Update Aadhaar, certificates before JEE Main: NTA 

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the online registration process for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 will commence in October 2025. The exam will be held in two sessions – January 2026 and April 2026 – providing students two chances to improve their performance.

Ahead of registration, the NTA has issued a crucial advisory for candidates to ensure that their Aadhaar details, category certificates, and disability certificates are valid and up to date. The agency has warned that discrepancies in documents could result in rejection of applications or create hurdles during later stages of admission. 

According to the notification issued recently, aspirants must carefully verify that their Aadhaar card reflects accurate information, such as: Name (as per Class X certificate), date of birth, photograph, address, and father’s name.

Students applying under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category must also confirm that their UDID card/disability certificate is valid and, if required, renewed before registration. Similarly, those seeking reservation under EWS, SC, ST, or OBC-NCL categories must ensure that their certificates are up-to-date and compliant with the latest norms. 

The advisory comes as part of NTA’s efforts to minimise last-minute discrepancies and to streamline the admission process for lakhs of engineering aspirants. With JEE Main being the gateway to premier institutions including the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other centrally funded technical institutions, ensuring document accuracy is critical.

Experts suggest that candidates begin reviewing their documents immediately, so they are ready to complete the application process without delays once the portal opens in October.