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Permutations and Combinations PYQs (previous year questions) for JEE Main: Permutations and Combinations (Mathematics) had 12 questions across the 11 official JEE Main papers we tagged (2016–2026), and appeared in 11 of them. Asked in 3 of 3 years. The concepts asked in the most papers: Combinations, Distribution, Arrangements with Repetition.
Year-wise question count
Asked in 3 of 3 years.
| Year | Papers | Questions | Per paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main 2026 | 9 | 10 | 1.1 |
| JEE Main 2017 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| JEE Main 2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Most-asked concepts
Sorted by the number of papers a concept appeared in.
| Concept | Questions | Papers | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combinations | 3 | 3 | 2026, 2017 |
| Distribution | 2 | 2 | 2026 |
| Arrangements with Repetition | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
| Arrangements with Restrictions | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
| Combinations in Geometry | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
| Counting Functions | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
| Counting Solutions | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
| Dictionary Rank | 1 | 1 | 2016 |
| Word Formation | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
How to practise Permutations and Combinations PYQs
- Start with the concepts at the top of the table. They have come back the most.
- Solve one year’s Permutations and Combinations questions from the official PDF against the clock, then check the answer listed below.
- Log every miss as a concept gap, a calculation slip or a misread. Each needs a different fix.
- Once a concept is clean in two papers, move to the next. Then sit a full paper from the year pages.
Questions by year
Each line gives the question number and paper, type, concept, our one-line summary and the official answer, with a link to the official PDF.
JEE Main2026
- Q.6 (2 April, shift 1) · MCQ · Arrangements with Repetition: Seven-digit numbers using digits 1,2,3,5,7 each at least once (official answer: option 3) PDF
- Q.7 (2 April, shift 2) · MCQ · Combinations in Geometry: Triangles from polygon vertices with p(n+1) - p(n) = 66; prime divisors of n (official answer: option 3) PDF
- Q.8 (4 April, shift 1) · MCQ · Arrangements with Restrictions: Queues of 4 boys and 3 girls with the girls not all together (official answer: option 4) PDF
- Q.17 (4 April, shift 2) · MCQ · Counting Solutions: Number of non-negative integer triples with a+b+2c=22 (official answer: option 3) PDF
- Q.21 (5 April, shift 1) · Numerical · Counting Functions: Number of one-one functions on {1..6} with given value constraints (official answer: 72) PDF
- Q.22 (5 April, shift 1) · Numerical · Combinations: Number of ways player A wins a first-to-5 badminton series (official answer: 126) PDF
- Q.9 (5 April, shift 2) · MCQ · Combinations: Ways to draw 8 balls with at least two of each of three colours (official answer: option 1) PDF
- Q.7 (6 April, shift 1) · MCQ · Word Formation: 4-letter words with 2 vowels, 2 consonants from INCONSEQUENTIAL (official answer: option 4) PDF
- Q.7 (6 April, shift 2) · MCQ · Distribution: Ways 9 persons exit a lift in groups of 4 and 5 at different floors (official answer: option 3) PDF
- Q.9 (8 April, shift 2) · MCQ · Distribution: Ways to put four different books in three different bags, none empty (official answer: option 2) PDF
JEE Main2017
- Q.66 · MCQ · Combinations: Ways to invite 3 ladies and 3 men from two friend groups PDF
JEE Main2016
- Q.66 · MCQ · Dictionary Rank: Rank of word SMALL among its arrangements PDF
Permutations and Combinations in other exams
The same chapter in other official papers we tagged: JEE Advanced (16 questions).
Other Mathematics chapters
- Sets, Relations and Functions PYQs
- Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations PYQs
- Matrices and Determinants PYQs
- Binomial Theorem PYQs
- Sequences and Series PYQs
- Limits, Continuity and Differentiability PYQs
- Integral Calculus PYQs
- Differential Equations PYQs
- Coordinate Geometry PYQs
- Three-Dimensional Geometry PYQs
- Vector Algebra PYQs
- Statistics and Probability PYQs
- Trigonometry PYQs
FAQ
How many Permutations and Combinations questions come in JEE Main?
In the official papers we tagged: 10 in 2026 (9 papers), 1 in 2017 (1 paper) and 1 in 2016 (1 paper). That is 12 questions in all, about 4% of Mathematics.
Which Permutations and Combinations topics repeat in JEE Main?
Asked in the most papers: Combinations, Distribution, Arrangements with Repetition. The concept table lists every one with its count.
Are these official JEE Main questions?
Yes. Every question is from an official JEE Main paper hosted on our year pages. The one-line summaries are ours; open the PDF linked beside each question for the full text.