The National Testing Agency (NTA) has removed two questions from the JEE Main Answer Key 2026 released for the January session. These questions belonged to two different shifts and were part of the Physics section.
Their sudden removal from the JEE Main answer key has created confusion among candidates regarding evaluation, marks allotment, and percentile calculation. As of now, NTA has not issued any official clarification on the scoring treatment of these dropped questions.
Dropped Questions in JEE Main Answer Key 2026 (Official NTA Update)
As per the official JEE Main Answer Key, the following two questions have been marked as “dropped”:
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Question ID: 444792191
Shift: 22nd January, Shift 1 -
Question ID: 8606541395
Shift: 23rd January, Shift 1
Both questions were from the Physics section of JEE Main and were initially provided with answer options before being removed.
JEE Mains Dropped Questions Answer Key PDF
JEE Main Answer Key Images for Dropped Questions
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The first image attached in this blog corresponds to JEE Main 22nd January Shift 1 Answer Key
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The second image attached in this blog corresponds to JEE Main 23rd January Shift 1 Answer Key
These images clearly show that the questions were later marked as dropped in the official JEE Main answer key.
What Does a Dropped Question Mean in the JEE Main Answer Key?
In general, a question is dropped from the JEE Main Answer Key when issues are identified during evaluation or challenge review. This usually happens due to ambiguous or incorrect question framing, multiple correct answers, printing or technical errors, or discrepancies noticed during the answer key challenge process.
However, in the present case, NTA has not clarified the exact reason behind dropping these two questions. There is also no information on whether bonus marks will be awarded or if the questions will be completely excluded from scoring.
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Will Marks Be Given for Dropped Questions in JEE Main Answer Key 2026?
Currently, two possible outcomes exist:
Scenario 1: Full Marks for All Candidates
NTA may:
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Award full marks to all candidates who appeared in the affected shifts
This method is commonly used in JEE Main when a question is declared invalid.
Scenario 2: Question Removed from JEE Main Evaluation
NTA may:
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Completely remove these questions from evaluation
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Adjust total marks and normalization accordingly
⚠️ Note: There is no official confirmation from NTA on which approach will be followed.
Why Dropped Questions in JEE Main Answer Key Matter
The treatment of dropped questions plays a crucial role in determining final results. These questions can impact raw scores, influence percentile calculation, and affect cut-offs for IITs, NITs, and other participating colleges.
Candidates who appeared in 22nd January Shift 1 and 23rd January Shift 1 should be especially alert, as any change in scoring methodology could directly affect their results.
What Should Candidates Do After JEE Main Answer Key Changes?
Candidates are advised not to assume bonus marks at this stage. It is best to wait for the JEE Main final result, any official notice or press release from NTA, or clarification provided on the scorecard.
Students should rely only on official updates related to the JEE Main Answer Key and avoid speculation or unverified information.
Conclusion: JEE Main Answer Key 2026 Update on Dropped Questions
NTA has dropped two Physics questions (IDs 444792191 and 8606541395) from the JEE Main Answer Key 2026 for 22nd Jan Shift 1 and 23rd Jan Shift 1. However, there is no clarity yet on how these dropped questions will impact final scoring.
Until an official update is released, candidates should:
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Stay updated through official NTA sources
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Avoid assuming rank or score changes
