Are you planning to appear for JEE Main in the coming years? You’re not alone. Every year, lakhs of students from across India register for this highly competitive engineering entrance exam. It is the gateway to top institutes like NITs, IIITs, and even eligibility for JEE Advanced, which leads to the IITs.
In recent years, the number of candidates appearing for JEE Main has grown rapidly. In 2025, over 15 lakh students registered for the exam. This shows how serious the competition has become and how determined students are to secure a good rank.
If you’re aiming for JEE Main 2026 or beyond, it’s important to understand how many people give the exam each year, why the numbers are rising, and what this means for your preparation. This article gives you the latest statistics, trends, and analysis to help you plan better and stay ahead of the competition.
How Many People Give JEE Mains?
Around 14 to 15 lakh students register for JEE Mains each year. In 2024, more than 14.7 lakh students registered. In 2025, the number is expected to reach around 13.8 lakh. These numbers include students appearing for one or both sessions.
How Many People Give JEE Main 2025?
In 2025, a total of 15,39,848 unique candidates registered for JEE Main across both sessions. Out of these, 14,75,103 candidates appeared for the exam. This marks one of the highest participation rates in recent years, showing the growing interest among students in engineering admissions.
How Many People Give JEE Mains: Year Wise Statistics
Understanding how many students appear for JEE Main each year helps students prepare better. This section provides detailed year-wise data on JEE Main registrations and appearances. The data shows how the number of candidates has changed over the years due to exam pattern changes, COVID-19 impact, and more awareness.
JEE Main 2023
In 2023, NTA conducted JEE Main in two sessions: January and April. Here are the complete stats:\
| Description | Number of Candidates |
| Registered in January 2023 | 8,60,064 |
| Appeared in January 2023 | 8,23,967 |
| Registered in April 2023 | 9,31,334 |
| Appeared in April 2023 | 8,83,367 |
| Common Candidates Registered (Jan & Apr) | 6,29,000 |
| Common Candidates Appeared (Jan & Apr) | 5,94,013 |
| Total Unique Registered (Jan + Apr) | 11,62,398 |
| Total Unique Appeared (Jan + Apr) | 11,13,325 |
In 2023, over 11.6 lakh students registered, and over 11.1 lakh appeared. Many gave both sessions to improve their performance.
JEE Main 2022
JEE Main 2022 was conducted in June and July instead of the usual Jan-Apr schedule due to COVID-related delays.
| Description | Number of Candidates |
| Registered in June 2022 | 8,72,970 |
| Appeared in June 2022 | 7,69,604 |
| Registered in July 2022 | 6,22,034 |
| Appeared in July 2022 | 5,40,242 |
| Common Candidates Registered (June & July) | 4,68,205 |
| Common Candidates Appeared (June & July) | 4,04,256 |
| Total Unique Registered (June + July) | 10,26,799 |
| Total Unique Appeared (June + July) | 9,05,590 |
In 2022, fewer candidates registered than in pre-COVID years, but it still crossed 10 lakh.
JEE Main 2021 – All Four Sessions
In 2021, JEE Main was held in four sessions to reduce stress caused by the pandemic. The stats are as follows:
| Description | Number of Candidates |
| Registered in February 2021 | 6,52,628 |
| Appeared in February 2021 | 6,21,033 |
| Registered in March 2021 | 6,19,641 |
| Appeared in March 2021 | 5,56,248 |
| Registered in July 2021 | 7,09,611 |
| Appeared in July 2021 | 5,43,553 |
| Registered in August 2021 | 7,67,700 |
| Appeared in August 2021 | 4,81,419 |
| Common Candidates Registered (All 4 Sessions) | 4,12,171 |
| Common Candidates Appeared (All 4 Sessions) | 2,52,954 |
| Total Unique Registered | 10,48,012 |
| Total Unique Appeared | 9,39,008 |
Despite four sessions, the total unique registered count remained around 10.5 lakh.
JEE Main 2020
In 2020, the exam was held in January and September (postponed from April) due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
| Description | Number of Candidates |
| Registered in January 2020 | 9.21 lakhs |
| Appeared in January 2020 | 8.69 lakhs |
| Registered in April 2020 (held in Sep 2020) | 8.41 lakhs |
| Appeared in April/September 2020 | 6.35 lakhs |
| Common Registered (Jan & Apr) | 5.88 lakhs |
| Common Appeared (Jan & Apr) | 4.81 lakhs |
| Total Unique Registered | 11.74 lakhs |
| Total Unique Appeared | 10.23 lakhs |
Even during the pandemic, over 10 lakh students appeared for the exam.
JEE Main 2019
This was the first year NTA conducted JEE Main. It was held in two sessions: January and April.
| Description | Number of Candidates |
| Registered in January 2019 | 9,29,198 |
| Appeared in January 2019 | 8,74,469 |
| Registered in April 2019 | 9,35,755 |
| Appeared in April 2019 | 8,81,096 |
| Common Registered (Jan & Apr) | 6,46,386 |
| Common Appeared (Jan & Apr) | 6,08,440 |
| Total Unique Registered | 12,37,892 |
| Total Unique Appeared | 11,47,125 |
JEE Main 2019 had high participation, with more than 12.3 lakh registrations.
JEE Main 2018
In 2018, the exam was held only once (offline and online). Gender-wise data is available:
| Description | Number of Candidates |
| Total Registered | 10,43,739 |
| Boys | 6,46,814 |
| Girls | 2,66,745 |
| Transgender | 3 |
JEE Main 2017
| Category | Boys | Girls | Transgender | Total |
| Registered for Paper 1 | 8,56,897 | 3,29,554 | 3 | 11,86,454 |
| Registered (Offline) | 7,19,799 | 2,82,980 | 2 | 10,02,781 |
| Registered (Online) | 1,37,098 | 46,574 | 1 | 1,83,673 |
| Appeared (Offline) | 6,92,559 | 2,64,156 | 1 | 9,56,716 |
| Appeared (Online) | 1,25,249 | 40,385 | 1 | 1,65,635 |
| Qualified for Advanced | 1,75,267 | 46,160 | – | 2,21,427 |
JEE Main 2016 – 2015
| Year | Students Appeared |
| 2016 | 12,07,058 |
| 2015 | 12,34,760 |
Analysis: Why Are JEE Main Numbers Increasing?
Over the last few years, JEE Main has seen a steady rise in the number of applicants. In 2025, nearly 15.4 lakh students registered, and 14.75 lakh appeared for the exam across both sessions. This upward trend is not random. There are several clear reasons why more and more students are giving JEE Main each year. Let’s understand the key factors behind this rise in detail.
1) More Attempts Allowed
Earlier, JEE Main was held only once a year. Now, students can appear twice a year – once in January and again in April. This change has made the exam more flexible and student-friendly.
Because of this, students now feel they have two chances instead of one. Even if they don’t perform well in the first session, they can improve in the second session. Some students also appear in both sessions just to improve their percentile. This has led to an increase in the total number of candidates registering for the exam.
In 2025, around 8.2 lakh candidates appeared in both sessions, showing how common the two-attempt strategy has become.
2) Growing Competition
Engineering is still one of the most popular career options in India. With thousands of government and private colleges across the country, students see engineering as a stable and respected career path. Many students and parents believe that a good rank in JEE Main can lead to admission in top NITs, IIITs, or other centrally funded institutes.
Due to this, coaching institutes in both big cities and small towns are seeing rising enrollments. Students start preparing as early as Class 9 or 10, and some even repeat a year just to get a better JEE Main rank. This increased focus on engineering education has directly contributed to the growing number of candidates applying for the exam each year.
3) Expansion of Exam Centers
Over the last few years, NTA has worked to make JEE Main more accessible. Earlier, students from rural or remote areas had to travel long distances to appear for the exam. Now, with the expansion of exam centers, the reach has widened across the country.
This has helped students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, as well as villages, to participate more easily. Better infrastructure and transport have also played a role in encouraging more students to give the exam.
The availability of more centers has removed location-based barriers. It has motivated many first-time test-takers, especially girls and students from economically weaker sections, to register.
4) Digital Awareness and Online Preparation
In the past, access to quality study material and coaching was limited to metro cities. Today, with the rise of online learning platforms, even students in small towns have access to mock tests, recorded lectures, doubt-solving apps, and previous year question papers.
Platforms like YouTube, educational apps, and test series programs offer affordable learning solutions. This has reduced the gap between urban and rural students. Many aspirants now feel confident about their preparation, thanks to these tools, and register for the exam.
Also, many state governments and school programs are encouraging students to appear for JEE Main by offering support and free coaching.
5) Increase in Number of Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main Scores
Earlier, only NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs accepted JEE Main scores. Now, hundreds of private and state colleges also accept JEE Main marks for their admission processes. This has made JEE Main a key exam, even for students who are not aiming for IITs or NITs.
As more colleges rely on JEE Main for admissions, students see it as an entry point to multiple options. So, even if they are not targeting the top 1% ranks, they register and appear for the exam to keep their chances open.
What Does This Mean for 2026 Aspirants?
The rising number of candidates appearing for JEE Main every year has important implications for students preparing for the 2026 exam. With over 15 lakh registrations in 2025 and nearly 14.75 lakh candidates appearing, the competition has become more intense than ever. If you are a 2026 aspirant, you must plan your preparation smartly and stay focused throughout the year.
1) Tougher Competition
More candidates means higher competition. Even a small difference in marks can significantly affect your rank. For example, a 5-mark drop may push your rank down by thousands. So, every question counts. You must aim to score consistently across all three subjects — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
In 2025, lakhs of students attempted both sessions of JEE Main to improve their scores. Many of them also took coaching for years. This shows that the exam is not just about intelligence but also about consistent effort and strategy.
2) Need for a Multiple Attempt Strategy
Since JEE Main is held in two sessions, most students now appear for both. This gives them a second chance to improve their percentile or rank. You should also plan to attempt both sessions.
Here’s how this helps:
- You can treat the first attempt (January) as a trial run and understand your strengths and weaknesses.
- Then, you can use the time between the two sessions to revise weak topics.
- Many students improve their scores by 10–20 percentile points in the second session.
But remember, this strategy only works if you prepare seriously from the beginning.
3) Importance of Strong Basics
As competition increases, it is not enough to just complete the syllabus. You must focus on conceptual clarity. Questions in JEE Main often test your understanding, not just memorization.
To strengthen your basics:
- Solve NCERT thoroughly.
- Practice solving questions without a calculator.
- Don’t skip Physics numericals or tricky Chemistry chapters like Organic and Physical.
A strong foundation will help you handle even unexpected or tricky questions confidently.
4) Practice Through Mock Tests
Mock tests are now more important than ever. With lakhs of students preparing using test series and previous year papers, you cannot afford to ignore them.
- Attempt at least one mock test every week in the early stages.
- Increase the frequency to 2–3 tests per week closer to the exam.
- Analyze each test deeply. Check which topics you got wrong and revise them.
Mock tests improve speed, accuracy, and time management — all crucial for success in JEE Main. One of the best options is the Phodu Club JEE Main Test Series. It provides realistic mock tests that follow NTA’s latest pattern with detailed solutions and analysis.
5) Be Consistent and Avoid Distractions
With rising numbers, only the most dedicated students will stand out. Many students study well for a few weeks but lose focus later. You must stay consistent for the whole year.
- Make a timetable and stick to it.
- Avoid wasting time on social media or unnecessary distractions.
- Take small breaks, but don’t lose your study rhythm.
Conclusion
JEE Main is one of the largest exams in India. Every year, over 13 to 15 lakh students register for it. The number of students is rising again after a short dip during COVID-19. In 2024, over 14.7 lakh students registered. In 2025, around 13.8 lakh students are expected.
This means more students are preparing seriously and aiming for top colleges. The exam now has two sessions, which gives more chances to improve. However, it also means tougher competition.
If you are preparing for JEE Main 2026, take note of this. Start early, plan smartly, and practice regularly. Appear in both sessions to increase your chances. Focus on mock tests and time management. With the right approach, you can get a good rank even in this rising competition.
FAQs
1) How many students appeared for JEE Main 2025?
A total of 15,39,848 unique candidates registered for JEE Main 2025 across both sessions. Out of these, 14,75,103 candidates actually appeared for the exam, making it one of the highest participation records in recent years.
2) Why is the number of JEE Main applicants increasing every year?
More students are registering for JEE Main due to increased awareness, better access to exam centers, digital learning platforms, and the option to appear in two sessions. The growing popularity of engineering as a career also contributes to this increase.
3) Do all students appear in both JEE Main sessions?
No, not all students appear in both sessions. However, many students register for both to improve their scores. In 2025, around 8.2 lakh candidates appeared in both January and April sessions to try for a better percentile.
4) Is it necessary to appear in both JEE Main sessions?
It is not compulsory, but it is recommended. Appearing in both sessions helps students improve their scores and correct mistakes from the first attempt. NTA considers the best score out of the two for ranking and admission.
5) Can private colleges accept JEE Main scores?
Yes. Apart from NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, many private engineering colleges across India now accept JEE Main scores for admission. This gives students more options, even if they don’t qualify for top government institutes.
