JEE Main 2026 – Exam City May be Other than the 4 Chosen Options

NTA Guidelines: Although the Exam Centre will not be outside the State

Millions of students across the country are waiting for the release of the exam city and city intimation slips for the JEE Main 2026 January Session-1 exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released important guidelines regarding exam centre allocation, which are essential for every candidate to know.

The NTA has clarified that candidates may be assigned an exam city other than the four options they selected in the application form. This situation may arise primarily due to administrative reasons, technical circumstances, or a low number of candidates in a particular city.

Key Points Regarding Exam City Selection

According to the NTA guidelines:

Candidates can select a maximum of four exam cities based on their current and permanent addresses.
The NTA attempts to allocate cities considering these options in order of preference.
If there are a very small number of candidates in a particular exam city, the NTA may combine it with one or more nearby cities for allocation.
The NTA’s decision regarding the exam city or centre will be considered final.

An important change this time is that during the application process, the state and city information recorded in the students’ Aadhaar cards was automatically displayed, which may also affect city allocation. Because of this, many students may be assigned a city different from the four cities they selected.

What to do if you Receive a Distant Centre?

The City Intimation Slip for the JEE Main January session is likely to be released in the first week of January.

If a student receives an exam city other than their chosen options and is facing difficulties due to distance or other reasons, they can register their problem with the NTA via email.

Although the final decision on exam city allocation rests with the NTA, if the reason is valid and reasonable, and the student explains their situation with relevant documents, the NTA may consider the application sympathetically and, if deemed necessary, may revise the allocation.

Which Cities in Rajasthan will have Exam Centres?

This year, JEE Main 2026 January session will be held in a total of 13 exam cities in Rajasthan. Notably, Bharatpur has been added as a new centre this time.

The Exam Cities in Rajasthan are as Follows:

Kota
Jaipur
Jodhpur
Ajmer
Alwar
Bikaner
Sikar
Sri Ganganagar
Udaipur
Bhilwara
Bharatpur
Dausa
Hanumangarh

The distribution of exam centres in these cities will be done keeping in mind the number of students, available infrastructure, and administrative arrangements.

The new guidelines issued by the NTA aim to make the examination process more transparent and streamlined. Candidates should understand that exam city allocation is a complex administrative process involving several factors. Therefore, if you receive a city different from your preferred options, do not panic. After the city intimation slip is released, you can contact the NTA with valid reasons.

If you are a JEE Main aspirant, keep checking the official website regularly for updates and download your city intimation slip as soon as it is released.

Recommended Read:-

Aabshar Hassan Quazi

Aabshar H. Quazi is a seasoned education writer associated with ALLEN Career Institute, where he crafts insightful blogs on competitive exam trends, student journeys, and academic guidance. With a background in journalism, Aabshar has worked as Principal Correspondent for Hindustan Times, honing his skills in storytelling, analysis, and impactful reporting. His writing blends credibility with clarity, making complex topics accessible for students and parents alike.