JEE Main 2026 Session 1 has been one of the most followed engineering entrance exams of the year, with over 13 lakh students appearing across India. As candidates eagerly await their results, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has released crucial updates on the JEE Main 2026 answer key, response sheet, challenge link and result schedule — making this a pivotal moment for all aspirants looking to secure admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs and other top engineering colleges.
So you want to know everything about the JEE Main 2026. We will tell you all the news about the JEE Main 2026. We will also show you how to get your answer response sheet for the JEE Main 2026. You will learn how to challenge something if you do not agree with it. We will give you the dates for the results and some tips from experts to help you figure out what your JEE Main 2026 score might be before the official results for the JEE Main 2026 are out. Let us start looking at all this information, about the JEE Main 2026.
JEE Main 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet Release: Key Dates
The National Testing Agency has officially announced when they will release the answer key and response sheet, for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1. They are doing this for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1. The National Testing Agency is telling everyone when to expect the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 answer response sheet.
| JEE Main Session 1 Exam | January 21–January 29, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key & Response Sheet Release | February 4, 2026 |
| Answer Key Objection/Challenge Window | February 4–5, 2026 |
| Final JEE Main 2026 Result Date | On or by February 12, 2026 |
Note: These dates are subject to official confirmation by NTA on jeemain.nta.nic.in, the only authorized portal for JEE Main results and documents.
What Is the JEE Main Answer Key & Response Sheet?
Understanding these documents is crucial:
| Answer Key | Response Sheet |
| The answer key contains the official correct answers provided by NTA for every question asked in the JEE Main 2026 exam. This helps candidates compare their marked responses and estimate their probable score before the results are declared. | The response sheet shows the answers you chose when you took the exam. It has the following things:
The question paper Your recorded answers Unanswered questions (if any) Together, these tools help candidates review performance and plan the next steps — be it challenging answers or preparing for Session 2. |
How to Download Your JEE Main 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet (Step-by-Step)
To access your answer key and response sheet, follow these steps:
- Visit the official website:
- jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Click on the “Answer Key / Response Sheet” link:
- This link will work when the National Testing Agency uploads the documents on February 4. The National Testing Agency has to upload the documents then the link becomes active on February 4.
- Login with credentials:
- Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth / Password.
- Download PDFs:
- After logging in, download the provisional answer key and your response sheet for record and revision.
- Save for future use:
- Keep these PDFs safe — you will need them until final results are announced.
Pro Tip: Avoid downloading from unofficial sources — only the official NTA portal is legitimate and secure.
Answer Key Challenge & Objection Process
If you find any mistake in the answer key do not worry. The National Testing Agency has a system to deal with this problem. The National Testing Agency has a system where you can challenge the answer key if you think it is wrong.
Challenge Window
- February 4–5, 2026
How to Submit an Objection
- Log in using your credentials on jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Which question or questions do you want to challenge?
- Upload valid academic proof or reference
- Pay the challenge fee (usually charged per question)
Important: The objection fee is refundable if the challenge is accepted. Unsupported or random challenges may not be reviewed, so only raise objections where you have evidence.
How to Calculate Your Probable JEE Main 2026 Score
When you have your answer response sheet you can figure out what your score will be before they even announce the results. Here is what you do:
Match your recorded answers from the response sheet with the correct answers in the provisional answer key.
Add marks for correct answers
Subtract marks for incorrect answers (as per JEE Main marking scheme)
Make sure you add up your estimated score before they announce the result. This way you have an idea of how you did, on the test. You can compile your estimated score now. Then compare it to the final result when it is released.
| Response Type | Marks Awarded |
| Correct Answer | +4 |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 |
| Unanswered Question | 0 mark |
| Numerical Questions (No Answer | 0 mark |
JEE Main 2026 Final Result Date & What to Expect
- NTA will prepare results based on the final answer key after reviewing all valid challenges.
- The final result is going to have these things:
- Subject-wise percentile scores
- Overall percentile
- Ranks and cutoffs may not be published immediately
Result by February 12, 2026: Make sure to check your results on or before this date through the official portal.
Why This Answer Key Release Matters for Students
- This thing gives us an idea of how we are doing really early on and helps us understand our performance.
- Helps analyze strengths and weaknesses
- This gives us a chance to say that an answer is wrong and challenge it. The chance to challenge answers is really important. It helps us make sure that the answers we get are correct. This chance to challenge answers is what makes it useful.
- Sets expectations for final result.
Guides preparation for JEE Main Session 2 (April 2026)
FAQ
1. I want to know if I can also question the response sheet.
No, you can only challenge the provisional answer key — not the response sheet itself.
2. What if I want to challenge more than one question at a time can I do that with multiple questions?
Yes, you can challenge more than one question as long as you pay the prescribed fee for each.
3. What if the website gets really slow because a lot of people are visiting it at the time and there is too much traffic on the website?
Because lakhs of students access the portal at peak times, expect possible delays. Try again after some time or use a stable internet connection.
4. Where will they put the answer keys so we can see them?
Only on the jeemain.nta.nic.in official website.
