JEE Main at a glance
Details last checked on 16 Sep 2026
- Full name
- Joint Entrance Examination Main
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Level
- National
- Mode
- Online, Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Important dates
- 2027 cycle (expected, notification not yet released): Notification around Oct-Nov 2026; Session 1 registration late Oct-Nov 2026; Session 1 exam last week of January 2027; Session 2 registration early 2027; Session 2 exam first week of April 2027. Confirm on jeemain.nta.nic.in once NTA releases the official brochure.
- Eligibility
- Passed or appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognised board. No upper age limit. Generally up to 3 consecutive attempt years, 2 sessions per year. Separate 75% Class 12 marks rule (65% SC/ST) applies for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admission, not for appearing in the exam itself.
- Official website
- jeemain.nta.nic.in
Exam dates are announced by the conducting body and can change. Always check the official website.
What is JEE Main?
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is a national-level engineering entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), used for admission to IITs (via JEE Advanced), NITs, IIITs and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutes across India. A JEE Main score or rank is also accepted by many private and autonomous engineering colleges in Bangalore as an admission route alongside KCET and COMEDK UGET, and it is the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which determines admission to the IITs.
For most students applying to Bangalore colleges through our directory, JEE Main is typically a secondary or supplementary route alongside KCET or COMEDK, useful if a JEE Main rank is strong enough to unlock a seat at a particular college.
JEE Main eligibility
Candidates must have passed, or be appearing for, Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as core subjects, from a recognised Central or State board (CBSE, ICSE, NIOS, or a state board). There is no upper age limit to appear for JEE Main. Candidates can generally attempt JEE Main across three consecutive years, with two sessions available in most years. For admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs specifically, a separate “75% rule” has historically applied — requiring 75% marks in Class 12 for General category (65% for SC/ST), or a top-20th-percentile board result — though private colleges accepting JEE Main scores don’t always apply this rule; check with the specific college.
JEE Main exam pattern
JEE Main Paper 1 (for B.E./B.Tech) is a computer-based test:
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 25 (20 MCQ + 5 numerical) | 100 |
| Chemistry | 25 (20 MCQ + 5 numerical) | 100 |
| Mathematics | 25 (20 MCQ + 5 numerical) | 100 |
Total: 75 questions for 300 marks, in a 3-hour session. MCQs carry +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong answer; numerical-answer questions carry +4 for correct with no negative marking. Since 2025, all questions are compulsory (no optional questions). Scores across multiple shifts and sessions are normalised into a percentile-based rank.
JEE Main important dates (2027 cycle, expected)
NTA had not released the official 2027 notification at the time of writing. Based on the pattern of recent cycles, the expected schedule is:
| Stage | Expected timing (2027 cycle) |
|---|---|
| Official notification | Around October-November 2026 |
| Session 1 registration | Late October-November 2026 |
| Session 1 exam | Last week of January 2027 |
| Session 2 registration | After Session 1 exam, early 2027 |
| Session 2 exam | First week of April 2027 |
Candidates can appear in one or both sessions; if both, NTA considers the better of the two scores for the final rank. Check jeemain.nta.nic.in for the confirmed 2027 notification once released.
JEE Main admission process for Bangalore colleges
JEE Main ranks feed into two separate processes depending on the institute type:
- NITs, IIITs and CFTIs: centralised JoSAA/CSAB counselling, outside Karnataka’s state system
- Private and autonomous Bangalore colleges accepting JEE Main: candidates typically apply directly to the college or through the college’s own admission cell, presenting their JEE Main score/rank alongside or instead of a KCET/COMEDK rank
Which colleges accept JEE Main?
A good number of colleges in our Bangalore engineering college directory — particularly deemed and private universities such as REVA, Jain FET, DSU, Christ Kengeri and Presidency, as well as several autonomous VTU colleges — accept JEE Main scores for admission, usually for a smaller share of seats alongside KCET, COMEDK and management quota. Use our college comparison tool to check which colleges accept JEE Main.
Frequently asked questions
Who conducts JEE Main?
JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous body under India’s Ministry of Education.
How many sessions does JEE Main have?
JEE Main is usually held in two sessions each year, typically in January and April. Candidates can appear in either or both, and NTA takes the better of the two scores.
Is there negative marking in JEE Main?
Yes, for multiple-choice questions: +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong answer. Numerical-answer questions carry +4 for correct answers with no negative marking.
Can I use a JEE Main rank for Bangalore colleges outside the IITs and NITs?
Yes. Several private and autonomous engineering colleges in Bangalore accept JEE Main scores as an admission route, alongside KCET and COMEDK UGET.
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