirants regarding any new changes that are going to be implemented for the JEE Main 2026 exam, what will stay the same for the JEE Main 2026 exam, and how students will adapt to the new changes.

In this article, we will be providing the most recent and complete information on all changes for the 2026 JEE Main exam, as well as the expected JEE Main 2026 exam pattern, syllabus, JEE Main eligibility criteria, exam dates, exam cities and other important rules and preparation tips for the aspirants.

Main updates about JEE Main 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will continue the JEE Main exam in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format for 2026. The NTA typically conducts two sessions per year: one in January and one in April. Candidates have the option of taking both the January and April sessions as a way to increase their total score for ranking purposes.

JEE Main has three types of exam papers:

• Paper 1 (for B.E./B.Tech)
• Paper 2A (for B.Arch)
• Paper 2B (for B.Planning)

The majority of test takers take the Paper 1 examination, which includes sections on Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Changes in JEE Main 2026

NTA has announced some major changes in JEE Main 2026. Here are the complete details: 

1. JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern

The changes in the JEE Main exam pattern from JEE Main 2026 are: 

Eliminated Optional Questions from Section B

The first and most notable change to the JEE Main exam pattern, which was introduced previously, has continued into JEE Main 2026, with the elimination of optional (i.e., unattempt) questions in Section B of the exam.

Current JEE Main Exam Pattern: Paper I (B.E./B.Tech. Exam Pattern)

All subjects tested (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) will contain equal numbers of questions.

Current Number of Questions Per Subject:

• 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• 5 Numerical Value Questions (NVQs)
• The total number of questions = 75.

The number of questions in Paper I of JEE Main is 75, and candidates will be required to attempt ALL of the questions.

Previously, candidates could select to take five out of ten numerical questions, while in the JEE Main 2026 exams, candidates will now be required to attempt ALL five numerical questions. Therefore, candidates must now have good accuracy and be able to manage their time well.

Marking Scheme

The rules regarding negative marking for all numerical questions will continue.

• Correctly Answered Question = +4 Marks
• Incorrectly Answered Question (i.e., MCQ and NVQ) = -1 Mark
• Unattempted Question = 0 Marks
• Maximum Score = 300

Mode of Examination

The mode of examination will be 100% CBT (Computer-based test). There will be NO offline (pen and paper) option.

2. Syllabus for JEE Main 2026

There is no major restructuring to the existing syllabus. The syllabus for JEE Main 2026 will be similar to that of 2025. The content of the 2026 syllabus is based on NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics. Some content is being taken out of the previous syllabus; nothing has been added this year.

Subject Breakdown

The subject breakdown for JEE Min 206 will be as follows:

• Physics: Focus on Mechanics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, Optics & Modern Physics.
• Chemistry: The majority of questions will come from the NCERT-based syllabus and be relevant to both Organic and Inorganic Chemistry.
• Mathematics: Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, Algebra, and Vectors are areas with a higher probability of success.

3. Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026

The updates about eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 are as follows: 

Age

There is No Minimum Age Requirement. One of the most student-friendly rules that will stay in effect in 2026 is that there will not be a minimum age requirement to appear for JEE Main.

Requisite Education

Candidates must either have completed their education through 12th class (or equivalent) by the year of examination or be a current 12th class (or equivalent) student in 2024, 2025, or 2026.

Compulsory and Optional Subjects for Education

For candidates to be eligible to appear for JEE Main in 2026, they must have taken Physics and Maths as compulsory subjects and can include either Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or a Technical/Vocational subject as their third subject.

Number of Attempts

A candidate can take the JEE Main for a maximum of three consecutive years. Therefore, since JEE Main will be held in two sessions every year (January and July), each candidate will have the opportunity to take the JEE Main on six separate occasions (three years x 2 sessions/year).

4. JEE Main 2026 Dates and Sessions

There will be a total of two sessions in 2026 for JEE Main: Session 1 on January 21-30, 2026 and Session 2 on April 01-10, 2026. This arrangement allows students to:

• Help students manage exam pressure more easily
• To improve their performance in the second attempt. 

When a candidate takes the JEE Main twice, each candidate's best score from the two will be used to determine their All-India Rank and Eligibility for JEE Advanced.

5. Increase in Exam Cities and Exam Centers

In order to enhance access to JEE Main 2026, the NTA has expanded the availability of exam cities throughout India.

• Over 320 exam cities in India
• Several international exam locations
• Ability for candidates to select their preferred city when applying

For candidates from remote or semi-urban areas, this change is designed to cut down on the amount of travel stress and costs associated with travelling long distances to reach the testing facility.

6. The Exam City information slip and Admit Card.

The exam city information slip is provided by NTA before issuing the JEE Main admit card to help candidates know: 

• The Exam City
• The Date of the Exam
• The Shift of the Exam

This gives students ample time to make travel and accommodation arrangements before the test.

Admit Card

The admit card will be issued several days before your scheduled testing date. It will contain information such as:

• Address for the Exam Center
• Reporting Time
• Other Important Instructions

7. Calculators & Electronic Devices

Students may not use calculators, mobile phones, smartwatches, etc. No virtual calculators will be available on screen. Students will be able to use only the rough sheets provided to them by the testing Centre.

8. Normalization & Ranks

The JEE Main has many sessions & the NTA carries out a process of normalization to ensure fairness to the candidates taking part in different sessions of the examination (i.e., there are many students who get different marks due to the time of day or day of the week).

1. Ranks are based on the NTA scores (not the raw marks).
2. Percentiles are calculated on the basis of the relative performance of all candidates who took the examination during the same session.
3. The All India Rank is calculated after session 2 of the examination.
4. It is calculated based on the maximum NTA score achieved in the two sessions.

How to prepare for JEE Main 2026? 

As NTA has made several changes, you need to learn how to prepare for JEE Main 2026 to perform better. Here are some essential tips: 

• Completing full-length mock examinations will help students improve how they manage their time while taking these examinations.
• Learn to allocate equal parts of time between all subjects.
• Start your preparation with NCERT. For Chemistry, especially, NCERT textbooks are the basis for JEE Main preparation.
• Begin studying early and have a detailed understanding of each section of the entire syllabus.
• Master the subject's concepts; do not just memorize the information.
• Use last year's practice questions or mock tests.
• Evaluate your preparation with mock tests and rework on the weak areas.
• Weekly, refresh your knowledge of formulas and fundamental concepts with regular revisions.
• Only rely on NTA Announcements. Don’t trust what you hear from other people about the NTA or JEE exams.

JEE Main 2026 does not introduce extremely different ways of taking the exam; it will be conducted in the same way as previous years, using an organized, precise, and concept-driven question format. There are no changes to the syllabus, the removal of any optional number questions, and continued usage of negative marking. To prepare for this year's JEE Main, students need to develop a strategic approach to studying apart from selective ones. Students who can recognize the patterns of the examination format, stay grounded in their NCERT concepts, continually practice, and effectively manage their time will get good marks in JEE Main 2026. Remaining calm, aware, and focused are also major factors for being successful in this highly competitive exam.