JEE Main · Physics · Current Electricity
Kirchhoff's Laws: JEE Main previous year questions
71 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 8 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 25 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 71
- in 63 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 8/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.6
- model; history: 0.6 a shift on average, typically 0.5–0.8
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 8 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 63 of 108 shifts: 71 questions, #29 of 196 topics. It came in every year with analysed shifts.
- 02
34% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 29 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Cell EMF and Internal Resistance, asked 10 times in 10 shifts (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026), most often as “internal resistance from two loads”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 22 of the 56 ideas in this topic; 28 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as numerical value (49%); 49% need a numerical answer, 23% are easy and 3% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is multi-step (51%), then calculation (37%).
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Physics questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 6 in 12 shifts · 2021: 15 in 24 shifts · 2022: 16 in 24 shifts · 2023: 8 in 12 shifts · 2024: 15 in 18 shifts · 2025: 2 in 8 shifts · 2026: 8 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.6
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.6
- 0.0
- Usual gap
- 1.3 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 63/108
- 58% of analysed shifts
Recent framings
- numerical: capacitor charge in steady state
- numerical: heat in resistor of multi-battery network
- numerical: current with reversed cell in parallel
Revise first
- Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) · asked 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
- Cell EMF and Internal Resistance · asked 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
- Parallel Combination of Cells · asked 2021, 2022, 2026
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 71 questions on Kirchhoff's Laws since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy16 · 23%
- Medium53 · 75%
- Hard2 · 3%
Format
SHARE- Numerical value · 35 Q49%
- Single correct · 19 Q27%
- Diagram based · 17 Q24%
Skill tested
SHARE- Multi-step · 36 Q51%
- Calculation · 26 Q37%
- Application · 6 Q8%
- Diagram reading · 3 Q4%
Repeats
New idea, or one asked before?
Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.
- Idea asked for the first time
- Idea asked in an earlier year
Coverage of the topic
JEE Main has asked 22 of the 56 ideas in this topic. 28 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly22 · 39%
- Touched inside another question6 · 11%
- Never asked28 · 50%
Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.
Drill down
Chapter, idea, question
Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.
22 ideas inside
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
Every idea inside this topic
22 different ideas were tested; 14 came more than once.
internal resistance from two loads
Numerical value · 10 shifts · 6 numericalbranch currents in two-source network
Numerical value · 9 shifts · 4 numericalequivalent resistance of resistor network
Diagram based · 8 shifts · 3 numericalcapacitor charge in steady state
Numerical value · 6 shifts · 5 numericalcurrent from cells in parallel rows
Diagram based · 5 shifts · 1 numericalcurrent ratio for cells in series vs parallel
Numerical value · 4 shifts · 2 numericalvoltage across resistor in mixed network
Diagram based · 3 shifts · 1 numericalammeter reading with shunt resistor
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 2 numericalvoltmeter resistance from loaded reading
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 2 numericalequivalent resistance with shorted nodes
Diagram based · 3 shifts · 1 numericalvoltage and current across parallel cell branches
Diagram based · 2 shifts · 1 numericalequivalent resistance of network with wires
Diagram based · 2 shiftsterminal voltage of cell in opposition
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalcurrent in branch of resistor network
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalheat in resistor of multi-battery network
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalpotential drop across rated bulb
Single correct · 1 shiftammeter reading with shunt and series resistor
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalvoltage between vertices of resistor cube
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalequivalent resistance of ladder network
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalcapacitor energy in resistor loop network
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalcurrent in branch of resistor network
Diagram based · 1 shiftcurrent in resistor network with balanced bridge
Diagram based · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell EMF and Internal Resistanceinternal resistance from two loads | 10 | 10 | Numerical valueCalculation | 6 | |
| Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)branch currents in two-source network | 9 | 9 | Numerical valueCalculation | 4 | |
| Circuit Symmetry Analysisequivalent resistance of resistor network | 8 | 8 | Diagram basedMulti-step | 3 | |
| Steady-State Analysis of DC RC Circuitscapacitor charge in steady state | 6 | 6 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 5 | |
| Parallel Combination of Cellscurrent from cells in parallel rows | 5 | 5 | Diagram basedMulti-step | 1 | |
| Series Combination of Cellscurrent ratio for cells in series vs parallel | 4 | 4 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 2 | |
| Voltage Divider Rulevoltage across resistor in mixed network | 4 | 3 | Diagram basedCalculation | 1 | |
| Current Division Ruleammeter reading with shunt resistor | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Voltmeter Loading Effectvoltmeter resistance from loaded reading | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Short Circuits and Equipotential Nodesequivalent resistance with shorted nodes | 3 | 3 | Diagram basedApplication | 1 | |
| Millman's Theorem for Node Voltagevoltage and current across parallel cell branches | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedCalculation | 1 | |
| Identifying False Junctionsequivalent resistance of network with wires | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – | |
| Reversed Cells in Seriesterminal voltage of cell in opposition | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Nodal Analysis Techniquecurrent in branch of resistor network | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Maxwell's Mesh Current Methodheat in resistor of multi-battery network | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Voltage Division Rulepotential drop across rated bulb | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Ammeter Voltage Drop Errorammeter reading with shunt and series resistor | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Cube Equivalent Resistance: Face Diagonalvoltage between vertices of resistor cube | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Finite Ladder Networksequivalent resistance of ladder network | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Uniform Wire Ring Resistancecapacitor energy in resistor loop network | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Current Divider Rulecurrent in branch of resistor network | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – | |
| Balanced Wheatstone Bridgecurrent in resistor network with balanced bridge | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – |
Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas
Every question
Kirchhoff's Laws questions, year by year
The newest 40 show their opening words as they appeared in the official paper; older ones name the idea they tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20268 questions in 7 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 2Q38Two resistors of 200 and 400 are connected in series with a battery of 100 V. A bulb rated at 200 V, 100 W is connected…
Idea: Voltage Division Rule
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 1Q43The voltage and the current between and points shown in the circuit are ______.
Idea: Millman's Theorem for Node Voltage
MediumDiagram based · figure - 5 Apr, Shift 1Q34Refer to the figure given below. The values of , and are ________.
Idea: Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
MediumDiagram based · figure - 5 Apr, Shift 1Q38Refer to the figure given below, current between terminals and is ________ A.
Idea: Parallel Combination of Cells
MediumDiagram based · figure - 5 Apr, Shift 2Q49When an external resistance of 5 is connected across terminals of a cell, a current of 0.25 A flows through it. When the 5…
Idea: Cell EMF and Internal Resistance
EasyNumerical value - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q46Refer to the circuit diagram given below. The heat generated across the resistance in 100 second is J.…
Idea: Maxwell's Mesh Current Method
New ideaHardNumerical value · figure - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q49Two cells of emfs 1 V and 2 V and internal resistance 2 and 1 , respectively connected in parallel, gave a current of 1 A…
Idea: Parallel Combination of Cells
MediumNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q49The stored charge in the capacitor in steady state of the following circuit is ________ C.
Idea: Steady-State Analysis of DC RC Circuits
MediumNumerical value · figure
JEE Main 20252 questions in 2 shifts
- 3 Apr, Shift 1Q49In the figure shown below, a resistance of is connected in series to an ammeter A of resistance . A shunt…
Idea: Current Division Rule
EasyNumerical value · figure - 3 Apr, Shift 2Q48Two cells of emfs 1 V and 2 V and internal resistances and , respectively, are connected in series with an external…
Idea: Series Combination of Cells
MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 202415 questions in 12 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 1Q56Twelve wires each having resistance are joined to form a cube. A battery of 6 V emf is joined across point a and c. The…
Idea: Cube Equivalent Resistance: Face Diagonal
New ideaHardNumerical value · figure - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q53In the given figure an ammeter consists of a coil connected in parallel to a shunt. The reading of the…
Idea: Ammeter Voltage Drop Error
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q40In the given circuit, the terminal potential difference of the cell is :
Idea: Cell EMF and Internal Resistance
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct · figure - 9 Apr, Shift 1Q41The equivalent resistance between A and B is :
Idea: Identifying False Junctions
MediumSingle correct · figure - 9 Apr, Shift 1Q56The current flowing through the resistor is A. The value of n is ________.
Idea: Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 9 Apr, Shift 2Q43The effective resistance between and , if resistance of each resistor is , will be :
Idea: Circuit Symmetry Analysis
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure - 1 Feb, Shift 1Q41The reading in the ideal voltmeter (V) shown in the given circuit diagram is :
Idea: Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure - 27 Jan, Shift 1Q56The charge accumulated on the capacitor connected in the following circuit is ________ C. (Given C = 150 F)
Idea: Steady-State Analysis of DC RC Circuits
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 29 Jan, Shift 1Q56A wire is bend to form a square loop. A 9V battery with internal resistance is connected across one of its sides.…
Idea: Uniform Wire Ring Resistance
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 30 Jan, Shift 1Q49A potential divider circuit is shown in figure. The output voltage is :
Idea: Voltage Divider Rule
EasyDiagram based · figure - 30 Jan, Shift 1Q50Primary coil of a transformer is connected to 220 V ac. Primary and secondary turns of the transforms are 100 and 10 respectively.…
Idea: Voltage Divider Rule
EasyDiagram based · figure - 30 Jan, Shift 1Q56Two cells are connected in opposition as shown. Cell is of 8 V emf and internal resistance; the cell is of 2 V emf…
Idea: Reversed Cells in Series
EasyNumerical value · figure - 30 Jan, Shift 2Q56Two resistance of and are connected in series with a battery of and negligible internal resistance . A…
Idea: Voltmeter Loading Effect
MediumNumerical value - 31 Jan, Shift 1Q56Equivalent resistance of the following network is ________ .
Idea: Finite Ladder Networks
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure - 31 Jan, Shift 2Q56In the following circuit, the battery has an emf of 2V and an internal resistance of . The power consumption in the…
Idea: Cell EMF and Internal Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure
JEE Main 20238 questions in 6 shifts
- 6 Apr, Shift 2Q49Figure shows a part of an electric circuit. The potentials at points , and are 30 V, 12 V and 2 V respectively. The current…
Idea: Nodal Analysis Technique
MediumSingle correct · figure - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q58As shown in the figure, the voltmeter reads 2 V across 5 resistor. The resistance of the voltmeter is __________ .
Idea: Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q50The equivalent resistance between A and B as shown in figure is:
Idea: Short Circuits and Equipotential Nodes
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct · figure - 10 Apr, Shift 1Q50The equivalent resistance of the circuit shown below between points and is :
Idea: Circuit Symmetry Analysis
Asked the year beforeMediumDiagram based · figure - 11 Apr, Shift 1Q54In the circuit diagram shown in figure given below, the current flowing through resistance is A. The value of…
Idea: Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 11 Apr, Shift 2Q49The current flowing through is :
Idea: Current Divider Rule
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 11 Apr, Shift 2Q59Two identical cells each of emf are connected in series across a resistance. An ideal voltmeter connected…
Idea: Cell EMF and Internal Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 13 Apr, Shift 2Q42In the network shown below, the charge accumulated in the capacitor in steady state will be:
Idea: Steady-State Analysis of DC RC Circuits
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure
JEE Main 202216 questions in 15 shifts
- 25 Jul, Shift 1Q57In the given figure, the value of will be ______ V.
Idea: Millman's Theorem for Node Voltage
New ideaEasyNumerical value · figure - 25 Jul, Shift 2Q42A current of 15 mA flows in the circuit as shown in figure. The value of potential difference between the points A and B will be :
Idea: Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
EasySingle correct · figure - 26 Jul, Shift 1Q40The current I in the given circuit will be :
Idea: Balanced Wheatstone Bridge
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 27 Jul, Shift 1Q41Two sources of equal emfs are connected in series. This combination is connected to an external resistance R. The internal resistances of…
Idea: Cell EMF and Internal Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 27 Jul, Shift 2Q55As show in the figure, in steady state, the charge stored in the capacitor is ___________ C.
Idea: Steady-State Analysis of DC RC Circuits
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 29 Jul, Shift 1Q55The current I flowing through the given circuit will be __________ A.
Idea: Short Circuits and Equipotential Nodes
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 30 Jul, Shift 2Q24A cell sends a current through a resistance 4 Ω for time t and sends current through another resistance 16 Ω for the same time t.If the…
Idea: Cell EMF and Internal Resistance
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 24 Jun, Shift 1 · Q33Parallel Combination of CellsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 25 Jun, Shift 1 · Q58Circuit Symmetry AnalysisAsked the year beforeMedium
- 25 Jun, Shift 2 · Q39Series Combination of CellsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 26 Jun, Shift 2 · Q41Circuit Symmetry AnalysisAsked the year beforeMedium
- 27 Jun, Shift 1 · Q36Current Division RuleAsked the year beforeEasy
- 28 Jun, Shift 2 · Q55Circuit Symmetry AnalysisAsked the year beforeMedium
- 29 Jun, Shift 1 · Q60Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)Easy
- 29 Jun, Shift 2 · Q49Parallel Combination of CellsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 29 Jun, Shift 2 · Q54Voltmeter Loading EffectMedium
JEE Main 202115 questions in 14 shifts
- 3 Aug, Shift 2 · Q28Nodal Analysis TechniqueNew ideaEasy
- 4 Aug, Shift 1 · Q15Parallel Combination of CellsNew ideaMedium
- 4 Aug, Shift 2 · Q27Steady-State Analysis of DC RC CircuitsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 26 Aug, Shift 1 · Q12Circuit Symmetry AnalysisNew ideaMedium
- 27 Aug, Shift 1 · Q12Series Combination of CellsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 27 Aug, Shift 1 · Q26Cell EMF and Internal ResistanceAsked the year beforeMedium
- 27 Aug, Shift 2 · Q21Circuit Symmetry AnalysisNew ideaMedium
- 31 Aug, Shift 2 · Q9Short Circuits and Equipotential NodesNew ideaMedium
- 24 Feb, Shift 1 · Q12Reversed Cells in SeriesNew ideaMedium
- 25 Feb, Shift 2 · Q29Current Division RuleNew ideaEasy
- 26 Feb, Shift 1 · Q15Circuit Symmetry AnalysisNew ideaMedium
- 22 Jul, Shift 2 · Q27Cell EMF and Internal ResistanceAsked the year beforeEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 2 · Q13Voltage Divider RuleNew ideaMedium
- 17 Mar, Shift 2 · Q2Cell EMF and Internal ResistanceAsked the year beforeMedium
- 18 Mar, Shift 1 · Q23Voltage Divider RuleNew ideaEasy
JEE Main 20206 questions in 6 shifts
- 8 Jan, Shift 2 · Q24Series Combination of CellsNew ideaMedium
- 2 Sep, Shift 2 · Q24Steady-State Analysis of DC RC CircuitsNew ideaMedium
- 3 Sep, Shift 2 · Q12Voltmeter Loading EffectNew ideaMedium
- 4 Sep, Shift 1 · Q12Cell EMF and Internal ResistanceNew ideaEasy
- 4 Sep, Shift 2 · Q20Identifying False JunctionsNew ideaMedium
- 6 Sep, Shift 2 · Q13Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)Asked the year beforeMedium
JEE Main 20171 question in 1 shift
Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.