The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Provisional Answer Key, Response Sheet, and Question Papers on its official websites. Candidates who appeared for the January 2026 examination can now check their recorded responses and evaluate their expected scores.

This update is extremely important for lakhs of JEE aspirants as it helps them analyze performance, calculate tentative scores, and estimate their chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Answer Key Session 1 – Official Update

As per the official notification released by NTA:

“The Provisional Answer Keys of Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) along with the Question Papers with Recorded Responses have been uploaded on the website for interested candidates to submit challenges to the Provisional Answer Keys (if any) online by paying a non-refundable processing fee of ₹200 per question.”

Candidates can access the answer key through:

• jeemain.nta.nic.in
• nta.ac.in

Why the JEE Main 2026 Answer Key is Important

The provisional answer key plays a crucial role in the JEE Main examination process. It allows candidates to:

• Match their marked answers with official responses
• Calculate expected scores using the marking scheme
• Identify discrepancies, if any, in the answers
• Raise objections before the final result
• Predict percentile range and qualification chances

Downloading the answer key, response sheet, and question paper together is strongly recommended for accurate score calculation.

How to Download JEE Main 2026 Answer Key, Response Sheet & Question Paper

Candidates can follow the step-by-step process below to download the documents:

1. Visit the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the link “JEE Main 2026 Answer Key Session 1”
3. Log in using your Application Number and Password
4. Your shift-wise answer key and response sheet will appear on the screen
5. Download and save the PDF files for future reference

Important Dates – JEE Main 2026 Session 1

JEE Main 2026 Exam Overview

The JEE Main 2026 examination was conducted by NTA for various papers as follows:

• Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech):
  Conducted in two shifts on January 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28, 2026
• Paper 2A (B.Arch) & Paper 2B (B.Planning):
  Conducted in the first shift on January 29, 2026

With the release of the provisional answer key, candidates now have a clear opportunity to evaluate their overall performance before the declaration of results.

How to Raise an Objection Against JEE Main 2026 Answer Key

If any candidate finds an incorrect answer in the provisional key, they can challenge it by following the official objection process.

Steps to Raise Objection:

1. Log in to the JEE Main candidate portal
2. Select the question you want to challenge
3. Upload valid supporting documents or explanation
4. Pay the objection fee of ₹200 per question
5. Submit and finalize the objection

Important Note:

• Objections without proper proof will be rejected
• The objection fee is non-refundable
• NTA’s decision after review will be final

Final Answer Key & Result Declaration

After reviewing all the objections submitted by candidates, NTA will release the Final Answer Key. The JEE Main 2026 result will be prepared strictly based on this final key and will be declared on February 12, 2026.

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website for further updates regarding result declaration, percentile scores, and JEE Advanced eligibility.