JEE Main 2026 exams begin from tomorrow: Check exam day guidelines, dos and don’ts here

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will commence the conduct of JEE Main Exam 2026, Session 1, from tomorrow, January 21. The national level entrance exam is one of the most crucial steps for students aiming to gain admission into the engineering program at the IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other technical schools across the country. With the huge presence of candidates sitting for the exams, it is essential for the students to be familiar with the norms to be followed during the exams.In order to prevent any last-minute hassle or error, the NTA has provided a set of guidelines to follow while reporting for the examination, documents to be brought, allowed objects, and behavior while sitting for the examination. This ensures candidates are only worried about their own performance.

JEE Main 2026 exam schedule, shifts and reporting time

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 will be conducted over several days in two shifts for the BE and BTech paper.

Candidates should reach the exam centre at least one to two hours before the exam starts. Entry gates will close strictly at the time mentioned on the admit card. Students arriving late will not be allowed to enter the exam centre under any condition.

Documents and verification process

Students must carry the required documents to the exam centre. These include a printed copy of the JEE Main 2026 admit card, one valid original photo ID proof such as Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, driving licence or school ID, and a passport-size photograph.Biometric authentication exercises shall also take place at the examination centre. This shall include fingerprint scanning or iris scanning. Candidates should fully comply with the staff present during the process of authentication to facilitate entry.

Allowed and prohibited items inside the exam hall

Only limited items are allowed inside the exam hall. These include the admit card, valid ID proof, a transparent ballpoint pen and PwD certificate if applicable.Items such as mobile phones, smartwatches, earphones, calculators, bags, books, notes, loose papers, jewellery and metallic accessories are strictly prohibited. Carrying any banned item may lead to cancellation of the candidature.

Dress code, behaviour rules, dos and don’ts

Candidates are advised to wear simple and comfortable clothes. Avoid clothes with metal parts, heavy jewellery, thick-soled shoes or accessories that may cause problems during security checks.Dos:

Don’ts:

Following these simple rules will help students have a smooth and stress-free JEE Main 2026 exam day.