JEE Main 2026 Session 1 kicked off on January 21 with Shift 1, drawing thousands of engineering aspirants to test centers across India. Early student feedback highlights a moderate to tough overall difficulty, aligning closely with recent exam patterns that emphasize conceptual depth and quick calculations. Chemistry emerged as the most scoring section, sticking largely to NCERT basics, while Mathematics posed time management challenges due to lengthy problems.
Physics demanded strong conceptual clarity, with questions testing application over rote learning, contributing to the balanced yet demanding nature of the paper. Students reported good attempts ranging from 50-55 questions as safe, with scores above 150 marks considered strong and 180+ potentially securing a 99 percentile. Expert analyses predict category-wise cutoffs like 93-95 for General, 80-82 for OBC-NCL/EWS, and lower for SC/ST categories.​
Beyond JEE, SSC CHSL 2025-26 Tier 1 results are imminent on ssc.gov.in, with candidates eagerly awaiting cutoff marks amid high competition for government jobs. CSIR NET December 2025-26 final answer keys are also out soon at csirnet.nta.nic.in, paving the way for subject-wise results that impact research fellowships. IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims scorecards follow closely, expected on ibps.in, reflecting ongoing recruitment drives in banking.​
CLAT 2026 processes advance with the first merit list released, detailing NLU opening and closing ranks alongside toppers’ scores and percentiles. The exam’s pen-and-paper format featured 120 MCQs across English, GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques, each weighted variably. Rechecking for related exams like AIBE 20 remains open until January 23.​
Earlier in January, KCET 2026 registrations commenced via cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, while ACET results dropped on actuariesindia.org, signaling a busy season for state and professional entrance tests. UCEED 2026 by IIT Bombay and Sainik School AISSEE wrapped up around January 18-19, with admit cards for JEE Main shifts already distributed by NTA.
Student reactions across these exams underscore time pressure and subject balance as key hurdles, yet many found Chemistry and easier sections boosting confidence. As results roll out through late January, aspirants should monitor official sites for scorecards, cutoffs, and counseling schedules to plan next steps effectively. This wave of outcomes will shape admissions for engineering, law, research, and more in 2026.
