Joint Entrance Examination (Main) • Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
Authoritative Guide to India's Premier Undergraduate Engineering Entrance Test Conducted by NTA
The Joint Entrance Examination (Main), universally designated as JEE Main, stands as the premier and largest undergraduate engineering entrance examination in the Republic of India. Administered with rigorous technical oversight by the National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous premier testing organization established under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, JEE Main functions as the definitive single-window gateway for entry into India's central government-funded technical institutions. Every year, upwards of 14 to 15 lakh unique aspirants across all 28 states and 8 union territories register for the examination, competing for admissions to Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.), Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), and Bachelor of Planning (B.Planning) programs.
Beyond offering direct admissions to 32 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and 38 Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs), JEE Main serves an equally crucial academic mission: it acts as the universal preliminary screening examination for JEE Advanced. Only the top 2,50,000 rankers across general, economically weaker, OBC-NCL, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, and disability categories in JEE Main earn eligibility to write JEE Advanced, which unlocks entry into the globally renowned 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Furthermore, premier state government technological universities—such as Delhi Technological University (DTU), Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT), Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), Punjab Engineering College (PEC Chandigarh), and Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU Kanpur)—along with leading private institutions like Thapar University, LNMIIT Jaipur, and SASTRA University, mandatorily utilize JEE Main All India Ranks (AIR) as their primary admission criteria.
Conducting Agency
NTA (Govt of India)
Autonomous Statutory Body
Annual Registrations
14.5+ Lakhs
Across Sessions 1 & 2
Participating Institutes
100+ Central Inst.
32 NITs, 26 IIITs, 38 GFTIs
JEE Advanced Pool
Top 2,50,000
Eligible for 23 IITs
The history of engineering entrance examinations in India reflects decades of systemic reforms designed to eliminate regional fragmentation, reduce candidate stress, and establish transparent meritocracy. Prior to 2013, engineering admissions were divided between the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) conducted by CBSE and decentralized state examinations. In 2013, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) created the two-tier Joint Entrance Examination framework, designating Paper 1 as JEE Main (governed initially by the Central Board of Secondary Education) and Paper 2 as JEE Advanced (governed by the Joint Admission Board of the IITs).
In 2019, the Government of India transferred the administrative mandate of JEE Main to the newly founded National Testing Agency. Under NTA's stewardship, the examination underwent historic structural modernizations: transitioning from pen-and-paper OMR sheets to a 100% Computer-Based Testing (CBT) paradigm, deploying AI-driven biometric identification, implementing encrypted question paper delivery directly to local server nodes minutes before shift commencement, and introducing a two-session annual examination calendar (Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April). This multi-session architecture empowers candidates to improve their performance without forfeiting an entire academic year, with NTA utilizing the best of the two NTA percentile scores for final All India Rank compilation.
Admissions through JEE Main encompass a vast institutional spectrum comprising premier national, state, and private engineering colleges. The seat allotment is centralized through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) and Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB):
| Institutional Classification | Participating Units | Estimated Total Seats | Admission & Quota Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Technology (NITs) | 32 Institutes (Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal, Rourkela, Calicut, etc.) | 24,000+ Seats | 50% Home State (HS) Quota + 50% Other State (OS) Quota; 20% Female Supernumerary Quota |
| Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) | 26 Institutes (Gwalior, Allahabad, Jabalpur, Kancheepuram, Hyderabad, etc.) | 8,500+ Seats | 100% All India Quota (AI); Specialized in CSE, ECE, AI, and Data Science |
| Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) | 38 Institutes (BIT Mesra, Assam University, PEC Chandigarh, JNU B.Tech) | 6,800+ Seats | Mixture of All India & Home State Quotas; Central funding |
| State Engineering Colleges (Delhi, MP, Haryana, etc.) | 50+ Premier State Colleges (DTU, NSUT, IGDTUW, SGSITS, YMCA) | 25,000+ Seats | 85% Delhi Region / State Domicile Quota + 15% All India Quota (via JAC Delhi & state portals) |
| Premier Deemed & Private Universities | Top Tier (Thapar, LNMIIT, DA-IICT, Shiv Nadar, SASTRA) | 15,000+ Seats | Direct application using JEE Main CRL / Percentile without state domicile restriction |
To ensure academic rigor and fairness, NTA and the Ministry of Education enforce strict eligibility thresholds that candidates must fulfill before registering and during seat allocation:
To secure admission into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs through JoSAA/CSAB, candidates must satisfy one of the following two academic criteria in their Class 12 (or equivalent) qualifying examination:
• General / Gen-EWS / OBC-NCL Candidates: Must secure an aggregate minimum of 75.0% marks in the qualifying Class 12 board examination with Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational Subject.
• SC / ST / PwD Candidates: Must secure an aggregate minimum of 65.0% marks in their qualifying examination.
• The Top 20 Percentile Alternative: Alternatively, a candidate who does not score 75% aggregate can still qualify if their total score places them within the category-wise Top 20 Percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class 12 Board examination for that passing year.
Candidates can participate in JEE Main for a maximum of three consecutive academic years immediately following the completion of their Class 12 board examination. For example, a student appearing for their Class 12 boards in 2026 can attempt JEE Main in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Because JEE Main is held twice annually, this translates into a theoretical maximum of six examination sessions. There is no upper or lower age restriction for appearing in JEE Main, provided the candidate satisfies the board passing year regulations.
• For B.E. / B.Tech (Paper 1): Mandatory subjects comprise Physics, Mathematics, and any one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a Technical Vocational Subject, alongside a Language subject.
• For B.Arch (Paper 2A): Mandatory subjects comprise Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
• For B.Planning (Paper 2B): Mandatory subject comprises Mathematics in Class 12.
A comprehensive overview of key administrative and operational parameters for JEE Main is detailed below:
| Parameter | Official Technical Specification | Operational Details & Candidate Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Examination Designation | Joint Entrance Examination (Main) | National level flagship engineering entrance examination |
| Organizing Statutory Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) | Apex body under Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Annual Examination Cycles | Two Distinct Sessions (Session 1 & Session 2) | Session 1 in January; Session 2 in April |
| Mode of Examination Delivery | Computer-Based Test (CBT - 100% Digital) | Except Drawing section of B.Arch which is pen-and-paper on sheet |
| Medium of Examination Papers | 13 National & Regional Languages | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu |
| Total Examination Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) Normal / 4 Hours PwD | Compensatory 60 minutes awarded to eligible benchmark disability candidates |
| Total Test Shifts per Session | 10 to 12 Shifts spread across 5 to 6 Days | Morning Shift: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Evening Shift: 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM |
| Total Maximum Marks (Paper 1) | 300 Marks | 75 questions to be attempted out of 90 total questions |
| Marking Scheme Protocol | +4 Marks for Correct; -1 Mark for Incorrect | Applicable uniformly across both MCQs and Numerical Value Questions |
| Official Web Portals | https://jeemain.nta.nic.in & https://nta.ac.in | Official repository for application, admit cards, answer keys & scorecards |
In strict alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), JEE Main is administered in 13 languages to dismantle linguistic barriers for aspirants hailing from state education boards across rural and semi-urban India:
• All-India Language Availability: English, Hindi, and Urdu question papers are accessible at all examination test centers across every Indian state and union territory.
• Regional Language Allocation: Regional language options—such as Bengali (West Bengal, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar), Gujarati (Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli), Tamil (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry), Telugu (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana), Marathi (Maharashtra), Kannada (Karnataka), Malayalam (Kerala & Lakshadweep), Assamese (Assam), Odia (Odisha), and Punjabi (Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi)—are selectable at examination centers situated within their respective linguistic jurisdictions.
• Bilingual Screen Interface: During the CBT test, candidates who select a regional language or Hindi have the ability to toggle individual questions into English instantly on their computer monitors. In the legal event of any translation ambiguity or typographical divergence between language versions, the English text is held as final and legally binding.
To understand the relative competitive intensity, syllabus depth, and national positioning of JEE Main, examine the comparative matrix below across India's leading engineering entrance examinations:
| Examination | Conducting Body & Scope | Annual Applicant Pool | Marking Scheme & Negative Penalties | Primary Participating Institutes & Target Quotas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | National Testing Agency (All India) | 14,50,000+ Candidates | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect (both MCQs & Numericals) | 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, 38 GFTIs, DTU, NSUT; Gateway to JEE Advanced |
| WBJEE | WBJEEB (West Bengal State) | 1,15,000+ Candidates | 3 Category Marking (+1/-0.25, +2/-0.5, +2/0) | Jadavpur University, Calcutta University, KGEC, JGEC, Heritage, IEM |
| MHT CET | State CET Cell (Maharashtra) | 4,50,000+ Candidates | +2 for Maths, +1 for Physics/Chem (Zero Negatives) | COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai, SPIT Mumbai, PICT Pune, 350+ State Colleges |
| KCET | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) | 2,60,000+ Candidates | +1 for correct, 0 for incorrect (No Negative Marking) | RVCE Bangalore, BMSCE, MSRIT, PES (Karnataka Domicile Seats) |
| COMEDK UGET | Consortium of Medical, Engg & Dental Colleges | 1,00,000+ Candidates | +1 for correct, 0 for incorrect (Open All-India) | RVCE Bangalore, BMS College, Ramaiah IT (100% Open All India Quota) |
| BITSAT | BITS Pilani (Private Deemed) | 2,80,000+ Candidates | +3 for correct, -1 for incorrect (+12 Bonus Questions) | BITS Pilani, BITS Goa, BITS Hyderabad Campuses exclusively |
JEE Main strictly implements the statutory reservation policies established by the Government of India for admissions to centrally funded technical institutions:
• General-EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10% supernumerary reservation for candidates whose gross family annual income is below ₹8.00 Lakhs and who do not belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories.
• OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer): 27% reservation in central institutions as per the Central List of OBCs. State OBC certificates are not accepted unless the caste is explicitly notified in the Central List.
• Scheduled Castes (SC): 15% reservation across all programs.
• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5% reservation across all programs.
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD): 5% horizontal reservation across each category for candidates with 40% or more certified disability.
• Female Supernumerary Quota: To redress historical gender disparity in technical education, the Government of India mandates supernumerary seat creation across all NITs to ensure that total female enrollment in every engineering discipline reaches a minimum threshold of 20%.
JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination Main) is India's premier national computer-based engineering entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education for admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and for screening candidates for JEE Advanced.
No. Appearing in both sessions is optional. Candidates can appear in Session 1, Session 2, or both. If appearing in both, NTA automatically selects the higher percentile score for ranking.
To secure a seat in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs through JoSAA/CSAB, General/OBC/EWS candidates must score at least 75% aggregate in their Class 12 board exams (or be in the top 20 percentile of their board). For SC/ST/PwD candidates, the requirement is 65%.
A candidate can appear in JEE Main for a maximum of three consecutive academic years immediately following their Class 12 passing year, translating to up to six examination sessions.
Exactly the top 2,50,000 candidates across all reservation categories in JEE Main are declared qualified to register for JEE Advanced for admission into the 23 IITs.
In all 32 NITs, exactly 50% of the total seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the state where the NIT is geographically located, determined by the location of the Class 12 school.
An NTA percentile score indicates the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or less than a particular candidate in that specific examination shift, calculated to seven decimal places.
Revise chapter-wise mathematical formulas before launching your test: