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JEE Main 2026 Question Paper – 21 January Shift 1 Analysis & Difficulty Level

 JEE Main 2026 21 January shift 1 analysis focuses on the morning session held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Initial students' feedback provides insights on Physics, Chemistry, and Maths paper levels. The overall level is moderate. Maths paper questions are doable in JEE Mains Shift 1 exam. 

authorImageDivya Sharma21 Jan, 2026
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JEE Main 2026 Question Paper – 21 January Shift 1 Analysis & Difficulty Level

JEE Main 2026 Question Paper 21 January Shift 1 Analysis: The National Testing Agency (NTA) organises the JEE Main exam. JEE Main Session 1 exam has started on January 21, 2026, for the first shift from 9 am to 12 pm. A total of 75 questions of 300 marks are asked from Physics, Chemistry, and Maths.

The paper mode is CBT. JEE Main Exam Analysis gives an overview of the difficulty level and questions asked from Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. The overall JEE Mains 21 January Shift 1 paper level is moderate. Maths question as per initial students' feedback.

Physics and Chemistry paper is moderate based on students' review who appeared in the shift 1 paper. 

Also Read: JEE Main 2026 Session 1 LIVE Updates: Exam Analysis, Cut Offs, Difficulty Level, Question Paper, Students Reaction  

JEE Main 2026 - 21 January Shift 1 Question Paper Overview

JEE Main is an online engineering entrance test organised twice a year. Candidates get 75 questions in JEE Main to solve in 3 hours. It is an online-based exam. JEE Main scores help candidates take admission in the engineering institutions in India. 

JEE Main 2026 - 21 January Shift 1 Question Paper Overview

Exam Name

Joint Entrance Examination (Main) – 2026

Authority Name

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Exam Date

21 January 2026

Exam Duration

3 Hours (180 Minutes)

Subjects

Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics

Total Questions

75 Questions (25 per subject)

Total Marks

300 Marks

Marking Scheme

+4 for Correct Answer; -1 for Incorrect Answer; 0 for Unattempted

Official Website

jeemain.nta.nic.in

 

Difficulty Level of JEE Main 2026 – 21 January Shift 1

The JEE Main 2026 January 21 shift 1 difficulty level is a major point of interest for aspirants. While the exam follows a set pattern, the JEE Main 2026 exam analysis suggests that students often find the morning shift of the first day to be a benchmark for the rest of the session. Early reports indicate that the JEE Main 21 January 2026 section-wise difficulty follows a trend where one subject acts as a challenge while others remain relatively balanced. Maths questions in JEE Mains are moderate levels as compared to Phyics and Chemistry in Shift 1. 

Subject-Wise JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 Paper Analysis

JEE Main 2026 21 January shift 1 analysis involves looking at how the NTA distributed the weightage across the 11th and 12th-grade syllabi. In the JEE Main 21 Jan 2026 topic-wise analysis, students report on whether the paper will be balanced or tilted towards specific subjects.

Physics Question Paper Analysis – Shift 1

The JEE Main 21 Jan 2026 question paper review for Physics often highlights the presence of formula-based problems. In this shift, the JEE Main 2026 21 January paper trend appears to maintain a focus on core concepts. The paper level is moderate.  Many students look for JEE Main 21/01/2026 questions and answers to verify their approach to numerical value questions in this section.

Physics Question Paper Analysis – Shift 1

Topic

Number of Questions

Optics (1 from Microscope, 1 from Power of Lens)

2

Semiconductor (Logic Gates)

1

Units & Dimensions (1 from Dimensions, 1 from Errors)

2

Current Electricity

1

Calorimetry

1

Rotational Motion (Moment of Inertia)

1

Chemistry Question Paper Analysis – Shift 1

Historically, Chemistry is the most scoring part of the JEE Main 2026 21 January shift 1 analysis. The JEE Main 2026, 21 January, important questions in Chemistry are frequently sourced directly from NCERT textbooks. Glass-based questions are asked in Organic Chemistry. 

  • Glass-Based Questions From Organic Chemistry

JEE Mains Chemistry 21 January Shift 1 Analysis

Chemistry Question Paper Analysis – Shift 1

Topic

Number of Questions

Thermal Properties of Fluids (Bernoulli’s Theorem)

1

Optics

2

Semiconductor (Logic Gates)

1

Units & Dimensions

2

Current Electricity

1

Calorimetry

1

Rotational Motion (Moment of Inertia)

1

Mathematics Question Paper Analysis – Shift 1

The JEE Main 21 Jan 2026 topic-wise analysis for Math shows that the maximum questions are of the moderate level in the JEE Mains paper. Students who are all-set to appear in the next shifts in the JEE Mains Session 1 exam should not miss the topics to cover in the revision as per the shift 1 analysis. 

  • Trignometery
  • Coordinate Geometery
  • Domain-Based Questions

JEE Mains Mathematics 21 January Shift 1 Analysis

Mathematics Question Paper Analysis – Shift 1

Topic

Number of Questions

Calculus

Fewer questions

Vector Algebra & 3D Geometry

2–3

Quadratic Equations

1

Matrices

1 (Lengthy)

Sets & Relations

2

Comparison With Other JEE Main Shifts (Session 1)

As the opening shift of the session, the JEE Main 2026 21 January paper trend serves as the primary reference point.  JEE Main 2026 shift 1 good attempts will be measured against the data from subsequent days to ensure a fair normalisation process under the NTA’s scoring system.

What Does This Shift’s Paper Indicate for Students?

For those preparing for future slots, this shift provides a glimpse into the JEE Main 2026, 21 January important questions and themes favoured by the NTA this year. Keeping an eye on the JEE Main 21 Jan 2026 question paper review helps students refine their last-minute revision, focusing on high-weightage chapters and practising speed for the numerical sections.

 

JEE Main 2026 - 21 January Shift 1 FAQs

Was JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 tougher than the other shifts?

JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 analysis has been provided based on students feedback is of moderate levels.

Which subject was toughest in this shift?

Students found Physics and Chemistry sections moderate as compared to Maths section in exam.

Is the difficulty level the same for all JEE Main shifts?

NTA uses a Normalization process based on percentile scores. This method accounts for any variations in difficulty, ensuring that a student’s rank is determined by their relative performance compared to others in the same shift.

Where can I check the complete Session 1 analysis?

Candidates can check the JEE Main 2026 detailed subject-wise breakdown, topic weightage, and expert reviews on the PW official portal.
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