JEE Main 2026 (21 Jan, Shift 1) paper analysis

JEE Main 2026 (21 Jan, Shift 1) was moderately tough compared with all 163 JEE Main papers since 2019, and the 3rd easiest of the 10 shifts of the January 2026 session, by our question ratings.

Difficulty by subject

  • Physics: Moderately easy
  • Chemistry: Tough
  • Mathematics: Moderately tough

Difficulty is Autonise's own rating, not NTA's. Every question in our bank has a difficulty rating. We work out the marks a well-prepared student would expect in every JEE Main paper and rank this shift against all of them: the easiest fifth is "Easy", the toughest fifth "Tough". NTA works percentiles out within each shift, so the same marks give a higher percentile in a tougher shift; the percentile predictor uses this level.

Physics chapter-wise questions

  • Electromagnetic Induction: 2
  • Optical Instruments: 2
  • Rotational Dynamics: 2
  • Thermometry, Expansion & Calorimetry: 2
  • Units, Dimensions & Error Analysis: 2
  • Atoms: 1
  • Capacitor: 1
  • Current Electricity: 1
  • Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter: 1
  • Electromagnetic Waves: 1
  • Electrostatics: 1
  • Fluid Dynamics: 1
  • Gravitation: 1
  • Laws of Motion & Friction: 1
  • Magnetic Effect of Current & Moving Charge: 1
  • Mechanical Waves (String Waves): 1
  • Semiconductor Devices: 1
  • Thermodynamics: 1
  • Wave Optics & Interference: 1
  • Work, Energy & Power: 1

Chemistry chapter-wise questions

  • Amines, Nitro, Diazonium Salts: 2
  • Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure: 2
  • Chemical Equilibrium: 2
  • Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers: 1
  • Aldehydes and Ketones: 1
  • Alkyl Halides (Haloalkanes & Haloarenes): 1
  • Analytical Qualitative Salt Analysis: 1
  • Atomic Structure: 1
  • Biomolecules: 1
  • Chemical Kinetics: 1
  • Chemical Thermodynamics & Energetics: 1
  • Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties: 1
  • Coordination Compounds: 1
  • Electrochemistry: 1
  • Gaseous State (Real Gases Focus): 1
  • General Organic Chemistry: 1
  • Hydrocarbons (Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes): 1
  • Liquid Solutions & Colligative Properties: 1
  • Mole Concept & Stoichiometry: 1
  • Practical Organic Chemistry (POC): 1
  • d & f-block Elements: 1
  • p-block Elements: 1

Mathematics chapter-wise questions

  • Binomial Theorem: 2
  • Circles: 2
  • Definite Integration: 2
  • Sequence and Series: 2
  • Application of Derivatives: 1
  • Area Under Curves: 1
  • Complex Numbers: 1
  • Differential Equations: 1
  • Differentiation: 1
  • Ellipse: 1
  • Inverse Trigonometric Functions (ITF): 1
  • Logarithms & Basic Inequalities: 1
  • Matrices: 1
  • Parabola: 1
  • Permutations and Combinations: 1
  • Probability: 1
  • Rectangular Cartesian Coordinates & Straight Lines: 1
  • Sets: 1
  • Three-Dimensional (3D) Coordinate Geometry: 1
  • Trigonometric Ratios, Identities & Compound Angles: 1
  • Vector Algebra (Fundamentals & Products): 1

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