Quick Summary: To be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 (B.E./B.Tech) ranks from all categories. According to the JEE Advanced age limit, candidates belonging to the General and OBC categories should be born on or after October 1, 2001, while SC, ST, and PwD candidates are given a relaxation of 5 years (on or after October 1, 1996). The examination may be taken twice in succeeding calendar years. Check out this blog to know about full eligibility, age, and attempts.
JEE Advanced Age Limit 2026: The eligibility criteria of JEE Advanced 2026 have been revised by IIT Kanpur on its official website, jeeadv.ac.in. Talking about the age limit for JEE Advanced 2026, those in the general category must have been born on or after October 1, 2001. For SC, ST, and PwD, this relaxation is of 5 years, and they should be born on or after October 1, 1996. As far as the JEE Advanced age limit is concerned, it’s a hard constraint. For attempts, candidates can write JEE Advanced 2026 two times consecutively in any 2 consecutive years.
To qualify for the JEE Advanced 2026 eligibility, the candidates have to be in the category-wise rank list of JEE (Mains), which will be prepared based on the score obtained in B.E./B.Tech. JEE Main 2026 paper 1, all categories. The reservation percentage for selection to each category is as follows: 10% for GEN-EWS, 27% for OBC-NCL, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, and 40.5% for OPEN Category. These criteria are based on the recent trends of the age limit for JEE Advanced and the JEE age limit set by the authorities.
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JEE Advanced Age Limit 2026: Overview
There is a certain rule for the JEE Advanced age limit as per the Joint Admission Board (JAB). The average age which is required for a candidate to apply for the general category is that candidates should be born on or after 1 October 2001. Candidates of SC, ST, and PwD categories are given a relaxation of 5 years; thus, they should be born on or after October 1, 1996.
- General Category: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001.
- SC/ST/PwD Categories: DOB must be on or after October 1, 1996.
As per the age limit for JEE Advanced, this rule is for students who appear in Class 12 or any equivalent examination during 2025 or 2026 for the first time. Additionally, students can also take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) up JEE Advanced only two times, in consecutive years. For taking JEE (Advanced) 2026, a candidate should be among the top 2,50,000 (including all categories) in Paper-1 of JEE (Main) 2026. The above-mentioned regulations apply to the revised JEE age limit and eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2026.
Download: JEE Advanced Syllabus 2026
JEE Advanced 2026
To get a clear idea about JEE Advanced 2026, students can refer to the table given below. It includes all the important details related to the JEE Advanced exam that students should know.
| Particulars | Revised Information |
| Eligibility based on JEE Main 2026 | Only the top 2,50,000 successful candidates from JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) will be considered eligible. |
| Academic Qualification (Class 12) |
|
| Age Criteria |
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| Number of Attempts | Candidates can take the exam a maximum of two times, and both attempts must be in consecutive years. |
| Examination Mode | The test will be held in Computer-Based Mode (CBT). |
| Exam Pattern | There will be two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2, both are mandatory. Each paper will be of 3 hours duration. |
| Subjects Covered | Questions will be asked from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in both papers. |
| Question Format and Total Marks | The number of questions and total marks change every year. The exact structure will be shared in the official 2026 brochure. |
| Reservation Breakdown (within top 2.5 lakh) |
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| Past IIT Admissions Rule | Candidates who have already joined any IIT in the past (even if they later withdrew after final allotment) cannot apply. But if admission was cancelled before the last round in 2025, they may still be eligible. |
| Conducting Authority | It will be organized by one of the IITs on behalf of the Joint Admission Board (JAB). Specific IIT to be announced. |
| Important Reminder | Applicants must ensure they fulfil every condition before applying for JEE Advanced 2026. No additional relaxations will be provided beyond those officially mentioned. |
Download: JEE Advanced Previous Year Question Papers with Solution PDF
JEE Advanced Age Limit 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Before submitting the JEE Advanced 2026 application form, candidates must make sure they meet all the eligibility rules set by the Joint Admission Board (JAB). If any condition is not fulfilled, the application may be rejected during the counselling process. The table below highlights the main requirements, including the JEE age limit and other important eligibility criteria.
JEE Advanced 2026 Requirements
| Criteria | Eligibility Condition |
| Age Limit for JEE Advanced |
|
| Educational Qualification | The candidate should have first appeared for Class 12 or its equivalent exam in 2025 or 2026 and should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. |
| JEE Main Qualification | Should be in the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 (B.E./B.Tech.), including all categories. |
| Attempt Limit | Each student can take JEE Advanced two times only in two consecutive years (i.e., it offers two attempts) (e.g., 2025 and 2026). |
| Previous IIT Admission Rule | Not eligible if previously admitted to any IIT, unless the seat was withdrawn or cancelled before the final JoSAA round in 2025, and the candidate never reported or joined physically. |
What is the Number of Attempts for JEE Advanced?
The rules for JEE Advanced are quite simple:
- Only two attempts allowed – candidates can appear for the exam a maximum of two times, and that too in two consecutive years.
- Held once annually – unlike JEE Main, this exam takes place once a year and includes two mandatory papers conducted on the same day.
- Connected to age limit and Class 12 – eligibility depends on both the age limit for JEE Advanced (born on or after Oct 1, 2001 for general, Oct 1, 1996 for SC/ST/PwD) and the year of first Class 12 attempt, which should be either 2025 or 2026.
If you meet all the above conditions and qualify for the JEE Main cutoff, you’re one step closer to securing a seat in an IIT through JEE Advanced 2026.
FAQs on JEE Advanced 2026 Age Limit, Eligibility & Attempts
Q: What is the JEE Advanced 2026 age limit?
Applicants should have been born on or after October 1, 2001, to be eligible. But for people belonging to SC, ST, or PwD categories, there is a 5-year age relaxation; they can apply if born on or after October 1, 1996.
Q: How many times is a student allowed to attempt JEE Advanced?
You can take the JEE Advanced exam a maximum of two times, and that also in two consecutive years, as mentioned in the official eligibility criteria.
Q: Is it possible to take JEE Advanced without qualifying for JEE Main?
No, appearing in JEE Advanced 2026 is only allowed if you’re among the top 2,50,000 qualified candidates of JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 across all categories.
Q: Are there any relaxations in eligibility for reserved categories?
Yes, candidates from reserved groups like SC, ST, OBC-NCL, GEN-EWS, and PwD not only get age relaxation but also benefit from seat reservations among the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers.
Q: If someone passed Class 12 in 2024, can they apply for JEE Advanced 2026?
No, only students who first appeared for Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026 are eligible.
Q: Can I apply for JEE Advanced 2026 if I had a seat in an IIT before but didn’t join?
You might be eligible only if you had withdrawn or your IIT admission was cancelled before the final seat allocation in 2024, and you never joined or attended any classes.
Q: If I took the JEE Advanced in 2025 but didn’t pass, can I try again in 2026?
Yes, if 2026 is your second straight year and you still fulfill all the JEE Advanced eligibility rules, you can reappear. Make sure your age falls under the valid age limit for JEE Advanced.
