IIT JEE 2026 is going to be held in two parts: January and April, just like before. As per the latest updates of IIT JEE 2026, the exam will be conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency), and the official notice is expected to be out in November 2025. Students who are in Class 12th or have already passed it can apply. They can appear in one or both sessions, and their better score will be used for admission.
The IIT JEE exam pattern is expected to remain the same as in previous years. The syllabus will include Class 11 and 12 topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Math. Registration for IIT JEE Main 2026 is likely to begin in the first week of November. It is better for students to start preparing now, keeping an eye on all the IIT JEE 2026 latest updates to stay ready.
IIT JEE 2026 Will Be Conducted by Which IIT?
For IIT JEE 2026, the IIT JEE Main 2026 exam will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), as usual. However, for JEE Advanced, IIT Roorkee is likely to be the organizing institute. Each year, a different IIT takes responsibility for organizing the JEE Advanced exam, and in 2026, IIT Roorkee is set to take charge of the process.
IIT JEE 2026 Highlights
IIT JEE 2026 is one of the most awaited exams for students aiming to pursue higher degree courses in the field of engineering in India. The Joint Entrance Examination evaluates students' knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics based on the syllabus of Classes 11 and 12. The exam has two phases: IIT JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Read on to learn more about them.
IIT JEE Main 2026 Overview
IIT JEE Main 2026 is an important exam for students who wish to secure admission to top engineering colleges like NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), this exam will take place in two sessions, with the first session from 21st January to 30th January 2026 and the second session around April or May next year.
Students can appear for both sessions, and the best score across the two attempts will be considered for their admission. Moreover, IIT JEE Main 2026 will be covering different papers based on the course students wish to pursue:
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IIT JEE Main 2026 Paper 1: For students aiming for BTech/BE courses. This paper will have 75 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with a total of 300 marks.
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IIT JEE Main 2026 Paper 2: For students interested in BArch or BPlan courses:
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Paper 2A: For BArch aspirants, this paper will have 77 questions, carrying a total of 400 marks. The drawing section will be held offline.
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Paper 2B: For BPlan aspirants, this paper will consist of 100 MCQs, totaling 400 marks, and will be conducted entirely online.
IIT JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates
National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the official exam schedule along with IIT JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates on their website at IIT JEEmain.nta.ac.in, where students can check all key dates related to the exam, such as registration, admit card release, exam days, result announcements, and more. NTA announces each session's schedule separately as per their timelines.
| Event |
Tentative Date |
|
IIT JEE Main 2026 Registration Start Date
|
November 2025 |
| Last Date To Apply Online |
December 2025 |
| IIT JEE Main 2026 Admit Card Release Date |
3 Days Before The Exam |
| IIT JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam Date |
January 2026 |
| IIT JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Date |
April 2026 |
| IIT JEE Main 2026 Result Announcement |
A Week After Each Session |
IIT JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
IIT JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: For those planning to appear for the first stage of IIT JEE 2026, which is IIT JEE Main 2026, are required to meet certain requirements including:
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IIT JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
|
| Eligibility Criteria |
Details |
| Qualifying Exam |
Completed Class 12 or Equivalent From A Recognized Board/University Or A 3-Year Diploma Recognized By AICTE. |
| Nationality |
Indian Citizens, NRIs, PIOs, And OCIs Are Eligible. |
| Age Limit |
No Specific Age Limit. Candidates Who Completed Class 12 In 2024/2025 Or Are Appearing In 2026 Are Eligible. |
| Number Of Attempts |
Applicants Can Attempt IIT JEE Main Twice (January And April 2026 Sessions). |
| Marks Requirement (General Category) |
Minimum 75% In Class 12 Or Top 20 Percentile. |
| Marks Requirement (Reserved Categories) |
Minimum 65% In Class 12. |
| Subject Requirements |
BTech (Paper 1): Physics, Mathematics, And One Additional Subject (Chemistry/Biology/Technical Vocational Subject).
BArch (Paper 2A): Physics, Chemistry, And Mathematics.
BPlan (Paper 2B): Mathematics.
|
NTA announces the official IIT JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria on its website along with the information brochure which is expected to remain similar to previous years.
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JEE Main 2026 Reservation Criteria
The National Testing Agency follows reservation criteria laid down by the government of India for admissions. All India ranks are allotted based on the category reservation policy. The reservation percentages for different categories for admission through JEE Main 2026 are:
OBC candidates
27% reservation
SC candidates
15% reservation
ST candidates
7.5% reservation
PwD candidates
5% reservation
GEN-EWS candidates
10% reservation
Women candidates
5% reservation