The first session of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 has officially concluded today following the final shift for Paper 2 candidates. National Testing Agency officials are now preparing to transition into the evaluation phase for the nearly twelve lakh engineering and architecture aspirants. Students can expect the release of the provisional answer keys and individual response sheets on the official portal within the first week of February. The results for this January session are tentatively scheduled for declaration by mid-February, paving the for the second session registration.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has successfully wrapped up the first session of the JEE Main 2026 today, January 29, 2026. While the B.E./B.Tech (Paper 1) examinations were held across multiple shifts between January 21 and January 28, the final day was dedicated to Paper 2A and 2B for Architecture and Planning aspirants. Reports from various centers indicate that the Session-1 exams were conducted smoothly without any major technical glitches.

• The Session-1 cycle saw a high turnout of candidates across 500+ cities in India and abroad.
• Paper 1 (Engineering) was administered in two shifts, whereas today's Paper 2 was conducted in a single forenoon shift.
• This Session-1 attempt provides students with an early opportunity to secure their scores before the April session.
• Security measures, including Aadhaar authentication and biometric verification, were strictly enforced throughout the Session-1 window.

           Post-Exam Timeline: Answer Keys and Result Declaration

With the conclusion of the exam today, the focus for aspirants shifts toward the Answer Key and result declaration. The NTA typically releases the provisional Answer Key and candidate response sheets within three to five days of the last exam date. This allows students to verify their responses and raise objections if they find any discrepancies in the official Answer Key before the final scores are computed.

• The NTA will activate a specific link for the Answer Key on the official portal, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
• Candidates can use the Answer Key to calculate their raw scores before the normalization process begins.
• The final result will be published in the form of NTA scores (percentiles) for each subject and a total score.
• A high score in the January result can significantly reduce the pressure on students appearing for the April session.

         Transition to JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Registration

As the first session ends, the registration window for the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is expected to open shortly. Students who wish to improve their performance or those who missed the January attempt can apply for the April exams. The Session 2 registration process is typically a shorter cycle, and candidates who already registered for Session 1 will only need to log in and pay the additional exam fee.

• Registration for the second session is tentatively scheduled to begin by January 31, 2026.
• The Session 2 exams are slated to take place between April 2 and April 9, 2026.
• It is important to note that the best of the two NTA scores will be considered for the final All India Rank (AIR).
• Fresh applicants for Session 2 must complete the full registration process, including document uploads.

Conclusion

The completion of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 today marks the end of the first major milestone for engineering aspirants this year. As the NTA shifts its focus to the evaluation of millions of responses, candidates are encouraged to take a brief hiatus before the next phase of the admission cycle. The upcoming release of the Answer Key will provide the much-needed clarity on individual performance. With the result expected by mid-February, students will soon have a clearer picture of their standing in the national merit list. The successful conclusion of this session sets a positive tone for the upcoming April attempt and the subsequent JEE Advanced cycle.