The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result has been delayed by 4 days due to scrutiny of objections received on the answer key and will now be released on February 16.

JEE Main 2026

The results of JEE Main Session 1, conducted for admission to engineering courses, are being delayed by four days this time. According to the previously released schedule, the results for the January 2026 session were to be announced by February 12. However, on the night of February 11, the National Testing Agency (NTA) issued a new notice stating that the results will now be announced on February 16, 2026.

This delay is being made in the best interests of students. The agency has clarified that every objection is being thoroughly investigated to ensure that no student is treated unfairly.

Scrutiny of objections to the answer key

The NTA had invited objections from students on the provisional answer key until February 6. A large number of students challenged the answers to some questions. All these questions have been referred to a committee of experts.

According to sources, at least six questions could be dropped. However, a final decision will be made only after expert scrutiny. The agency says that every question and its answers are being re-examined.

What does the drop question mean?

If a question contains an uncorrectable error, such as incorrect data, a typo, or a language error, it is dropped. A dropped question means that the question will be removed from the paper.

In such a situation, all students taking the exam in that shift are awarded full marks for that question, whether they solved it or not. This does not disadvantage any student.

Prioritizing the interests of students

The NTA maintains that the only purpose of delaying the results is to ensure that the results are completely accurate and fair. The agency does not want any hasty decisions that could impact the future of students.

Millions of students take this exam every year, and it determines their career paths. Therefore, transparency and accuracy are being emphasized this time around.

More than 13 lakh students appeared for the exam.

In 2026, 1,363,900 students applied for the first session of JEE Main. Of these, over 1.3 million students appeared for the exam. The exam for admission to BE and BTech courses was conducted in ten shifts over five days.

A senior NTA official said that strict security and surveillance arrangements were in place during the exam. Every step, from entering the exam center until the exam was completed, was monitored.

A transparent process will build trust.

This time, technology was fully utilized in the examination. Strict checking and monitoring at the centers ensured that no irregularities occurred. Now, the final results will be released only after the answer keys are checked. If a question is dropped in any shift, all students in that shift will receive equal marks. This will ensure fairness.

Registration for JEE Main session 2 begins.

The registration process for the second session of JEE Main 2026 is ongoing. Students can apply until February 25th. Applications for the second session are expected to pick up after the results of the first session are announced. Students who score well in the first session generally do not appear for the second session. For students who appear in both sessions, their final rank is determined based on the higher score of the two.