JEE Main 2026 session 1 final answer key expected today, results by February 12

JEE Main 2026

• JEE Main 2026 Session 1 final answer key likely out today on jeemain.nta.nic.in
• Results expected by February 12; over 13 lakh candidates appeared for the exam
• Top 2.5 lakh qualifiers from Session 1 eligible for JEE Advanced 2026

Did our AI summary help?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is likely to release the final answer key for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 today, with the results expected to be announced by February 12, 2026. This development marks an important phase in the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) process, determining eligibility for India’s top engineering institutions.

Key Dates and Immediate Steps

Candidates can download the final answer key from the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in once it is published. The result declaration will follow shortly, concluding the evaluation process for the January session.

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 was conducted between January 21 and January 29, 2026, across ten shifts for Paper 1 (BE/BTech). Paper 2 for BArch and BPlanning aspirants was held on January 29. Official data confirms over 13 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 13.5 lakh registrations, highlighting the competitive scale of the session.

From Provisional to Final Answer Key

The NTA released the provisional answer key on February 4, opening a window for challenges until February 6. Candidates were permitted to raise objections at a fee of ₹200 per question. After a comprehensive review of all submitted challenges, the agency has prepared the conclusive final answer key, which will be the absolute reference for score calculation.

How to Estimate Scores and Understand Percentiles

With the final answer key, candidates can compute their estimated raw scores using the standard marking scheme:

• +4 marks for each correct answer.
• -1 mark for each incorrect MCQ.
• No negative marking for numerical value questions.

It is vital to note that the official result will display NTA percentiles, not raw marks. The NTA employs a normalisation process to compile scores from different shifts, adjusting for variations in question paper difficulty to ensure a fair percentile ranking.

Expected Cut-offs and JEE Advanced Eligibility

Analyzing previous years' trends, experts suggest that General category candidates may need a score in the range of 90–100 marks to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. This range typically corresponds to a percentile between 93 and 95. The top 2.5 lakh candidates from JEE Main Session 1 will secure the opportunity to appear for JEE Advanced, the gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The JEE Main score is an important component for admission to National Institutes of Technology (NITs), IIITs, and other Government Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs). For candidates aiming to improve their rank or who missed Session 1, JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is scheduled from April 2 to April 9, 2026. The best of the two session scores will be considered for final ranking and admission purposes.

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official NTA JEE Main website for the latest updates and direct links to download the final answer key and, subsequently, their results.