JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Application — The Exam City will not be Based on Aadhaar

JEE Main 2026 Registration Underway with Major Changes

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started the admission process for the country’s largest engineering entrance exam, JEE Main 2026. The notification for the January session has been released, and the online application process has begun.

This year, the exam will be held in two sessions. The first session of JEE Main will be held from January 21 to 30, and the second session from April 1 to 9. The last date to apply is November 27. The application process for Session 2 will begin in February.

Changes Introduced in JEE Main 2026 Exam

Education experts at ALLEN Career Institute stated that some changes have been made to the JEE Main exam, which will be conducted in CBT (Computer Based Test) mode this year. Students will also have to fill in the details of their category documents during the application process.

Students are advised to get their category certificates updated. During the application process, students will be given four options to choose their exam city based on their permanent and local address. Previously, a large number of students were confused about the exam cities, believing that the exam city had to be the same as the address on their Aadhaar card. No address proof is being taken from the students for the address, giving them the freedom to choose their exam city.

Live Photo Required in JEE Main Registration

For the first time, students are required to capture and upload a live photograph during the application process. It is noteworthy that this live photograph will be matched with the photo on the Aadhaar card. The application process will be considered complete only after the photos match.

Therefore, students should also get their Aadhaar card photo updated. During the application process, students will have to complete the application process using their Aadhaar ID in the second stage.

Students can Update the Computer Screen Interface

During the exam, students will have the opportunity to update the computer screen interface. Students will be able to zoom in on the text and data using the screen magnifier. They will also be able to change the exam screen to dark mode for better eye comfort. Students will also be given the option to adjust the font and cursor size.

Experts stated that the JEE Main online application process will be completed in three stages. In the first stage, students will have to log in to the JEE Main website and enter their name, parents’ names, gender, date of birth, identification number, mobile number, email ID, address, and password. After this, the student will receive a JEE Main application number.

In the second stage, the student will have to fill in their nationality, state code of eligibility, category, examination centre, and all the details of their 10th and 12th class examinations. Students should enter the state code of eligibility for the state from which they passed their 12th examination.

Students appearing for improvement exams should enter the state from which they first passed their 12th examination. Following these two stages, in the third stage, the student will have to scan and upload their photograph, signature, and 10th class mark sheet.

After completing the above two stages, in the third stage, the student will have to pay the examination fee using a debit card, credit card, net banking, Paytm, etc. After paying the examination fee, students will be able to print out the confirmation page. Students should keep four copies of this confirmation page with them.

No Calculator in JEE Main 2026 Exam

According to the latest notification issued by the NTA, students will not be allowed to use calculators in the JEE-Main examination. The NTA has clarified that the JEE-Main examination is not a generic test where students are provided with calculators.

The notification clarifies that there was a typographical error, due to which the information bulletin mentioned providing students with a basic virtual calculator for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square root, and percentage calculations.

The NTA has issued a revised information bulletin, removing the mention of providing a virtual calculator. Therefore, students should prepare for their examination in the same way as they have for previous exams.

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Aabshar Hassan Quazi

Aabshar H. Quazi is a seasoned education writer associated with ALLEN Career Institute, where he crafts insightful blogs on competitive exam trends, student journeys, and academic guidance. With a background in journalism, Aabshar has worked as Principal Correspondent for Hindustan Times, honing his skills in storytelling, analysis, and impactful reporting. His writing blends credibility with clarity, making complex topics accessible for students and parents alike.