The countdown for the April attempt has officially begun. While the NTA’s information bulletin initially suggested a “second week of March” release, current live updates from major education portals indicate that the Session 2 City Intimation Slip is hitting servers between March 20 and March 21, 2026.
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How to Download the City Slip
Once the link goes live on the official portal, follow these steps to secure your copy:
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Visit: jeemain.nta.nic.in.
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Click: The link titled “Advance City Intimation Slip for JEE (Main) 2026 Session 2.”
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Login: Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth/Password.
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Security: Complete the Captcha/Security Pin.
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Save: View and download the PDF. Print a hard copy immediately.
Detailed Exam & Reporting Schedule
The NTA has implemented strict “Gate Closing” rules for 2026. If you miss the cutoff, entry is strictly prohibited.
| Shift | Reporting Time | Gate Closing | Exam Time |
| Shift 1 (Morning) | 7:00 AM | 8:30 AM | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Shift 2 (Afternoon) | 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
Note: For B.Arch/B.Planning (Paper 2), the morning shift is extended by 30 minutes.
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City Slip vs. Admit Card: Key Differences
It is vital to distinguish between these two documents to avoid last-minute panic.
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City Intimation Slip: Released ~10 days before the exam. It tells you WHERE (City) and WHEN (Date). It is NOT valid for entry into the exam hall.
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Admit Card: Released 3 days before your date. It tells you the EXACT VENUE (Center Address) and your SHIFT (Morning/Evening). This is your “Entry Ticket.”
Reality Check
Despite the rumors of a “Split Launch” or “Delayed Schedule” similar to other tech launches this year, the NTA has been firm: The April 2–9 window is final. There are reports of potential date shifts in specific regions (like Kerala or Assam) due to local election schedules on April 9, but candidates should assume their original slot holds until the city slip confirms otherwise.
The Loopholes
The NTA claims this city slip is for “candidate convenience.” In fact, this is an “Administrative Loophole”—by only releasing the city first, the NTA prevents heavy server traffic and potential security leaks regarding specific centers until the very last minute. Still, the “Center Choice Loophole” remains; even if you chose four cities in your application, administrative constraints mean you could be allotted a city outside your preference list—hence the importance of checking this slip today.
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What This Means for You
If you are an aspirant, stop refreshing the page and focus on your revision. * Logistics: Once the slip is out, if your center is in another city, book your train or hotel immediately. Prices near major centers like Kota, Delhi, or Hyderabad spike the moment the slips go live.
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Revision: Focus on “low-effort, high-reward” chapters like Mathematical Reasoning (Statistics/Variance) or Environmental Chemistry, which are known to yield easy marks.
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Documents: Ensure your Aadhaar details match your Class 10 certificate exactly; discrepancies can still be flagged at the biometric stage.
What’s Next
Expect the download link to activate between 4:00 PM and 11:00 PM IST on March 20 or 21. Then, look for a “Public Notice” on the NTA website regarding any specific date changes for election-bound states. Finally, ensure you have your Admit Card printed by March 30 to avoid the last-minute rush.
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