JEE Main Eligibility Criteria

 JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Overview

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main 2026 examination dates and eligibility criteria on its website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. The exam will occur over two sessions: Session 1 will take place from January 21 to January 29, 2026, and Session 2 will take place from April 2 to April 09, 2026. The key aspects of JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria will include educational qualifications, age limit, nationality, marks obtained in Class 12, compulsory subjects, and so on. This article details all important points relating to age criteria, number of attempts, minimum eligibility marks and percentage pass mark. Candidates are advised to check and understand the updated eligibility requirements of JEE Main 2026 to stay up to date on the notifications.

1.0JEE Main Examination 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Highlights

2.0Qualifying Examination Criteria for JEE Main 2026

To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have successfully completed one of the following examinations:

• The final examination of the 10+2 system is conducted by recognized Central/ State Boards like CBSE, CISCE, etc.
• Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination conducted by a recognized Board/ University.
• Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defense Academy.
• Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling with a minimum of five subjects.
• Any Public School/ Board/ University examination in India or abroad recognized as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
• A Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State board of technical education with a duration of at least three years.
• General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
• High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva.

3.0Nationality Requirement for JEE Main 2026

Candidates applying for JEE Main 2026 must hold Indian citizenship. Additionally, foreign nationals, as well as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), are also eligible to apply.

4.0Age Limitation in JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria

There is no specific age limit for candidates appearing in JEE Main 2026. Individuals who have successfully completed their class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024, 2025, or are currently enrolled and set to complete it in 2026, irrespective of their age, are eligible to participate in the JEE Main 2026 examination.

5.0Number of Attempts Allowed JEE Main 2026

Aspiring candidates for JEE Main 2026 must meet specific eligibility criteria regarding the number of attempts. Those who have completed their class 12 in 2024 or 2025 or are currently in the process of appearing for the class 12 exams in 2026, are eligible to participate in JEE Main 2026. However, candidates who completed their class 12 before 2023 or are scheduled to appear in class 12 after 2026 are not eligible for the exam. It's worth noting that JEE Main 2026 will be conducted twice in January and April.

6.0Marks Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026

In terms of marks eligibility, candidates falling under the general category must secure a minimum of 75% in their Class 12 board exams or rank among the top 20 percentile in their qualifying examination to meet the minimum marks to qualify JEE Mains 2026. This criterion is essential for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs. 

For candidates belonging to reserved categories, a minimum of 65% marks is required to gain admission to various undergraduate courses offered at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs. This ensures a fair and inclusive selection process based on academic performance.

7.0Subject Requirements in Class 12 for JEE Main Eligibility

The JEE Main 2026 is designed for three distinct courses - B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Plan - each with specific subject requirements.

• For JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.Tech.):

Candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects, along with one additional subject from Chemistry, Biology, or a Technical Vocational Subject.

• For JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch.):

Successful completion of Class 12 or an equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics is a prerequisite.

• For JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan.):

Candidates are required to have Mathematics as a subject in their Class 12 or equivalent examination.

8.0State Code of Eligibility Criteria

The state code of eligibility in JEE Main 2026 pertains to the state from which a candidate has successfully completed their Class 12 (or equivalent) qualifying examination, enabling them to participate in the exam. It's important to note that the state code of eligibility is not contingent upon the candidate's native place or current residence.

To illustrate, if a candidate completes their Class 12 exam in New Delhi but resides in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, their state code of eligibility will be Delhi, not Uttar Pradesh.

Similarly, for candidates who pass the Class 12 qualifying exam in one state but pursue improvement from another, the state code of eligibility is determined by the state where the candidate initially passed their Class 12 exam, not the state of improvement.

For candidates who have passed or appeared for the Class 12 exam through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the state of eligibility should be selected based on the location of the study center.

Indian nationals who have completed their Class 12 exam in Nepal/Bhutan will have their state code of eligibility determined by the permanent address mentioned in their passport.

For Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who have completed their Class 12 exam in India, the state code of eligibility aligns with that of Indian nationals. However, OCI/PIO candidates completing the Class 12 exam from an institution abroad are eligible for Other State quota seats or All India quota seats (excluding Home State quota seats) in all NITs, IIEST, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs).

9.0Year of Appearance Eligibility in JEE Main 2026

As per the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have successfully completed their Class 12 or an equivalent examination in the years 2024, 2025, or be currently enrolled and appearing in the 2026 examination. It's important to note that individuals who completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2023 or earlier, as well as those set to appear in 2027 or beyond, are not eligible for JEE Main 2026.

10.0Eligibility for JEE Main 2026 for Droppers

11.0Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in JEE Advanced through JEE Main

JEE Main Participation:

Candidates must have participated in JEE Main and attained the minimum cutoff marks set by NTA.

Top 2,50,000 Rank:

As per the Common Rank List, candidates need to secure a position in the top 2,50,000 ranks for eligibility in JEE Advanced Exam 2026.

Attempt Limit:

Candidates are permitted to appear in JEE Advanced twice, consecutively in the two years following the year of passing the class 12 or equivalent examination.