JEE Main 2026 Session-2 Registration Window Remains Open Until Feb 25

As of February 18, 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is in the final week of registration for JEE Main Session-2.Engineering aspirants must complete their applications on the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in before the upcoming deadline. This April session serves as the final opportunity for students to improve their NTA scores for the 2026-27 admission cycle With the cutoff approaching on February 25, candidates are advised to finalize their fee payments and document uploads to avoid last-minute server congestion.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is currently facilitating the final stages of the application process for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session-2. As of today, February 18, 2026, the online registration portal remains active for all engineering aspirants who wish to appear for the April examinations. This session is critical for students who aim to improve their performance from the January attempt or for those appearing for the first time in the 2026 cycle. According to the official public notice, the window for submitting the online form will strictly close on February 25, 2026, leaving less than a week for candidates to finalize their enrollment for the country’s premier engineering entrance test.

1. Key Deadlines and Application Procedures

The NTA has emphasized that the current application window is the terminal opportunity for the 2026 academic year. Candidates are required to navigate the JEE Main Portal to complete their submissions before the high-traffic period begins.

• Final Dates: The deadline for online application submission is February 25 (up to 9:00 PM), while the successful transaction of the prescribed fee is permitted until 11:50 PM on the same day.
• Session-1 Candidates: Students who previously registered for the January session do not need to fill a fresh form; they can log in using their existing credentials and opt for the April session directly.
• New Registrants: Fresh aspirants must undergo the full enrollment process, including the recently mandated Aadhaar-based e-KYC and the "Live Photo" capture feature to ensure identity verification.
• Fee Structure: The NTA has maintained a consistent fee structure for the 2026 cycle, with payments being accepted exclusively via credit/debit cards, net banking, or verified UPI gateways.

2. Eligibility Criteria and Security Enhancements

To ensure a fair and transparent examination environment, the NTA has implemented several security protocols for the 2026-27 enrollment cycle. Candidates must meet the specific academic requirements to avoid disqualification during the counseling phase.

• Academic Qualification: Candidates must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent exam in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing for it in the current 2026 session.
• Anti-Fraud Measures: The introduction of the "Live Photo" feature at the time of application ensures that the candidate's image at the testing center matches the one provided during enrollment.
• One Application Policy: The NTA has issued a stern warning that submitting more than one form will be treated as Unfair Means (UFM), leading to the immediate cancellation of aspirants' results.
• Subject Choice: During the session selection, students must carefully choose their medium of paper and exam city preferences, as these cannot be easily changed once the portal closes.

3. Preparation for the April Examination Cycle

With the application phase nearing its end, the focus of the NTA is shifting toward the logistics of the April exams, which are scheduled to be conducted between April 2 and April 9, 2026. This period is vital for the aspirants to transition from administrative tasks back to intensive academic revision.

• Exam Schedule: The JEE Main Session-2 will be held in multiple shifts across hundreds of cities in India and selected centers abroad.
• Correction Window: A brief correction facility is expected to open in the last week of February for candidates to rectify minor errors in their enrollment data.
• Admit Card Release: The NTA typically releases the admit cards three to four days prior to the commencement of the first exam, following the city intimation slip in mid-March.
• Score Normalization: The final merit list and All India Ranks (AIR) will be calculated after the April session, using the best of the two NTA scores for those who appeared in both attempts.

Conclusion

As of February 18, 2026, the JEE Main 2026 session continues to be the top priority for millions of engineering students across the nation. The NTA's efficient handling of the application portal ensures that the pathway to the NITs, IIITs, and eventually the JEE Advanced remains accessible and secure. All aspirants are urged to complete their enrollment well before the February 25 cutoff to avoid technical bottlenecks. This April attempt represents more than just a second chance; it is a definitive step toward securing a future in India’s leading technical institutions. For the 2026 batch, the journey toward the April exams is now entering its final, high-stakes preparatory phase.

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