JEE Main 2026 Result Date & Time Live Updates: Session 1 answer keys are expected to be released soon, scorecards to be issued on Feb 16, check latest updates here

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Live Updates : The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result on February 16 on its official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. The declaration will follow the release of the final answer key, which is likely to be published shortly.

For candidates who appeared in the January session, the coming days are crucial. The result will not only decide admissions to top engineering institutes but also determine eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026.

Examination conducted across 10 shifts

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 was held between January 21 and January 29, 2026, in 10 shifts. Paper 2 for BArch and BPlanning candidates took place on January 29.

According to official figures, 13,50,969 candidates registered for the examination, and 13,00,368 candidates appeared. This once again made JEE Main one of the largest entrance examinations in India.

The scale of participation reflects the intense competition for seats in premier institutions such as the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Government Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs).

Final answer key to determine scores

The provisional answer key was released on February 4, and candidates were allowed to raise objections until February 6 by paying a non-refundable fee of Rs 200 per question. Subject experts reviewed all the challenges before preparing the final answer key.

Once released, the final answer key will be binding. No further objections will be accepted.

Candidates can download it by visiting the official website, clicking on the relevant link, and accessing the PDF file. By comparing the final answers with their response sheets, aspirants can calculate their estimated raw score.

The marking scheme remains straightforward: +4 marks for every correct answer, –1 mark for each incorrect multiple-choice question, and no deduction for unattempted questions.

Percentile, not raw marks, will decide rank

It is important to understand that JEE Main results are declared in percentile scores and not raw marks.

While raw marks remain fixed after the final answer key is issued, percentiles are calculated using a normalisation process. Since the examination is conducted in multiple shifts, the level of difficulty may vary. The normalisation method ensures fairness by adjusting scores accordingly. As a result, two candidates with similar raw marks may receive different percentiles depending on the relative difficulty of their shift.

The percentile score will ultimately determine All India Rank and eligibility for the next stage.

Who qualifies for JEE Advanced?

The top 2.5 lakh candidates in JEE Main 2026 will be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2026, the gateway to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Based on previous trends, general category candidates may require around 90–100 marks out of 300 to qualify, which typically corresponds to a percentile in the range of 93–95 or higher. However, the actual cut-off will be announced along with the results.

What lies ahead

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result will be used for admissions to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, and it will also serve as the eligibility criterion for JEE Advanced.

For those aiming to improve their scores, another opportunity awaits. JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is scheduled to be conducted from April 2 to April 9, 2026.

As February 16 approaches, anticipation continues to build. For lakhs of students, the result will mark either a milestone achieved or the beginning of a renewed push towards their engineering dreams.