The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 examination is currently underway, having started on January 21, 2026. If you are preparing for the JEE Mains 2026 Paper, it’s important to note that as of January 22, 2026, the Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) exams are being conducted in two shifts: Shift 1 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Shift 2 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM across various centres in India.
The JEE Mains 2026 paper has become one of the most searched education topics in India as lakhs of engineering aspirants appear for Session 1 exams starting January 21, 2026. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam is being held in multiple shifts, making shift-wise paper analysis extremely important for students preparing for upcoming attempts.
This newsletter provides a detailed and student-focused analysis of the JEE Mains 2026 Shift 1 question paper, Shift 2 paper, overall difficulty level, subject-wise breakdown, and what aspirants can expect next.
JEE Mains 2026 Paper Pattern (Paper 1 – B.E./B.Tech)
The jee main 2026 paper follows the same NTA structure:
- Physics – 25 questions
- Chemistry – 25 questions
- Mathematics – 25 questions
- Total Marks: 300
- Question Types: MCQs + Numerical-based
Each subject has Section A (MCQs) and Section B (Numerical questions), with internal choices.
JEE Mains 2026 Shift 1 Question Paper – Student Reaction
The jee mains shift 1 question paper, conducted in the morning slot, was largely rated moderate in difficulty.
Subject-wise Difficulty (Shift 1)
- Physics:
Conceptual and calculation-based. Questions from Current Electricity, Modern Physics, Kinematics were prominent. - Chemistry:
NCERT-dominated. Inorganic Chemistry was straightforward, while Organic was moderate. - Mathematics:
Lengthy and time-consuming. Calculus and Coordinate Geometry dominated the paper.
Overall verdict:
Moderate to slightly tough, especially due to Mathematics.
JEE Mains 2026 Shift 2 Paper – Initial Feedback
The jee mains 2026 shift 2 paper conducted in the afternoon slot showed slight variation in difficulty.
- Physics was formula-based
- Chemistry was easy to moderate
- Mathematics remained lengthy
Experts suggest Shift 2 was marginally easier than Shift 1, but normalization will balance percentile scores.
JEE Mains 2026 – 21 Jan Shift 1 Paper Highlights
The jee mains 2026 21 jan shift 1 paper included:
- Repeated concepts from previous year papers
- Strong focus on NCERT Chemistry
- No surprise elements or out-of-syllabus questions
This makes PYQ practice more important than ever for upcoming shifts.
Why Shift-wise Analysis Matters in JEE Mains 2026
Due to multiple shifts, NTA uses percentile normalization, not raw marks. Understanding the relative difficulty of each paper shift 1 and shift 2 helps students:
- Predict expected percentile
- Plan Session 2 strategy
- Reduce anxiety
For percentile understanding : JEE Main Rank vs Percentile
NTA Official Website
https://nta.ac.in
JEE Main Official Portal
https://jeemain.nta.nic.in
What’s Next for JEE Aspirants?
- More shifts to be conducted in coming days
- Official answer key expected soon
- Result & percentile scorecard to follow
Students appearing in later shifts should analyze early papers carefully and focus on NCERT + PYQs.
Final Takeaway
The jee mains 2026 paper so far confirms one thing clearly — concept clarity beats guesswork. With balanced papers across shifts, consistent preparation remains the key to a high percentile.
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