JEE Main 2026: NTA to use CBSE Class 11 registration numbers to prevent exam date clash

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education has instructed all the CBSE affiliated schools to share the Class 11 registration numbers of students with the National Testing Agency (NTA). This step is taken to ensure that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 dates do not overlap with the CBSE Class 12 board exams.

The CBSE Class 10 exams will be conducted from February 17 to March 10, 2026, while Class 12 exams will be from February 17 to April 9, 2026. The exams will be in a single shift from 10.30 AM to 13.30 PM. However, for some of the subjects the exam will be from 10.30 AM to 12.30 PM.

All schools have successfully submitted the List of Candidates (LOC) for the upcoming board exams, ensuring that the board now holds verified subject combinations and final data of students. 

To prevent such last-minute disruptions, the NTA will use the CBSE Class 11 registration number in JEE Main applications. This will help NTA recognise CBSE students and plan their exam slots accordingly.

CBSE further stated, 'The date of conduct of entrance examinations meant for the students of Class XII have been taken into consideration and efforts have been made to complete the examinations much before the entrance examinations. This will help the students in better time management for both the Board and entrance examinations'.

The NTA has declared the JEE Main 2026 dates. The session 1 will be conducted from January 21 to January 30, 2026, and Session 2 from April 1 to April 10, 2026. 

In previous years, exam clashes between the two major assessments often forced rescheduling and caused stress among students, many of whom appear for both exams in the same academic cycle.