JEE Main 2026
January Session
JEE Main January 2026: Over 10 Lakh Candidates Appear So Far; Mathematics Rated Toughest
Overall paper: Moderate to Difficult | Maths most time-consuming | Physics & Chemistry moderate
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 January session is underway, and the initial days have seen a strong turnout across centres. The exam for BE/BTech was held from January 21 to January 24, 2026, and as per official figures, over 10 lakh candidates have already appeared—taking the attendance above 96%.
Based on student reactions and expert reviews, the paper has largely been described as moderate to difficult. The biggest takeaway so far is that Mathematics has emerged as the toughest and most time-consuming section, while Physics and Chemistry have been mostly moderate.
JEE Main 2026 January Session: Schedule Snapshot
- BE/BTech papers: January 21 to January 24, 2026
- Remaining BE/BTech paper: January 28, 2026
- BArch / BPlanning papers: January 29, 2026
- Expected total participation (January session): Over 14 lakh candidates
Overall JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis
Overall, the exam has been rated moderate to difficult. Across multiple shifts, students have consistently pointed out that Mathematics required the most time, mainly due to lengthy calculations and multi-step problem-solving.
Physics and Chemistry were largely reported as moderate, with a mix of direct and numerical questions. Candidates who managed time effectively—especially in Mathematics—are likely to be at an advantage in overall scoring.
JEE Main January 24, 2026: Second Shift Paper Analysis
Chemistry: Easy to Moderate
The Chemistry section was largely easy to moderate. Questions covered Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, with comparatively fewer questions from Inorganic Chemistry. Organic and Physical Chemistry had nearly equal weightage, though Physical Chemistry leaned slightly more towards numerical problems.
A few integer-type questions required lengthy calculations, making the section a bit time-consuming. Several statement-based questions were directly based on NCERT.
Physics: Moderate, Balanced Coverage
Physics was rated moderate, with questions coming from almost all major chapters. Mechanics, Electrostatics, and Magnetism carried higher weightage, while Optics and Waves had fewer questions.
Topics such as Fluids, Mechanical Properties, Oscillations, Electromagnetic Waves, Thermodynamics, Thermal Properties, and Modern Physics were adequately included. About half the questions were basic, and the rest were calculation-based. Notably, there were no questions from EMI or AC.
Mathematics: Toughest and Most Time-Consuming
Mathematics was widely considered the most challenging section, ranging from moderate to difficult. Questions were spread evenly across the syllabus, but the strongest focus was seen on Algebra, Calculus, and Conic Sections.
Topics like 2D & 3D Geometry, Matrices, Vectors, and Complex Numbers appeared with average weightage. Meanwhile, Probability and Permutation & Combination featured comparatively more. Multi-step problems and long calculations made the section particularly time-intensive.
JEE Main 2026 FAQs
How many students appeared for JEE Main January 2026 so far?
NTA reported that 10,36,211 candidates have appeared so far in the January session.
What was the overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026?
The paper was largely rated moderate to difficult, depending on the shift and candidate comfort with numerical questions.
Which section was the toughest in JEE Main January 2026?
Most students found Mathematics to be the toughest and most time-consuming section.
When are the remaining JEE Main January 2026 exams scheduled?
The remaining BE/BTech paper is scheduled for January 28, 2026. The BArch/BPlanning papers are set for January 29, 2026.
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