The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026) began today, Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the exam in two shifts. The first shift took place from 9 AM to noon.
According to students and experts, mathematics was described as moderate but time-consuming and lengthy, with most questions from topics like Vector 3D, Sequence and Series, and Quadratics.
Chemistry was considered lengthy and difficult, with many candidates reporting it took about an hour to complete; notably, six to seven questions were statement-based. Physics was also described as moderate, with questions from areas like wave optics, kinematics, and thermodynamics. Overall, the paper required careful time management in all three subjects.
According to some students, Math proved to be the most difficult section of the paper. Many questions were time-consuming and required lengthy calculations, making speed and accuracy crucial for success. Although the concepts were mostly in line with the syllabus, solving questions under pressure proved to be the key difference for success. This section required a lot of time, which often required students to make careful decisions about question selection. Students with strong calculation skills and consistent practice solving difficult questions were able to do better in this section, reported News18 Hindi.
According to the Vidyamandir Classes, the JEE Main 2025 morning session paper was of an easy to moderate level. Chemistry was well balanced, with approximately equal topics in physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry. A large portion of chemistry was based on the NCERT syllabus, and no questions were asked from topics removed from the NCERT syllabus.
The Chemistry paper in the morning shift was easy. Inorganic Chemistry accounted for 30% of the questions, while Organic and Physical Chemistry accounted for 35%. The paper also included single-choice questions involving statements and matching lists, Dr. Brijesh Maheshwari, Director of Allen Career Institute Pvt. Ltd. told News18 Hindi.
The JEE Main January 21 Shift 1 exam included several high-weighted topics in Mathematics. These included questions related to Vector 3D, Sequences and Series, Quadratics, Binomials, Straight Lines, Circles, Parabolas, and Hyperbolas. These chapters contributed significantly to the paper, making them crucial for students looking to maximise their scores in the Mathematics section.
Physics topics such as ray optics, gravitation, semiconductors, rotation, wave optics, and current electricity carried a high weightage in the Shift 1 exam.
Students reported a higher number of numerical value questions, and many later consulted the official questions and answers to cross-check their methods and ensure accuracy in their approach. According to PhysicsWallah, this pattern reflects the exam’s focus on testing conceptual clarity as well as problem-solving skills.
Based on student feedback, Organic Chemistry had the highest weightage in the Chemistry section, with many questions asked on topics such as chemical bonding and organic chemistry. Candidates found Chemistry to be the most difficult section of the paper. In comparison, Physics and Mathematics were considered moderate in terms of difficulty, making Chemistry the most challenging subject for candidates this session.
