JEE Main 2026: NTA revises answer key, corrects 19 questions after student complaints

After candidates flagged major errors in the April 5 Shift 2 paper, the agency has reviewed and updated the provisional key.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has revised the provisional answer key for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 Session 2, correcting errors in 19 questions from the Chemistry section of the April 5 (Shift 2) examination, following widespread complaints from candidates and educators.

In a fresh update shared on social media, the agency said it had reviewed the provisional keys and uploaded the revised version on the official portal. “NTA has reviewed the provisional answer keys of JEE Mains, 2026, Session 2… This includes Chemistry 5th April S2. Candidates can check and use challenge route, if needed as per the SOP. Inconvenience caused is regretted,” the agency stated.

Complaints over ‘entirely wrong’ answer key

The revision comes after students flagged major discrepancies in the Chemistry section soon after the answer key was released on the night of April 11.

Several candidates took to social media, claiming that the answers were incorrect. One student wrote, “The answer key you released for chemistry is entirely wrong…” while another said the key for the April 5 Shift 2 paper “looks totally wrong” and urged the agency to verify it.

Amid growing concerns, NTA had earlier acknowledged the issue, stating that reports of discrepancies were “under verification” and advising candidates not to pay challenge fees until further clarification.

Revised key now available

Following the review, the agency has now corrected the errors and made the updated answer key available on the official JEE Main website. Candidates can log in to check their responses and raise objections, if required.

As per the official notice, if any challenge submitted by candidates is found valid, the answer key will be revised accordingly and applied uniformly to all candidates. The final answer key, after expert review, will be binding and used for result preparation.

Challenge process: fee, deadline and steps

Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key by paying a non-refundable processing fee of Rs 200 per question. The challenge window is open from April 11 to April 13, 2026 (up to 11:50 pm).

The payment can be made through debit card, credit card, or net banking, and no challenge will be accepted without the fee. Submissions after the deadline will not be entertained.

To raise a challenge, candidates need to log in using their application number and password, select the question ID they wish to challenge, upload supporting documents (in a single PDF), and complete the payment process.

What happens next?

After reviewing all objections, subject experts will finalise the answer key. The results of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 will be prepared based on this final version, and no individual candidate will be informed about the acceptance or rejection of their challenge.

The development comes as a significant relief for a number of students who had raised concerns over accuracy, while also putting the spotlight back on the reliability of the entire exam process.