The race for engineering seats in 2027 officially began on October 24, when the National Testing Agency (NTA) opened registration for JEE Main 2027 Session 1. Along with the notification came two pieces of news every aspirant needs to note: the January exam dates have been revised, and the complete schedule for Session 2 is now out as well.
Candidates can apply online at jeemain.nta.nic.in. The Session 1 window stays open till November 22, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. Those who miss that deadline still get a short second chance, with a late fee, between November 23 and 26.
What changed in the January schedule
This is the detail that has caught the most attention. The NTA exam calendar issued earlier had pointed to January 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29 for Session 1. The notification released on October 24 revises that plan. Session 1 will now be held on January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28, 2027. In effect, two days have been added at the start of the window and January 29 is no longer an exam day.
Students who had begun planning travel and revision around the old dates should rework their plans now, since the exam now starts two days earlier than the calendar first suggested. The examination will run in two shifts each day, from 9 am to 12 noon and from 3 pm to 6 pm.
JEE Main 2027 Session 1: important dates
- Online registration begins: October 24, 2026
- Last date to apply without late fee: November 22, 2026, till 11:50 pm
- Application with late fee of Rs 500: November 23 to 26, 2026
- Application correction window: November 27 to 29, 2026
- Examination city intimation slip: December 30, 2026
- Admit card release: January 13, 2027
- Session 1 examination: January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28, 2027
Session 2 schedule also announced
For students who want a second attempt, or who would rather appear in April, the NTA has already laid out the full Session 2 calendar. Registration for Session 2 opens on January 5, 2027, and closes on February 3, 2027. A late fee window runs from February 4 to 7, and corrections can be made between February 8 and 10.
The city intimation slip for Session 2 will be released on March 12, 2027, admit cards on March 25, and the examination itself will be held on April 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2027. Candidates can apply for one session or both, and the better of the two scores is what counts for the final merit list.
How to apply for JEE Main 2027
- Visit the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, and click on the JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration link.
- Register with your name, email address and mobile number to generate an application number and password.
- Fill in personal details, academic qualifications and your choice of papers, and select your preferred exam cities.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature and category certificate, if applicable.
- Pay the examination fee online and submit the form before the deadline. Download the confirmation page and keep it safe.
Applicants should double-check every entry before submitting, because the correction window in late November only allows changes to specific fields. A mistake in the name, category or paper choice discovered after that window can be hard to fix.
Exam pattern at a glance
Paper 1, for BE and BTech programmes, covers Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with 75 questions. Paper 2A, for BArch, has 77 questions across Mathematics, Aptitude and Drawing, while Paper 2B, for BPlanning, has 100 questions. Both papers are held in computer-based test mode, except the Drawing Test in Paper 2A, which is conducted offline on a drawing sheet. Negative marking applies to incorrect answers, so blind guessing can cost marks.
JEE Main is the gateway to undergraduate engineering seats at National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other centrally funded technical institutions. Paper 1 is also the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced, which is the route into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for JEE Main 2027 Session 1?
The last date to apply without a late fee is November 22, 2026, till 11:50 pm. With a late fee of Rs 500, forms can be submitted till November 26, 2026.
When will JEE Main 2027 Session 1 be held?
The January session will be held on January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28, 2027, in two shifts each day.
When does Session 2 registration begin?
Session 2 registration opens on January 5, 2027, and closes on February 3, 2027. The Session 2 exam will be held from April 2 to 7, 2027.
When will the JEE Main 2027 admit card be released?
Admit cards for Session 1 will be released on January 13, 2027, and the city intimation slip will be available from December 30, 2026.
Where do I apply for JEE Main 2027?
Applications are accepted only on the official NTA website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates should avoid third-party portals that charge extra fees.
With the notification out and the dates now firm, the countdown has properly begun. Aspirants should finish their registration early rather than waiting for the last evening, when the portal is at its busiest, and build their revision plan around the revised January dates.
