JEE Main 2026 Dates Announced: Which Exam Date and Shift May Be Toughest?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced the exam dates and shift schedule for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 for both Paper 1 (BE/BTech) and Paper 2 (BArch/BPlan). Along with the schedule, the agency has also released the JEE Main 2026 city intimation slip, informing candidates of their allotted exam date and city.

With lakhs of aspirants preparing to appear for the exam, many students are now wondering whether their allotted date and shift could turn out to be easy, moderate, or toughest. Based on previous year trends, here is an analysis to help candidates understand the possible difficulty pattern across different shifts.

JEE Main 2026 Exam Schedule Overview

• Paper 1 (BE/BTech): January 21, 22, 23, 24 & 28, 2026

• Paper 2 (BArch/BPlan): January 29, 2026

• Total Shifts (Paper 1): 10 shifts over 5 days

• Shift Timings (Paper 1):

  • Morning Shift: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

  • Afternoon Shift: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

• Paper 2 Timing: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Which JEE Main 2026 Date & Shift Could Be the Toughest?

While NTA aims to maintain a uniform difficulty level across all shifts, past JEE Main sessions indicate that minor variations in difficulty are common.

Expected Difficulty Level Based on Previous Year Trends

Key Observations from Previous Years

• Maths tends to be lengthier in later shifts

• Physics numericals may require more calculation

• Chemistry usually remains NCERT-based across all shifts

What Should Students Focus On Now?

Instead of worrying about the allotted shift, aspirants should focus on smart preparation strategies, including:

• Revising high-weightage chapters from Physics, Chemistry, and Maths

• Practising shift-wise previous years’ question papers

• Improving time management and accuracy through mock tests

• Avoiding last-minute speculation about exam difficulty

JEE Main 2026 Admit Card Update

• The JEE Main 2026 admit card will be released 3–4 days before the exam

• The exact shift timing and exam centre details will be mentioned on the hall ticket

• Currently, only the exam date and city have been allotted via the city intimation slip

Candidates can download the city slip from the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in using their application number and password.