JEE Main
Joint Entrance Examination Main
JEE (Main) is the NTA's entrance test for undergraduate engineering at the NITs, IIITs, other centrally funded technical institutions and institutions in participating states (Paper 1, B.E./B.Tech.); Paper 2 is for B.Arch. and B.Planning. It is also the eligibility test for JEE (Advanced), the route to the IITs. It runs in two sessions a year, and the better of a candidate's two total NTA scores counts for the rank. Paper 1 is a three-hour computer-based test in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics — 75 questions for 300 marks — offered in 13 languages at centres in India and abroad; seats are then allocated through JoSAA and CSAB.
Frequency
Two sessions a year (JEE (Main) 2026: 21–30 January and 2–9 April 2026)
Duration
3 hours (Paper 1, B.E./B.Tech.)
Format
Computer-based
Score range
300 (Paper 1: 75 questions; +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one)
Eligibility
For JEE (Main) 2026: passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024 or 2025, or sitting it in 2026; no age limit. Admission rules are separate — for Paper 1 programmes at the NITs, IIITs and other GFTIs (through JoSAA/CSAB), Class 12 with Physics, Mathematics, a language, one of Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology or a technical vocational subject, and one other subject, plus at least 75% aggregate (65% for SC, ST and PwD) or a place in the category-wise top 20 percentile of the board.
Conducting body
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Registration fee
JEE (Main) 2026, per session, one paper, centres in India: ₹1,000 (General, male); ₹900 (Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL, male); ₹800 (female, General/Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL); ₹500 (SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, third gender). Centres outside India: ₹5,000 (General, male). Processing charges and GST are extra
Source: National Testing Agency (NTA). Details here are for guidance only — fees, dates and eligibility change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
Verified against: NTA — JEE (Main) official portal; NTA — JEE (Main) 2026 Information Bulletin (dates at a glance, fee table, §2.4 pattern, §2.5 duration, §3 eligibility, §5.8.1 NIT+ admission criteria) (PDF).
Last verified: 30 September 2026.
Universities that accept JEE Main
Acceptance can differ by level and programme — confirm on the programme’s own page.
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