JEE Main 2026 Exam City Rules Changed? Check What NTA Says

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has addressed recent concerns regarding the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 city selection process. A public notice issued on September 29, 2025, had led to confusion among students, with some believing that the option to choose exam cities would be eliminated. NTA has clarified that this is not the case.

The September 29 notice advised candidates to update their Aadhaar cards, Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards (if applicable), and category certificates (EWS, SC, ST, OBC-NCL) before the application process begins.

The JEE Main 2026 city selection process will remain the same as in previous years. Candidates can choose their preferred exam cities while filling out the application. City choice will not be tied to Aadhaar address, and the selected exam city will appear on the city intimation slip.

Direct Link – Check Here NTA September 29 Official Notification Link

The purpose of this advisory was to prevent identity verification issues during the application stage, not to influence or pre-announce exam centre allocation. NTA emphasised that city and exam centre allotment is a separate process conducted later and is not linked to the September notice.

Key Summary

• The agency confirmed that its September 29, 2025, public notice has no connection with exam city or centre allocation for JEE (Main) or any other NTA-conducted examinations.

Why was the notice issued?

In earlier years, some candidates experienced difficulties while completing the online application because of discrepancies between their Aadhaar card, Class 10 certificate, and other supporting documents.

To avoid such problems, NTA has advised students to check and update all important identity documents ahead of the application period. This measure aims to make the registration process smoother and minimise errors that could cause application rejection or delays. Importantly, it does not impact exam city allocation.

In response to the confusion, NTA has activated a demo registration link at demo.nta.nic.in to help candidates familiarise themselves with the online registration process ahead of the official application period. The JEE Main 2026 examination will be held in two sessions: January and April 2026..

NTA urges all candidates to rely solely on official updates published at nta.ac.in and avoid misinformation circulating on social media or third-party portals. By following official channels, candidates can ensure a smooth and error-free registration experience.