NTA Announces New Rule for JEE Main 2026; Mandates CBSE Class 11 Registration Number to Avoid Board Exam Clash

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has made it mandatory for candidates applying for JEE Main 2026 to provide their Class 11 CBSE registration number while filling out the application form. The move aims to prevent any possible clash between the JEE Main and CBSE Class 12 board exam schedules.

According to CBSE, every student studying in Class 12 has a unique registration number assigned during Class 11, which remains the same throughout their senior secondary education. By using this number, the NTA will be able to accurately identify CBSE students and ensure that the JEE Main 2026 examination dates do not overlap with the board exams.

In a significant move, the NTA has also integrated an Aadhaar-based auto-fetch system for student data. This feature will automatically pull basic details like name, date of birth, gender, and photograph from the Aadhaar database during registration, reducing manual entry errors and verification delays.

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The JEE Main 2026 Schedule has also been announced. As per the notification, Session 1 of JEE Main 2026 will be held from January 22 to February 2, 2026, while Session 2 is scheduled from April 6 to April 12, 2026.

Since the CBSE Class 12 board exams are set to take place between February 17 and April 9, 2026, there are chances of overlapping exam dates. To address this concern, the NTA and CBSE are actively coordinating to avoid any direct clashes between the board and entrance exams.

As per CBSE guidelines, each Class 12 student is given a unique registration number during Class 11, which stays valid throughout their senior secondary years. The NTA will utilise this number to accurately identify CBSE students and coordinate the JEE Main 2026 schedule in alignment with the board exams.

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Key Points from the JEE Main–CBSE Notice 2026:

• Candidates must now enter their Class 11 CBSE registration number while registering for JEE Main 2026.
• Schools are required to share this registration number with all students planning to appear for the exam.
• The measure has been introduced to avoid any clash between the JEE Main and the CBSE board exam schedules.
• Students are advised to obtain and verify their registration details before completing the JEE Main application.

The CBSE has also directed schools to carefully verify and submit accurate student data in the “List of Candidates” (LOC) to help the NTA coordinate smoothly. This collaboration aims to eliminate the last-minute confusion or postponement that students have faced in past years due to overlapping schedules.

Education experts have welcomed the step, calling it a positive move towards better exam management. They believe that this coordination between NTA and CBSE will reduce student stress and improve the overall examination process.

Students appearing for JEE Main 2026 are advised to check their Class 11 registration numbers with their schools and ensure the details are correctly entered in the application form to avoid any technical issues during registration.

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