JEE Mains Physics, 2021 to 2026: 3,482 questions, and Ray Optics up from about one question a paper to two

Ray Optics: 0.93 a paper in 2021–24 → 2.02 in 2025–26

A middling chapter in the early papers, it is now second only to Electrostatics, and both recent years set it heavily. Lenses, mirrors and prisms all rest on one sign convention, so this is the best return on time in the subject.

Electrostatics: 1.66 a paper in 2021–24 → 2.21 in 2025–26

It was already one of the largest chapters; on the shorter papers it is the largest. Capacitors carry much of it.

Units and Measurements: 1.24 a paper in 2021–24 → 1.72 in 2025–26

Dimensions and error questions now come on nearly every paper. They are short, so the rise is cheap marks for anyone who knows the dimensional formulas.

System of Particles and Rotational Motion: 1.05 a paper in 2021–24 → 1.64 in 2025–26

The number of rotational questions in a year has barely changed, but the papers got shorter, so its share rose into the cornerstone tier.

Wave Optics: 0.74 a paper in 2021–24 → 1.17 in 2025–26

Young's double slit sets most of it, and it now comes about once a paper.

Mechanical Properties of Fluids: 0.72 a paper in 2021–24 → 1.07 in 2025–26

Bernoulli, viscosity and surface tension are set more often than in the early papers, mostly as calculations.

Current Electricity: 1.78 a paper in 2021–24 → 1.28 in 2025–26

It was the heaviest chapter in the early papers and is now core. It still sets about a question a paper, so do not drop it.

Gravitation: 1.03 a paper in 2021–24 → 0.60 in 2025–26

A core chapter in the early papers, it is now in the long tail. Learn it after the rising chapters.

Alternating Current: 0.93 a paper in 2021–24 → 0.49 in 2025–26

Resonance and impedance are still asked, but less often. Its formulas also serve Electromagnetic Induction, so the time is not wasted.

Motion in a Plane: 1.18 a paper in 2021–24 → 0.82 in 2025–26

Projectile and circular-motion questions come less often than they did, though resolving a vector into two parts is needed everywhere in mechanics.

Laws of Motion: 0.80 a paper in 2021–24 → 0.52 in 2025–26

Fewer questions ask for a free-body diagram on its own, but every mechanics chapter still needs one.

Communication Systems: 0.61 a paper in 2021–24 → 0.00 in 2025–26

It was set in the early papers and has not been asked since. Its notes stay up for the older papers.