JEE Main is the national engineering entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency, which has held the responsibility since 2019 (JEE Main 2026 Information Bulletin, NTA, Clause 1.2). Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) feeds admission to NITs, IIITs and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions, plus institutions funded or recognised by participating state governments, and it is also the eligibility test for JEE Advanced and therefore for the IITs. Paper 2A (B.Arch.) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) cover architecture and planning admissions. The exam runs in two sessions a year, January and April, and a candidate who sits both keeps the better of the two total NTA scores for the merit list.
Evidence note: Exam dates and rules change by cycle; confirm the current information bulletin before applying.
JEE Main is the national engineering entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency, which has held the responsibility since 2019 (JEE Main 2026 Information Bulletin, NTA, Clause 1.2). Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) feeds admission to NITs, IIITs and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions, plus institutions funded or recognised by participating state governments, and it is also the eligibility test for JEE Advanced and therefore for the IITs. Paper 2A (B.Arch.) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) cover architecture and planning admissions. The exam runs in two sessions a year, January and April, and a candidate who sits both keeps the better of the two total NTA scores for the merit list.
There is no age limit for JEE Main (JEE Main 2026 Information Bulletin, NTA, Clause 3.1). Candidates who passed Class XII or an equivalent qualifying examination in the two preceding years, or who are appearing in the current year, may sit the paper; anyone who passed earlier is not eligible. Admission to the NIT+ system through JoSAA or CSAB carries a separate board condition — 75% aggregate across five Class XII subjects, 65% for SC, ST and PwD candidates, or a category-wise top-20-percentile position (Clause 5.8.1).
Paper 1 is a three-hour Computer Based Test: 75 questions for 300 marks, with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry each carrying 20 MCQs in Section A and 5 numerical-answer questions in Section B (JEE Main 2026 Information Bulletin, NTA, Clause 2.4). Every correct answer scores +4; every incorrect answer loses 1 mark, in both sections. Paper 2A carries 77 questions and Paper 2B 100 questions, each for 400 marks. Calculators are not permitted in any form (NTA Public Notice, 02 November 2025).
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