The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially set the stage for one of India’s most competitive entrance exams. The release of the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 City Intimation Slip on March 21, 2026, marks the beginning of the final countdown for millions of students aiming for prestigious IITs, NITs, and IIITs.
If you are a Session 2 aspirant, this document is your first piece of “official identity” for the April attempt. In this exhaustive guide, we cover the download process, the revised examination schedule, shift timings, subject-specific revision strategies, and the technicalities of the normalization process that determines your final percentile.
📊 JEE Main 2026 Session 2: At a Glance
To keep you updated with the latest notifications, here is a quick summary table of the Session 2 landscape.
| Feature | Details & Dates |
| Exam Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Official Website | jeemain.nta.nic.in |
| City Slip Release Date | March 21, 2026 |
| Revised Exam Dates | April 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 (B.Arch), and 8, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 3 Days prior to the specific exam date |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Medium of Exam | 13 Languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, etc.) |
| Total Marks | 300 (Paper 1) / 400 (Paper 2) |
🔍 Understanding the City Intimation Slip vs. Admit Card
A common mistake among first-time candidates is treating the City Intimation Slip as the final Hall Ticket. It is crucial for your logistical planning to understand the difference.
1. What is the City Intimation Slip?
The City Intimation Slip is a pre-admit card document. Its sole purpose is to inform you about the City and the Date of your examination.
Why it’s released early: NTA releases this roughly 10–12 days before the exam to help students (especially those from rural areas or overseas centers) make travel and hotel arrangements.
2. What is the Admit Card?
The Admit Card is your legal entry pass. Without a printed copy of the Admit Card, you will not be allowed inside the examination center.
Details included: Exact venue address, Lab number, Shift timing, Reporting time, and Gate closing time.
Release Timing: Usually 48 to 72 hours before your specific exam date.
💡 Pro Tip: Even if you have the City Slip, keep checking the official NTA website daily starting from March 30 for your specific Admit Card link.
📅 The Revised JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Schedule
NTA has slightly adjusted the window for the April session to ensure a smooth conduct of exams across all centers. Below is the breakdown of the revised dates.
Paper 1 (B.E. / B.Tech)
The Engineering stream exams are spread across five days to accommodate the massive volume of applicants:
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Monday, April 6, 2026
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Paper 2 (B.Arch / B.Planning)
The specialized paper for Architecture and Planning is scheduled for a single day:
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Shift Timings and Reporting
NTA follows a strict discipline regarding timings. Being even one minute late to the gate closure can lead to disqualification.
| Event | First Shift (Morning) | Second Shift (Evening) |
| Exam Timing | 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
| Reporting Time | 07:00 AM to 08:30 AM | 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM |
| Gate Closing | 08:30 AM Sharp | 02:30 PM Sharp |
📲 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Download Your City Slip
The NTA website often experiences high traffic upon the release of these slips. Follow these steps for a hassle-free download:
Navigate to the Official Site: Open your browser and go to jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Locate the Candidate Activity Board: Scroll down to the ‘Candidate Activity’ section on the homepage.
Click the Link: Select “Advance City Intimation for JEE (Main) 2026 Session 2”.
Login with Credentials:
Enter your Application Number (Check your registration email if you forgot it).
Enter your Date of Birth in the DD/MM/YYYY format.
Security Pin: Type the alphanumeric Captcha shown on the screen.
Review & Download: Once the dashboard opens, click on “Download City Intimation Slip”. Save it as a PDF and print it immediately.
Troubleshooting Common Login Issues
“Invalid Credentials”: Ensure there are no extra spaces in the application number. Double-check your Date of Birth.
Site Not Loading: This usually happens due to server overload. Clear your browser cache or try using “Incognito/Private Mode”.
Forgot Application Number: Use the “Forgot Application No.?” link on the login page. You will need your registered mobile number and email ID to recover it.
⚖️ The Normalization Process: How Your Percentile is Calculated
Since JEE Main Session 2 is conducted on multiple days and in different shifts, the difficulty level of the question papers might vary. To ensure no student is at a disadvantage, NTA uses a Normalization Process based on Percentile Scores.
What is a Percentile Score?
A percentile score is not your raw percentage of marks. It indicates the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below you in that specific shift.
The formula used by NTA is:
Why it Matters for Session 2
Historically, Session 2 is considered more “competitive” than Session 1. Most students have finished their Board exams by April and have had more time for dedicated JEE revision. This means that to get a 99 percentile in Session 2, you might need a higher raw score than what was required in Session 1.
🧠 Master Revision Plan for the Final 10 Days
Knowing your exam city is the signal to shift from “Learning Mode” to “Execution Mode.” Here is a subject-wise breakdown of high-priority topics you must revise now.
1. Physics: The Scoring Subject
Physics in JEE Main has become more formula-based and application-oriented lately.
Modern Physics: Photoelectric effect, Atom, and Nuclei (Guaranteed 2-3 questions).
Heat & Thermodynamics: Focus on Carnot Engine and Laws of Thermodynamics.
Current Electricity & Magnetism: Practice circuit problems and Biot-Savart Law.
Semiconductors: Logic gates and Zener diodes are frequently asked.
2. Chemistry: The Time-Saver
If you are good at Chemistry, you can finish this section in 35-40 minutes, leaving more time for Maths.
Organic Chemistry: Name reactions (Reimer-Tiemann, Aldol, Cannizzaro) and GOC.
Inorganic Chemistry: P-block, D-block, and Coordination Compounds. Don’t ignore NCERT tables.
Physical Chemistry: Focus on Chemical Kinetics, Equilibrium, and Electrochemistry.
3. Mathematics: The Rank Decider
Maths has been notoriously lengthy in recent JEE sessions. The key is question selection.
Vector & 3D Geometry: High weightage and relatively easier to solve.
Matrices & Determinants: Properties of Adjoints and Cramer’s Rule.
Coordinate Geometry: Focus on Circles and Parabola.
Calculus: Definite Integration and Differential Equations.
🎒 Exam Day Protocol: Dos and Don’ts
To avoid last-minute panic at the center, follow these strict NTA guidelines.
✅ Mandatory Items to Carry
Printed Admit Card: Downloaded from the NTA website (preferably a color print).
Valid Photo ID: Original Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, or Passport (Photocopies are not allowed).
Passport Size Photo: Same as the one uploaded in the application form (to be pasted on the attendance sheet).
Transparent Water Bottle: No labels or colors.
Simple Ballpoint Pen: Transparent body.
❌ Prohibited Items
Electronics: Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, or earphones.
Jewelry: Rings, nose pins, necklaces, or bracelets.
Stationery: Geometry boxes, log tables, or pieces of paper.
Footwear: Shoes with thick soles and garments with large buttons are generally discouraged. Wear simple sandals or slippers.
🏆 Aiming for JEE Advanced: The Cut-off Reality
Session 2 is your final chance to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. Only the top 2,50,000 candidates (including all categories) from JEE Main will be eligible to sit for the Advanced exam.
Estimated Category-wise Cut-off (Based on Trends)
| Category | Expected Percentile for Advanced |
| General (UR) | 91.0 – 92.5 |
| EWS | 76.0 – 78.0 |
| OBC-NCL | 74.0 – 76.0 |
| SC | 52.0 – 54.0 |
| ST | 38.0 – 40.0 |
🧘 Mental Wellness and Last-Minute Tips
The pressure of Session 2 can be overwhelming. Here is how to stay sharp:
Fix Your Sleep Cycle: If your shift is at 9:00 AM, start waking up at 6:00 AM from today. Your brain needs to be at its peak performance during exam hours.
Mock Tests are Mirrors: Give at least 3 full-length mock tests in the next 7 days. Analyze your mistakes—don’t just look at the score.
Avoid New Topics: This is a trap. Learning a new chapter now will only confuse you and erode your confidence in chapters you already know.
Hydrate & Eat Light: Avoid junk food to prevent any health issues during the exam week.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I request NTA to change my exam date if it clashes with another exam? No. NTA is very strict about the schedule. The dates are randomized and finalized; no individual requests for changes are entertained.
Q2: My photo on the City Slip is blurred. What should I do? Contact the NTA helpdesk immediately. However, if your Admit Card (released later) has a clear photo, you should be fine. Carry extra photos to the center just in case.
Q3: Is the JEE Main Session 2 result based on both sessions? Your Final Rank will be calculated based on the best of the two NTA scores (Session 1 vs Session 2). If you score 95 in Jan and 98 in April, your 98 percentile will be used for ranking.
Q4: Will I get rough sheets at the center? Yes, 6-8 A4 size blank sheets will be provided for rough work. You must write your name and roll number on them and drop them in the designated box before leaving the hall.
Q5: What is the helpline number for NTA? You can reach them at 011-40759000 or email at jeemain@nta.ac.in.