JEE MAIN 2026: The Number of Candidates May Reach 1.5 Million
Students are experiencing heightened excitement about the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main 2026), the country’s largest engineering entrance exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has finalized the exam’s schedule. Online applications are expected to begin in the second week of October 2025. Like previous years, approximately 1.5 million candidates are expected to appear for the exam.
JEE Main 2026: When Will Online Applications Begin?
According to educational experts, the application process is expected to begin in the second week of October 2025.
The first session is expected to be held in the first week of January 2026, and the second session in the first week of April 2026.
- First Session: January 2026 (from the first week)
- Second Session: April 2026 (from the first week)
- Application Date: October 2025 (expected from the second week)
- Second Session Applications: January 30 to February 23, 2026
NTA has indicated that the number of exam shifts and days will be determined based on the number of candidates.
What can Students learn from Last Year’s Counseling?
The biggest question for students is the rank at which they can gain admission to engineering colleges. A look at last year’s JEE Main 2025 counseling reveals several important facts.
- General Category Open Quota:
Admission to BSMS seats at NIT Bhubaneswar was up to 127501.
Admission to B.Tech seats was up to 111764.
- Home State Quota:
Admission to BMS courses is possible up to a rank of 741,304.
Admission to B.Tech is also possible at a rank of 574,964.
- Triple IT (IIIT):
Admission to B.Tech courses is available up to a rank of 207,984.
This means that not only students with JEE Main ranks in the top 50,000 or 100,000, but also those with higher ranks can gain admission to prestigious institutions.
How Many Seats are Available for Admission?
JEE Main offers admission to 128 institutions across the country. These include NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- 31 NITs – 24,525 seats
- 26 IIITs – 9,940 seats
- 47 GFTIs – 10,228 seats
In total, 62,853 seats were offered for admission in 2025. Of these, 44,693 seats were filled based on JEE Main results. Additionally, students who qualified JEE Advanced received admission to 18,160 seats in IITs. Experts believe that some increase in the number of seats is possible in 2026.
What was the Situation regarding the Application Deadline?
The application process for the 2025 exam began on October 28, 2024, and the deadline was November 22, 2024.
- At that time, many students had requested an extension of the deadline.
- However, the NTA had made it clear that the deadline would not be extended.
- A similar situation was observed in the April session application process, where applications were accepted from January 31st to February 24th, and the deadline remained unchanged.
This was the first time the JEE Main application deadline was not extended. This is why students will have to be even more vigilant this time.
Expert Opinion: Prepare Now
Educational experts say that students should begin studying for JEE Main 2026 now with systematic planning. Trends from previous years clearly show that despite high ranks, students can still get admission to various courses and institutions.
- Rank up to 100,000: Chances of getting a B.Tech seat in good NITs and leading IIITs.
- Rank up to 200,000: Opportunities for admission to state quotas or some GFTIs.
- Rank above 1 million: Admission to certain specialized courses or low-demand branches is possible.
JEE Main 2026: Why is this exam special?
JEE Main is not just an entrance exam, it determines the career path of millions of students.
- It allows students to gain admission to prestigious institutions like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- It also serves as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which provides admission to IITs.
- Lakhs of students appear for this exam every year, making the competition extremely tough.
Students are both excited about preparing for JEE Main 2026. The application process is expected to begin in the second week of October 2025, and the exams will be held in January and April 2026.
Looking at last year’s data, it can be said that not only top rankers but also candidates with below-average rankings can find opportunities in engineering institutes.
Therefore, students should develop a solid study strategy now, keep a close eye on the application process, and avoid missing deadlines. With proper planning and patience, JEE Main 2026 can pave the way for success.
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