JEE Main 2024 Students Appeared Highest Ever in NTA History

JEE Main 2024 recorded the highest number of students appeared in the history of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Conducted in two sessions (January and April 2024), the exam witnessed a massive rise in participation, highlighting the increasing competition for engineering, architecture, and planning admissions in India.

A total of 14,15,110 students appeared across both sessions, out of 14,76,557 unique registered candidates, making JEE Main 2024 the most competitive edition so far. The final All India Rank (AIR) was calculated using the best NTA percentile score obtained by candidates in either session.

How Many Students Appeared in JEE Main 2024? (Official NTA Data)

The most striking feature of JEE Main 2024 was the record-breaking participation. Compared to the previous year, the number of students appearing increased significantly, directly raising the level of competition.

Expert insight: Such a rise usually leads to higher cutoffs and tighter rank bands, especially in the 90–99 percentile range.

JEE Main 2024 Session-Wise Students Appeared (January vs April)

JEE Main is conducted in two sessions to give students a fair chance to improve their performance. Analysing session-wise data helps clarify attendance trends and removes common misconceptions about session difficulty.

Number of Students Appeared in JEE Main 2024 Session-Wise

Many students appear in both attempts, but NTA considers only the best NTA score for final ranking. Therefore, participation numbers alone should not be confused with difficulty level.

The January session had higher attendance, mainly because students prefer an early attempt. However, both sessions are equally normalised, and neither is inherently tougher or easier.

Paper-Wise Participation in JEE Main 2024

JEE Main is conducted through multiple papers, depending on the course a student wishes to pursue. Paper-wise participation helps students understand where the highest competition exists.

JEE Main 2024 Paper 1 (B.E. / B.Tech) – Number of Students Appeared

JEE Main 2024 Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) Participation Data

Gender-Wise Distribution of JEE Main 2024 Candidates (Paper 1)

Note: An appearance rate above 95% shows strong intent. Female participation continues to rise steadily, reflecting broader access to technical education.

Category-Wise Statistics of JEE Main 2024 (Paper 1)

Category-wise participation directly affects cutoff percentiles, rank distribution, and counselling outcomes. The table below shows registered and appeared candidates across categories.

JEE Advanced 2024 Eligibility Through JEE Main

Eligibility for JEE Advanced is decided strictly through JEE Main percentile cutoffs, released by NTA with high precision.

Approximately 2.5 lakh students qualified for JEE Advanced 2024 based on these cutoffs.

100 Percentile Scorers in JEE Main 2024

Scoring 100 percentile means outperforming almost every other candidate in that session.

Expert Note: These numbers highlight why accuracy and consistency matter far more than attempting maximum questions.

JEE Main Year-Wise Students Appeared (Official NTA Data)

Why Did JEE Main 2024 Record the Highest Participation Ever?

JEE Main 2024 witnessed an unprecedented rise in the number of students appeared due to a mix of academic, policy-driven, and aspirational factors. This surge clearly reflects the growing importance of engineering and technical education in India.

Key Reasons Behind the Rise in JEE Main 2024 Candidates:

• A larger number of students passing Class 12 naturally expanded the pool of JEE aspirants.

• Better visibility and improved academic reputation of NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs encouraged more students to appear for JEE Main.

• The January attempt allowed students to assess their preparation level and reattempt with better strategy in April.

• An increased number of exam centres and smoother CBT infrastructure made the exam more accessible across regions.

• Several reputed private engineering colleges use JEE Main scores for admissions, further boosting participation.

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