JEE Main 2027 Session 1: apply by 22 November, exam from 20 January
The National Testing Agency opened JEE Main 2027 Session 1 applications on 24 October 2026. Apply on the official portal jeemain.nta.nic.in by 22 November 2026, 11:50 PM. The Session 1 exam is on 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2027. Session 2 is in April 2027 with a separate application window in January.
What is it?
JEE Main is the national entrance test for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Planning seats in NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded technical institutions, and it is the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced (for the IITs). It is held in two sessions; your best score of the two counts for the common rank list.
Key dates (Session 1)
| Application window | 24 October 2026 to 22 November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
|---|---|
| Fee payment last date | 22 November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Late-fee window | 23 to 26 November 2026 (extra ₹500 for all categories) |
| Correction window | 27 to 29 November 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| City intimation slip | 30 December 2026 |
| Admit card | 13 January 2027 |
| Exam dates | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2027, two shifts (9 AM-12 noon, 3 PM-6 PM) |
| Session 2 | Applications 5 January to 3 February 2027; exam 2 to 7 April 2027 |
Who can appear?
From the official Information Bulletin:
- You passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026, or you are appearing in 2027. Candidates who passed in 2024 or earlier are not eligible.
- There is no age limit for JEE Main itself, though the institute you join may have its own age criteria.
Exam pattern (Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech)
Computer Based Test. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics carry 20 multiple-choice questions plus 5 numerical-value questions each, 300 marks in total. There is negative marking in both the MCQ and the numerical sections. Paper 2A (B.Arch) is CBT plus a pen-and-paper drawing test on an A4 sheet; Paper 2B (B.Planning) is fully CBT. Each paper is 3 hours.
Application fee (per session, centres in India)
| One paper (Paper 1, 2A or 2B) | General male ₹1,000, female ₹800; Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL male ₹900, female ₹800; SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/third gender ₹500 |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 with 2A or 2B (or 2A + 2B) | General/Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL male ₹2,000, female ₹1,600; SC/ST/PwD/PwBD/third gender ₹1,000 |
| Late fee | +₹500 for every category during 23-26 November |
Centres outside India cost more; processing charges and GST are extra. Pay only online (net banking, card or UPI). The confirmation page appears only after a successful payment.
How to apply: step by step
Checked against the official Information Bulletin on 25 October 2026.
- Open jeemain.nta.nic.in and use the Session 1 application link. Registration runs through the Meri Pehchaan single sign-on; you can complete eKYC with Aadhaar, PAN, Driving License or APAAR.
- Before you start, update your Aadhaar details (photo, name, date of birth, gender, address) through UIDAI if anything is outdated.
- Fill personal and academic details and choose your papers, medium and four exam cities.
- Capture the live photograph with your webcam or by scanning the QR code with a phone (white background, good light, 80 percent face visible), and upload the documents the form asks for.
- Pay the fee online and download the confirmation page. Without it, the application is not complete.
- Use the correction window (27-29 November) if you need to fix the permitted fields.
Video guides
We searched YouTube on 25 October 2026 for a step-by-step JEE Main 2027 application video in English and in Malayalam that matches the live Meri Pehchaan registration flow. The videos we found cover older portals or could not be verified against the current form, so we are not linking any rather than risk outdated instructions.
Cost, eligibility and limits
| Cost to apply | ₹500 to ₹2,000 by category and papers (centres in India), plus processing charges and GST. |
|---|---|
| Who | Class 12 pass in 2025/2026 or appearing 2027; no age limit. |
| Limits | One application form per candidate; multiple forms cancel the result. Session 2 needs a separate fee in January. |
Stay safe
- Apply only on jeemain.nta.nic.in. Lookalike portals exist.
- NTA never asks for payment outside the official form.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for both sessions now?
No. Session 1 applications run to 22 November 2026. Session 2 (April 2027 exam) has its own window, 5 January to 3 February 2027, using the same application number.
I passed Class 12 in 2024. Can I apply?
No. Only 2025 and 2026 pass-outs and 2027 appearing candidates are eligible.
Is there negative marking in numerical questions?
Yes. The bulletin applies negative marking to both Section A (MCQ) and Section B (numerical value).
What if my fee is deducted but no confirmation page appears?
The bulletin says to approach the bank or payment gateway helpline in Appendix I to confirm the payment or get a refund for duplicate payments; the confirmation page is generated only after successful payment.
Sources: JEE Main official portal · JEE Main 2027 Information Bulletin (published 24 October 2026) · Session 1 application page. Checked 25 October 2026. Explainer by AiCoN - not a government publication. Details can change; check jeemain.nta.nic.in before you apply.