Official JEE Main 2026 Syllabus Status
NTA has published the official JEE Main 2026 syllabus through the JEE Main syllabus page and syllabus PDF. The 2026 information bulletin also states that the detailed syllabus is available on the official website.
For syllabus purposes, candidates should rely on the official PDF that covers Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B together. That PDF lays out the full subject coverage for Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Aptitude Test, Drawing Test and Planning.
There is no need to depend on unofficial chapter lists when the official syllabus PDF is already live. If NTA issues any later corrigendum, the latest official page or PDF should be treated as final.
Paper-Wise Structure at a Glance
The syllabus is organized paper-wise, but one major overlap remains: Mathematics is common to Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B.
| Paper | Course | Subjects or parts | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | B.E. / B.Tech. | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry | Computer Based Test |
| Paper 2A | B.Arch. | Part I Mathematics, Part II Aptitude Test, Part III Drawing Test | Maths and Aptitude in CBT, Drawing offline on A4 sheet |
| Paper 2B | B.Planning | Part I Mathematics, Part II Aptitude Test, Part III Planning-Based Questions | Computer Based Test |
This means engineering aspirants need Maths, Physics and Chemistry, architecture aspirants need Maths plus aptitude and drawing, and planning aspirants need Maths plus aptitude and planning-based content.
Mathematics Syllabus for Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B
The official Mathematics syllabus is the same for Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B. NTA lists the following 14 units.
- Sets, Relations and Functions
- Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations
- Matrices and Determinants
- Permutations and Combinations
- Binomial Theorem and its Simple Applications
- Sequence and Series
- Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
- Integral Calculus
- Differential Equations
- Coordinate Geometry
- Three Dimensional Geometry
- Vector Algebra
- Statistics and Probability
- Trigonometry
The official descriptions under these units include standard JEE Main areas such as set operations, function types, complex plane, roots of quadratic equations, determinants, counting methods, binomial expansion, arithmetic and geometric progressions, limits, derivatives, applications of derivatives, indefinite and definite integration, areas under curves, straight lines, circles, conics, vectors, 3D lines, probability distributions and inverse trigonometric functions.
Because the same Mathematics syllabus appears in all three papers, candidates preparing for B.Arch or B.Planning should not ignore the full JEE Main maths base.
Physics Syllabus for Paper 1
Physics is part of Paper 1 only. The official Paper 1 syllabus lists 20 units.
- Units and Measurements
- Kinematics
- Laws of Motion
- Work, Energy and Power
- Rotational Motion
- Gravitation
- Properties of Solids and Liquids
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetic Theory of Gases
- Oscillations and Waves
- Electrostatics
- Current Electricity
- Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
- Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
- Electromagnetic Waves
- Optics
- Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
- Atoms and Nuclei
- Electronic Devices
- Experimental Skills
The official syllabus also expands these units into core concepts such as Newton's laws, collisions, SHM, Gauss law, Kirchhoff laws, Biot-Savart law, transformers, wave optics, photoelectric effect, Bohr model, semiconductors and basic lab-based experimental observations.
The Experimental Skills part includes familiarity with common school-level measurements and observations such as vernier calipers, screw gauge, metre bridge, Ohm's law, focal length by parallax method, prism deviation, refractive index and diode characteristics.
Chemistry Syllabus for Paper 1
Chemistry is also part of Paper 1 only. The official Chemistry syllabus is grouped into Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Principles Related to Practical Chemistry.
Physical Chemistry covers the following units.
- Some Basic Concepts in Chemistry
- Atomic Structure
- Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
- Chemical Thermodynamics
- Solutions
- Equilibrium
- Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry
- Chemical Kinetics
Inorganic Chemistry covers the following units.
- Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
- p-Block Elements
- d- and f-Block Elements
- Coordination Compounds
Organic Chemistry covers the following units.
- Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds
- Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
- Hydrocarbons
- Organic Compounds Containing Halogens
- Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen
- Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen
- Biomolecules
The syllabus also includes Principles Related to Practical Chemistry, such as detection of extra elements and functional groups in organic compounds, preparation-based chemistry, titrimetric principles, qualitative salt analysis and experimental principles like enthalpy of solution, neutralization, colloids and kinetics.
Aptitude Test Syllabus for Paper 2A and Paper 2B
The Aptitude Test syllabus is common to both Paper 2A and Paper 2B. NTA lists two broad units for this part.
- Awareness of persons, buildings, materials, objects and textures related to architecture and build environment; visualizing three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional drawings; visualizing different sides of three-dimensional objects; analytical reasoning; mental ability including visual, numerical and verbal ability.
- Three-dimensional perception, appreciation of scale and proportions, building forms and elements, colour, texture, harmony and contrast, design and drawing of geometrical or abstract shapes and patterns in pencil, transformation of forms in 2D and 3D, development of surfaces and volumes, generation of plans, elevations and 3D views, and creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional compositions using given shapes and forms.
This section is not pure general aptitude. It is directly tied to visualization, built-environment awareness, form transformation and architecture-oriented reasoning.
Drawing Test Syllabus for Paper 2A
The Drawing Test is specific to Paper 2A for B.Arch. The official syllabus describes it as sketching of scenes and activities from memory.
- Urbanscape, including public spaces, markets, festivals, street scenes, monuments and recreational spaces
- Landscape, including riverfronts, jungle areas, gardens, trees and plants
- Rural life themes
NTA states that this part is to be conducted on a drawing sheet. The official note also advises candidates to bring pencils, their own geometry box set, colour pencils and crayons for the Drawing Test.
This section is different from the aptitude section. It tests observation, recall, composition and sketching ability rather than MCQ-based reasoning.
Planning Syllabus for Paper 2B
The Planning part is specific to Paper 2B for B.Planning. The official syllabus lists three units.
- General Awareness: general knowledge questions and knowledge about prominent cities, development issues and government programs
- Social Sciences: nationalism, nationalism in India, pre-modern world, global economy, colonialism, colonial cities, industrialization, resources and development, agriculture, water, minerals, industries, national economy, human settlements, power-sharing, federalism, political parties, democracy, Constitution of India, economic development, globalization, poverty, population structure, social exclusion, inequality, urbanization and rural development
- Thinking Skills: comprehension through unseen passage, map reading skills, scale, distance, direction, area, critical reasoning, reading charts, graphs and tables, and basic concepts of statistics and quantitative reasoning
This makes Paper 2B more planning-oriented than Paper 2A. It still includes Mathematics and Aptitude, but its third part focuses on urban and regional awareness, social science foundations and data interpretation.
Official Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
The 2026 information bulletin gives the official structure for Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B.
| Paper | Structure | Total questions | Total marks | Marking notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Mathematics 20 MCQ plus 5 numerical, Physics 20 MCQ plus 5 numerical, Chemistry 20 MCQ plus 5 numerical | 75 | 300 | +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer in MCQ and numerical sections |
| Paper 2A | Mathematics 20 MCQ plus 5 numerical, Aptitude 50 MCQ, Drawing 2 questions | 77 | 400 | +4 and -1 in Maths and Aptitude, Drawing evaluated out of 100 |
| Paper 2B | Mathematics 20 MCQ plus 5 numerical, Aptitude 50 MCQ, Planning 25 MCQ | 100 | 400 | +4 for correct answer and -1 for incorrect answer, including numerical maths questions |
Paper 1 is fully computer based. Paper 2A is mixed mode because the Drawing Test remains offline. Paper 2B is fully computer based.
The official bulletin also states that numerical value questions carry negative marking in Section B, and answers in that section are to be rounded off to the nearest integer.
What Candidates Should Note for 2026 Preparation
For 2026, the official syllabus already gives a clear preparation split.
- If you are targeting B.E. or B.Tech, your syllabus is Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
- If you are targeting B.Arch, your syllabus is Mathematics, Aptitude Test and Drawing Test.
- If you are targeting B.Planning, your syllabus is Mathematics, Aptitude Test and Planning.
- Mathematics is common across all three papers, so any serious 2A or 2B preparation still needs full JEE Main maths coverage.
- Paper 2A and Paper 2B share the Aptitude Test syllabus, but their third parts are completely different.
The practical way to use the official PDF is to first mark the common maths units, then add only the paper-specific subjects you actually need. That keeps preparation aligned with the official syllabus instead of mixing extra material from unrelated paper routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the official JEE Main 2026 syllabus been released?
Yes. NTA has published the official JEE Main 2026 syllabus on the JEE Main website and through the official syllabus PDF.
Is the Mathematics syllabus the same for Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B?
Yes. The official syllabus shows the same 14-unit Mathematics syllabus for Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B.
Does Paper 2A include a Drawing Test in 2026?
Yes. Paper 2A for B.Arch includes Mathematics, Aptitude Test and a Drawing Test, with the Drawing Test conducted in pen-and-paper mode.
Does Paper 2B include Planning-Based Questions?
Yes. Paper 2B for B.Planning includes Mathematics, Aptitude Test and Planning-Based Questions.
Is there negative marking in JEE Main 2026 numerical questions?
Yes. The 2026 information bulletin states that Section B numerical value questions also carry negative marking.
What subjects are included in Paper 1 of JEE Main 2026?
Paper 1 includes Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
Are the Aptitude Test topics the same in Paper 2A and Paper 2B?
Yes. The official syllabus uses the same Aptitude Test coverage for both Paper 2A and Paper 2B.