JEE Advanced 2026 Remains Scheduled for May 17 as IIT Timeline Holds

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has officially confirmed that the JEE Advanced 2026 examination will be conducted on May 17, 2026.The admission cycle remains on track, with registrations for the top 2,50,000 JEE Main qualifiers scheduled to begin in late April. This national-level entrance serves as the sole gateway for undergraduate programs across all 23 IITs and other premier institutes like IISc and IISERs. Aspirants are advised to monitor the official portal for updates on the information brochure and detailed eligibility criteria for the 2026 academic session.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the organizing body for the current academic year, has reaffirmed that the JEE Advanced 2026 examination remains scheduled for May 17, 2026. As of today, February 13, 2026, the administrative timeline for the nation's most prestigious engineering entrance test holds steady. This confirmation comes while the JEE Main Session-2 registrations are still underway, providing a clear roadmap for the top 2.5 lakh candidates who will eventually qualify to vie for the limited seats across the 23 IITs. Official notifications and technical syllabi can be found on the official JEE Advanced portal.

Administrative Stability and Examination Roadmap

The IIT Council has maintained a consistent timeline for the 2026 session to ensure that the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) can commence the counseling process by mid-June. The choice of May 17 as the primary test date follows the traditional Sunday window, allowing for a standardized conduct of the two mandatory papers.

• Paper Structure: The examination will consist of two mandatory papers—Paper 1 and Paper 2—both held on the same day. Paper 1 is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by Paper 2 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
• Computer-Based Format: The entire examination will be conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. As noted in the IIT Kanpur admission guidelines, the test interface will include advanced features for multi-response and numerical-type questions.
• Organizing Authority: IIT Kanpur is responsible for the end-to-end management of the 2026 cycle, including the development of the question papers, center allocation, and the final merit list declaration.
• Eligibility Cap: Only the top 2,50,000 candidates (including all categories) from the JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) results will be eligible to register for the Advanced stage.

Candidate Registration and Critical Milestones

The official registration window for JEE Advanced 2026 is projected to open on April 26, 2026, immediately following the declaration of the final JEE Main rankings. The IIT admission board has emphasized that no extensions will be provided beyond the early May deadline for fee payments.

• Registration Fee: While the final brochure is awaited, the fee is expected to remain around ₹3,200 for general male candidates and ₹1,600 for female and reserved category aspirants. Payment must be made through the official payment gateway.
• Identity Verification: Candidates must ensure their Aadhaar details and category certificates are updated. The NTA JEE Main data will be directly mapped to the Advanced portal to streamline the verification process.
• Information Brochure: The detailed brochure, containing the zone-wise list of exam cities and the 75% aggregate rule for board marks, is expected to be released in the first week of March 2026.
• AAT 2026: For candidates interested in Architecture programs at IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT BHU, the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) will be held approximately ten days after the May 17 exam.

JEE Advanced 2026: Official Examination Timeline

Conclusion

The reaffirmation of the May 17 exam date today provides the necessary clarity for India’s top engineering aspirants to structure their final preparation phases. As the IIT timeline remains unaffected by external academic shifts, the focus of the community remains on achieving the high competitive standards required for JEE Advanced. The administrative coordination between the organizing IIT and the Zonal IITs ensures that the 2026 cycle will proceed with the highest level of academic integrity. Candidates are encouraged to frequently check the official NBEMS portal for associated academic updates and the JoSAA portal for preliminary seat matrix information.

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