The anticipation is at an all-time high for lakhs of engineering aspirants who sat for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exams. With the objection window having closed on February 6, all eyes are now on the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the release of the Final Answer Key.
Based on the latest trends and official timelines, here is everything you need to know about the release today, Monday, February 9, 2026.
Will the Final Answer Key Release Today?
According to multiple media reports and historical NTA patterns, the JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key is highly likely to be released today, February 9, or by February 10.
The NTA typically releases the final key just a few hours or at most a day before the actual results are declared. Since the official information bulletin has slated the Session 1 results for February 12, 2026, the window for the final answer key is now officially open.
Current Status of Session 1:
- Provisional Key Released: February 4, 2026
- Objection Window Closed: February 6, 2026 (11:50 PM)
- Final Key Status: Under final processing by subject experts.
How to Download the JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key
Once the link is live, you won’t usually need to log in to see the final key, as it is typically released as a public PDF document.
- Visit the Official Portal: Go to jeemain.nta.nic.in.
- Find the Link: Look for the notification "JEE (Main) – 2026 Session 1 Final Answer Key."
- Open the PDF: Click the link to open the shift-wise final solutions.
- Check for "Dropped" Questions: Look for questions marked with a dash or "ID Dropped." If a question is dropped, all students who appeared in that shift will receive full marks for it (4 marks), regardless of whether they attempted it.
What Happens After the Final Key?
The final answer key is the "Gold Standard" for your score. No further challenges will be accepted after this document is published.
- The Result Calculation: Your final NTA score is calculated based only on this final key.
- The Result Date: Historically, the NTA has a habit of surprising students by releasing results earlier than the "deadline." While February 12 is the official date, students should stay alert starting late tonight.
- Session 2 Registration: If you aren't happy with your predicted score, don't forget that Session 2 (April) registrations are currently open on the same portal and will close on February 25, 2026.
