The National Testing Agency (NTA) will open the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 registration window on 1 February 2026, offering candidates a second opportunity to secure engineering entrance scores. The application portal at jeemain.nta.nic.in will remain active until 25 February 2026, allowing eligible students to complete their online forms and fee payment
JEE Main Session 2 Schedule and Key Dates
According to the official announcement:
- Registration for Session 2: 1–25 February 2026 (Online)
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Dates: 2–9 April 2026
- Admit Cards: To be released online a few days before the examsApplications must be submitted through jeemain.nta.nic.in with valid credentials, and candidates are advised to prepare documents ahead of time to avoid last-minute issues.
How to Apply for JEE Main 2026 Session 2?
Candidates should follow these steps to successfully apply:
- Visit the official portal jeemain.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the Session 2 registration link once active.
- Complete registration and fill in personal, educational and contact details.
- Upload required documents, including photograph and signature.
- Pay the examination fee online and submit the form before the deadline.
- Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
This process is applicable for candidates eligible for BE/BTech, BArch and BPlanning programmes
Session 1 Paper Analysis and Expected Cut-offs
Feedback from the January 2026 Session 1 papers — held across multiple dates in shifts — shows variation in difficulty levels across subjects. Mathematics often appeared lengthy and time-consuming, while Physics and Chemistry ranged from moderate to challenging depending on shift.
Experts and coaching analyses suggest that the qualifying cut-off percentile for the General category in Session 1 was broadly in the 93–95 range, with marks vs percentile estimates providing early insights for performance evaluation. For example:
- 240–280+ marks: ~99.9+ percentile
- 215–239 marks: ~99.5–99.9
- 160–179 marks: ~98.0–99.0
- 100–119 marks: ~90.0–95.0
These figures are indicative and subject to change after official normalization and result publication by NTA.
What Candidates Should Know?
- Best of Two Scores: For JEE Main 2026, NTA generally considers the best score from both sessions for merit and ranking.
- Cut-offs: Final qualifying cut-offs will be determined after all shifts and normalization processes are complete.
- Preparation Advantage: Candidates who did not achieve desired scores in Session 1 can improve in Session 2 (April).Students are encouraged to use early paper-analysis insights and marks-to-percentile trends to strategise revision before the April examinations.