JEE Main 2026 Response Sheet & Challenge Window: Dates and Process

The National Testing Agency is expected to release the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 response sheet and open the challenge window in the first week of February. Candidates can download their recorded responses from the official portal using their application number and date of birth to verify their performance. The portal will also allow students to submit objections against the provisional answer key by paying a processing fee of ₹200 per challenged question. This phase is critical for estimating percentiles and preparing for the final result declaration scheduled for mid-February 2026.

Following the conclusion of the JEE Main 2026 January exams on January 29, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is preparing to upload the digital response sheet for all participants. This document is a comprehensive record of every answer selected by the candidate during the computer-based test. By accessing their response sheet, students can precisely identify which questions they attempted and the specific option IDs they selected across the Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics sections.

• The NTA typically makes the response sheet available through the candidate login on jeemain.nta.nic.in.
• It displays the Question ID, the Option IDs for all four choices, and the "Option ID" actually chosen by the student.
• This transparency allows candidates to cross-verify their work with unofficial keys provided by experts before the official solutions are out.
• Students are advised to download and save a PDF copy of their response sheet immediately, as the link remains active for a limited duration.

          Navigating the Answer Key Challenge Window

Simultaneous with the release of student responses, the NTA opens a dedicated challenge window to address potential discrepancies in the provisional answer key. If a candidate believes that the official answer provided for a particular question is incorrect, they can use this challenge window to submit a formal objection. This iterative process ensures that the final evaluation is based on a verified and accurate set of solutions.

• To use the challenge window, candidates must select the Question ID they wish to contest and provide the correct "Claimed Option ID."
• A non-refundable fee of ₹200 is mandatory for each objection raised during the challenge window period.
• Aspirants must upload a single PDF file containing supporting evidence, such as solved equations or NCERT references, to justify their claim.
• If the expert panel accepts the challenge, the key is updated for all candidates, and the processing fee for that specific challenge is typically refunded.

            Score Estimation and Result Preparation

The primary utility of having both the response sheet and the provisional key is the ability to calculate a "Raw Score" before the official results are announced. The JEE Main marking scheme awards +4 for every correct response and deducts -1 for every incorrect multiple-choice question. Once the challenge window closes and all objections are processed, the NTA compiles the final answer key to generate the percentile-based results.

• Score Calculation: Raw Score = (Correct × 4) - (Incorrect × 1).
• The final results, including NTA scores for the January session, are tentatively scheduled for release by February 12, 2026.
• Only the final answer key—released after the challenge window—is used for the ultimate computation of results.
• Percentile scores are calculated through a normalization process to account for varying difficulty levels across different exam shifts.

Conclusion

The upcoming release of the JEE Main 2026 response sheet and the opening of the challenge window represent the final interactive phase of the Session 1 admission cycle. These tools provide candidates with the transparency needed to audit their own performance and ensure the accuracy of the official marking system. As the NTA processes the feedback from the challenge window, students can begin planning their strategy for the April session based on their estimated scores. The transition from raw marks to the final merit list in mid-February will ultimately determine the path forward for millions of engineering aspirants. Staying alert to the official notifications on the NTA website is essential to participate in this time-bound verification process.