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By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 21 Jan 2026, 17:24 IST
The JEE Main 2026 exam kicks off with Session 1 on January 21, 2026, and students across India are eagerly searching for reliable insights. If you're looking for JEE 2026 paper analysis 21st January, JEE Main 2026, 21 Jan shift wise analysis, or JEE Main 2026 difficulty level January 21, you've come to the right place.
This comprehensive guide provides shift-wise JEE Main 2026 analysis for 21 January, including difficulty levels, chapter-wise weightage, most asked topics, good attempts, student feedback, and expert preparation tips. Based on trends from previous years like JEE Main 2025, we predict patterns while preparing for live post-exam updates on exam day.
Stay tuned as we update this JEE Main 2026 21 Jan paper review in real-time after each shift ends. Use our free tools like the JEE Main 2026 rank predictor to estimate your percentile based on marks.
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For January 21st Session 1 of JEE Main 2026, we will update exam analysis for both Shift 1 and Shift 2. This detailed breakdown of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics will help students understand question difficulty, topic weightage, and trends. The JEE Main 2026 paper analysis will be compiled from real-time student reactions and expert reviews after the examination.
Check Shift Wise Analysis and Difficulty Level JEE Main 2026, 21st January Shift-Wise Session 1: The JEE Main Exam 2026 January 21st Session 1 will be conducted in two shifts on January 21, 2026. Shift 1 is scheduled from 9 am to 12 noon, while Shift 2 will be from 3 pm to 6 pm. The exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), serves as the gateway for admissions to top engineering colleges like NITs, IIITs, and other premier institutions in India.
| Particulars | First Shift | Second Shift |
| JEE Main 2026 January 21st Exam Time | 9:00 am to 12 noon | 3:00 pm to 6 pm |
| Entry Time into the examination centre | 7:30 am to 8:30 am | 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm |
| JEE Main 2026 instructions by invigilator | 8:30 am to 8:50 am | 2:30 pm to 2:50 pm |
| Candidate login to read instructions | 8:50 am | 2:50 pm |
| Commencement of JEE Main 2026 January 21st exam | 9:00 am | 3:00 pm |
Overall Difficulty:Moderate
The first shift of JEE Main 2026 is now complete. Initial student reactions suggest a balanced paper, very similar to the difficulty level of JEE Main 2025.

As assessed by student reactions directly from the JEE Main exam centers, here is the real-time subject-wise difficulty level for the Day 1 engineering entrance exam. JEE Main 2026 Analysis - Difficulty Level (Jan 21)
| Date | Shift | Subject | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
| Jan 21 | First Shift | Maths | Moderate to Difficult (Lengthy and calculation-heavy) | 12–15 Questions |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate (Formula-based with focus on Mechanics) | 18–21 Questions | ||
| Chemistry | Easy (Highly NCERT-centric; Inorganic was direct) | 22–24 Questions | ||
| Jan 21 | Second Shift | Maths | Updating Live (Stay tuned for post-6 PM updates) | After 6:00 PM |
| Physics | Updating Live (Stay tuned for post-6 PM updates) | After 6:00 PM | ||
| Chemistry | Updating Live (Stay tuned for post-6 PM updates) | After 6:00 PM |
Here is the detailed JEE Main 2026 January 21st paper analysis for both shifts, covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. (This section will be updated live/post-exam with expert insights and student feedback.)

JEE

NEET

Foundation JEE

Foundation NEET

CBSE
This data is compiled from real-time student feedback and reflects the preliminary trends for Day 1.
| Subject | High Weightage (Must-Solve) | Medium Weightage | Low Weightage | Difficulty Trend |
| Physics | Modern Physics (4–5 Qs), Current Electricity (3–4 Qs), Electrostatics (3 Qs) | Mechanics (3–4 Qs), Ray Optics (2–3 Qs), Heat & Thermo | Units & Dimensions (1–2 Qs), Semiconductor | Scoring & Formula-Based: Most questions are direct applications. |
| Chemistry | Coordination Compounds (3–4 Qs), GOC/Organic (3–4 Qs), Mole Concept (3 Qs) | Chemical Bonding, Equilibrium, Alcohol/Phenols | Biomolecules (1 Q), Environmental Chem | NCERT-Direct: Highly predictable; inorganic was almost entirely from NCERT text. |
| Mathematics | Calculus (6–8 Qs), Vectors & 3D (4–5 Qs) | Matrices & Determinants (3 Qs), Coordinate Geometry (3 Qs) | Probability/Statistics (1–2 Qs), Sets & Relations | Calculus-Heavy: Solvable but requires intense calculation and speed. |
Shift 2 Analysis (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)Overall Difficulty:Moderate to Tough Unlike the morning session, Shift 2 has presented a more challenging environment for aspirants. According to initial student feedback, while the overall paper remains Moderate, certain sections—particularly Chemistry—felt significantly more demanding than previous years.
Updated as of 12:15 PM based on student reactions from exam centers.
| Date | Shift | Subject | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
| Jan 21 | Second Shift | Maths | Moderate (Repeated patterns observed) | 14–16 Questions |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate (Standard formulas) | 18–20 Questions | ||
| Chemistry | Tough (More analytical than Shift 1) | 16–18 Questions |
| Subject | High Weightage Topics | Notable Trends |
| Physics | Electrostatics, Modern Physics, Mechanics | Formula-driven; high scoring if concepts are clear. |
| Chemistry | Organic Conversions, p-Block, Thermodynamics | Harder than usual; required deep NCERT understanding. |
| Mathematics | Vectors & 3D Geometry (Highest), Calculus | Familiar question types; PYQs played a major role today. |
The general consensus among students is that compared to last year, the JEE Main 2026 January 21 exam was tough. While Physics remains consistent, the increased difficulty in Chemistry and the lengthy nature of Math (despite familiar patterns) has pushed the overall difficulty bar higher.

JEE Main Shift 2 Analysis (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)Overall Difficulty:Updating in Real-Time... The second shift of the Day 1 exam is currently underway. We are closely monitoring student exits and will provide a comprehensive breakdown immediately after the exam concludes at 6:00 PM. Stay tuned as we update this section with subject-wise trends and student feedback.
This table is updated in a timely manner as feedback arrives directly from the JEE Main exam centers.
| Date | Shift | Subject | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
| Jan 21 | First Shift | Maths | Moderate to Difficult (Lengthy) | 12–15 Questions |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate (Formula-based) | 18–21 Questions | ||
| Chemistry | Easy (NCERT-centric) | 22–24 Questions | ||
| Jan 21 | Second Shift | Maths | Updating Live (Post-6 PM) | Refreshing Soon... |
| Physics | Updating Live (Post-6 PM) | Refreshing Soon... | ||
| Chemistry | Updating Live (Post-6 PM) | Refreshing Soon... |
In both shifts of JEE Main 2026 January 21st, candidates will be tested on knowledge, problem-solving speed, and time management. Staying calm and attempting questions strategically is vital for optimal performance.
The JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis for January 21st will offer key insights into difficulty trends, topic distribution, and preparation gaps. Use this to refine your strategy for upcoming shifts or Session 2. Consistent practice and conceptual clarity remain the foundation for success in this competitive exam.
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The difficulty level for JEE Main 2026 shifts will be updated post-exam based on student feedback and expert reviews. Typically, the exam is moderate overall, with Mathematics often being the lengthiest and most challenging section.
Shift-wise comparisons will be available after both shifts conclude on January 21, 2026. In previous years, shifts varied slightly due to normalization by NTA, ensuring fairness.
Based on trends, high-weightage topics include:
Good attempts vary by shift difficulty, but generally: 60-70+ out of 90 questions for a 95+ percentile. This will be refined based on real-time January 21st feedback.
The JEE Mains qualifying cutoffs (percentile):
Actual cutoffs depend on overall performance and will be released by NTA after results.
Live updates, student reactions, and detailed analysis (including memory-based questions) will be posted shortly after each shift ends on January 21, 2026.
It provides insights into question distribution, difficulty trends, and topic weightage, helping students prioritize revision for remaining shifts or Session 2 (April 2026).
NTA applies normalization across shifts to account for any variations in difficulty, ensuring equitable percentiles.
Memory-based question papers and solutions PDFs will be available for download on this page post-exam. Official papers are released by NTA later.
Student reviews and reactions will be compiled and updated live after the shifts, covering aspects like time management and surprising topics.
Focus on high-weightage topics identified, practice similar questions, and work on weak areas highlighted in the shift-wise breakdown.
Based on trends, the difficulty is likely moderate, similar to recent sessions, with emphasis on conceptual and application-based questions.