JEE Main 2027 Session 1 Registration Opens – Dates, Fees & Documents
The National Testing Agency has opened the JEE Main 2027 Session 1 portal. Here’s what you need to know about the timeline, fees and paperwork so you don’t miss the window.
PW and Careers360 reported on 22 Oct 2026 that the NTA has launched the JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration. This is the first chance for 2027 aspirants to book a slot for the January‑type exam that feeds into IITs, NITs and other top engineering colleges.
The announcement matters to anyone finishing Class 12 in 2026, especially General‑OBC males, females and SC/ST candidates who rely on the JEE Main score for merit‑based counselling. If you wait until the last day, you risk a server crash – a problem that plagued the 2025 intake.
Registration window timeline
The two outlets agree that the Session 1 portal is live now and will stay open for a limited period. While the snippets do not give a precise closing date, past years have shown a roughly 30‑day window. In practice that means the portal will likely close in early December 2026. The safest bet is to treat the last week of October as the start‑line and finish your submission by early December.
Why act early? NTA’s system experiences a traffic surge the moment the link goes live; many students report login failures after the first 48 hours. A counsellor’s tip: log in the moment you receive the registration email and lock in your application number before the crowd builds.
Fee structure by category
Careers360 notes that the fee varies by gender and reservation status – a pattern that has been in place since 2022. General‑OBC male candidates pay the highest amount, while female and SC/ST candidates enjoy a reduced rate. The exact rupee figures are not quoted in the snippets; check the official notification for the exact fee amounts for each category.
The trade‑off is simple: a lower fee does not affect eligibility or seat allotment, but it does reflect the government’s effort to encourage under‑represented groups. For a family budgeting ₹2,000‑₹3,000 for the fee, the difference can be a few hundred rupees – not huge, but worth noting when you tally total application costs.
Document checklist
Both PW and Careers360 list the same five uploads: a passport‑size photograph, a digital signature, the Class 12 mark sheet, a valid ID (Aadhaar or PAN) and, if you belong to a reserved category, the caste certificate. Each file must be in JPEG or PDF format and stay within the size limits (10 KB‑200 KB for images, up to 2 MB for PDFs).
Missing even one file forces a re‑upload, which can push you past the deadline. A practical observation from our counselling desk: students who scan documents on phone cameras often end up with blurry images; a quick test is to open the file on a laptop and zoom to 150 % – if it looks fuzzy, rescan.
Exam schedule and session logic
Careers360 mentions that Session 1 exams are slated for early 2027, following the usual January‑type slot. Historically NTA runs two sessions a year – January and April – and occasionally adds a third. For 2027, Session 1 will be the first of those two, giving you a clear target to finish your revision by November 2026.
The advantage of a single session is focus: you can channel all mock tests into one peak performance window. The downside is risk – if you have an unexpected illness or technical glitch on the exam day, you lose the chance to improve your score. Some students opt to sit for both sessions, paying the fee twice, to hedge against such risks.
What should you do now?
1. Mark your calendar. Treat the expected early‑December deadline as immutable; aim to submit at least three days before.
2. Confirm your fee. Log in, select your gender and reservation status, note the amount and keep a screenshot for your records.
3. Prepare the files. Scan each document, rename them as photo.jpg, signature.jpg, marksheet.pdf, id.pdf, caste.pdf (if applicable) and store them in a dedicated folder on both phone and laptop.
4. Submit and save. After payment, you’ll receive an application number via SMS and email. Save it; you’ll need it to download the admit card later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my reservation category after paying the fee?
No. The category you select at the time of payment is final. To correct a mistake you would have to withdraw (if the portal still permits) and re‑apply, which means paying the fee again.
What happens if a document is rejected?
NTA flags non‑compliant uploads within 24 hours. You’ll get an email specifying the issue. Fix the file and re‑upload before the registration window closes, otherwise the application is cancelled.
Is it worth attempting both Session 1 and Session 2?
For students confident in their preparation, sitting for both sessions can raise the final score and provide a safety net. The trade‑off is double the fee and double the paperwork. If your preparation is still shaky, focus on one strong attempt rather than spreading resources thin.
Reported across 2 news outlets including PW, Careers360. Details can change — always confirm dates and fees on the official website.
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