JEE Main 2026 Session 2: Registration Deadline, Exam Dates, and What to Expect

JEE Main 2026 Session 2: Complete Update

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results are out — 12 candidates scored a perfect 100 percentile this year. Now attention has shifted fully to Session 2, which is your best chance to improve your score before the final merit list is compiled.

Here is a complete breakdown of everything you need to know about JEE Main 2026 Session 2.

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Key Dates at a Glance

Event	Date
Session 2 Registration Deadline	March 13, 2026
Exam Dates	April 2–9, 2026
City Intimation Slips	Late March 2026
Admit Card Release	~1 week before exam
Results Expected	~April 20, 2026

These dates are from the official NTA notification. Do not rely on coaching institute estimates — always verify at jeemain.nta.ac.in.

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What Changed in JEE Main 2026: Biometric + APAAR ID

NTA introduced two major anti-impersonation measures for 2026 that every candidate must know:

1. Biometric Verification at Exam Centre

Fingerprint and facial recognition are now mandatory at all JEE Main 2026 exam centres. Your live photograph will be captured at the gate and matched against your Aadhaar-linked biometric data. If there is a mismatch, you will be denied entry.

What you should do: Ensure your Aadhaar biometric data is updated. If you have had any injury to your fingertips recently, carry your original Aadhaar and notify the invigilator beforehand.

2. APAAR ID (Academic Bank of Credits)

APAAR ID (your Academic Bank of Credits identifier) is now recommended in the JEE Main 2026 application. While not mandatory yet, NTA has indicated it may become compulsory for future exams. If you do not have one, generate it through your school/DIGI Locker — it takes under 10 minutes.

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33 New Exam Cities Added

NTA added 33 new exam cities for 2026, bringing the total to 323 across India. This is significant because:

• Candidates from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities no longer need to travel to state capitals
• Travel fatigue on exam day has been a documented factor in underperformance
• New cities include multiple locations in northeastern states

Note on City Allotment: A false rumour claimed NTA would auto-assign cities. NTA clarified: you still get to choose 3 preferred cities during registration. However, final allotment now considers your Aadhaar-registered address as a priority factor to prevent candidates from gaming centre selection. If you listed a city far from your Aadhaar address, you may be reassigned.

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Should You Attempt Session 2?

If you appeared for Session 1, here is the decision framework:

Attempt Session 2 if:

• Your Session 1 percentile is below your target college cutoff
• You feel you underperformed due to exam day anxiety or time management issues
• Your strongest chapters were not heavily tested in Session 1

You can skip Session 2 if:

• You scored 98.5+ percentile and are confident in JEE Advanced preparation
• You are a dropper and already attempted Session 1 in a previous year — Session 2 strategy may differ

The best of two session scores counts. Attempting Session 2 cannot lower your final percentile.

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Last-Month Strategy for Session 2

Chemistry (Highest ROI in final weeks):

• Organic: focus on named reactions, product of reaction questions. NCERT reactions are still tested directly.
• Inorganic: Group 15-17 reactions, coordination compounds, d-block properties
• Physical: Electrochemistry and Thermochemistry — these are consistently tested every session

Physics:

• Alternating Current and Electromagnetic Waves — frequently tested, relatively short to revise
• Modern Physics: photoelectric effect, nuclear reactions — high marks for low effort
• Fluid Mechanics and Properties of Matter — often skipped, but appears regularly in Session 2

Mathematics:

• Matrices and Determinants — very predictable question patterns
• Probability — expected value, conditional probability, Bayes theorem
• Conic Sections — parabola, ellipse questions with straightforward properties

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Exam Day: New Biometric Protocol Step-by-Step

1. Reach the exam centre at least 90 minutes before your scheduled time
2. Queue for biometric verification — this adds 10–15 minutes to entry
3. Keep original Aadhaar (not photocopy) + admit card + passport photo
4. After biometric gate, proceed to document check desk
5. Lab assignment given — do not argue about seat; report any technical issues immediately
6. Read all instructions before starting, especially Section B (numerical) marking scheme

The biometric process is new and centres may have initial delays. Build extra buffer time into your travel plan.

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Conclusion

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 registration deadline is March 13 — do not miss it. The exam window April 2–9 gives you roughly 3 focused weeks to prepare. Use this guide to allocate those weeks efficiently by subject and topic priority. Session 1 percentile is not your final word — Session 2 is your opportunity.