The National Testing Agency (NTA) is preparing to declare the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results on February 16, 2026, after releasing the final answer key earlier today on the official portal jeemain.nta.nic.in. This is the last major step before scorecards go live for candidates who appeared in the January session.
More than 13 lakh students sat for the JEE Main Paper 1 examination this January, aiming for admission to undergraduate engineering and related programmes like B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning at NITs, IIITs, and other institutes across India.
📌 Final Answer Key Released
Earlier today, NTA officially published the final answer key for Session 1, marking the close of the evaluation phase after objections to the provisional key. Candidates had used the provisional answer key to challenge answers, and that process concluded before the final version was made available.
A noteworthy update from the final key shows that a total of 9 questions have been dropped from Paper 1 — a mix especially seen in Physics and Mathematics sections — meaning full marks will be awarded to all candidates who attempted these questions, irrespective of the chosen answer. This can have a noticeable impact on individual scores.
The final answer key now serves as the benchmark for scoring and result compilation. No further objections will be entertained after this stage.
🗓 Result Date and Expected Timing
NTA has fixed February 16, 2026 as the official date to release the Session 1 results. This came after a brief delay — the result was originally expected by February 12, but objections and answer key finalisation pushed the timeline.
As of now, the result link is not yet active, but the final answer key’s release signals that the scorecards are likely to be published anytime today. Students are advised to keep checking jeemain.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in for the live result link.
📊 What the Scorecard Will Show
Once live, the JEE Main scorecard will include:
● Subject-wise NTA percentiles for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
● Overall percentile score
● All-India Rank (AIR)
● Category ranks (if applicable)
● Cut-off percentiles for JEE Advanced eligibility
This detailed breakdown helps students understand their performance and plan the next steps — whether that’s appearing in Session 2, preparing for JEE Advanced, or starting counseling processes depending on their rank and percentile.
🌐 Where to Check Your Result
Results will be published online only, and students should avoid unofficial sites or links claiming to provide the scorecard. Personally identifying credentials like application number and date of birth are required at login to view and download your scorecard from the NTA websites.
Here’s what to do once the result link is live:
1. Visit jeemain.nta.nic.in or nta.ac.in
2. Click on the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result link
3. Enter your application number and date of birth
4. Submit to view and download your scorecard
Be sure to save a copy of the scorecard for counseling and admissions.
📍 After the Result — What Happens Next
Session 2 registration for JEE Main 2026 is currently open and will continue until February 25, 2026. Aspirants who are not satisfied with their Session 1 scores have the option to appear in Session 2 to improve their performance; the best of the two scores will be considered for final ranking and admissions.
Once results are out, counseling bodies like JoSAA will release cut-offs and counseling schedules based on the JEE Main scores. Those qualifying for JEE Advanced eligibility can begin their preparation or register for the Advanced exam as per the upcoming timetable.
📌 Final Word
Today is a big day for engineering aspirants across India. The release of the final answer key signals that the Session 1 results are just around the corner. Keep your login details handy, visit jeemain.nta.nic.in, and check your result as soon as NTA activates the link. Good luck!
