JEE Main 2027 exam dates announced: Session 1 starts January 20, apply by November 22

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the examination dates for JEE Main 2027, with the first session scheduled to begin on January 20, 2027. Registrations for Session 1 are currently open, and prospective candidates have until November 22, 2026, to apply without incurring a late fee.

This announcement by the NTA outlines a full schedule for both sessions of the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2027, along with an overhaul of its question paper generation process. The agency is implementing new measures, including the growth of a large question bank and selecting questions just minutes before the examination, to enhance security and prevent paper leaks.

JEE Main 2027 Examination Schedule and Application Deadlines

The JEE Main 2027 examination will be conducted in two sessions. Session 1 is set to take place across six days in January, while Session 2 will be held in April. The NTA has provided specific dates for registration, application correction, exam city announcements, and admit card downloads for both sessions.

Candidates interested in appearing for Session 1 must complete their registration and fee payment by November 22, 2026. A late registration window with an additional fee will be available from November 23 to 26, 2026. For Session 2, registrations will open in January 2027.

Eligibility Criteria and Admission Requirements

The NTA has specified the eligibility criteria for candidates aspiring to appear for JEE Main 2027. There is no upper age limit for the examination. Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026, or those who are appearing for their Class 12 examinations in 2027, are eligible to apply.

A candidate is permitted to attempt JEE Main for a maximum of three consecutive years from the year of their first attempt. For admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, candidates are required to have secured at least 75% aggregate marks in their Class 12 examination. A relaxation is provided for SC/ST candidates, who must achieve a minimum of 65% aggregate marks in Class 12.

NTA’s Measures to Prevent Paper Leaks

In an effort to enhance the integrity of its examinations, including JEE Main, the NTA is undertaking a significant overhaul of its question paper development and selection process. The agency has initiated work on setting, vetting, and translating question papers for the upcoming examination cycle.

The NTA has selected a group of over 5000 experts, comprising academicians, scientists, researchers, professionals, educators, translators, and moderators, for various confidential assignments. A key initiative involves assembling a panel to develop a detailed question bank. This measure aims to prevent translators and subject matter experts from memorizing or reproducing questions. Experts are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement upon selection and reaffirm it at the start of each assignment. The NTA plans to finalize question papers just minutes before an examination by selecting questions from this common pool, thereby preventing paper leaks.

Application Process and Key Instructions for Candidates

The application process for JEE Main 2027 involves several steps: registration, filling out the application form, uploading necessary documents, and fee payment. Candidates are advised to visit the official portal, jeemain.nta.nic.in, to complete their applications.

During the application process, candidates can select up to four exam cities based on their preference. The NTA has also stated that if a candidate appears in both sessions, the best NTA Score from the two attempts will be considered for ranking. Candidates are reminded to adhere to the specified deadlines for registration and application correction to avoid any inconvenience.

Further reading

• NTA revised exam calendar 2026-27 out: check new JEE Main, UGC NET, CUET PG dates
• JEE Main, CUET PG, UGC NET: NTA releases revised exam calendar for 2026-27
• JEE Main exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• SRMJEEE 2027 exam dates announced: registration open for BTech admissions
• HITSEEE 2027 registration opens November 4 for BTech, BArch, BDes admissions Applications open
• JEE Main: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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