JEE Main 2026 Answer Key: The first day of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1 has commenced, with Shift 1 (Morning) concluding at 12:00 Noon today, January 21.
Candidates who appeared for the exam can now access the unofficial memory-based answer keys and question paper analysis released by coaching experts. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the Official Provisional Answer Key on the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in after the conclusion of the entire session.
JEE Main 2026 Answer Key (Unofficial/Memory-Based)
Since the exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, candidates do not receive a physical question paper. However, experts compile questions based on student feedback to provide tentative solutions.
Availability: Available now (post-Shift 1).
Source: Coaching institutes and educational portals.
Purpose: Helps candidates calculate their probable score and percentile before the official results.
JEE Main 2026 Live Updates: Day 1 (Shift 1) Underway; Important Guidelines for Afternoon Shift
How to Check Official Answer Key (When Released)
Once the NTA releases the official key (expected a few days after the last exam date of January 29), candidates can follow these steps:
Visit the official website:
jeemain.nta.nic.in.Click on the link “JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Answer Key Challenge”.
Login using your Application Number and Date of Birth/Password.
Download the Question Paper and the Response Sheet.
Compare your recorded responses with the official key.
Marking Scheme for Score Calculation
Correct Answer: +4 Marks
Incorrect Answer: -1 Mark (Negative Marking)
Unattempted: 0 Marks
Important Dates for JEE Main 2026 (Session 1)
Exam Dates: January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 (B.Tech) and January 29 (B.Arch).
Admit Card: Available for exams up to Jan 24; others releasing soon.
Official Answer Key Date: Expected in the first week of February 2026.
Note: Candidates are advised to rely on the official NTA website for the final answer key and result declaration. Unofficial keys are for reference only and may vary slightly from the final NTA key.
JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 live updates: Duration of the exam
JEE Main 2026 January 21 exam is being held in two shifts today. The shift 1 exams started at 9 and will end at 12 noon. On the other hand, the shift 2 will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Most Popular NIT Courses & Branches
As the first shift continues, aspirants are already looking ahead to counseling. Based on previous trends, these are the most competitive and popular courses across National Institutes of Technology (NITs), witnessing the highest admission cutoffs:
Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) – Top Choice
Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)
Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE)
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
Production Engineering Analysis: Candidates aiming for these specific branches—especially CSE and ECE—must strategize for a high percentile, as seat allocation for these courses closes very quickly during JoSAA counseling.
Important for Shift 2 Candidates
If you are appearing for the 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM shift today, please note the following timeline:
Reporting Time: Entry into the exam center begins at 1:00 PM.
Gate Closing: Gates will strictly close at 2:30 PM. No entry is allowed after this.
Dress Code Reminder: Avoid thick-soled shoes and garments with large buttons to ensure a smooth frisking process.
Exam in Progress: Shift 1 Ends in 1 Hour
The first shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is currently underway and will conclude at 12:00 PM IST.
What to expect next: Student reactions and initial paper analysis (difficulty level of Physics, Chemistry, Maths) will start pouring in shortly after noon.
Note for Shift 2 Candidates: Gates for Shift 2 will open at 2:00 PM. Please ensure you have your Admit Card and Self-Declaration form ready.
JEE Main previous year question paper 2026
JEE Main previous year question paper 2026 reveals that the maths section was relatively difficult as compared to physics and chemistry. In the paper, most of the questions were asked from the Class 12 syllabus rather than Class 11.
JEE main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 paper analysis
JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 shift 1 paper analysis | The expected difficulty level, as per the past 5 years' data, is given below.
Year | Session | Difficulty level in PCM | |
JEE Main 2025 difficulty level | Session 1 |
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Session 2 |
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