JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Result Declared Today; Why NTA Reissued the Final Answer Key With Separate Sections and Option IDs
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the JEE (Main) 2026 Session 1 results will be declared today, February 16, 2026. Candidates can check their scorecards on the official website:
https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/
Just before declaring the results, NTA released the Final Answer Key for JEE (Main) 2026 Session 1 (B.E./B.Tech). Notably, two structurally different versions of the final answer key were issued in sequence. Both versions serve different purposes.
In the later version, the answers did not change. Only the structure did. Understanding why requires examining how JEE Main is stored and evaluated at the database level.
Two Versions of the Final Answer Key
1️⃣ First Release: Combined, Student-Focused Format
The first document (10 pages) displayed:
- Domestic Question ID
- Correct Answer (option number: 1/2/3/4 or numerical value)
- Corresponding International Question ID
Example:
Question ID: 8606541126
Correct Answer: 2
This version was ideal for students calculating marks and coaching institutes conducting analysis.
2️⃣ Second Release: Separate Domestic & International Sections With Option IDs
The later document (20 pages):
- Separates “Centers in India” and “Centers Outside India”
- Lists Question IDs independently for each category
- Displays Correct Option ID (e.g., 8606543827) instead of Correct answer number
- Maintains shift-wise and subject-wise organization
Example:
Question ID: 8606541126
Correct Option ID: 8606543827
This version mirrors the internal evaluation architecture used by NTA.
Why Separate Domestic and International?
Even when the question content is identical, NTA assigns:
- A separate Question ID for Domestic candidates
- A separate Question ID for International candidates
For example:
- Domestic QID: 8606541126
- International QID: 8606541201
These are not aliases — they are independent database entities.
Because the Question IDs differ, the associated options are also stored separately.
Even the Correct Option ID Is Different
Even if the correct answer shown to students is:
Correct Answer = 2
The backend identifiers differ.
For example:
Domestic Version
- Question ID: 8606541126
- Option 2 → Correct Option ID: 8606543827
International Version
- Question ID: 8606541201
- Option 2 → Correct Option ID: 8606544082
So while the option number (2) is the same, the Correct Option ID is different.
That means:
- Domestic dataset = one mapping
- International dataset = a completely separate mapping
A combined table showing only “Correct Answer = 2” does not reflect this structural separation.
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What was the need to Replace “Correct Answer” With “Correct Option ID”?
In the exam interface, students see option numbers.
But in the evaluation system, scoring operates strictly through identifiers:
Question ID → Option ID → Candidate’s Selected Option ID → Score
Candidate response sheets store Option IDs — not option numbers.
If a candidate challenges a question, NTA must demonstrate evaluation at the Option ID level.
Publishing Correct Option IDs ensures:
- Exact traceability
- Backend consistency
- Legal defensibility
- Audit readiness
Option numbers are display-layer labels.
Option IDs are database-layer truth.
Why Both Changes Happened Together
Once you acknowledge:
- Domestic and International have different Question IDs
- Domestic and International have different Correct Option IDs
- Candidate response sheets store Option IDs — not option numbers.
It becomes technically necessary to:
- Separate Domestic and International sections
- Publish Correct Option IDs instead of only option numbers
The later 20-page version corrects structural ambiguity by aligning documentation with the database architecture.
Why This Was Done Just Before Results
The structural revision occurred immediately before result declaration.
This strongly indicates documentation tightening — not answer correction.
Before releasing percentiles in a national-level examination, the published final key must exactly mirror:
- The evaluation database
- Question ID mappings
- Option ID mappings
This ensures that the result is institutionally defensible and technically precise.
Were Any Answers Changed in Later Release?
No.
There is no difference in:
- Correct options
- Numerical answers
- Multiple-correct decisions
- Dropped questions
The change is structural and documentary, not academic.
Are Both Versions Useful?
Yes — but for different purposes.
Combined Version (Correct Answer format)
Useful for:
- Students calculating marks
- Coaching analysis
- Quick verification
Separate Version (Correct Option ID + Split QIDs)
Useful for:
- Backend validation
- Legal scrutiny
- Audit compliance
- Database alignment
They represent two abstraction layers:
- Front-end exam display
- Backend evaluation system
Conclusion
The separation of Domestic and International sections — along with the replacement of “Correct Answer” by “Correct Option ID” — reflects database-level precision rather than scoring changes.
Because Domestic and International papers carry separate Question IDs and separate Correct Option IDs, documenting them independently ensures technical accuracy, traceability, and legal defensibility.
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