JEE Main Session-1 Result Analysis Continues Following February 16 Release
The National Testing Agency declared the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results on February 16, with 12 students achieving a 100 percentile score. Candidates can now download their scorecards and check eligibility for the JEE Advanced 2026 exam via the official NTA portal.
The engineering community in India is currently buzzing with activity as the detailed analysis of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results continues. Exactly six days ago, on February 16, 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) officially declared the scores for the first session held in January. This year’s data shows a massive participation rate, with over 13 lakh students appearing for the examination across 326 cities in India and 15 international locations. As of today, February 22, candidates are busy comparing their percentile scores to understand their standing in the national merit list. The results were made available through the official JEE Main website.
Performance Highlights and Toppers
The most striking feature of the Session 1 result is the high level of competition. A total of 12 students have secured a perfect 100 percentile, which means they performed better than or equal to all other candidates in their respective shifts. These toppers come from diverse states, including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra.
- Total Registered Candidates: 13,55,293
- Total Appeared Candidates: 13,04,653
- Attendance Percentage: 96.26%
- 100 Percentilers: 12 Students
Ashi Grewal from Haryana has emerged as the female topper with a 99.99 percentile. It is important for students to remember that these scores are normalized. The NTA uses a specific formula to ensure that the varying difficulty levels of different shifts do not unfairly affect a student's final rank. For more technical details on the normalization process, you can visit the NTA official portal.
Understanding the Scorecard
Students who have already downloaded their scorecard will notice that it does not mention an "All India Rank" (AIR) yet. This is because the final ranks are only calculated after the Session 2 exam in April. The NTA will take the best of the two scores for candidates who appear in both sessions.
| Category | Expected Qualifying Cutoff (Approx.) |
| General (UR) | 93.2 – 94.1 |
| Gen-EWS | 81 – 82 |
| OBC-NCL | 79 – 80 |
| SC | 60 – 62 |
| ST | 47 – 49 |
The primary purpose of the Session 1 scorecard is to help students decide if they need to appear for Session 2 to improve their marks. It also determines who is eligible to sit for the JEE Advanced 2026, which is the gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Usually, the top 2.5 lakh candidates are shortlisted for the Advanced stage.
Steps for Students After Results
Now that the results are out, the NTA has shifted focus to the Session 2 registration. Candidates who wish to improve their performance have until February 24, 2026, to apply for the April session.
- Verify Details: Check your name, category, and state of eligibility on the result sheet.
- Download Final Answer Key: The NTA dropped 9 questions this year. Ensure your raw score calculation matches the Final Answer Key.
- Plan for Session 2: If your percentile is below your target, focus on the weak areas identified in the Session 1 analysis.
Conclusion
The JEE Main Session 1 result has set a very high benchmark for the upcoming April attempt. The record-breaking attendance of 96% shows that the drive for engineering admission in top institutes like NITs and IIITs is stronger than ever. Students are advised to use this week to introspect and refine their strategies. Remember to keep multiple printouts of your results, as they will be mandatory during the JoSAA counseling process later this year.
