The information brochure for JEE Advanced 2026 is out, and with it come a few important changes candidates should know about. The exam will be organised by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), which has also confirmed the key dates for the country’s top engineering entrance test.
As per the schedule, JEE Advanced 2026 will be held on May 17, while the online application process will begin on April 23, 2026. Alongside the dates, IIT Roorkee has announced revisions to application fees, exam centres and zonal coordination.
Read More :- WBP Constable Result 2025 Declared at wbpolice.gov.in; Over 60,000 Candidates Move to Next Round
Application fee revised, especially for foreign centres
One of the biggest updates this year is the increase in the registration fee for candidates opting for exam centres outside India.
For Indian nationals and OCI/PIO (I) candidates appearing at foreign centres, the application fee has been raised to $200, up from $150 last year. Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO (F) candidates taking the exam in SAARC countries will now also pay $200, compared to $150 earlier. For non-SAARC countries, the fee has gone up to $300, from the previous $250.
For candidates appearing in India, the fee structure remains category-based. General, OBC-NCL and GEN-EWS candidates will have to pay ₹3,200. Female candidates across all categories, along with SC, ST and PwD candidates, will pay a reduced fee of ₹1,600. The fee must be paid online and covers both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Change in zonal coordinating IITs
There is also a reshuffle in zonal coordinating institutes for JEE Advanced 2026. In the East Zone, IIT Bhubaneswar has been named the new coordinating institute, replacing IIT Kharagpur. In the South Zone, IIT Madras will take over the responsibility from IIT Hyderabad.
Zonal IITs play a crucial role in managing exam logistics, coordinating with test centres and ensuring that exam protocols are followed smoothly across regions. Overall, the 23 IITs are divided into seven zones — East, West, North, South, Central, North-Central and North-East — for conducting the exam.
Exam cities list trimmed this year
The list of exam cities has also seen a revision. Pathankot and Saharanpur, which featured last year, have been removed from the JEE Advanced 2026 exam city list.
Read More :- ICSI CS June 2026 Exam Schedule Out for Executive & Professional Programs: Check Dates, Subjects Here
Candidates from Himachal Pradesh can now choose centres in Hamirpur, Kangra (Dharamshala), Mandi and Shimla. In Uttar Pradesh, the exam will be conducted in cities including Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Noida and Varanasi.
During registration, candidates must compulsorily select 10 preferred cities or towns, making it important to check the updated list carefully before applying.
With less than five months to go, aspirants are advised to go through the information brochure in detail and plan their application and exam strategy accordingly.
