JEE Main 2026 Registration to Begin Soon: 6 Major Changes Every Engineering Aspirant Must Know

The eligibility process and procedures for the exam will change significantly with the six major changes by NTA. These will also affect overall preparation. The NTA will soon open the registration window for JEE Mains, which is used for admission into the most prestigious technical institutes in India.

These updates will make the exam process smooth and introduce uniformity in the evaluation and ranking system. Exam dates are coming close, so understanding these six major updates is necessary for engineering students seeking admission in the best universities like the Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology.

No more Optional questions

Now, Candidates need to attend all 25 questions in Section B with no optional questions, making the exam pattern similar to pre-pandemic. The previous structure was announced to make the exam pattern less competitive, making it less stressful for students, but now the patterns have changed, and the same pre covid pattern is currently live. So, students must have to attend all 25 questions in physics, chemistry and mathematics. 

The paper 1 for B.Tech students consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, with overall 75 questions and 5 numerical value questions. Now the removal of optional questions will push all the students to attempt all the questions, which will make the exam evaluation equal for each student. 

Negative Marking 

Another major update for students is the negative marking; previously, it was limited only to multiple-choice questions, but now it has been introduced to numerical value questions under the new marking system. Students will now lose marks in both numerical and MCQ-based questions, which is made for greater caution while attempting NVQs, as incorrect answers will now directly reduce the total score. Practising precision and accuracy with numerical problems will be essential for aspirants aiming to maximise their results. 

The tie-breaking criteria for JEE Main ranks have also been revised. Earlier, factors such as the candidate’s age and application number were considered in breaking ties between candidates with equal scores. These factors have now been removed.

The new guidelines favour performance by subject and by error status. If multiple candidates earn the same overall score, the first used criteria to break a tie will be the scores in math: 1st ranked on a higher score in math, then physics, and finally chemistry. In the instance of a tie beyond the three subjects, the ratio of incorrect to correct answers across all subjects will be assessed first, with further evaluation on each subject in the order discussed above. If a tie remains beyond evaluating through all the previous criteria, each candidate will have the same rank.

No Age Limit 

Eligibility criteria now free of age limit. The age limit for applicants to the JEE Main has been removed. With this modification, those who meet the educational qualifications may apply regardless of age. With this age restriction gone, it gives opportunity for older candidates, or those who have a break between studies, to apply.

This adjustment increases access to the exam, thus opening up the admission process to a wider range of candidates to apply for these reputable engineering institutions. Reduction in exam centres and cities. The number of exam centres for JEE Main is reduced from 300 last year to 284 now. The reduction has occurred in both the domestic and international locations. International centres have decreased from 24 to 14, with some cities removed, in places like Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Hong Kong.

This change expands access to the exam, allowing a broader range of candidates to participate in the admission process for prestigious engineering institutions. Reduction in exam centres and cities. The number of exam centres for JEE Main has decreased from 300 last year to 284 this year. The reduction affects both domestic and international locations. International centres have fallen from 24 to 14, with some cities in countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Hong Kong removed.

In India, certain states have seen notable changes: Odisha’s exam cities dropped from 23 to 17, Andhra Pradesh lost 12 centres, while Telangana added two new cities. Tamil Nadu removed three cities but introduced two new ones. Maharashtra experienced a slight net increase despite some removals.

Candidates are advised to verify the modified list of exam centres precisely during registration in order to opt for the most suitable centre for the exam. Syllabus modified for focused preparation.

Change in Syllabus 

The syllabus for the JEE Main has been modified by the NTA to remove topics inserted the previous year. In terms of physics, the following chapters have been removed: Scalars & Vectors, Addition and Subtraction of Vectors, Scalar & Vector Products, Unit Vectors and Resolution of Vectors.

Chemistry has seen the removal of entire chapters, such as States of Matter, Surface Chemistry, and General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals. Topics related to P-Block elements have also been simplified or deleted.

Mathematics maintains the continuity of last year's syllabus - the offered syllabus, which only lost topics of Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Coordinate Geometry, and Geometry. 

Visit official NTA website nta.ac.in, for such regular updates related to JEE Mains.