NEET, CUET, JEE Main 2026: NTA Provides Latest Updates on Major Entrance Exams

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has provided updates on three major 2026 entrance exams in India: JEE Main, NEET, and CUET. The first session of JEE Main 2026 has concluded successfully, while the registration deadline for CUET UG 2026 has been extended. Over 13 lakh candidates appeared for the first session of JEE Main this year, and the biometric verification system was implemented successfully. Here’s the latest from all three exams in detail.

JEE Main First Session Concludes with Over 13 Lakh Candidates
The first session of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main 2026) for engineering courses has concluded. The exam consists of Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) and Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning). Paper 1 was conducted from 21–28 January, while Paper 2 was held on 29 January. Out of 13,50,969 registered candidates, 13,00,368 (96.26%) appeared for the exam.

For B.Arch and B.Planning, 68,833 candidates registered, and 48,027 (about 70%) appeared. Results for the first session are expected by 12 February 2026. To prevent malpractice, biometric verification was applied to nearly all candidates.

Smooth Exam Centers and Question Papers
NTA ensured proper mapping of all exam centers, resulting in minimal inconvenience for candidates. The second session of JEE Main will take place from 2–9 April 2026. Most students reported satisfaction with the question papers in the first session. While high scorers may skip the second session, candidates who underperform have an opportunity to improve their scores in the next round.

CUET UG 2026 Registration Extended to 4 February
Registration for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2026 began on 3 January. According to a senior NTA official, several students faced payment issues, and many submitted their forms without completing the fee payment. As a result, registration has now been extended to 4 February, with online fee payment allowed until 7 February. Over 10 lakh applications have been received so far, and the exam will be conducted from 11–31 May. Form corrections were allowed from 9–11 January.

NEET UG Registration to Begin Soon
Online registration for NEET UG, the country’s largest medical entrance exam, will begin in the coming days. The Ministry of Education has approved the schedule for the exam. Historically, 23–24 lakh candidates apply for NEET each year. The exam is required for admission to MBBS, BDS, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha medical courses. The ministry has conducted multiple meetings to ensure the exam schedule and security arrangements, with the official notification expected shortly.

Preparing for CUET and NEET
In previous years, students often faced difficulties during registration and at exam centers. However, the first session of JEE Main 2026 has concluded smoothly, marking a successful start. NTA now turns its focus to CUET and NEET, ensuring that students face minimal difficulties in these upcoming exams.