The National Testing Agency (NTA) is in the process of finalizing to announce commencement of registrations for JEE Main 2026 Session - One. This period is extremely vital for the millions of aspirants who are ambitious of getting admission to the country's top end Engineering Institutions.
Every year, thousands of well-aspiring students stumble over avoidable errors during the registration process for JEE Main. Even a small slip can lead to application rejection, mismatch in records, or complications in later stages (like admit card issuance or counselling). As registration for JEE Main 2026 opens, here are the top five mistakes that repeatedly surface in media reports and guidance portals — and how to steer clear of them.
1. Entering Incorrect or Inconsistent Personal / Identity Details
Why it’s risky:
Applicants sometimes type their name, date of birth, parents’ names or category incorrectly — or in a form that doesn’t match their school, Aadhar, or other official documents. Such mismatches can lead to disqualification or inability to download the admit card.
Common pitfalls:
Spelling errors (e.g., omission of initials, wrong order of name parts).
Choosing an incorrect “name as in certificate / Aadhar / 10th” variant.
Wrong date of birth or date format confusion.
Incorrect or outdated ID number (Aadhar, passport, etc.).
How to avoid it:
Cross-verify from your 10th / 12th documents or government ID before typing.
Use the exact format (spaces, initials, capitals) as in your certificate.
Don’t rely on memory; always have official documents at hand while filling.
2. Uploading Wrong or Poor-Quality Documents (Photo / Signature / Certificates)
Why it’s risky:
One of the most frequently cited causes of application rejection is uploading blurry, wrong-dimension, or wrong-format images.
Typical mistakes:
Using older photographs (i.e. not recent).
Signature area not properly scanned (background visible, edges cut).
Certificates (category, disability etc.) not valid or outdated.
How to avoid it:
Read the specifications carefully (size in KB, dimensions in pixels, format type).
Capture images under good lighting and scan/photograph neatly.
Crop and compress the file, but maintain clarity.
Use the demo link (if available) to practice uploading.
Keep alternate copies ready, and test opening them on another computer to see clarity.
3. Failing to Read the Information Bulletin or Guidelines Thoroughly
Why it’s risky:
Many students dive straight into filling the form without going through the instructions, leading to oversights and incorrect inputs.
What gets overlooked:
Eligibility criteria (e.g. qualifying exam years, subject requirements).
Number of attempts allowed or age constraints.
Instructions for “appearing vs passed” in 12th class.
Category certificate validity, format, and submission rules.
Correction window rules (which fields may be edited later).
How to avoid it:
Download and print the Information Bulletin / Notification first.
Go through each instruction and make a checklist.
Note critical guidelines (deadlines, allowed fields for correction).
Use the demo registration (if provided by NTA) to get familiar.
4. Selecting Wrong Exam Centres or Not Having Backup Options
Why it’s risky:
Choosing a far-away centre may lead to travel hardship or unavailability. In addition, if the preferred centre gets oversubscribed, you may get allotted a distant one.
Common errors:
Picking a center in a region you cannot reliably reach.
Not considering alternative centres if first choice is full.
Not checking availability ahead of time.
Mismatch between the city name and code (some cities may have multiple codes).
How to avoid it:
Choose centres close to your home or with good connectivity.
Always select at least one backup centre option.
Before the registration window, survey possible exam hub locations.
Confirm the city versus centre code mapping carefully.
5. Payment & Multiple Submissions Problems
Why it’s risky:
Often overlooked, the payment stage causes errors due to network issues, double submission, or delay — which can lead to either the fee being deducted without registration being acknowledged, or multiple application entries.
Frequent pitfalls:
Payment fails but amount is debited (or status unclear).
Trying to fill multiple applications thinking earlier one failed (leading to cancellation).
Waiting until the last hour, causing server overload or transaction timeouts.
Not saving the confirmation page or fee receipt.
How to avoid it:
Use a stable and secure internet connection during payment.
After payment, login to see your application status. If unsuccessful, wait 24 hours before retrying.
Don’t rush. Complete the form well before the deadline to avoid traffic surges.
Submit only one application; corrections (if allowed) are safer than multiple forms.
Print and save the confirmation and payment receipt.
Conclusion & Advice
Registration is the gateway to the exam — messing it up can cost more than just a few marks; it can cost you candidacy. Many portals repeatedly emphasize that attention to detail, timely effort, and familiarity with the process are your best defences
One positive development already in place has been that, for JEE Main 2026, NTA has already activated a demo registration link at demo.nta.nic.in so that candidates can practice form filling in advance and reduce errors in the actual run.