
The National Testing Agency (NTA) ends Day 3 of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 examination on January 23. Shift 1 held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and Shift 2 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Read in detail: JEE MAIN Session 1 Paper Analysis

| Exam Date | Paper | Shift 1 Timing | Shift 2 Timing |
| Jan 21, 2026 | Paper 1 (BE/BTech) | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Jan 22, 2026 | |||
| Jan 23, 2026 | |||
| Jan 24, 2026 |
The January 23 Shift 1 paper was reported to be moderate in difficulty. Candidates found Mathematics lengthy, requiring effective time management. Physics was largely conceptual, with a noticeable focus on Modern Physics and Optics. The Chemistry section was considered tricky, and experts highlighted that NCERT alone was not sufficient to attempt all questions comfortably.
| Subject | Shift 1 Topics | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Vectors & 3D Geometry, Matrices, Conic Sections, Sequences & Series | To be updated |
| Physics | de Broglie wavelength, Ray Optics, Wave Optics, Modern Physics, Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects of Current, Capacitors, Semiconductors | To be updated |
| Chemistry | d-block elements, Chemical Kinetics | To be updated |
Based on trend analysis, the expected qualifying cutoffs for JEE Main 2026 are as follows:
| Category | Expected Cutoff |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 93.3045326 |
| Gen-EWS | 81.4387917 |
| OBC-NCL | 80.7456432 |
| SC | 61.3526948 |
| ST | 48.2456783 |
| UR-PwD | 0.0082349 |
Verify all details on the admit card, including exam date, shift, centre address, and reporting time
Plan travel in advance to avoid last-minute delays
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.