Courses
By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 13 Apr 2026, 13:49 IST
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 was conducted from April 2–8, 2026. A total of 11.65 lakh candidates registered and 10.73 lakh appeared across 566 centres in 304 cities. The provisional answer key was released on April 11, 2026. The Session 2 result is expected on April 20, 2026 at jeemain.nta.nic.in. NTA takes the best percentile from Session 1 and Session 2 for the final merit list.
80 marks in JEE Mains percentile 2026 is expected to fall in the range of 89 to 92 percentile, based on Session 1 trends and Session 2 shift-wise analysis. The exact percentile for 80 marks depends on the difficulty level of the shift, the number of candidates in that session, and the NTA normalisation formula applied. Candidates who score 80 marks in JEE Mains perform better than approximately 89% to 92% of all test-takers in their session. This is considered an average to above-average score.
For General category candidates, 80 marks falls below the expected JEE Advanced qualifying cutoff of 93–95 percentile. For OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and EWS candidates, this score provides clear JoSAA eligibility and, for SC and ST, comfortable JEE Advanced qualification. Candidates can use this page to check the 80 marks in JEE Mains percentile, expected All India Rank, shift-wise analysis, category-wise cutoff comparison, and a complete list of colleges accessible at this score in 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
| Expected Percentile | 89 – 92 (shift-dependent) |
| Expected All India Rank | 1,20,000 – 1,70,000 |
| Total Candidates (Session 2, 2026) | 10.73 lakh appeared |
| General Category Qualifying Cutoff (Expected) | 93 – 95 percentile |
| OBC-NCL Qualifying Cutoff (Expected) | 79 – 81 percentile |
| SC Qualifying Cutoff (Expected) | 60 – 62 percentile |
| ST Qualifying Cutoff (Expected) | 47 – 49 percentile |
| JEE Advanced Eligibility (General) | Not eligible at this score |
| JEE Advanced Eligibility (OBC-NCL) | Borderline – may qualify |
| JEE Advanced Eligibility (SC / ST) | Eligible |
| Session 2 Result Expected | April 20, 2026 |
80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 is expected to give a percentile of 89 to 92, based on official Session 1 results, Session 2 shift-wise coaching institute analysis, and previous year NTA normalisation data. As per Careers360 expert analysis, candidates scoring 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 can expect approximately 90.27 percentile in a moderately difficult shift. In tougher shifts where fewer candidates score high marks, 80 marks can fetch up to 92 percentile.
In easier shifts where more candidates perform well, the same score may yield 89 percentile. The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result is expected on April 20, 2026. The final official percentile will be declared by NTA at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates can refer to the table below for the expected percentile for 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026:
| Marks (out of 300) | Expected Percentile (2026) | Expected AIR (2026) |
| 50 | 72 – 77 | 3,50,000 – 4,30,000 |
| 60 | 80 – 84 | 2,50,000 – 3,20,000 |
| 70 | 87 – 90 | 1,55,000 – 2,05,000 |
| 80 | 89 – 92 | 1,20,000 – 1,70,000 |
| 90 | 92 – 94 | 93,000 – 1,20,000 |
| 100 | 93 – 95 | 77,500 – 93,000 |
| 120 | 95 – 97 | 46,500 – 77,500 |
| 150 | 97.5 – 98.5 | 23,250 – 38,750 |
| 180 | 98.8 – 99.2 | 12,400 – 18,600 |
| 200 | 99 – 99.5 | 7,750 – 15,500 |
Students often search for percentile data for marks near 80 to understand how small score differences impact standing. Candidates can refer to the table below for a granular comparison:
| Marks | Expected Percentile | Rank Range | Position Among 15.5L Candidates |
| 75 | 88 – 90 | 1,40,000 – 1,86,000 | Top 12% |
| 78 | 88.5 – 91 | 1,30,000 – 1,78,000 | Top 11% |
| 80 | 89 – 92 | 1,20,000 – 1,70,000 | Top 10–11% |
| 82 | 90 – 92 | 1,10,000 – 1,55,000 | Top 10% |
| 85 | 90.5 – 92.5 | 1,05,000 – 1,47,000 | Top 9–10% |
The difference between 75 marks and 85 marks is roughly 2 percentile points in 2026 — a small margin in raw score terms that translates to a meaningful rank difference of approximately 40,000 positions.
The table below outlines the expected percentiles and ranks for a score of 80 marks in the JEE Main exam scheduled for 2026, assuming an easier paper, a moderate paper and a tough paper. It also includes projections for all scores 89 to 80 marks, providing candidates with insight into their potential performance relative to others.
| Marks | Easy Paper Percentile | Easy Paper Rank | Moderate Paper Percentile | Moderate Paper Rank | Tough Paper Percentile | Tough Paper Rank |
| 90 marks | 88.2+ | ≈ 175,000 | 90.1+ | ≈ 148,000 | 94.1+ | ≈ 90,500 |
| 89 marks | 87.8+ | ≈ 182,000 | 90.0+ | ≈ 150,000 | 93.9+ | ≈ 93,500 |
| 88 marks | 87.4+ | ≈ 188,500 | 89.8+ | ≈ 152,500 | 93.6+ | ≈ 96,000 |
| 87 marks | 87.0+ | ≈ 193,500 | 89.6+ | ≈ 155,000 | 93.3+ | ≈ 99,500 |
| 86 marks | 86.7+ | ≈ 198,000 | 89.4+ | ≈ 158,000 | 93.0+ | ≈ 102,500 |
| 85 marks | 86.3+ | ≈ 203,000 | 89.2+ | ≈ 161,000 | 92.7+ | ≈ 106,000 |
| 84 marks | 86.0+ | ≈ 208,500 | 89.0+ | ≈ 164,000 | 92.4+ | ≈ 109,500 |
| 83 marks | 85.6+ | ≈ 214,000 | 88.7+ | ≈ 168,000 | 92.1+ | ≈ 113,000 |
| 82 marks | 85.2+ | ≈ 220,000 | 88.4+ | ≈ 172,000 | 91.8+ | ≈ 116,500 |
| 81 marks | 84.7+ | ≈ 230,000 | 88.1+ | ≈ 176,500 | 91.6+ | ≈ 120,000 |
| 80 marks | 84.2+ | ≈ 238,000 | 87.8+ | ≈ 181,000 | 91.3+ | ≈ 124,000 |
Since JEE Main 2026 is conducted across multiple shifts with varying difficulty, the percentile for the same 80 marks differs by shift. Candidates can refer to the shift-wise data below to find their estimated percentile.
JEE
NEET
Foundation JEE
Foundation NEET
CBSE
| Shift | Difficulty Level | Marks Needed for 90 Percentile | Est. Percentile for 80 Marks |
| Jan 21 Shift 2 (Easiest) | Easy | ~102 | 88 – 89 |
| Jan 22 Shift 1 | Easy–Moderate | ~98 | 89 – 90 |
| Jan 23 Shift 1 | Moderate | ~92 | 90 – 91 |
| Jan 23 Shift 2 (Toughest) | Tough | ~82 | 91 – 92 |
| Jan 24 Shift 1 | Moderate | ~94 | 89 – 91 |
| Shift | Difficulty Level | Marks Needed for 90 Percentile | Est. Percentile for 80 Marks |
| Apr 4 Shift 1 (Easiest) | Easy | ~105 | 87 – 89 |
| Apr 2 Shift 1 | Moderate | ~97 | 89 – 90 |
| Apr 5 Shift 1 | Moderate–Easy | ~100 | 88 – 89 |
| Apr 6 Shift 1 (Toughest) | Tough | ~80 | 91 – 92 |
| Apr 8 Shift 2 | Moderate | ~94 | 89 – 91 |
Key takeaway for students: Candidates who appeared in the toughest shifts of Session 2 (April 6 Shift 1) can expect closer to 91–92 percentile for 80 marks. Those in the easiest shift (April 4 Shift 1) can expect closer to 87–89 percentile for the same score. Normalisation ensures this is fair before the final merit list is prepared.
Candidates can refer to the table below for historical data on what percentile 80 marks has fetched in previous sessions:
| Year | Session | Expected Percentile for 80 Marks |
| 2026 | Session 1 (Jan) | 89 – 92 |
| 2026 | Session 2 (Apr) | 87 – 92 (shift-dependent) |
| 2025 | Session 1 (Jan) | 89 – 91 |
| 2025 | Session 2 (Apr) | 88 – 91 |
| 2024 | Session 1 (Jan) | 89 – 91 |
| 2024 | Session 2 (Apr) | 88 – 90 |
| 2023 | Session 1 (Jan) | 86 – 89 |
The trend confirms that 80 marks has consistently placed candidates in the 89–92 percentile band across most sessions from 2023 to 2026. The slight increase in recent years reflects the growing competition and increasing number of registered candidates.
The All India Rank for 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 is estimated between 1,20,000 and 1,70,000. This is based on an expected percentile of 89–92 and a combined candidate pool of approximately 15.5 lakh in the final JEE Main 2026 merit list. NTA uses the following formula to derive AIR from percentile: AIR = ((100 – Percentile) ÷ 100) × 15,50,000 + 1 Candidates can refer to the table below for percentile-to-rank conversion for ranks near the 80-mark range:
| Percentile | Expected AIR (2026) |
| 92 | ~1,24,000 |
| 91 | ~1,39,500 |
| 90 | ~1,55,000 |
| 89 | ~1,70,500 |
| 88 | ~1,86,000 |
NTA does not convert raw marks directly into a fixed percentile. It uses the following normalisation formula: Percentile Score = (Number of candidates in the session scoring equal to or less than you ÷ Total candidates in that session) × 100 Candidates should understand the following key points about JEE Mains percentile calculation:
Also Read: How NTA Normalisation Works in JEE Main 2026 – Explained
This is one of the most commonly confused points among JEE Mains aspirants. Candidates must understand that 80 marks and 80 percentile are completely different. Candidates can refer to the table below for a clear comparison:
| Parameter | 80 Marks | 80 Percentile |
| What it means | Raw score of 80 out of 300 | Scored better than 80% of candidates |
| Equivalent other value | ~89–92 percentile (2026) | ~55–65 marks (approx., shift-dependent) |
| Expected AIR | 1,20,000 – 1,70,000 | 2,50,000 – 3,20,000 |
| JEE Advanced (General) | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| JoSAA eligibility | OBC/SC/ST/EWS: Yes | Only SC/ST/EWS: Yes |
Simply put, 80 marks in JEE Mains gives a much better percentile than 80 percentile in JEE Mains. A student asking "what is 80 percentile in JEE Mains in marks?" should note that 80 percentile corresponds to approximately 55–65 raw marks — not 80 marks.
Also Read: Difference Between JEE Mains Marks, Percentile and Rank Explained
The impact of 80 marks in JEE Mains varies significantly based on the candidate's category. Candidates can check the table below for a category-wise breakdown:
| Category | Expected 2026 Cutoff | 80 Marks (89–92 Percentile) Status | JEE Advanced Eligible? | JoSAA Eligible? |
| General (UR) | 93 – 95 | Below cutoff | No | Borderline – may not qualify |
| GEN-EWS | 80 – 82 | At or above cutoff | Yes | Yes |
| OBC-NCL | 79 – 81 | Above cutoff | Yes (borderline) | Yes |
| SC | 60 – 62 | Well above cutoff | Yes | Yes |
| ST | 47 – 49 | Well above cutoff | Yes | Yes |
| PwD (UR) | ~0.008 | Well above cutoff | Yes | Yes |
The 2026 official qualifying cutoff will be declared by NTA with the Session 2 result on April 20, 2026. Values above are based on 2025 official cutoffs (General: 93.10, OBC-NCL: 79.43, SC: 61.15, ST: 47.90) and 2026 expert projections.
For General category candidates specifically: 80 marks placing at 89–92 percentile is below the General category qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced. These candidates do not qualify for JEE Advanced but can explore NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, state colleges, and private universities.
80 marks out of 300 in JEE Mains equals 26.6% of the total paper in raw percentage terms. However, in the context of JEE Mains — which is one of the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India — raw percentage is not the right benchmark. Candidates can check the table below to understand what 89–92 percentile for 80 marks actually means:
| Parameter | Meaning for 80 Marks |
| Performance vs all candidates | Better than 89%–92% of 10.73 lakh candidates (Session 2) |
| JEE Advanced eligibility (General) | Not eligible |
| JEE Advanced eligibility (SC/ST/EWS) | Eligible |
| JEE Advanced eligibility (OBC-NCL) | Borderline – depends on final cutoff |
| Strongest college options | Private universities, state colleges, newer NITs (reserved/home state) |
| Weakest area | Top NITs and IIITs for General category in CSE/ECE |
80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 is a meaningful score. It does not open top NITs for General category candidates but keeps strong options open through state counselling, private universities, and category-based NIT/IIIT seats. A score improvement of 30–40 marks in a second attempt can significantly change college options.
Also Check: What is a Good Score in JEE Mains 2026?
Candidates with 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 have access to multiple admission pathways. Options vary significantly by category, home state, and branch preference. Note: JoSAA 2026 counselling has not yet commenced. The college closing ranks below are based on JoSAA 2025 data and are indicative. The JoSAA 2026 official opening and closing ranks will be published after result declaration on April 20, 2026.
For General category candidates with AIR 1,20,000–1,70,000, access to established NITs is limited. However, newer NITs and North-East NITs accept candidates at this rank range in non-CS branches. Reserved category and home state quota candidates have significantly better access. Candidates can refer to the table below for NITs where admission was possible near this rank range in JoSAA 2025:
| NIT | Branch | Category | JoSAA 2025 Closing Rank (Approx.) | NIRF 2024 Rank |
| NIT Mizoram | Civil Engineering | General | 1,70,000 – 2,10,000 | 101–150 |
| NIT Sikkim | Mechanical Engineering | General | 1,55,000 – 1,95,000 | 101–150 |
| NIT Nagaland | Electronics & Communication | General | 1,48,000 – 1,88,000 | 101–150 |
| NIT Puducherry | Chemical Engineering | General | 1,40,000 – 1,78,000 | 101–150 |
| NIT Manipur | Civil Engineering | General | 1,52,000 – 1,92,000 | 101–150 |
| NIT Agartala | Electrical Engineering | OBC-NCL | 1,05,000 – 1,40,000 | 76 |
| NIT Agartala | Mechanical Engineering | OBC-NCL | 98,000 – 1,30,000 | 76 |
| NIT Raipur | Chemical Engineering | OBC-NCL | 92,000 – 1,22,000 | 52 |
| NIT Goa | Civil Engineering | OBC-NCL | 88,000 – 1,18,000 | 89 |
| NIT Durgapur | Chemical Engineering | SC | 72,000 – 1,00,000 | 54 |
| NIT Jalandhar | Civil Engineering | SC | 78,000 – 1,10,000 | 57 |
| NIT Silchar | Electrical Engineering | SC | 68,000 – 95,000 | 65 |
Also Read: NITs for 80–90 Percentile in JEE Mains 2026 – Full List with Cutoffs | Complete List of NITs Accepting JEE Main Score 2026
Candidates with 80 marks in JEE Mains can consider newer IIITs for non-CS branches or as reserved category candidates. Candidates can check the table below:
| College | Branch | Approx. JoSAA 2025 Closing Rank (General) | NIRF 2024 Rank |
| IIIT Manipur | CSE | 1,58,000 – 1,95,000 | – |
| IIIT Una | CSE | 1,35,000 – 1,72,000 | – |
| IIIT Nagpur | ECE | 1,28,000 – 1,65,000 | – |
| IIIT Lucknow | ECE | 1,15,000 – 1,52,000 | – |
| IIIT Vadodara | IT | 1,10,000 – 1,45,000 | – |
GFTIs are government-funded institutes that offer quality education at lower fees and are frequently overlooked by candidates in this rank range.
| College | Branch | Approx. JoSAA 2025 Closing Rank (General) | NIRF 2024 Rank |
| BIT Mesra, Ranchi | Chemical Engineering | 1,05,000 – 1,42,000 | 51 |
| BIT Mesra, Ranchi | Biotechnology | 1,25,000 – 1,62,000 | 51 |
| Assam University, Silchar | Mechanical Engineering | 1,52,000 – 1,98,000 | – |
| Sant Longowal Inst. of Engg. | Mechanical Engineering | 1,40,000 – 1,80,000 | – |
| School of Planning & Architecture, Bhopal | Planning | 1,30,000 – 1,68,000 | – |
Also Read: Top GFTIs Accepting JEE Main Score 2026 – Complete List
Private universities are the strongest and most accessible option for candidates scoring 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026, particularly for CSE and IT branches. Several reputed private universities accept JEE Mains scores directly and offer strong placement records. Candidates can refer to the table below for top private universities accepting 89–92 percentile in JEE Mains 2026:
| University | Top Branches | Approx. Annual Fee | NIRF Engineering Rank 2024 |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala | CSE, ECE, Mechanical | ₹3.5 – 4.5 lakh | 27 |
| KIIT University, Bhubaneswar | CSE, IT, ECE, AIML | ₹2.5 – 3.5 lakh | 18 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | CSE, ECE, AI | ₹2 – 4 lakh | 6 |
| SASTRA University, Thanjavur | CSE, ECE | ₹1.5 – 2.5 lakh | 45 |
| VIT Vellore | CSE, AIML, ECE | ₹2.5 – 4 lakh | 11 |
| SRM Institute of Science & Technology | CSE, AIML, ECE | ₹2.5 – 3.5 lakh | 21 |
| Manipal Institute of Technology | CSE, ECE, Mechanical | ₹4 – 5.5 lakh | 50 |
| Lovely Professional University | CSE, IT, ECE | ₹1.5 – 2.5 lakh | 38 |
| UPES Dehradun | CSE (Cybersecurity, AI), Petroleum | ₹2.5 – 4 lakh | 54 |
Also Check:Top Private Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main 2026 Score |VIT vs KIIT vs Thapar – Which to Choose?
State counselling bodies accept JEE Mains scores for admission to government engineering colleges with significantly lower fees than private universities. Candidates with 80 marks should register for home state counselling in parallel with JoSAA. Candidates can refer to the table below for major state counselling options:
| State Counselling Body | States Covered | Notable Government Colleges | Approx. Annual Fee |
| UPTAC | Uttar Pradesh | HBTU Kanpur, MMMUT Gorakhpur, AKTU colleges | ₹60,000 – ₹1 lakh |
| JAC Delhi | Delhi | DTU, NSUT, IGDTUW (home state quota only) | ₹1 – 1.5 lakh |
| JAC Chandigarh | Punjab, Haryana | PEC Chandigarh, CCET Chandigarh | ₹1 – 1.5 lakh |
| OJEE | Odisha | OUTR, Government colleges in Odisha | ₹50,000 – ₹1 lakh |
| REAP | Rajasthan | Government engineering colleges in Rajasthan | ₹50,000 – ₹80,000 |
| MHT CET Counselling | Maharashtra | COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai (JEE quota seats) | ₹1 – 2 lakh |
| WBJEEB | West Bengal | IIEST Shibpur state quota seats | ₹50,000 – ₹1 lakh |
| KCET | Karnataka | UVCE Bangalore, Government colleges in Karnataka | ₹50,000 – ₹1 lakh |
Three things candidates must note about state counselling: First, home state domicile gives a major cutoff relaxation compared to All India quota. A candidate rejected from NIT Surathkal for general All India seats may comfortably secure a seat in a Karnataka state government college at the same rank.
Second, state government college fees are 60%–80% lower than private universities. Third, registration windows for state counselling open alongside JoSAA — candidates who wait for JoSAA results before registering often miss state counselling deadlines.
Also Read: State Counselling 2026 for JEE Mains Score – State-wise Guide | JAC Delhi 2026 Counselling Process and Dates
Candidates who have scored 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 can follow the step-by-step plan below to maximise admission chances:
Step 1 – Estimate your shift-specific percentile now. Use the shift-wise table on this page to identify your expected percentile. Cross-verify using the rank predictor tools on Careers360 and Shiksha.
Step 2 – Download your scorecard on April 20, 2026. The Session 2 result will be declared at jeemain.nta.nic.in. NTA takes the best percentile from Session 1 and Session 2 for the final merit list.
Step 3 – Check your category rank, not just CRL rank. Reserved category candidates (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS) should specifically look at their category rank on the scorecard. This is the rank that determines JoSAA seat allotment.
Step 4 – Register for JoSAA 2026 immediately after result. JoSAA registration opens within a few days of result declaration. Fill a wide range of choices — include non-CS branches at newer NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs alongside preferred options.
Step 5 – Register for home state counselling simultaneously. Do not wait for JoSAA seat allotment. State counselling bodies open registrations around the same time. Missing the window is one of the most common errors candidates make at this stage.
Step 6 – Apply to private universities directly. KIIT, Thapar, VIT, SRM, Manipal, and Amrita accept applications through April–June. Apply to at least 3–4 options as insurance, particularly if CSE is the priority branch.
Step 7 – Evaluate a second attempt if needed. Scoring 30–40 additional marks (110–120 total) pushes percentile from 90–92 to 95–97, opening significantly better NITs and IIITs. JEE Main 2027 can be a strong option for candidates who are not satisfied with current college options.
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80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 is expected to give a percentile of 89 to 92, based on Session 1 results and Session 2 shift-wise analysis by coaching institutes. The exact percentile depends on the shift difficulty and NTA normalisation. The official percentile will be declared with the Session 2 result on April 20, 2026.
If you scored 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026, your expected percentile is approximately 89 to 92. In a tougher shift (such as April 6 Shift 1), 80 marks can fetch 91–92 percentile. In an easier shift (such as April 4 Shift 1), the same 80 marks may fetch 87–89 percentile. Check the shift-wise table in this article to find the estimate for your specific shift.
With 89–92 percentile, the expected All India Rank for 80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 is approximately 1,20,000 to 1,70,000, based on a final candidate pool of ~15.5 lakh. Reserved category candidates will receive a significantly better category rank.
Yes, but options are limited for General category candidates. Newer and North-East NITs such as NIT Mizoram, NIT Sikkim, NIT Nagaland, and NIT Manipur may offer seats in Civil, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering at this rank. OBC-NCL and SC candidates have better NIT access. Top NITs such as NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, and NIT Surathkal are not accessible at this score for General category.
For General category candidates, No. The expected General category qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 is 93–95 percentile, and 80 marks gives 89–92 percentile — below this threshold. For SC and ST candidates, Yes — their cutoffs are 60–62 and 47–49 percentile respectively, and 80 marks clears both comfortably. For OBC-NCL and EWS candidates, 80 marks at 89–92 percentile is above the expected 79–82 percentile cutoff and they should qualify.
80 marks in JEE Mains 2026 places a candidate in the top 8–11% of all test-takers. It is considered an average to above-average score. It is not sufficient for top NITs or JEE Advanced qualification for General category students. However, it opens genuine pathways through state counselling, private universities, and reserved category NIT/IIIT seats.
These are completely different. 80 marks is a raw score out of 300 that corresponds to approximately 89–92 percentile in 2026. 80 percentile means scoring better than 80% of candidates, which corresponds to approximately 55–65 raw marks depending on shift difficulty. A candidate scoring 80 marks is far better positioned than a candidate at 80 percentile.
Candidates with 80 marks (89–92 percentile) can get admission to reputed private universities including KIIT Bhubaneswar, Thapar Patiala, VIT Vellore, SRM Chennai, Amrita, SASTRA, Manipal Institute of Technology, LPU, and UPES Dehradun. These universities accept JEE Mains scores directly and have strong placement records, particularly for CSE and IT branches.
The official JEE Main 2025 qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced was 93.10 percentile for General category, 79.43 for OBC-NCL, 80.38 for EWS, 61.15 for SC, and 47.90 for ST. These are the most recent official cutoffs. The 2026 cutoff will be declared with the Session 2 result on April 20, 2026.
A total of 11.65 lakh candidates registered and 10.73 lakh appeared for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (April 2–8), recording 92.1% attendance across 566 exam centres. For the final merit list, scores from both sessions are combined, and the expected total candidate pool for AIR calculation is approximately 15.5 lakh