If you applied for JEE Main 2026 Session 1, you need to check your email right now. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has spotted a problem with some applications, and you have until January 15 to fix it.
The issue? Your live photo taken during the application process does not match the photo on your Aadhaar card. This might sound like a small problem, but it could create serious trouble during the exam if you don't sort it out now.
What Exactly Went Wrong
When NTA opened the online application window from October 31 to November 27, 2025, many students registered using identity documents other than their Aadhaar card. The system asked for a live photo during registration. When NTA cross-checked these photos with UIDAI records (your Aadhaar database), they found mismatches.
Think about it. You might have clicked a fresh photo for your application, but your Aadhaar photo could be years old. Maybe you had longer hair back then, or you were wearing glasses, or you simply looked different. These differences can trigger a mismatch alert.
How to Fix This Problem
NTA has made the correction process quite simple. You need to upload a recent photograph along with a signed and verified certificate. Here's what makes this easier than before: NTA expanded the list of people who can verify your certificate.
Earlier, only your school or college principal or headmaster could verify your documents. Students complained about this restriction. Now you have more options:
- Your school or college principal
- Class 1 Gazetted Officers like Tehsildar
- Revenue Officers
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
- District Magistrate (DM)
- For NRI candidates: Class 1 officers from Indian embassies
This flexibility helps a lot. If your school is far away or closed for holidays, you can visit your local tehsil office instead.
Why NTA Introduced Live Photos This Year
This is the first time NTA asked for live photos during the JEE Main application process. The goal was to prevent impersonation and make identity verification stronger. While the intention was good, the execution created confusion for some students.
The system compares your live photo with your Aadhaar records automatically. When it finds differences, it flags your application. NTA is now sending emails to affected students, giving them a chance to submit correct documentation.
What Happens If You Ignore This
You might think skipping this correction won't matter much. That would be a mistake. Identity verification happens at the exam centre. If your documents don't match their records, you could face problems entering the exam hall. Some students might even get their candidature cancelled.
The exam is scheduled from January 21 to January 30, 2026. You don't want to spend those last few days worried about documentation issues. Fix it now while you have time.
When Will You Get Your City Slip
Once you sort out the photo issue, your next wait is for the city slip. NTA will release it soon on the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in. The city slip tells you which city you'll write your exam in. This information helps you plan your travel and accommodation if needed.
After the city slip comes your admit card, which will have your exact exam centre details. Both documents are different, so don't confuse them.
Steps You Should Take Right Now
Check your email inbox and spam folder for any message from NTA. If you received a notification about photo mismatch, act fast. Get a recent passport-size photograph. Visit any of the authorized officers mentioned above with your documents. Get the certificate signed and verified. Upload everything through the official portal before January 15.
Even if you haven't received any email, it's smart to log into your account and verify everything looks correct. Prevention is better than scrambling at the last minute.
A Word About Preparation
Administrative issues like photo verification can distract you from what matters most: your preparation. Handle these formalities quickly so you can focus on your studies. The exam pattern hasn't changed. Paper 1 (BE/BTech) and Paper 2 (BArch/BPlanning) will follow the usual format.
Remember that lakhs of students appear for JEE Main every year. Small administrative hurdles are normal. What separates successful candidates from others is how quickly they resolve issues and get back to preparation.
Keep checking the official NTA website regularly. They update information about admit cards, city slips, and any last-minute changes there first. Don't rely only on unofficial sources or coaching institute updates.
If you face any technical problems while uploading corrected documents, contact NTA helpdesk immediately. Their contact details are available on the official website. Don't wait until January 14 to report problems.
This correction window is your opportunity to ensure smooth exam day experience. Use it wisely, fix any issues now, and then channel all your energy into preparation. Your focus should be on solving problems in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, not on sorting out documentation at the last moment.
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