The JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam was held in various shifts from January 21 to January 24, 2026. It is worth mentioning that January 22, 2026, attracted a very large number of candidates, thus maintaining the high attendance trend throughout the session. Candidates who took the test on this day have been very interested in the number of applicants since these statistics are essential to grasping the level of competition and forecasting the expected cutoffs.
Students Appeared in JEE Main 2026 Exam January 22
NTA came out with the overall statistics of the JEE Main exam being held from January 21 to January 24. Among other days, January 22 has also contributed significantly to the total number of candidates who attended the Session 1 examination.
The combined data reveal that the attendance was consistent throughout all the days of the examination. January 22 serves as an example.
JEE Main Exam 2026 Session 1 Attendance Statistics (January 21–24)
| Particulars | Statistics |
| Scheduled Candidates | 10,76,486 |
| Candidates Appeared | 10,36,211 |
| Overall Attendance (%) | 96.26% |
| Aadhaar Verified Candidates | 9,96,774 |
| Aadhaar Verification (%) | 96.19% |
| PwD Candidates Appeared | 3,453 |
These figures prove that most of the registered aspirants were able to sit for the exam, including those who had their JEE Main exam on January 22, 2026. The high rate of Aadhaar verification made the examination conduct go smoothly.
How Many Students Appeared in JEE Main 2026 January 22?
Though the precise figures of attendance on a date-wise and shift-wise basis will be made public along with the final results and detailed statistics, the overall participation trend indicates that on January 22, 2026 students appeared in JEE Main in large numbers, matching the average session attendance of over 96%.
Those candidates who want to know the number of students who appeared to do JEE Main January 22 must be aware that NTA usually releases the divisional data after the result declaration.
Comparison With Previous Year Trends
In the previous year, the number of candidates who appeared for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) in JEE Main 2025 was 12,58,136, and the attendance percentage was 95.93%. JEE Main 2026 Session 1, has already shown higher percentage attendance, which reflects increasing competition.
This is the trend in previous years, where the number of unique candidates for JEE Main has consistently gone up, and as a result, each succeeding exam has become increasingly competitive.
Impact on Cutoff and Competition
Taking into account the fact that more than 10.36 lakh students have appeared for the exam in Session 1, including January 22, there will undoubtedly be fierce competition for the top ranks and the best institutes. A higher turnout is usually accompanied by:
- Elevated cutoff percentiles
- Reduced score differences
- Intensified competition in all categories
After the results are out, candidates are recommended to thoroughly evaluate their performance.
Conclusion
The number of students who appeared for JEE Main 2026 on January 22 is just one aspect of the record-breaking participation in Session 1. The attendance, which has been high all along, embodies the strong competition that is also likely to impact cutoffs and the trend of admissions. The exact shift-wise data for January 22 shall be posted once NTA issues the official detailed statistics.
