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JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Attempts, Age Limit, Subjects
Content Curator | Updated On - Apr 2, 2026
What's New in JEE Main Eligibility?
The NTA will release the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 for both the January and April sessions on its official website - jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates must meet the basic JEE Main Eligibility Criteria before planning to apply for JEE Main 2026. According to JEE Main 2026 Eligibility criteria, there will be no age restriction, but you can appear for three consecutive years.
- Candidates who have passed or are appearing in class 12 exam from a recognized board can apply. This includes gap-year candidates and repeaters as well.
- Candidates who have passed Class 12th exam in 2024, 2025 or are appearing in 2026 are eligible for JEE Main 2026 exam. Candidates who have cleared class 12th in 2023 or before cannot apply.
- For Admissions to IITs, NITs and CFTIs, candidates must have either a minimum of 75% marks in class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20 percentile of their board results.
- Diploma holders can appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam but are ineligible for admission to NITs/IITs through JEE Main.
These policies have influenced the JEE Main candidate pool, leading to an approximate 11% rise in applicants aged 21-25 from 2020 to 2023. Also trends from past two years reveal that 17% of top performers were aged above 20, indicating older candidates remain strong contenders for JEE Main 2026.
Candidates are advised to go through the previous year’s information bulletin and check JEE Main eligibility criteria, as it is expected to be the same for JEE Main 2026.
Also Read
| Key Summary This article covers JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026 for General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC/ST, PwD, droppers etc. along with minimum marks, age limit and attempts allowed.
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Table of Contents
- JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights
- JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Exams
- JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
3.3 JEE Main Number of Attempts
3.5 JEE Main Compulsory Subjects
- JEE Main 2026 State Code of Eligibility
- Major Changes in the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
- JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Admission to Participating NITs, IIITs, GFTIs via CSAB
- JEE Main Reservation 2026
- JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria For Improvement Exam
- JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Droppers
9.1 Documents Required for JEE Main 2026
- JEE Main 2026 Eligibility FAQs
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights
To apply for JEE Main 2026 exam, candidates should have passed their class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board, or a 3-year AICTE diploma is also valid. JEE Main 2026 is open to Indian nationals, PIOs, NRIs and OCIs.
- There is no age restriction, and students who have passed Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or are appearing for the exam in 2026 are eligible.
- Candidates are allowed to take the exam twice a year, once in January and once in April.
- For admission to IITs, NITs, and CFTIs, the minimum percentage required is 75% for the general category and 65% for SC/ST/PwD candidates, or a rank within the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
A detailed JEE Main Eligibility Criteria is tabulated below:
| Criteria | Eligibility Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized board/university. 3-year diploma approved by AICTE |
| Nationality | Open to Indian nationals, NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin), and OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India). |
| Age Limit | no age restriction or age limit |
| Qualifying Year | passed Class 12 in the year 2024 or 2025 or are appearing in the year 2026 |
| Number of Attempts | up to two times – once in January and once in April. |
| Minimum Marks – General Category | secure at least 75% marks in Class 12 or be in the top 20 percentile in the respective boards. |
| Minimum Marks – Reserved Categories (SC/ST/PwD) | Score at least 65% marks in Class 12. |
| Subject Combinations Required | B. Tech (Paper 1): Physics, Mathematics, and one additional subject (Chemistry/Biology/Technical Vocational). B. Arch (Paper 2A): Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. B. Plan (Paper 2B): Mathematics only. |
JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Exams
Aspirants appearing for JEE Main must have cleared the following in order to meet JEE Main eligibility criteria:
- Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized Central or State board like ICSE, CBSE, CISCE, etc.
- Intermediate or Pre-Degree Course exam or Pre-University Course under any recognized Board/University
- H.S.C or any vocational examination
- The final exam of the 2-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the NDA
- Diploma of a minimum of 3 years recognized by AICTE or SBTE
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling with a minimum of 5 subjects
- For admission to IITs, a candidate must complete the General Certificate Education (GCE) exam (London/ Cambridge/ Sri Lanka) at Advanced level
- Association of Indian Universities examination in India or any foreign country.
Source - JEE Main Information Bulletin PDF 2025
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
The eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 are important because they decide if a candidate is allowed to take the exam and possibly get admitted to prestigious engineering colleges. Meeting these criteria helps ensure a fair and structured way to select students for highly competitive courses. If a candidate does not fulfill these requirements, their application may be rejected, no matter how well they perform in the exam.
- JEE Main 2026 allows up to six attempts over three years (two per year). Eligible candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or 2026, with specific subject requirements for B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning.
- For NIT, IIIT, and GFTI admission, General/OBC/EWS need 75% marks or top 20 percentile, while SC/ST need 65% or top 20 percentile.
- All recognized boards, including NIOS, are accepted; diploma holders can appear but not join NITs/IIITs.
- State Code of Eligibility depends on Class 12 board results.
The main criteria for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 are mentioned below.
JEE Main Qualifying Year
- JEE Main 2026 aspirants must have passed 12th or equivalent exam in 2024 and 2025.
- Candidates appearing for 12th boards (or equivalent) in 2026 are also eligible to apply for JEE Main 2026.
| Class 12th Passing Year | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Not Eligible |
| 2022 | Not Eligible |
| 2023 | Not Eligible |
| 2024 | Eligible |
| 2025 | Eligible |
| 2026 (appearing) | Eligible |
JEE Main Age Limit
- There is no specific age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026.
- IITs may have separate age limit criteria for admissions, which might affect overall JEE Advanced 2026 eligibility criteria.
JEE Main Number of Attempts
- JEE Main 2026 aspirants can attempt the entrance exam for 3 consecutive years, which is 2024, 2025 and 2026 (appearing year). It is worth noting that candidates who completed their class 12 before 2024 or are scheduled to appear in class 12 after 2026 are not eligible for JEE Main 2026.
- JEE Main 2026 will be conducted twice a year, the aspirants can appear in both sessions.
- Both attempts of the JEE Main exam for a single academic year are considered as a single attempt for that year.
JEE Main Minimum Marks
In terms of JEE Main eligibility marks essential for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other CFTIs, candidates falling under General Category must secure 75% marks in aggregate in their class 12 board examination or rank equivalent to top 20 percentile to meet the minimum marks to qualify JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria.
For candidates belonging to reserved Category, a minimum of 65% marks in aggregate is required.
| Category | Marks |
|---|---|
| General (UR / OBC) | 75% Marks or top 20 percentile rank |
| Reserved (SC/ST/PwD) | 65% Marks or top 20 percentile rank |
JEE Main Compulsory Subjects
JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026 require all candidates to opt for 5 main subjects in the qualifying examination. Students with fewer than 5 subjects will be considered ineligible.
Compulsory subjects for the candidates taking JEE Main 2026 exam include:
| Paper | Compulsory Subjects |
|---|---|
| Paper 1- B.E./B.Tech |
|
| Paper 2 A - B.Arch |
|
| Paper 2B - B.Planning |
|
JEE Main 2026 State Code of Eligibility
For the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria, the state from which a candidate has passed the qualifying examination is considered as the state code of eligibility.
- A candidate is given the quota under that particular state as a first preference during the allocation of seats in JEE Main Counselling.
- State quota is only applicable for NITs and a few other state colleges.
- State, where the candidate passed the qualifying examination, is the state code of eligibility and not the state of residence
- If a candidate is appearing for improvement examinations, then the state code of eligibility will be the state from where the candidate has passed Class XII examination
- In cases where Indian Nationals have passed 12th from Nepal/Bhutan, the state code of eligibility will be determined by the permanent address on the passport
- Candidates who have passed/appeared in Class XII exams of NIOS, can select a state code of eligibility where the study centre is located.
Major Changes in the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria changes as per the new guidelines include the following:
- Valid ID Proof – All Indian JEE Main 2026 aspirants need to produce a valid and original photo ID, such as School ID Card/PAN Card/Driving License/Voter ID/Passport/Aadhaar Card (with photo)/E-Aadhaar with photo/Ration Card with photo/Class 12th Board Admit Card with photo/Bank Passbook with photo. NRI candidates must present a valid passport.
- Guidelines for Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, and Assam Applicants
- Candidates from these states need to enter details like Passport Number, Ration Card, Bank Account Number or any other equivalent Govt. issued documents while filling JEE Main 2026 Application Form.
- Also, such candidates can select centres from these states only.
- Exemption of Class 12th marks – For JEE Main 2026, the percentage of 12th will not be included while calculating AIR.
- Admission to IITs/ NITs/ IIITs and CFTIs - For B.Arch admission, candidates need to obtain a minimum of 50% marks in class 12th and 50% marks in aggregate in PCM.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Admission to Participating NITs, IIITs, GFTIs via CSAB
- CSAB is the regulatory body conducting admission counselling for NITs, IIITs, CFTIs
- Admission via CSAB depends on All India Ranks of candidates
- Candidates need to secure either minimum 75% marks in 10+2 exams or a place in the Top 20 Percentile at 10+2 level
- For the SC/ST category, the minimum aggregate required in 10+2 is 65%.
Note: CSAB has relaxed this rule for admission to NITs and other CFTIs. Please check the latest update on the official website.
JEE Main Eligibility for Admission to NITs, IITs, CFTIs, SFIs, or State Engineering Colleges
| Authority | Institute | Program | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Seat Allocation Authority B.E/B.Tech/ B.Plan | NITS, IIITs, CFTIs | B.E/B.Tech/ B.Plan | 75% marks in 12th or Top 20% percentile in 12thFor SC/ST, 65% in 12th |
| Council of Architecture | Institutes other than NITs, IIITs, CFTIs | B.Arch | 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with 50% aggregate in the qualifying exam |
| NITS, IIITs, CFTIs | B.Plan | 50% marks in Mathematics along with 50% aggregate in the qualifying exam |
JEE Main Reservation 2026
Of the total seats, few are reserved for candidates belonging to OBC, SC, ST, and PwD category. The distribution among top 2.5 lakh performers indicates that 40.5% of the general category, 27% of the OBC-NCL category, 15% of the SC category, and 7.5 % of the ST category received admissions, showing a representative and balanced selection process.
The allocation of seats is done as follows:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Non-Creamy Layer – Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| People with Disability (PwD) | 5% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
Note: The remaining seats after all other reservations will be considered as unreserved for the general category.
Source - JEE Main Information Bulletin PDF 2025
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria For Improvement Exam
- Improvement in one/two subjects – Candidate’s previous year’s top 20 percentile is taken into account and the aggregate will be calculated based on compulsory subjects
- Improvement in all subjects – Candidate’s highest aggregate of both years is considered. In case a candidate is unable to secure the minimum required aggregate, he/she will be deemed ineligible.
| Scenario | Criteria | Calculation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement in one/two subjects | Candidate’s previous year’s top 20 percentile is taken into account | Aggregate calculated based on compulsory subjects |
| Improvement in all subjects | Highest aggregate of both years is considered | Aggregate from the better of the two years |
| Unable to secure minimum required aggregate | Candidate is deemed ineligible | Not applicable |
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Droppers
- JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria apply to all candidates including droppers.
- To be eligible, dropouts need to fulfil the eligibility criteria for JEE Main exam.
- For admission to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs, candidates need to secure a minimum score of 75% (65% for reserved category) or need to be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
- The droppers must have passed the 12th examination in 2024 or 2025.
- JEE Main aspirants can take only three consecutive attempts.
- Candidates must have taken at least five subjects in their 12th class or qualifying exam, mandatory ones being Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
| Criteria Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Applicability | Applies to all candidates, including droppers |
| Dropouts Eligibility | Must fulfil all JEE Main eligibility criteria |
| Admission to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs | Minimum 75% (General) or 65% (Reserved) in Class 12 OR top 20 percentile in respective boards |
| Year of Passing Class 12 (for droppers) | 2024 or 2025 |
| Number of Attempts | Maximum of three consecutive attempts |
| Required Subjects in Class 12 | At least five subjects, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as mandatory subjects |
Documents Required for JEE Main 2026
Apart from verifying the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria, candidates must also check and ensure necessary documents required for JEE Main 2026 application. Missing documents can lead to rejection of the JEE Main 2026 registration process.
The candidates need to produce the following documents at the time of taking JEE Main 2026 Exam:
- Identity Card: JEE Main participants need to produce a valid ID proof like PAN Card, Driver’s Licence, Voter ID, Aadhaar Card etc.
- Photograph and Signature
- JEE Main application form requires Scanned copies of Signature and Photograph
- Size of the photograph should be between 10 kb–200 kb
- Permissible size of the signature must be between 4 kb–30 kb
- Preferred dimensions for signature and photograph are 3.5 cm X 4.5 cm
- The format acceptable is JPEG/JPG only
- Educational Documents: Candidates need to produce 10th and 12th mark sheet and certificate at the time of JEE Main 2026 Counselling along with JEE Main Application Form.
JEE Main 2026 Eligiblity FAQs
Ques. What documents do I need for category reservation benefits for the JEE Main 2026 exam?
Ans. To claim the reservation in JEE Main 2026 the candidates need a valid category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD):
| Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| OBC-NCL & EWS Certificates | Must be issued on or after April 1, 2025; earlier certificates will not be accepted during counseling/admission. During registration, candidates must enter the certificate number, issue date, and issuing authority; document to be uploaded later during counseling. |
| SC & ST Certificates | Must follow the central government format, specifying community details, issuing authority, and jurisdiction.Required for verification at the counseling stage. |
| PwD (Persons with Disability) Certificate | Must indicate a benchmark disability of ≥40% to qualify for the 5% horizontal PwD reservation across all categories.Certificates showing <40% disability may allow accommodations (e.g., scribe, extra time) but will not grant PwD reservation. |
Ques. What is the minimum percentage required to appear for JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Usually, JEE Main exam requires a minimum of 75% for general category and 65% for reserved category in 12th class examination. However, this year NTA has discarded the percentage criteria and only the 12th pass certificate is required for registration.
Ques. Is there any sort of relaxation in JEE Main eligibility for women candidates?
Ans. No, the eligibility criteria for the JEE Main 2026 exam is same for both boys and girls. Only exemptions are given to reserved category candidates like SC/ST or PWD candidates.
Ques. Is there any age limit requirement under the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria?
Ans. For JEE Main 2026 exam, candidates need to qualify 12th in either 2024, 2025 or 2026 (appearing year). But as of now there is no upper age limit prescribed by NTA to appear for the examination.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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Answered Questions
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