JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 (Age Limit, Attempts & Class 12 Marks)

The JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 is released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to define who can appear for the examination and who can secure admission through it. With JEE Main 2026 Session 2 scheduled from 1 April to 10 April 2026, aspirants appearing in the April attempt must know the eligibility rules.

As per the latest NTA norms for JEE Main 2026, there is no age limit to appear for the examination. Any candidate who fulfils the qualifying examination requirements can apply for Session 2, regardless of age. However, admission to institutes such as NITs, IIITs, and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) is subject to additional academic conditions, including Class 12 marks criteria, subject combinations, and board recognition rules.

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Minimum Class-12 Marks & Subject Requirements

There is no minimum percentage requirement to appear for JEE Main 2026. Any candidate who has passed or is appearing in Class 12 from a recognized board can apply, provided the subject requirements are met.

However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs through JoSAA, candidates must satisfy additional academic conditions related to Class 12 performance.

Minimum Marks for Admission

This requirement applies only at the admission stage, not for appearing in the exam for the minimum percentage for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026.

• General category: Minimum 75% marks in Class 12 OR be in the top 20 percentile of your board, alongside passing JEE Main

• SC/ST category: Minimum 65% marks in Class 12 OR placement in the top 20 percentile of your board, alongside passing JEE Main

If a candidate does not meet this criterion, they can still appear for JEE Main but may not be eligible for admission to these institutes.

B.Tech / B.Arch / B.Planning Subject Combinations

For admission through JEE Main, students must meet specific JEE Main eligibility marks in 12th subject wise:

• B.Tech / B.E: Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one subject from Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a Technical Vocational subject.

• B.Arch: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are compulsory subjects.

• B.Planning: Mathematics is compulsory

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JEE Age Limit - What Candidates Need to Know

There is no upper or lower age limit to appear for JEE Main 2026. Any candidate who fulfills the qualifying examination requirements can apply, regardless of jee age limit.

However, candidates should understand that certain institutes may have their own age-related conditions at the admission stage. These institute-level rules are separate from JEE Main eligibility and do not affect the application process for the exam itself.

JEE Age Limit should not be confused with eligibility. If you meet the academic and subject requirements, the JEE Mains Age Limit will not restrict you from appearing for JEE Main.

Who Can Apply for JEE Main - Year of Passing & Attempt Limits

To determine who is eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates should follow the NTA 2026 bulletin. Students must have passed a Class 12 or equivalent qualifying examination from a recognized board. Accepted qualifying exams include:

• Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized Central/State board

• 2-year Pre-University examination

• Final exam of the NDA Joint Services Wing (2-year course)

• Senior Secondary School Examination by NIOS (minimum five subjects)

• Any Public School/Board/University exam equivalent to 10+2

• HSC Vocational Examination

• GCE (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) Advanced Level

• High School Certificate from Cambridge University

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

• Class 12 equivalent from foreign boards recognized by AIU

Year of Passing Eligibility

Based on previous NTA norms:

• Eligible: Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026

• Not eligible: Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2023 or earlier

The qualifying examination must be recognized as equivalent to Class 12 for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026.

Attempt Limits

Candidates are allowed to appear for JEE Main for three consecutive years starting from the year they pass Class 12.

JEE Main is conducted twice a year (January and April). Both sessions in the same year together count as one attempt year, not a separate JEE attempt limit.

NIOS / Open School / Foreign Boards - JEE Main Eligibility & State Code Rules

Students from NIOS, open schools, and JEE Main boards criteria are eligible to appear for JEE Main if their qualification is equivalent to Class 12 and recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Candidates must have passed at least five subjects and meet the NIOS JEE eligibility percentage requirements of their chosen paper.

State Code rule:

• NIOS/open school candidates use the study centre location

• Foreign board students use their permanent Indian address

JEE Main Eligibility 2026 for Open School / NIOS

Students from NIOS, open schools, and foreign boards are eligible for JEE Main as long as their qualification is equivalent to Class 12 and recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). All candidates must also meet NTA’s subject and minimum requirement rules.

NIOS / Open School Eligibility (India)

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State Code of Eligibility for JEE Main 2026

The State Code of Eligibility refers to the state from which a candidate has passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination. It is not based on a candidate’s place of residence, domicile, or nationality. The State Code is used during JoSAA/CSAB counselling for allotting seats in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.

How State Code of Eligibility Is Decided

• Candidates studying in India:
Your State Code is the state where you first passed Class 12, even if you later appeared for improvement in another state.

• Indian nationals studying abroad:
Students who completed Class 12 outside India must select the State Code based on their permanent Indian address.

• NRIs / OCIs / PIOs:
They must choose their State Code on the basis of their Indian residential/permanent address.

• NIOS / Open School candidates:
For NIOS or open school students, the State Code is determined by the location of the AIU-recognized study centre, not by home address.

What State Code Does Not Depend On

• Not based on the state you currently live in

• Not based on the test centre you select

• Not based on nationality

• Not based on coaching location

State Code Tables (States & UTs)

The following table provides the Union Territories and their official Codes for candidates' reference.

Note: For admissions to NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs, the applicants should fulfill eligibility criteria with reference to their State Code of Eligibility. Nevertheless, this requirement does not hold good in the case of admission to IITs.

Admission to NITs / IIITs / CFTIs - 75% Rule & Top-20 Percentile

YES, the 75% / 65% or top-20 percentile rule applies for admission.
NO, it is not required to appear for JEE Main.

This academic condition is checked during JoSAA counselling and applies only to specific centrally funded institutions.

JEE Main Eligibility Special Cases - Droppers, Repeaters & Foreign Nationals

IIT Eligibility criteria for Droppers and repeaters are fully eligible to appear for JEE Main 2026 as long as they meet the standard NTA rules for qualifying examinations, year of passing, and subjects. There is no separate or special rule for droppers; the same eligibility for iit criteria apply to all candidates.

• Droppers and repeaters are eligible if their year of passing falls within the allowed range

• No separate age limit applies

• Subject and admission criteria remain the same

• Foreign nationals must hold AIU-recognized qualifications

JEE Main 2026 Reservation Criteria

The reservation policy for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 is governed by the Government of India norms and is applicable during the admission and counselling process. These reservations aim to provide equitable access to higher education for candidates from different social and economic backgrounds.

Application Requirements & Document Checklist

Before filling out the JEE Main 2026 application form, candidates should ensure that all required documents and details are ready in the prescribed format for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026. Keeping these documents prepared in advance helps avoid errors and delays during the submission process.

• Recent passport-size photograph

• Candidate and parent signatures

• Valid ID proof

• Class 10 and Class 12 details

• Category certificate (if applicable)

• PwD certificate (if applicable)

To help aspirants prepare effectively for the JEE Main 2026 exam, we’ve provided a set of useful resources. Click on the links below to explore eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, and chapter-wise weightage.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria During Session 1

During JEE Main 2026 Session 1, candidates who meet the basic Class 12 qualification requirements can appear for the exam, as there is no age limit set by NTA. Session 1 is only an exam attempt, while admission eligibility (such as Class 12 marks criteria) is checked separately during counselling.