JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 2 Analysis: Easy Paper or Rank Killer?

JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 paper analysis is out. Was the paper truly easy or tricky? Check subject-wise difficulty level, key topics asked, student reactions, and expert insights to understand how this shift may impact scores and ranks.

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Subject-Wise JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 Paper Analysis
JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 Final Verdict: Was …

The JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 is over, and the reactions from the exam center are a mixed bag. Some students convey a sense of relief, while others are utterly disappointed! Most students are calling this one of the easiest shifts of JEE Main 2026, but that does not seem to be the entire truth. On the surface, the paper appeared straightforward and mostly syllabus-based. But, many candidates later reported that time management became a serious issue, especially in Mathematics, because it had some numerically-heavy sections.

As a result, shift 2 of JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 is now being discussed as a possible rank killer, even though it was not conceptually very difficult. To clearly understand the JEE Main 28 Jan shift 2 difficulty level, it is important to look at the paper subject-wise, along with student and expert feedback.
Check JEE Main Exam Analysis 28 January 2026 (Out)

Subject-Wise JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 Paper Analysis

To understand the overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2, go through the detailed subject-wise paper analysis provided below:

Subject	Difficulty Level	Expert and Student Feedback	Topics Asked
Mathematics	Moderate to Tough	Considered the toughest section. Very lengthy and time-consuming. Students had to choose questions carefully instead of attempting all.	Vectors & 3D Geometry (3 questions) Conic Sections (3) Integral Calculus Sequences & Series Probability Matrices
Physics	Easy to Moderate	Reported as the easiest and most scoring section of the paper. Questions were direct, formula-based, and mostly from NCERT.	Modern Physics Electrostatics Magnetism Ray Optics Heat & Thermodynamics Units & Dimensions
Chemistry	Moderate	Balanced across all three branches. Inorganic was NCERT-based and scoring. Some Physical numericals were lengthy.	Coordination Compounds Chemical Kinetics Amines d-block elements GOC Thermodynamics

Also Check:

Top 3 Toughest S hifts in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 a fter Day 1-4 Exams	Which JEE Main Jan 2026 Shift Was the Easiest Till Now?

JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 Final Verdict: Was it Easy or Rank Killer?

The final verdict for JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 is not concrete. So, the question remains, was this the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026? Definitely not. In fact, many experts are saying it might be the easiest conceptually. However, due to time-consuming calculations, it has strong potential to act as a rank killer.

Although most questions were straightforward in approach, they were mathematically demanding. The main issue in this shift was a lack of time. Students who got stuck in lengthy calculations in Physical Chemistry and Mathematics were unable to complete the paper, even when they knew the correct methods.

Why JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 felt like an “Easy Paper”?

Here are the possible reasons why JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 could be an easy paper:

Reasons	Description
Physics was a scoring section	Physics was described as a scoring section. It was rated among the easiest across the 2026 sessions so far. Most questions were formula-based and closely followed the NCERT. In a nutshell, the Physics section allowed well-prepared students to finish the section in under 40 minutes.
No out-of-syllabus reported	No out-of-syllabus or experimental questions were reported, and the paper strictly followed the standard JEE Main syllabus 2026.
Questions from high-weightage topics	Additionally, the questions also appeared from high-weightage topics like Vectors, 3D Geometry, Modern Physics, and Coordination Compounds. These are the topics which most students generally prepare for the most!

Why JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 Could Be a “Rank Killer”?

Three reasons why JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 could be a rank killer are as follows:

Reasons	Description
Chemistry & Mathematics were head-scratchers	Chemistry numericals and the Mathematics section were very long. Many questions needed multiple steps, which took up a lot of time.
Paper was not too difficult	Since the paper was a bit easy, the JEE Main 2026 marks vs percentile are expected to be higher. Students from this shift will need more marks to match the percentile of tougher shifts like January 23.
Calculation Mistakes are a possibility	Easy questions often lead to overconfidence, which may increase calculation mistakes. All of it can seriously affect rank in an easier paper.

Since JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 2 was more balanced and conceptually easier than the January 23 and January 24 papers, the cutoff for higher percentiles is expected to move upward. Students who attempted around 45 or more questions with good accuracy are likely to be in a good position. However, candidates who attempted close to 40 questions but lost time in lengthy Mathematics calculations may see their rank negatively impacted despite equal effort.

I want to know about lateral entry, I have completed diploma in ECE.

-Siddhant RainakUpdated on January 29, 2026 02:43 PM

1 Answer

Prateek Lakhera, Content Team

Dear student,

Yes, you are eligible for lateral entry admission after completing a Diploma in B Tech ECE, provided you meet the minimum marks requirement. You must have passed a 2-year or 3-year diploma in any branch of Engineering and Technology with at least 60% marks (55% for reserved category candidates).

Admission is granted based on the entrance test score and merit, subject to seat availability. If lateral entry seats are filled, you may also be considered for First Year admission based on merit. Pimpri Chinchwad University (PCU), Pune, also accepts SAT 2026 exam scores for UG admissions, which …

Do you have BHMCT course this year at Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology?

-Shobhan ChoudharyUpdated on January 29, 2026 02:44 PM

1 Answer

Prateek Lakhera, Content Team

Dear student,

Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology offers a 4-year Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (BHMCT) program. The BHMCT curriculum covers key topics like food and beverage management, hotel operations, front office, housekeeping, HR, marketing, accounting, and finance. Beyond theory, the course focuses strongly on hands-on learning through mandatory internships and industry training, helping students experience real workplace challenges and build practical skills from day one. The total fee for the BHMCT program at Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology is INR 3,20,000. To be eligible for the BHMCT course, you must have completed …

At which Jee rank I can get into the college?

-ajay kumar ranaUpdated on January 29, 2026 01:25 PM

1 Answer

Ankita Jha, Content Team

Dear Student,

It depends upon the category you belong to and also whether you are resident of Jharkhand or not. So, kindly elaborate your question so that I can give you the specific data for the same. Also you can check more details here.