JEE Main 2026 Session-2 Registration Continues with February 25 Deadline in Sight

The National Testing Agency (NTA) continues the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 registration process until February 25. Engineering aspirants must complete their application and fee payment online at jeemain.nta.nic.in. The April session serves as the final opportunity for students to improve their NTA scores for NIT and IIIT admissions before the JEE Advanced cycle begins.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially entered the second half of the registration cycle for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026 Session 2. As of today, February 15, the online portal remains the primary gateway for lakhs of engineering aspirants aiming for the April attempt. According to the official NTA calendar, the application window is strictly scheduled to remain open until February 25, 2026. This session represents a critical juncture for students, as it is the final opportunity to secure a high NTA score for admission into premier technical institutes like the NITs and IIITs. With the February 25 deadline approaching in just ten days, the agency has advised candidates to finalize their submissions to avoid the technical congestion often associated with the final hours of the process.

Mandatory Protocols for Session 2 Registration

For the 2026-27 academic session, the NTA has integrated several advanced security features to ensure the integrity of the national-level entrance test. These measures apply to both fresh applicants and those who previously appeared in the January session.

• Aadhaar e-KYC Integration: To minimize identity fraud, the jeemain.nta.nic.in portal now utilizes Aadhaar-based authentication. This fetches a candidate's name, date of birth, and gender directly from the UIDAI database, ensuring that the profile remains verified at the source.
• Live Photograph Capture: A new mandatory requirement in the 2026 process is the browser-based live photo capture. Candidates must use a device with a functional camera to record their real-time image during the application, which is then cross-referenced with their uploaded identity documents.
• Fee Payment Window: While the form submission window closes at 9:00 PM on February 25, students are granted until 11:50 PM on the same day to complete their online transaction through the integrated payment gateway.

Eligibility and Examination Schedule

The Session 2 examination is strategically timed to follow the conclusion of major board exams, providing a fair environment for all candidates. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the scores from this attempt will be normalized to maintain parity across multiple shifts.

• April Exam Window: The Session 2 exams are scheduled to take place between April 2 and April 9, 2026. The exact date-wise schedule and shift timing will be communicated through the individual admit cards issued in late March.
• Academic Criteria: Candidates who have passed their Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, or 2025, or are currently appearing in 2026, are eligible to apply. There is no specific age limit for the examination, though institutional age criteria may apply during the JoSAA counseling.
• Subject Requirements: For B.E./B.Tech papers, a candidate must have studied Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one of Chemistry, Biology, or a technical vocational subject.

Conclusion

As the 15th of February marks the transition toward the final ten days of the registration window, the NTA continues to monitor the portal for technical stability. This April attempt is not just a second chance but a strategic path for students to improve their All India Rank (AIR) based on the best of two scores. Following the February 25 deadline, the focus will shift toward the correction window, where candidates can rectify minor errors in their submitted form. With the examination dates set for early April, students are entering their final phase of intensive preparation. The successful completion of this process ensures their eligibility to compete for seats in India's top engineering colleges and serves as the qualifying round for the JEE Advanced 2026.

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