How many students registered for JEE Mains 2026 Session 2 is the most asked question among aspirants this year. The National Testing Agency has recorded a significant rise in registrations across both sessions.
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Registration Numbers and Total Candidates
The application process for Session 2 saw a late surge after the registration window was reopened. Many candidates utilised this opportunity to complete their forms.
As per available data:
- Around 3 lakh unique candidates registered for Session 2
- 14.10 lakh candidates registered for Session 1
- Total registrations crossed 17 lakh in 2026
This marks the highest-ever number of registrations in the history of JEE Main examination.
JEE Main 2026 Registration Increase After Application Window Reopen
The National Testing Agency reopened the application window for 2 days from 12 March 2026. This allowed candidates who had missed earlier deadlines to apply. This short reopening resulted in a notable increase in Session 2 registrations. Experts observed that a large number of aspirants took advantage of this opportunity.
JEE Main Registration Trends Over the Years
The number of applicants for JEE Main has shown consistent growth over the past few years. This reflects increasing competition in engineering admissions. The registration data for previous years is given below:
- 2021: 6,52,628 candidates
- 2022: 8,72,970 candidates
- 2023: 8,60,064 candidates
- 2024: 12,21,624 candidates
- 2025: 13,11,544 candidates
- 2026: Over 17 lakh candidates (combined sessions)
The data shows that the number of aspirants has more than doubled in the last six years.
Rising Competition in JEE Main 2026 for NIT and IIIT Admission
With over 17 lakh candidates, competition for admission into top institutes is expected to increase significantly. Currently, the total number of seats across institutes is limited:
- Around 58,000 seats in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
This gap between applicants and available seats will make the admission process more competitive this year.
Increasing Interest in Engineering Courses Among Students
The steady rise in JEE Main registrations indicates growing interest in engineering education. Several factors are contributing to this trend.
Key reasons include:
- Expansion of technology-driven job opportunities
- Higher demand for technical graduates
- Increasing number of engineering seats
- Growth of private engineering institutions
These factors have made engineering one of the most preferred career options among students in India.