Obtaining the JEE Main Physics syllabus from the outset is crucial for successful preparation for JEE Main 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the JEE Main Physics 2026 syllabus, and candidates appearing for Session 1 (January 21–29, 2026) must follow it strictly to make sure no important topic gets missed during preparation.
The JEE Main Physics syllabus is entirely based on the Class 11 and Class 12 NCERT curriculum and is divided into two sections, Section A (Theory) and Section B (Experimental Physics). Particularly after recent syllabus changes, many aspirants find themselves perplexed about the deletion or removal of certain topics. The key rule here is simple: only topics officially removed in the last NTA-notified syllabus should be considered deleted. Do not make assumptions until NTA releases any updates specifically for 2026. To ensure you are fully prepared, visit our JEE Main 2026 Physics Syllabus Complete Unit-wise Guide & Study Tips to dive deeper into unit-specific strategies.
In this blog, we cover the complete JEE Main Physics syllabus Section A, Section B, chapter-wise weightage, sub-discipline trends, class-wise question distribution, and deleted topics.
JEE Main Physics Syllabus 2026 – Overview
Here is the complete overview of the Physics syllabus
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | JEE Main 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Subject | Physics |
| Basis of Syllabus | NCERT Class 11 & Class 12 |
| Section A | Theory (approximately 80% weightage) |
| Section B | Experimental / Practical Physics (approximately 20% weightage) |
The JEE Main Physics syllabus tests conceptual clarity, numerical application, and understanding of experimental techniques as prescribed in the NCERT. Section A carries the larger share at around 80%, while Section B, which focuses on practical elements and makes up the remaining 20%.
JEE Main Physics Syllabus 2026 – Section A (Theory)
Section A covers theoretical concepts derived directly from NCERT textbooks. The topics come from mechanics, electrodynamics, optics, and modern physics, with approximately 50–55% weightage from Class 11 and 45–50% from Class 12.
Key Unit Clusters in Section A
- Mechanics—Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work, Energy, Power, Rotational Motion, Gravitation
- Electrodynamics — Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, EMI & AC
- Optics — Ray Optics and Wave Optics
- Modern Physics — Dual Nature, Atoms, Nuclei, Semiconductor Devices
Here is the complete unit-wise and topic-wise breakdown for Section A:
| Unit | Topics |
| Units and Measurements | Units of measurement, system of units, SI Units, fundamental and derived units, least count, significant figures, errors in measurements. Dimensions of physical quantities, dimensional analysis and its applications. |
| Kinematics | Frame of reference, motion in a straight line, speed and velocity, uniform and non-uniform motion, average speed and instantaneous velocity, uniformly accelerated motion, velocity-time graph, position-time graph, relations for uniformly accelerated motion, and relative velocity. The concepts of motion in a plane, projectile motion, and uniform circular motion are all included. |
| Laws of Motion | Force and inertia, Newton’s first law of motion; momentum, Newton’s second law of impulse, Newton’s third law of motion. The law of conservation of linear momentum, along with its applications, governs the equilibrium of concurrent forces. Static and kinetic friction, laws of friction, and rolling friction. Dynamics of uniform circular motion, centripetal force,, and its applications—vehicle on a level circular road, vehicle on a banked road. |
| Work, Energy, and Power | Work done by a constant force and a variable force, kinetic and potential energies; the work-energy theorem, and power. The potential energy of a spring, the conservation of mechanical energy, conservative and non-conservative forces, and the motion in a vertical circle are all important concepts to understand. Elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions. |
| Rotational Motion | The center of mass of a two-particle system corresponds to the center of mass of a rigid body. Basic concepts of rotational motion, moment of a force, torque, angular momentum, conservation of angular momentum, and its applications. Moment of inertia, radius of gyration, values of moments of inertia for simple geometrical objects, parallel and perpendicular axes theorems, and their applications. Equilibrium of rigid bodies, rigid body rotation, equations of rotational motion, and and comparison of linear and rotational motions. |
| Gravitation | Universal law of gravitation. The acceleration caused by gravity varies depending on the height and depth of the object. Kepler’s laws of planetary motion apply. Escape velocity, motion of a satellite, orbital velocity, time period and energy of satellite. |
| Properties of Solids and Liquids | Elastic behaviour, stress-strain relationship, Hooke’s law, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus and modulus of rigidity. Pressure due to a fluid column, Pascal’s law and its applications, effect of gravity on fluid pressure, viscosity, Stoke’s law, terminal velocity, streamline and turbulent flow, critical velocity, Bernoulli’s principle and its applications. Surface energy and surface tension, angle of contact, excess of pressure across a curved surface, application of surface tension — drops, bubbles and capillary rise. Heat, temperature, thermal expansion, specific heat capacity, calorimetry, change of state, latent heat. Heat transfer — conduction, convection and radiation. |
| Thermodynamics | Thermal equilibrium and the concept of temperature, zeroth law of thermodynamics, heat, work and internal energy. First law of thermodynamics, isothermal and adiabatic processes. Second law of thermodynamics — reversible and irreversible processes. |
| Kinetic Theory of Gases | Equation of state of a perfect gas, work done on compressing a gas, kinetic theory of gases — assumptions, concept of pressure, kinetic interpretation of temperature, RMS speed of gas molecules, degrees of freedom, law of equipartition of energy and applications to specific heat capacities of gases, mean free path, Avogadro’s number. |
| Oscillations and Waves | Oscillations and periodic motion — time period, frequency, displacement as a function of time, periodic functions. Simple harmonic motion (SHM) and its equation, phase, oscillations of a spring — restoring force and force constant, energy in SHM — kinetic and potential energies, simple pendulum — derivation of expression for its time period. Wave motion, longitudinal and transverse waves, speed of the travelling wave, displacement relation for a progressive wave, principle of superposition of waves, reflection of waves, standing waves in strings and organ pipes, fundamental mode and harmonics, beats. |
| Electrostatics | Electric charges — conservation of charge, Coulomb’s law, forces between two point charges, forces between multiple charges, superposition principle and continuous charge distribution. Electric field due to a point charge, electric field lines, electric dipole, electric field due to a dipole, torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field. Electric flux, Gauss’s law and its applications — infinitely long uniformly charged straight wire, uniformly charged infinite plane sheet, uniformly charged thin spherical shell. Electric potential and its calculation for a point charge, electric dipole and system of charges, potential difference, equipotential surfaces, electrical potential energy of a system of two point charges and of electric dipole in an electrostatic field. Conductors and insulators, dielectrics and electric polarisation, capacitors and capacitance, combination of capacitors in series and parallel, capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric medium between the plates, energy stored in a capacitor. |
| Current Electricity | Electric current — drift velocity, mobility and their relation with electric current, Ohm’s law, electrical resistance, I-V characteristics of Ohmic and non-ohmic conductors, electrical energy and power, electrical resistivity and conductivity, series and parallel combinations of resistors, temperature dependence of resistance. Internal resistance, potential difference and emf of a cell, combination of cells in series and parallel. Kirchhoff’s laws and their applications, Wheatstone bridge, Metre Bridge. |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | Biot-Savart law and its application to a current-carrying circular loop, Ampere’s law and its applications to an infinitely long current-carrying straight wire and a solenoid. Force on a moving charge in uniform magnetic and electric fields, force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field, force between two parallel current-carrying conductors—definition of ampere, torque experienced by a current loop in a uniform magnetic field, moving coil galvanometer — its sensitivity and conversion to ammeter and voltmeter. Current loop as a magnetic dipole and its magnetic dipole moment, bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid, magnetic field lines, magnetic field due to a magnetic dipole along its axis and perpendicular to its axis, torque on a magnetic dipole in a uniform magnetic field, para-, dia-, and ferromagnetic substances with examples, and effect of temperature on magnetic properties. |
| Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents | Electromagnetic induction — Faraday’s law, induced emf and current, Lenz’s law, eddy currents, self and mutual inductance. Alternating currents, peak and RMS value of alternating current/voltage, reactance and impedance, LCR series circuit, resonance, power in AC circuits, wattless current, AC generator and transformer. |
| Electromagnetic Waves | Displacement current, electromagnetic waves and their characteristics, transverse nature of electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic spectrum — radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays — and applications of electromagnetic waves. |
| Optics | Reflection of light, spherical mirrors, mirror formula. Refraction of light at plane and spherical surfaces, thin lens formula and lens maker formula, total internal reflection and its applications, magnification, power of a lens, combination of thin lenses in contact, refraction of light through a prism, microscope and astronomical telescope (reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying powers. Wave optics — wavefront and Huygens’ Principle, laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens’ principle. Interference — Young’s double-slit experiment and expression for fringe width, coherent and sustained interference of light. Diffraction due to a single slit, width of the central maximum. Polarization—plane-polarized light, Brewster’s law, uses of plane-polarized light, and Polaroids. |
| Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation | Dual nature of radiation, photoelectric effect, Hertz and Lenard’s observations, Einstein’s photoelectric equation, particle nature of light. The concept of matter waves encompasses the wave nature of particles and the de-Broglie relation. |
| Atoms and Nuclei | Alpha-particle scattering experiment, Rutherford’s model of atom, Bohr model, energy levels, hydrogen spectrum. Composition and size of nucleus, atomic masses, mass-energy relation, mass defect, binding energy per nucleon and its variation with mass number, nuclear fission and fusion. |
| Electronic Devices | Semiconductors, semiconductor diode — I-V characteristics in forward and reverse bias, diode as a rectifier, I-V characteristics of LED, photodiode, solar cell, Zener diode, Zener diode as a voltage regulator. Logic gates (OR, AND, NOT, NAND, and NOR). |
For an in-depth exploration of the most important topics in JEE Main 2026 Physics, refer to our article on Important Topics for JEE Main Physics 2026.
JEE Main Physics Syllabus 2026 – Section B (Experimental Physics)
Section B focuses on experimental physics and tests familiarity with laboratory instruments, measurements, and basic experimental principles. Although many candidates ignore this section, it is actually highly scoring and directly aligned with the NCERT practical work. So do not make the mistake of overlooking it.
Two questions that come up frequently among aspirants are “Is the Vernier caliper in the JEE syllabus 2026?” and “Is the screw gauge in the JEE syllabus 2026?” The answer to both is yes—both instruments are part of the last notified syllabus and remain included.
Here is the complete list of Section B topics:
| S.No. | Topics |
| 1 | Vernier callipers — its use to measure the internal and external diameter and depth of a vessel |
| 2 | Screw gauge — it’s used to determine the thickness/diameter of a thin sheet/wire |
| 3 | Simple Pendulum — dissipation of energy by plotting a graph between the square of amplitude and time |
| 4 | Metre Scale — mass of a given object by the principle of moments |
| 5 | Young’s modulus of elasticity of the material of a metallic wire |
| 6 | Surface tension of water by capillary rise and the effect of detergents |
| 7 | Coefficient of Viscosity of a given viscous liquid by measuring the terminal velocity of a given spherical body |
| 8 | Speed of sound in air at room temperature using a resonance tube |
| 9 | Specific heat capacity of a given solid and liquid by the method of mixtures |
| 10 | Resistivity of the material of a given wire using a metre bridge |
| 11 | Resistance of a given wire using Ohm’s law |
| 12 | Resistance and figure of merit of a galvanometer by half deflection method |
| 13 | Focal length of a convex mirror, a concave mirror, and a convex lens using the parallax method |
| 14 | Plot of the angle of deviation vs angle of incidence for a triangular prism |
| 15 | Refractive index of a glass slab using a travelling microscope |
| 16 | Characteristic curves of a p-n junction diode in forward and reverse bias |
| 17 | Characteristic curves of a Zener diode and finding the reverse breakdown voltage |
| 18 | Identification of Diode, LED, Transistor, IC, Resistor, and Capacitor from a mixed collection of such items |
JEE Main Physics 2026 – Deleted Syllabus
The JEE Main Physics deleted syllabus depends entirely on the latest official NTA notification. As of now, no separate syllabus for 2026 has been released, so the deletions applicable to 2025 remain valid.
Based on the last revision:
- Certain subtopics from kinematics, including vectors, were removed.
- A common question among aspirants is, “Is polarization deleted in JEE Mains?” As per the last notified syllabus, polarization remains part of wave optics and has not been removed.
- Another frequently asked question is—is the plane mirror removed from JEE Mains? Plane mirror concepts are still indirectly covered under reflection of light in the Optics unit.
Candidates should rely only on officially notified changes and avoid acting on unofficial assumptions about what remains or has been removed.
JEE Main Physics Chapter-Wise Weightage 2026
The chapter-wise weightage analysis below is based on recent JEE Main papers. Importantly, the first 9 chapters in this list contribute to 50% of the questions. Focus especially on ray optics & measurements, electrostatics, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics if you want to maximize your marks efficiently.
| Chapter Name | Questions in JEE Main 2025 (April) | Questions in JEE Main 2025 (January) |
| Ray Optics and Optical Instruments | 19 | 23 |
| Units and Measurements | 13 | 20 |
| Rotational Motion | 13 | 14 |
| Electric Charges and Fields | 13 | 14 |
| Fluid Mechanics | 10 | 16 |
| Moving Charges and Magnetism | 12 | 12 |
| Thermodynamics | 9 | 13 |
| Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance | 12 | 9 |
| Wave Optics | 9 | 10 |
| Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter | 7 | 12 |
| Semiconductor Electronics | 9 | 10 |
| Current Electricity | 8 | 9 |
| Work, Power and Energy | 4 | 11 |
| Gravitation | 6 | 8 |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 5 | 9 |
| Thermal Properties of Matter | 5 | 8 |
| Waves | 10 | 3 |
| Alternating Current | 6 | 7 |
| Kinetic Theory of Gases | 7 | 5 |
| Atoms | 7 | 5 |
| Newton’s Laws of Motion | 8 | 3 |
| Motion in a Plane | 6 | 4 |
| Motion in a Straight Line | 5 | 4 |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | 4 | 5 |
| System of Particles and Centre of Mass | 3 | 5 |
| Nuclei | 5 | 3 |
| Mechanical Properties of Solids | 6 | 1 |
| Electromagnetic Induction | 1 | 6 |
| Magnetism and Matter | 3 | 0 |
| Vector and Calculus | 0 | 1 |
JEE Main Physics Sub-Discipline Question Trends
Looking at JEE Main 2024 and 2025 data, Mechanics, Electromagnetism, and Modern Physics together account for over 75% of JEE Main Physics questions. Here is what the trend looks like year-wise:
| Year | Mechanics | Electromagnetism | Modern Physics | Heat & Thermodynamics | Optics | Oscillation & Waves |
| 2025 | 252 (35.0%) | 194 (26.9%) | 123 (17.1%) | 50 (6.9%) | 63 (8.8%) | 38 (5.3%) |
| 2024 | 218 (36.3%) | 186 (31.0%) | 88 (14.7%) | 42 (7.0%) | 42 (7.0%) | 24 (4.0%) |
As the data clearly shows, mechanics is the highest contributor to the physics paper year after year. Electromagnetism comes in second, and Modern Physics consistently delivers scoring questions that are directly lifted from NCERT. If you prioritize these three areas and build a strong base in them, you cover the majority of what the physics paper tests.
JEE Main Physics – Class-Wise Distribution of Questions
Both the Class 11 and Class 12 physics syllabi play important roles in JEE Main. While Class 12 tends to have a slightly higher number of questions, Class 11 topics, especially mechanics, form the foundation of a large portion of the paper. Ignoring either class is a mistake many candidates make, and it directly costs them marks, as they may miss essential concepts that are crucial for solving problems in the JEE Main exam.
| Year | Attempt | Class XI | Class XII |
| 2024 | January | 141 | 159 |
| 2024 | April | 143 | 157 |
| 2025 | January | 121 | 129 |
| 2025 | April | 109 | 116 |
As the table shows, the gap between Class 11 and Class 12 questions has consistently been narrow. This confirms that balanced preparation across both classes is essential for a strong physics score.
JEE Main Physics Syllabus 2026 PDF
The JEE Main Physics syllabus PDF covers both Section A (Theory) and Section B (Experimental Physics) as per the latest NTA-notified syllabus. The PDF is available in English, follows the NCERT Class 11 and 12 curriculum, and serves as a complete reference for the entire JEE Main Physics syllabus in one place. Candidates can download it directly from the official NTA website at jeemain.nta.nic.in.
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Final Thoughts
The JEE Main Physics syllabus is broad but completely manageable when you approach it with a clear plan. Section A covers 18 units drawn from NCERT Class 11 and 12, while Section B adds 18 experimental topics that are directly practical and scoring. Together, they test your conceptual depth, numerical ability, and experimental awareness.
Based on the weightage data, prioritize Mechanics, Electromagnetism, and Modern Physics for the highest return on your preparation time. Within mechanics, rotational motion, fluid mechanics, and laws of motion are consistently high-frequency chapters. In electrodynamics, electrostatics, current electricity, and moving charges are essential. And in modern physics, the dual nature of radiation and semiconductor electronics is among the most frequently asked questions.
Balance your preparation across both Class 11 and Class 12 topics, since the question gap between the two classes is narrow every year. And give Section B the attention it deserves, it is easier to score in than most candidates realize.
Stay updated at the official NTA website for any syllabus changes specific to JEE Main 2026 and with the latest JEE Main announcements and resources on our best jee coaching in guwahati
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Are X-rays included in the JEE Main 2026 Physics syllabus?
Yes, X-rays are included in the JEE Main Physics syllabus 2026. X-rays fall under the Electromagnetic Waves unit, which is part of Section A. The electromagnetic spectrum topic specifically includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, along with their respective applications. This module is a direct NCERT-based topic, and candidates should not skip it. Electromagnetic waves, as a chapter, also appeared in 5 questions in the April 2025 session and 9 questions in the January 2025 session, making it a consistent contributor to the paper. Cover the entire spectrum, including the properties and uses of each type of radiation, for a complete preparation of this unit.
Q2. Are Vernier calipers and screw gauges included in JEE Main 2026?
Yes, both the Vernier caliper and screw gauge are included in the JEE Main Physics syllabus as part of Section B (Experimental Physics). Vernier caliper topics include its use to measure the internal and external diameter and depth of a vessel, while screw gauge topics cover its use to determine the thickness or diameter of a thin sheet or wire. Both are listed as the first two entries in the Section B syllabus. Since Section B carries approximately 20% of the Physics paper’s weightage and is directly aligned with NCERT practical content, candidates should not overlook these topics. Section B is one of the higher-scoring sections because the questions are straightforward and based on fixed experimental procedures.
Q3. Are Magnetism and Matter included in the JEE Main Physics syllabus 2026?
Yes, magnetism and matter are part of the JEE Main Physics syllabus for 2026. It is covered within the Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism unit under Section A. Topics include bar magnet as an equivalent solenoid, magnetic field lines, magnetic field due to a magnetic dipole along its axis and perpendicular to its axis, torque on a magnetic dipole in a uniform magnetic field, and para-, dia-, and ferromagnetic substances with examples, along with the effect of temperature on magnetic properties. In the JEE Main 2025 April session, Magnetism and Matter had 3 questions, and in the January session, it had 0—so while it is part of the syllabus, it is not among the highest-weightage chapters. That said, since it is covered under a broader unit that consistently appears in the paper, candidates should not skip it entirely.
