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JEE Main Reservation Policy: Category-Wise Quota, PwD, Female Seats, HS–OS Rules & Required Documents
Content Writer | Updated On - Apr 4, 2026
What's New?
The JEE Main 2026 Reservation Criteria has been released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The reservation system ensures that candidates from various categories can avail benefits in terms of application fees, cutoff marks, and admission processes. Here is the category-wise reservation for JEE Main 2026:
- GEN-EWS: 10%
- OBC-NCL: 27%
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- PwD: 5%
- The reservation of the seats through JEE Main will be granted based on the State of Eligibility, from where the candidate has appeared for the qualifying exam.
- The JEE Main 2026 Reservation parameters are based on those directed by Home State and Other State Quota in terms of admissions granted by the universities.
Key Summary:
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Table of Contents
JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026: Category-wise
The JEE Main 2026 exam follows a structured reservation policy to provide opportunities to candidates from various categories. The Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates have a reservation of 15%, while the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category enjoys 7.5%. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates are allotted 27%, and General Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates are given 10%. Additionally, the Person with Disabilities (PwD) category is granted 5%
Below is the detailed breakdown of the reservation criteria for JEE Main 2026:
| Category | Reservation Percentage | Eligibility Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | No reservation | Open to all candidates |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 10% | Valid EWS certificate issued after April 1, 2026 |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | Must belong to Non-Creamy Layer with central OBC certificate |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 15% | Valid SC certificate issued by competent authority |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 7.5% | Valid ST certificate required |
| PwD (Persons with Disabilities) | 5% | ≥40% benchmark disability, applicable across all categories |
Ques. Is there any reservation in JEE Mains?
Ans. Yes, the National Testing Agency has a reservation policy for JEE Main, but it's used when counseling and admitting students, not when giving the test. JoSAA mainly uses category-based reservations (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD, and female seats) for NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
Ques. Is reservation applicable for foreign nationals in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. No, foreign nationals can't get reservation benefits for JEE Main 2026. Usually, they apply through the DASA or institute-level programs. Indian reservation policies like SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD don't count for those programs.
PwD (Persons with Disabilities) Reservation in JEE Main 2026
JEE Main 2026 includes a reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to give everyone a fair chance. This PwD reservation is horizontal, so it's applied across all categories (General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST) when JoSAA assigns seats for NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Reservation Type | Horizontal reservation |
| Reservation Percentage | 5% (within each category) |
| Reservation Percentage | 40% or more benchmark disability |
| Applicable Categories | UR, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST |
| Applicable Institutes | NITs, IIITs, CFTIs (through JoSAA) |
| Exam Stage Benefit | None (applies only at counselling/admission stage) |
| Certificate Requirement | PwD certificate issued by a competent medical authority |
| Certificate Format | As prescribed by JoSAA / Government of India |
| Relaxation in Class 12 Marks | As per category norms (e.g., 65% for SC/ST) |
| Relaxation in Class 12 Marks | Within the candidate’s respective category quota |
Ques.How does PwD reservation work in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. For the 2026 JEE Main exam, there's a rule that 5% of seats in each category (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST) are set aside for candidates with disabilities. To qualify, you need to have a disability level of 40% or higher.Keep in mind this seat reservation is only relevant when you're going through counseling and admission via JoSAA. It doesn't apply when you're just taking the exam.
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Female Candidates & Gender-Neutral Seats in JEE Main 2026
For JEE Main 2026 admissions, there are two ways to get a seat: regular (open to everyone) and female-only. This setup helps more women get into tech schools while still choosing students based on their scores.
Women are first considered for the regular seats. If they don't get one, they're then considered for the female-only seats. This way, they don't miss any chances, and the whole process stays fair for everyone.
| Parameter | Gender Neutral Seats | Female-Only (Supernumerary) Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Who Can Apply | All candidates (male, female, others) | Only female candidates |
| Seat Nature | Regular seats | Additional seats (supernumerary) |
| Impact on Total Intake | Part of approved intake | Added over and above intake |
| Merit Basis | JEE Main rank & eligibility | JEE Main rank & eligibility |
| Automatic Consideration for Females | Yes (first preference) | Yes (if not allotted gender-neutral seat) |
| Reservation Applicability | SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD applicable | SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD applicable |
| Institutes Covered | NITs, IIITs, CFTIs | Selected NITs, IIITs, GFTIs |
| Separate Application Needed | No | No |
| Seat Conversion | No conversion | Not converted to gender-neutral |
| Purpose | Equal opportunity for all genders | Improve female participation |
Related Queries:
Ques. Is reservation applicable in the JEE Main exam or only during admission?
Ans. In JEE Main 2026, reservation policies don't change the exam or the questions. Everyone takes the same test in the same way. Reservations only matter later, when JoSAA assigns seats in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs based on quota for each category.
Ques. Are female-only seats available in all NITs and IIITs?
Ans. Not all NITs and IIITs offer female-only seats. Only some schools provide these seats as part of government programs to boost female enrollment. But, all schools always consider female students first for regular seats.
Home State vs Other State Quota in JEE Main 2026
For the 2026 JEE Main exam, keep in mind that the Home State (HS) and Other State (OS) quotas are key to how seats are given out at NITs. NITs allocate 50% of their seats to students from their home state and the other 50% to students from other states.
This quota only matters when JoSAA counselling happens, not when you're taking the test or getting your results. Whether you're considered a home state or other state student, It is all about the state where you went to Class 12, not where you live or where you took the exam.
| Aspect | Home State (HS) | Other State (OS) |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Share (NITs) | 50% | 50% |
| Eligibility Based On | State Code matches NIT state | State Code is different |
| Applicable Institutes | NITs only | NITs only |
| Basis of State Code | Class 12 school location | Class 12 school location |
| Domicile Needed | No | No |
| Competition Level | Lower (state-level) | Higher (national-level) |
| Reservation Rules | Category-wise within HS | Category-wise within OS |
Read Also:
JEE Main Reservation 2026: Documents Required
SC, ST, OBC, PwD and GEN- EWS candidates are required to produce original certificates issued by the competent authority at the time of Seat Allocation Process as well as at the time of admission.
Authorities empowered to issue SC/ST Certificate -
| S.No | Authorities for SC Certificate Verification |
|---|---|
| i) | District Magistrate/ Additional District Magistrate/ Collector/ Deputy Commissioner/ Additional Deputy Commissioner/ Deputy Collector/ I Class Stipendiary Magistrate/ City Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional Magistrate/ Executive Magistrate/ Extra Assistant Commissioner (not below the rank of I Class Stipendiary Magistrate) |
| ii) | Chief Presidency Magistrate/ Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate/ Presidency Magistrate |
| iii) | Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar |
| iv) | Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the candidate and/or his family normally resides. |
| v) | Administrator/ Secretary to Administrator/ Development Officer, Lakshadweep Islands. |
| vi) | M.L.A. of the concerned constituency |
Authorities empowered to issue certificates for backward classes are-
- Sub-Divisional Officer (C)
- Executive Magistrate
- Tehsildar
- Naib Tehsildar
- Block Officer
- District Revenue Officer (Circulated vide No. 2/223/79-SWL/4337 dated 8.6.90)
- M.L.A. of the concerned constituency (Circulated vide No. 1/19/94- RCI/6045 dated 15.7.94.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Can a candidate claim both PwD and category reservation in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Yes, for JEE Main 2026, a candidate can use both the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and their category reservation. The PwD reservation is set up so it applies to all groups, like General, EWS, OBC-NCL, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe. Candidates need to have a real PwD certificate that says they have at least a 40% disability.
Ques. Does JEE Main 2026 have reservation for defence or ex-servicemen wards?
Ans. JEE Main 2026 doesn't reserve seats for children of defense personnel or ex-servicemen. JoSAA admissions depend only on JEE Main rank and follow standard central reservation rules. It's possible some colleges might provide small benefits individually, but this isn't part of the JEE Main reservation system.
Ques. Is domicile certificate required for Home State quota in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. You don't need a domicile certificate to claim the Home State quota in JEE Main 2026. Your Home State is determined by where your Class 12 school is located, as shown on your certificate. Where you live or where you took the exam doesn't change this.
Ques. What happens if a candidate fails to produce a valid category certificate?
Ans. If a candidate can't provide a valid category certificate during counseling or admission of JEE Main 2026, they'll be considered a General category candidate. This means any reserved spot they were given could be taken away. This situation can really change their odds of getting into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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