Registration issues plague JEE Main 2025, lowest numbers recorded in years

JEE Main 2025 registrations have hit a record low this year as students struggle with new application requirements and Aadhaar verification errors ahead of the November 22 deadline.

In Short

• JEE Main 2025 sees only 5.1 lakh registrations so far
• New document rules create confusion for OBC, EWS students
• Aadhar and certificate mismatches delay applications

Registrations for JEE Main 2025, India's top engineering entrance exam, are unusually low this year. Only 5.1 lakh students registered in the first two weeks of the application window that opened on October 28. Within this same time frame, 12.2 lakh registrations were seen last year.

Now, there is less than a week left before the November 22 deadline. Here are the main problems causing this dramatic decrease in the numbers.

OBSTACLES FOR OBC AND EWS STUDENTS

New requirements have caused confusion for students from OBC and EWS categories. For the first time, applicants must provide their category certificate’s ID, issue date, and the issuing officer's name along with the certificate itself.

Many students are struggling to access or update these details, delaying their applications.

AADHAAR VERIFICATION WOES

Aadhaar verification issues have also caused headaches. The most common problem? Name mismatches between Aadhaar cards and Class 10 certificates. This mismatch has led to verification errors during registration.

Complaints to the National Testing Agency (NTA) have flooded in, prompting changes to the registration system.

To simplify the process, the NTA now advises candidates to ensure that the details on their Aadhaar cards match exactly with the information they input during registration.

Moreover, the lack of a detailed FAQ from the NTA this year has left students feeling unsupported. Many have reached out to the agency but are still awaiting clear resolutions.

EXAM DATES AND FORMAT

Despite the registration hiccups, the JEE Main 2025 Session 1 exams remain scheduled for January 22 to 31, with Session 2 following from April 1 to 8. Both will be held in an online computer-based format.

With just days left before the deadline, experts are urging students to double-check their documents and ensure accurate data entry to avoid further issues.