JEE Main 2027: Complete Guide to Exam Dates, Pattern, Eligibility

Author at N SMART | November 4, 2026

JEE Main 2027 is one of India's most important engineering entrance exams and the gateway to NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). The competition is intense. In last year 2026, over 15.38 lakh candidates appeared for the JEE Main exam across both sessions and approximately 2.5 lakh candidates got shortlisted for JEE Advanced.

With the National Testing Agency (NTA) having released the JEE Main 2027 notification and information bulletin, students should understand the examination schedule, eligibility requirements, paper pattern, and application procedure before starting their final preparation. Here is everything you need to know about JEE Main 2027.

What is JEE Main?

JEE Main, or Joint Entrance Examination Main, is the national-level engineering entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The examination serves two primary purposes:

Admission to engineering colleges: JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) is used for admission to undergraduate engineering programmes at NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and participating institutions.
Qualification for JEE Advanced: JEE Main screens candidates for JEE Advanced, the entrance exam for admission to IITs.

JEE Main also has separate papers for students interested in architecture and planning. Paper 2A is conducted for B.Arch admissions, while Paper 2B is conducted for B.Planning admissions.

JEE Main 2027 Exam Dates & Schedule

The NTA has officially announced the JEE Main 2027 examination schedule. JEE Main 2027 will be conducted in two sessions: January & April.

JEE Main 2027 Important Dates

Event	Session 1 (January 2027)	Session 2 (April 2027)
Application Start Date	24 October 2026	5 January 2027
Last Date to Apply	22 November 2026	3 February 2027
Late Application Window	23–26 November 2026	4–7 February 2027
Correction Window	27–29 November 2026	8–10 February 2027
Exam City Intimation Slip	30 December 2026	12 March 2027
Admit Card Release	13 January 2027	25 March 2027
JEE Main Exam Dates	20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28 January 2027	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 April 2027
Final Result/Rank	Not announced yet	Not announced yet

JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit

There is no age limit to appear for JEE Main 2027.
Candidates of any age can apply, provided they satisfy the other eligibility conditions.
However, individual institutes may prescribe separate age-related admission requirements.

Year of Passing Class 12

Only the following candidates are eligible to appear for JEE Main 2027:

Students who passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2025.
Students who passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2026.
Students appearing for their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2027.

Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or earlier are not eligible for JEE Main 2027.

What is the 75% Rule in JEE Main?

The 75% aggregate marks in Class 12 simply to appear for JEE Main. However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other participating GFTIs, candidates must generally satisfy at least one of these conditions:

Secure a minimum of 75% aggregate marks in Class 12.
Belong to the category-wise top 20th percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class 12 board examinations.

For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, the minimum aggregate marks requirement is 65%, instead of 75%. A similar 75% aggregate or top 20 percentile condition applies to IIT admissions, along with the other JEE Advanced admission requirements.

JEE Main 2027 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) tests students in three subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

JEE Main 2027 Paper 1 Pattern

Subject	Section A (MCQs)	Section B (Numerical)	Total Questions	Total Marks
Physics	20	5	25	100
Chemistry	20	5	25	100
Mathematics	20	5	25	100
Total	60	15	75	300

Each subject contains two sections:

Section A: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Section B: Questions requiring candidates to enter a numerical value.

JEE Main 2027 Marking Scheme

Correct Answer: +4
Incorrect Answer: -1
Unanswered Question: 0

Examination Duration

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.): 3 hours.
Paper 2A (B.Arch.): 3 hours.
Paper 2B (B.Planning): 3 hours.
Candidates appearing for both B.Arch. and B.Planning papers: 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Selection Process for JEE Main 2027

Registration: Candidates submit the online application and select their preferred examination paper and cities.
Computer-Based Examination: Eligible candidates appear for the examination in their allotted shift.
Result Declaration: NTA releases the NTA scores and prepares the merit list.
JEE Advanced Qualification: Eligible candidates are shortlisted for JEE Advanced based on their JEE Main performance and applicable category-wise criteria.
Counselling and Admission: Candidates participate in the relevant counselling process, including JoSAA, according to their ranks, eligibility, preferences, and seat availability.

How to Apply for JEE Main 2027?

The JEE Main 2027 application process is completely online. Candidates must submit their forms through the official NTA website: jeemain.nta.nic.in/

Registration & Generate Credentials

Visit the official JEE Main website and access the online application form. You can use your own eligible credentials through DigiLocker, JanParichay, or e-Pramaan to register on the portal. Once registration is completed, an application number will be provided to you via email and to your mobile number.

Fill in the Application Form

Personal information, including your name and date of birth.
Contact details, including email address and mobile number.
Educational qualification details.
Examination paper selection (B.E./B.Tech., B.Arch., or B.Planning).
Preferred examination cities.
Category and applicable disability-related details.
Upload a recent passport-size photograph, scanned signature, and Class 10 marksheet.

Pay the Application Fee & Download the Receipt

NTA accepts payment through permitted online methods, including:

UPI.
Net Banking.
Debit Card.
Credit Card.

The applicable examination fee depends on the candidate's category, gender, and examination paper. After successful payment, download and save the application confirmation page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is JEE Main tough?

Yes. JEE Main is highly competitive and difficult. Among the 15.38 lakh candidates who appeared in the last JEE Main, only 2.5 lakh candidates were shortlisted for JEE Advanced, which roughly sits at 16%. And the actual number of candidates who got into reputed colleges.

These figures demonstrate the competition you have to face when you decide to take up JEE Main.

When will JEE Main 2027 be conducted?

JEE Main 2027 will be conducted in two sessions. Session 1 is scheduled for 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28 January 2027. Session 2 will take place on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 April 2027.

Is there an age limit for JEE Main 2027?

No. NTA has not prescribed an age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2027. However, individual institutes have separate admission requirements that sometimes come with age restrictions.

Can I appear for both JEE Main 2027 sessions?

Yes. Candidates can appear in both sessions. If they do, NTA will consider their better overall NTA score for the final merit list.

Is 75% mandatory for appearing in JEE Main 2027?

No. A 75% aggregate is not required simply to write JEE Main. However, candidates must satisfy the applicable Class 12 performance requirements for admission to institutions such as NITs, IIITs, and IITs.

Do IITs accept JEE Main scores for admission?

No. Admission to IIT undergraduate programmes requires qualification in JEE Advanced, along with the prescribed admission requirements. JEE Main is the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced.

Is there negative marking for numerical questions in JEE Main 2027?

Yes. Incorrect answers in both MCQ and numerical-value sections carry a penalty of one mark. Correct answers receive four marks.