The JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 will soon be announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates can refer to the previous year’s eligibility rules to understand important conditions such as the number of attempts, required Class 12 marks, and the age limit for appearing in the exam before the official notification is released.
All aspirants planning to appear for JEE Main 2026 must meet the eligibility requirements set by NTA to qualify for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The JEE Main eligibility criteria are divided into two main parts:
- Eligibility for Appearing in JEE Main 2026
- Eligibility for Admission to Institutes (IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs)
The eligibility to appear for JEE Main 2026 includes factors such as age limit, qualifying examination, subjects studied in Class 12, number of attempts allowed, and the year of passing the qualifying exam.
On the other hand, the eligibility for admission focuses on the candidate’s nationality, minimum marks or percentage in Class 12, and the year of passing the qualifying exam.
Candidates are strongly advised to go through the detailed JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026 carefully before filling out the application form to ensure they meet all the necessary conditions.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 Highlights
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will soon release the official JEE Main Eligibility Criteria. Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet all the required conditions set by NTA. Below are the detailed highlights of the JEE Main 2026 eligibility parameters to help students understand whether they are eligible for the exam.
| Eligibility Parameter | Eligibility Condition |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | There is no age limit to appear for JEE Main 2026. |
| Qualifying Exam | Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 or an equivalent examination. |
| Year of Passing the Qualifying Exam | Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or are appearing in 2026 are eligible. |
| Subjects in the Qualifying Exam | For JEE Main Paper 1 (B.Tech): Physics and Mathematics are compulsory along with one optional subject, Chemistry, Biology, or Technical Vocational Subject. For JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch): Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are compulsory in Class 12. For JEE Main Paper 2B (B.Plan): Mathematics is a compulsory subject in Class 12. |
| JEE Main Class 12 Percentage Criteria | Candidates must score at least 75% marks in Class 12 or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards to be eligible for admission to colleges. |
| JEE Main Number of Attempts | Candidates must score at least 75% marks in Class 12 or be in the top 20th percentile of their respective boards to be eligible for admission to colleges. |
Note: Candidates should carefully read the official JEE Main eligibility criteria before submitting the JEE Main 2026 application form to avoid disqualification at any stage.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates planning to appear for JEE Main 2026 must carefully review the eligibility requirements set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Below is the detailed breakdown of all conditions that candidates must fulfill to apply for the exam.
Age Limit Criteria
There is no age limit for candidates appearing in the JEE Main 2026 exam. Students who have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024, 2025, or are appearing in 2026 are eligible, regardless of their age.
Number of Attempts Criteria
Candidates can attempt JEE Main a total of six times over three consecutive years after passing Class 12.
Since NTA conducts the exam twice a year (January and April sessions), candidates get two attempts per year.
Eligible candidates are those who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026. Candidates who passed before 2024 or will appear after 2026 are not eligible for JEE Main 2026.
Eligibility Marks in Class 12
There is no minimum percentage requirement in Class 12 to appear for JEE Main 2026. However, candidates must secure at least 75% marks (or be in the top 20 percentile) in their respective boards to be eligible for admission into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and other participating institutes.
Qualifying Exam Criteria
Candidates must have passed one of the following qualifying examinations to apply for JEE Main 2026:
- Final examination of the 10+2 system conducted by any recognized Central or State Board, such as CBSE or CISCE.
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination conducted by a recognized Board or University.
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy.
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) with at least five subjects.
- Public School/Board/University examination in India or abroad recognized as equivalent to 10+2 by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
- Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education (minimum 3 years duration).
- General Certificate Education (GCE) examination at the Advanced (A) level (London, Cambridge, or Sri Lanka).
- High School Certificate Examination of Cambridge University or the International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva.
Year of Passing Qualifying Examination
Candidates must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing in 2026 to be eligible for JEE Main 2026. Students who passed Class 12 in 2023 or earlier are not eligible for JEE Main 2026. Similarly, students who will appear for Class 12 in 2027 or later are also not eligible to apply.
This ensures that only candidates who recently completed or are currently pursuing their higher secondary education can participate in the exam.
Subjects in Class 12 / Qualifying Examination
The subject requirements in Class 12 or equivalent examination vary depending on the course a candidate wishes to pursue through JEE Main 2026. Below are the detailed combinations for each paper for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria:
- For JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.Tech): Candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one additional subject from Chemistry, Biology, or Technical Vocational Subject.
- For JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch): Candidates must have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects in their Class 12 or equivalent examination.
- For JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan): Candidates must have Mathematics as a compulsory subject in their Class 12 or equivalent examination.
State of Eligibility for JEE Main 2026
The State of Eligibility in the JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026 refers to the state or union territory from which a candidate has passed their Class 12 or equivalent qualifying examination. It is not determined by the candidate’s place of birth, residence, or native state.
For example:
- If a student studied and passed Class 12 in Delhi but lives in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, their State of Eligibility will be Delhi (DL), not Uttar Pradesh.
- If a candidate passed Class 12 from one state but later appeared for an improvement exam from another, the State of Eligibility will remain the state from where they first passed Class 12.
- Candidates who passed or are appearing in Class 12 from NIOS should select the State of Eligibility based on the location of their NIOS study center.
For Indian nationals who have passed their Class 12 or equivalent exam from Nepal or Bhutan, the State of Eligibility will be determined according to their permanent address in India, as mentioned in their passport.
Students can check the State Code of Eligibility List in the table below:
| Name of State / UT | Code | Name of State / UT | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | AP | Arunachal Pradesh | AL |
| Assam | AM | Bihar | BR |
| Chhattisgarh | CG | Delhi / New Delhi | DL |
| Goa | GO | Gujarat | GJ |
| Haryana | HR | Himachal Pradesh | HP |
| Jammu & Kashmir | JK | Jharkhand | JH |
| Karnataka | KK | Kerala | KL |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP | Maharashtra | MR |
| Manipur | MN | Meghalaya | MG |
| Mizoram | MZ | Nagaland | NL |
| Odisha | OR | Punjab | PB |
| Rajasthan | RJ | Sikkim | SM |
| Tamil Nadu | TN | Telangana | TL |
| Tripura | TA | Uttar Pradesh | UP |
| Uttarakhand | UK | West Bengal | WB |
Students can check the State Code of Eligibility List for Union Territories in the table below:
| Name of Union Territory | Code |
|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | AN |
| Chandigarh | CH |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | DN |
| Daman & Diu | DD |
| Lakshadweep | LD |
| Puducherry | PO |
| Foreign / OCI / PIO / Nepal / Bhutan | – |
Note: Candidates must carefully select their State Code of Eligibility while filling the JEE Main 2026 application form. Incorrect selection may lead to issues during counseling and seat allocation.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Admission in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
Candidates must meet the minimum percentage requirement in their Class 12 or equivalent examination to secure admission to top engineering institutes such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JEE Main 2026. Below are the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026:
- General Category: Candidates must score at least 75% marks in Class 12.
- SC/ST Category: Candidates must score a minimum of 60% marks in Class 12.
However, some state-level engineering colleges (like those in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar) that accept JEE Main scores for B.Tech admissions may have different or more relaxed percentage criteria. Candidates are advised to check individual college or state counseling rules for exact requirements.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in JEE Advanced
Only candidates who meet the JEE Main cutoff percentile as determined by NTA will be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.
Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years from the year of passing their Class 12 or equivalent examination. This means a student who passes Class 12 in 2025 can appear for JEE Advanced in 2025 and 2026 only.
Important Points for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria
The following are some important points for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026:
- It is the candidate’s responsibility to thoroughly check and ensure that they meet all eligibility conditions before filling out the JEE Main 2026 application form.
- If a candidate does not fulfil the JEE Main eligibility criteria but still applies, their application or admission can be cancelled at any stage of the process.
- All details entered in the JEE Main application form must be accurate and match the official documents to avoid disqualification.
Also Check:
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
Q1. What is the age limit to appear for JEE Main 2026?
Ans. There is no age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026. Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or are appearing in 2026 can apply.
Q2. How many times can a candidate attempt JEE Main?
Ans. Candidates can attempt JEE Main six times over three consecutive years, with two attempts each year (January and April sessions).
Q3. What is the minimum percentage required in Class 12 for JEE Main?
Ans. There is no percentage requirement to appear in the exam, but for admission to NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs, candidates must secure 75% marks (60% for SC/ST).
Q4. Can diploma holders apply for JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Yes, candidates who have completed a three-year diploma recognized by AICTE or a state board can appear for JEE Main 2026.
