JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Number of Attempts, Age Limit Criteria, 75% Criteria

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria along with the release of application form. The eligibility criteria specify conditions that candidates are required to fulfil in order to be eligible for the JEE Main Exam 2026. The criteria include important factors such as educational qualifications, Class 12 marks, age limitations, and nationality. Failure to meet any of these stipulations will prevent you from filling out the JEE Main Application Form 2026.

There is no age limit prescribed for candidates taking the JEE Main exam 2026. Candidates who passed the class 12/equivalent examination in 2024, 2025, or are appearing in 2026, regardless of age, are eligible to take the JEE Main 2026 exam. Candidates may, however, be required to fulfil the age requirements of the institutes to which they want to apply.

LATEST UPDATES

JEE Main session 1 exam will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026; While session 2 exams are scheduled from April 1 to 10, 2026.

Last Updated 21st October 2025

JEE Main 2026 notification to be released soon, session 1 registration begins soon.

Last Updated 14th October 2025

The JEE Main Notification 2026 was announced on October 31. The notification contains details on eligibility criteria, exam dates, exam pattern and syllabus. Candidates must have passed 10+2 from a recognised board or institution in order to take the JEE Main examination.

Also Read: JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026

JEE Main Eligibility 2026: Highlights

Aspirants can find detailed information about JEE Main eligibility criteria released by NTA. Before filling out the application form, candidates must verify that they fulfil all of the eligibility requirements.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates preparing for the JEE Main exam 2026 must fulfil the eligibility criteria as released by NTA. Aspirants can check the eligibility requirements for the same in detail below:

JEE Main Age Limit

For the JEE Main exam 2026, there is no upper age limit imposed on applicants. Eligibility extends to candidates who have completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026, regardless of their age. However, it's important to note that candidates may need to adhere to the age criteria specified by the academic institutions to which they intend to apply.

Also Check: Top Engineering Entrance Exams 2026 in India

JEE Main Eligibility: List of Qualifying Examinations

In order to appear for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have passed any of the following exams:

• The final examination of the 10+2 system, administered by any recognised Central/State Board, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE), and so on.
• Candidates must have passed the intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination from a recognized board or institution.
• Candidate can also apply for the JEE main exam if he/she has passed the Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defense Academy
• Candidates having passed the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by NIOS with a minimum of five subjects are also eligible to appear for the JEE Mains examination
• Any public school/board/university examination in India or any foreign country recognised by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system (AIU).
• Vocational Examination for the Higher Secondary Certificate.
• A three-year diploma recognised by AICTE or a state board of technical education.
• Advanced (A) level General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination from London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka is acceptable for appearing in the exam.
• Candidates having High School Certificate Examination from Cambridge University or the International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office in Geneva can also take the JEE Main exam.
• Candidates who have completed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination outside of India or from a Board other than those listed above must present a certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) mentioning that the exam they passed is equivalent to the Class 12th final examination.
• If the Class 12 Exam is not a public examination, the candidate must have previously passed at least one public, either Board or Pre-University, examination.

Read More: JEE Main 2026 Detailed Syllabus

JEE Main Eligibility: Subjects in Qualifying Examination

JEE Main 2026 is conducted for admission into three courses: B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Plan. The mandatory subjects required by candidates to take papers are as follows:

Paper 1 of JEE Main 2026: The JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 is for candidates who wish to take admission to the B.E/B.Tech program. Candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, as well as one of Chemistry, Biology, or a Technical Vocational Subject.

Paper 2A of JEE Main 2026: The JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A is for those candidates who are preparing for the B.Arch program. Candidates must have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in class 12 or an equivalent examination.

Paper 2B of JEE Main 2026: The JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B is held for candidates who want to take admission into the B.Plan program. Candidates must have passed class 12 or an equivalent examination with mathematics as a compulsory subject.

JEE Main Eligibility: Number of Attempts

Only aspirants who passed the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or who are scheduled to take the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2026 are eligible to take the JEE Main exam. Candidates who passed the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2023 or earlier, as well as those who will take the exam after 2026, are ineligible to take the exam.

In 2026, the JEE Main exam will be held twice a year.

JEE Main 75% Criteria

• The candidates seeking admission to NIT+ System must have passed class 12th (or equivalent) Board examination with a minimum of five subjects and secured at least 75% aggregate marks [for SC, ST, and PwD candidates should be at least 65%.
• Aspirants must have achieved top 20th percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class XII (or equivalent) board examination.
• This eligibility only comes into effect if the candidate is aspiring for admission in NIT+ system, i.e., NITs, IIITs, IIESTs, and other GFTIs participating through JoSAA/CSAB.

Related Read: JEE Main Participation 2026

JEE Main 2026: State of Eligibility

• The state code of eligibility is the code of the state where the candidate passed the Class 12th (or equivalent) qualifying examination, making the candidate eligible to appear in JEE (Main) 2026. It is important to note that the student's native place or place of residence has no bearing on the State code of eligibility. 
• The candidate's State code of eligibility will be from the State where the candidate first passed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination and NOT the State from where the candidate has appeared for improvement. 
• Candidates who passed or will be appearing for the Class 12 NIOS exam should select their state of eligibility based on where their study centre is located.
• Indian citizens who pass the Class 12 (or equivalent) exam in Nepal or Bhutan will have their State code of eligibility based on their permanent address in India, as outlined in their passport.
• OCI/PIOs who pass the Class 12 (or equivalent) exam in India are eligible under the same state regulations as Indian citizens. But in all NITs, IIEST, and Other-CFTIs, OCI/PIO who pass the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination from a foreign institution are eligible for Other State quota seats or All India quota seats (but NOT for Home State quota seats).

JEE Main 2026: Reservation of Seats

A portion of the total JEE Main seats is reserved by the Indian government for various candidate categories. The seat distribution takes the following forms:

Also Read: JEE Main Question Papers 2026

JEE Main Eligibility for Admission to IITs

Candidates seeking admission to IITs must first sit for JEE Main exam. Candidates who will clear the exam will then be eligible for the JEE Advanced examination. Based on the marks obtained by candidates, they will be called for the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling.

JEE Main Eligibility for Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs

The admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs is done on the basis of marks obtained by candidates in JEE Main exam, followed by the counselling round. Candidates must also fulfil the basic eligibility criteria set by the institution.

JEE Main Eligibility for Droppers

• There is currently no maximum age for dropouts to take the JEE Main exam.
• To be eligible to apply for the exams, candidates must have passed their Class 12 exams in the years 2023, 2024, or will be taking the Class 12 examination in 2026.
• For JEE Main droppers, three consecutive attempts will be taken into consideration.
• Candidates need to have achieved a certain score in the JEE Main 2026.
• A minimum of five subjects must have been taken in Class 12 or the qualifying exam for applicants with an aggregate of 75% marks.