JEE Main is one of the most popular exams for engineering aspirants in India. Every year, over a million students appear for the exam to secure admission in top engineering colleges. Around 14.5 lakh candidates have registered for JEE Main 2026. This is the highest number of applicants in the exam’s history. The last date to apply for JEE Main 2026 session 1 was November 27, 2025.
The official count of JEE Main 2026 registered candidates will be released by NTA after the exam. Session 1 exam is set to be conducted between January 21, 2026, to January 30, 2026.
Looking at past trends, more than 13 lakh candidates are expected to register this year. In JEE Main 2025 session 1, 13.11 lakh students had registered, and 12.58 lakh appeared for the exam.
JEE Main is a national-level engineering entrance exam taken by millions of students each year. It is primarily conducted for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. However, many other top engineering colleges in India also accept JEE Main scores. The exam is highly competitive, with a success rate of only around 15 to 20 percent.
JEE Main Registration Trends
The number of students applying for JEE Main is increasing every year. In 2025, around 22.5 lakh candidates appeared in both session 1 and 2, up by 3.5 lakh from 2024. In 2024, about 19 lakh students appeared, compared to 17 lakh in 2023. On average, the exam sees a growth of around 15% in the number of candidates each year.
Check the following figures of candidates appearing in JEE Main each year. The table is sourced from official data released by NTA and CBSE:
| JEE Main Registration Trends | ||
| Year | No. of Registered Students | No. of Students Appeared |
| 2026 | 14.5 Lakh (Unofficial) | ---- |
| 2025 | January: 13,11,544 | January: 12,58,136 |
| April: 10,61,840 | April: 9,92,350 | |
| 2024 | January: 1231874 | January: 1170036 |
| April: 1179569 | April: 1067959 | |
| 2023 | January: 860064 | January: 823967 |
| April: 931334 | April: 883367 | |
| 2022 | June: 872970 | June: 769604 |
| July: 622034 | July: 540242 | |
| 2021 | February: 652628 | February: 621033 |
| March: 619641 | March: 556248 | |
| July: 709611 | July: 543553 | |
| August: 767700 | August: 481419 | |
| 2020 | 8,58,000 | 8,00,532 |
| 2019 | January: 9,29,198 | January: 8,74,469 |
| April: 9,35,755 | April: 8,81,096 | |
| 2018 | 10,43,739 | 10,01,543 |
| 2017 | 1186454 | Online Exam: 165635 |
| Offline Exam: 956716 | ||
| 2016 | 12,07,257 | Online Exam: 10,22,808 |
| Offline Exam: 1,72,058 | ||
| 2015 | 13,04,646 | Online Exam: 11,05,135 |
| Offline Exam: 1,87,782 | ||
| 2014 | 13,56,805 | Online Exam: 11,72,538 |
| Offline Exam: 1,72,369 | ||
| 2013 | 12,60,219 | 11,89,777 |
| 2012 | 11,45,353 | 10,70,276 |
| 2011 | 11,14,880 | 10,53,833 |
| 2010 | 11,18,147 | 10,65,100 |
| 2009 | 10,10,061 | 9,62,119 |
Factors Driving Growth in JEE Main Registration
JEE Main is the gateway for admission into India’s top engineering colleges. Top 2.5 lakh rankers also get a chance to appear for JEE Advanced. It opens doors to IITs.
Engineering as a field is constantly evolving. With the growing demand for AI, Data Science, and other technology experts, more students are opting for engineering courses. This trend is contributing to the steady rise in JEE Main registrations each year.
How Many Students Registered for JEE Main 2026?
National Testing Agency will officially release the number of candidates registered for JEE Main in 2026 after declaring JEE Main 2026 results. The data will be available online on the official JEE Main website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. It will include detailed figures by state, gender, and category. If you are planning to apply must ensure you meet all JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria set by NTA.
Also Read
- JEE Main Cutoff 2026: Check Category-Wise Marks, Score vs Percentile, & Previous year cutoff Trends
- JEE MAIN 2026 Dates: Registration, Admit Card, Exam, Answer Key, Response Sheet, Result and Counselling
UP NEET PG 2025 counselling will be conducted in four rounds, allocating 85% state quota seats based on choices, NEET scores, and reservations. The remaining 15% All India Quota seats will be managed by MCC.
UP NEET PG 2025 counselling dates have been officially released on the state’s exam portal, upneet.gov.in. You can begin round 1 registration process from November 06, 2025. To participate in the seat allocation, you must register online and submit your preferred choices of colleges and courses. The deadline for application submission is October 10, 2025. If you have qualified NEET PG 2025 exam and meet the minimum cutoff criteria, you are eligible to take part in Uttar Pradesh NEET PG counselling process.
What to Do If JEE Main 2026 Registration Fails?
If your JEE Main 2026 registration fails, act quickly and identify the issue.
- Ensure your Name, DOB & Father's Name match documents.
- Re-upload your photo and signature as per NTA rules.
- Wait 24–48 hours if payment is deducted but form unconfirmed.
- Contact NTA for ongoing technical issues.
New Rules for JEE Main 2026 Exam Centre Selection
Candidates can select up to four exam cities based on preference.
New rule: Cities must be from your Permanent or Present Address state.
NTA will allot the nearest available centres based on Permanent Address.
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