The National Testing Agency (NTA) has commenced the online application process for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026, which will be open from October 31 to November 27. The first session is set to take place from January 21 to 30, with results expected to be announced on February 26.
Among the new accessibility features introduced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026, aspiring for admission to undergraduate programs in engineering, architecture, and planning, are an onscreen virtual calculator for basic calculations, a dark mode for enhanced eye comfort, a screen magnifier with up to 4x zoom, and options to modify font and cursor size.
In the information bulletin for JEE Main 2026 released on Friday night, NTA stated, “An onscreen standard calculator will be available throughout the computer-based Test (CBT). Utilize this basic calculator online for mathematical operations including addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. The calculator also features functions for square root, percentage, and more.”
Students and experts have noted that while the basic virtual calculator icon has always been present during the JEE Main examination, it had not been officially announced in previous years.
The initiative has been positively received by students and experts, who believe it will enhance accuracy and alleviate exam-related stress.
Ayush Awasthi, a JEE aspirant from Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, mentioned that he observed the calculator icon last year but refrained from using it due to concerns that it might lead to the cancellation of his exam. “No one at our centre was aware of how to use it. It is beneficial that NTA has officially acknowledged this in their information bulletin this year. The calculator will enable us to solve questions more accurately in a shorter time compared to previous years, thereby reducing pressure,” he remarked.
Another aspirant, Shivain Dutta from Surat, expressed that he has been solving numerical problems manually until now. “I will begin using the calculator in practice tests from this point forward,” he stated.
Experts have also commended the initiative. Jeevan Jyoti Agarwal, who leads the JEE division at Allen Career Institute in Kota, remarked, “this will foster conceptual understanding and intelligent problem-solving rather than mere manual computation. This method, which is already prevalent in American and European educational systems, is a positive development. It will alleviate exam-related stress.” Purnima Kaul, the founder of the online platform JEE One, further noted that it would enable students to “address lengthy questions more efficiently.”
NTA officials declined to provide comments regarding the implementation of virtual calculators in JEE Main 2026, indicating that “further clarification is required on this initiative.”
Nevertheless, an NTA representative mentioned that the agency has given particular consideration to the requirements of Persons with Disability (PwD) and Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) candidates in JEE Main 2026. Features such as a dark mode screen, a screen magnifier with up to 4x zoom, and options for font and cursor modifications are being introduced to enhance accessibility—these features will significantly assist PwD and PwBD candidates while also being available to all examinees.
“The Unique Disability Identification (UDID) portal has been incorporated into the JEE Main application form for the first time,” the official stated, requesting to remain anonymous.
The official also mentioned that last year, the examination dates for approximately 2,500 Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students coincided with the NTA JEE Main schedule. “To avoid such conflicts, we have engaged in discussions with CBSE officials and devised strategies to prevent overlaps this time,” he explained. On Thursday, CBSE instructed all schools to provide the registration numbers of Class 11 students applying for JEE (Main). “To ensure that the JEE (Main) and CBSE examinations do not coincide for students, NTA will require the Class XI registration number to be included in the JEE (Main) application,” CBSE stated.
The NTA has expanded the number of test cities from 299 in 2025 to 323 in 2026 to enhance accessibility. Candidates are permitted to choose up to four preferred cities, and although efforts will be made to assign centres according to these preferences, adjustments may be necessary due to logistical considerations.
JEE Main is conducted biannually—in January and April. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) is a completely computer-based examination consisting of 75 questions and a total of 300 marks. Paper 2A (B.Arch) integrates computer-based testing and pen-and-paper drawing sections for a total of 400 marks, while Paper 2B (B.Plan) is entirely computer-based with approximately 100 questions. Each correct response awards 4 marks, whereas 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect multiple-choice question. Candidates with disabilities (PwD) are allotted an additional 20 minutes of compensatory time for every hour of the examination.
Approximately 14.15 lakh students participated in JEE Main 2024, and around 14.75 lakh in 2025.
