Will the JEE Main 2026 Exam Revert to Pen-and-Paper Mode? Know the Truth

Here’s Complete Information and latest Updates on the Issue

Millions of students across the country are currently preparing diligently for the JEE Main 2026 Exam. Scheduled for January 2026, this exam has raised several questions in the minds of students—the application process, what constitutes a safe score, what the cut-off will be, and now a new question is rapidly gaining traction: Could the JEE Main exam be shifted back to pen-and-paper mode (offline)?

In the last few days, new information has emerged on this topic, increasing confusion among students and parents. Let’s understand the entire issue in detail and in simple language.

History of the JEE Main Exam: What was it like before CBT?

When JEE Main was introduced in 2013, the exam was conducted in both offline (pen-and-paper) and online (CBT – Computer Based Test) modes. However, after 2019, when the exam started being conducted in multiple shifts, JEE Main has been conducted entirely in CBT mode.

The objectives of the CBT mode were:

To give more students an opportunity
To conduct the exam in different shifts
To release results quickly

However, over time, several problems have also emerged with this system.

A Major Question raised about JEE Main in Parliament

Recently, a serious discussion took place before a parliamentary panel regarding the JEE Main Examination System. Some Members of Parliament raised the issue that technical glitches, server errors, incorrect questions, and changes in the answer key are frequently observed in the CBT mode.

Due to the exam being conducted in multiple shifts:

Differences in the difficulty level of questions across different shifts
Changes in the answers to several questions in the final answer key
Decreased trust of students in the examination system

These issues are being observed consistently.

Why the Advocacy for Pen-and-Paper Mode?

Some members of Parliament suggested that:

Exams like UPSC and CBSE are still successfully conducted in pen-and-paper mode.
The number of errors in these exams is quite low.
Offline exams eliminate the risk of technical glitches and software hacking.

Based on this, it was proposed that the JEE Main exam should be considered for a return to the pen-and-paper mode or a hybrid mode (CBT + offline).

MPs argued that since the NTA has such Substantial Funds Available, it should:

Develop its own examination centres instead of relying on external agencies.
Improve the standards and transparency of the exams.

Answer Key Controversy and Last Year’s Problems

It was also pointed out that in the recently conducted JEE Main exam:

The answers to approximately 10-12 questions were changed in the final answer key.
This problem is observed every year.
Conducting the exam in different shifts leads to variations in the quality of questions.

Therefore, it was argued that these problems could be significantly reduced in the pen-and-paper mode.

Will JEE Main 2026 be in Pen-and-Paper Mode?

This is the most important question, and the answer is clear:

No. The JEE Main 2026 exam will be conducted in CBT mode only.

Students who are going to take the exam in the next few months should not be confused or worried at all. The discussion about the pen-and-paper mode is:

At the consideration stage for future exams,
Possibly for 2027 or later. No official announcement has been made yet regarding the immediate shift of JEE Main to offline mode.

The debate surrounding the pen-and-paper mode versus the CBT mode for the JEE Main exam has now come to the forefront. The discussion in Parliament indicates that there is a perceived need for improvements in the examination system. However, for now, students should focus entirely on preparing according to the CBT pattern.

If any major changes are made to the examination system in the future, official notification will be provided by the NTA in due course. We wish you all the best for JEE Main 2026.

Recommended Read:-

ALLEN Career Institute Pvt. Ltd.

ALLEN Career Institute is one of India's most trusted coaching institutes for competitive exams. We offer high-quality educational content to help students prepare for exams such as JEE Advanced & Main, NEET-UG, National/International Olympiads, and more.