Quick Summary: This blog explains the JEE Main 2026 admission criteria and for students to understand it early. JEE Main 2026 admission needs passing Class 12 with Physics and Maths plus one subject. In the case of NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, the students must obtain 75 percent or the top 20 percentile; SC/ST must attain 65. No age boundary is given but there is a restriction to attempts. Admission is based on JEE Main and counselling. The blog also benefits students through the clear clarification of documents, counselling guidelines and frequent concerns.
JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026 – NTA has shared full information about the JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026 on the official website (idioms website) – nta.ac.in. Students who want to appear in the JEE Main 2026 exam should know these rules clearly. A student must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024, 2025, or 2026, and should have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (or required subjects for B.Arch/B.Plan) as main subjects. For admission to NITs/IIITs, students must score the required Class 12 marks (75% or top 20 percentile for Gen/OBC/EWS and 65% for SC/ST). Students are given three continuous attempts starting from the year they pass Class 12. To apply through JEE Main, all listed conditions must be followed.
If a student does not meet the JEE Main admission requirements 2026, their admission will be cancelled. So, students should check the JEE Main 2026 admission requirements carefully. The JEE Main 2026 registration for session 2 will start in the last week of January 2026. The JEE Main 2026 exam for session 1 is scheduled from January 21 to 29, 2026, and the session 2 exam will be conducted from April 2 to 9, 2026. Students can read this article to understand the JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026 in detail.
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JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026
NTA has announced the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria on its official website. The eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 are the basic rules students must follow for the JEE Main 2026 exam. These rules make sure that only eligible students who meet study and exam standards can take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) part in the JEE Main exam. This helps keep the exam fair and open for suitable candidates:
| Criteria Category | Updated Details |
| Who Can Apply (Nationality) | Indian citizens, OCI/PIO cardholders, and foreign candidates are eligible to register. |
| Class 12 Qualification | Candidates must have cleared or be appearing in the Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognised board. |
| Year of Passing | Students who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026, can apply. |
| Age Requirement | There is no upper or lower age restriction for JEE Main. |
| Attempts Allowed | Candidates can attempt JEE Main twice a year, with a maximum of six attempts over three consecutive years. |
| Subject Requirements for B.E./B.Tech | Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, along with one subject from Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Technical Vocational. |
| Subject Requirements for B.Arch | Mathematics must be studied in Class 12, with at least 50% marks in PCM (as per official norms). |
| Subject Requirements for B.Plan | Mathematics is mandatory in the qualifying examination. |
| Minimum Marks in Class 12 | No minimum marks required for appearing in JEE Main; however, for admission to NITs/IIITs/GFTIs, 75% (General/OBC/EWS) or 65% (SC/ST) OR top 20 percentile in the board exam is required. |
| Reservation Policy | GEN-EWS (10%), OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), and PwD (5%) reservations apply as per government norms. |
| Documents to Upload | Recent photograph, signature, Class 10 certificate, Class 12 marksheet or appearing certificate, category certificate, and PwD certificate (if applicable). |
JEE Main 2026 Age Limit
There is no minimum or maximum age rule to appear for JEE Main 2026. Any student who meets the qualifying exam rules can apply, and the JEE Age Limit will not stop them from applying. However, students should remember that some colleges may set their own age rules during admission. These college rules are different from JEE Main rules and do not affect the application process for the exam.
JEE Age Limit should not be confused with eligibility rules. If you meet the academic and subject conditions, the JEE Mains Age Limit will not prevent you from appearing for JEE Main.
JEE Main 2026 Number of Attempts Allowed
NTA has shared the number of attempts for the JEE Main 2026 exam on the official website. The JEE Main 2026 number of limits allowed are given below:
- Two times in one year (Session 1 and Session 2)
- For three continuous years starting from the year of Class 12 passing.
So, candidates can appear for the exam up to six times within 3 continuous years.
JEE Main 2026 Educational Qualification for Admission
Candidates appearing in the exam must fulfil the basic educational qualification for JEE Main 2026. Students who do not meet the JEE Main 2026 educational qualifications will not be given admission. Candidates must have:
- Passed Class 12 or an equivalent exam from a recognised board.
- The qualifying exam must have Physics and Mathematics, with one optional subject like Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Technical Vocational subjects for B.E./B.Tech students.
- B.Arch or B.Plan students require Mathematics as compulsory subject to both programmes.
JEE Main Admission Criteria 2026 – Year of Passing Class 12
Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026, can apply for the JEE Main 2026 exam. Students who completed Class 12 before 2024 are not eligible. To meet the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria, students must have cleared Class 12 or an equivalent exam from a recognised board. The accepted qualifying exams include:
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
- Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised Central or State board.
- High School Certificate awarded by Cambridge University.
- Senior Secondary School Examination by NIOS with at least five subjects.
- Any Public School, Board, or University exam treated as equal to 10+2.
- 2-year Pre-University examination.
- GCE Advanced Level from London, Cambridge, or Sri Lanka.
- HSC Vocational Examination.
- Final exam of the NDA Joint Services Wing (2-year course).
- Class 12 equivalent qualification from foreign boards recognised by AIU.
JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026: Minimum Marks Required
There is no minimum percentage required to appear in the JEE Main 2026 exam. Any student who has passed or is appearing in Class 12 from a recognised board can apply if subject rules are fulfilled. However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs through JoSAA, candidates must meet extra academic conditions based on Class 12 marks.
Minimum Marks for JEE Admission
This rule applies only at the admission stage and not for appearing in the exam, as per the minimum percentage for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026:
- General category: Minimum 75% marks in Class 12 OR being in the top 20 percentile of the board, along with qualifying JEE Main.
- SC/ST category: Minimum 65% marks in Class 12 OR being in the top 20 percentile of the board, along with qualifying JEE Main.
If a candidate does not meet this condition, they can still appear for JEE Main but may not be eligible for admission to these institutes.
Compulsory Subject Required for JEE Main 2026
Based on the course selected by the candidate during the JEE Main 2026 exam, the required subjects will be different:
JEE Main 2026 Subject Requirements
| Programme | Core Subject Requirement | Other Academic Conditions |
| B.Plan (Bachelor of Planning) | Mathematics in Class 12 | No specific additional subject is compulsory |
| B.E./B.Tech (Engineering) | Physics and Mathematics | Any one subject from Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Computer Science, or a Technical Vocational subject is required |
| B.Arch (Architecture) | Mathematics in Class 12 | Minimum 50% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and in the qualifying examination (as per official norms) |
JEE Main Admission Requirement for Droppers, Repeaters & Foreign Nationals
Students who are droppers or repeaters under IIT Eligibility criteria can appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam if they follow the normal NTA rules for qualifying exam, passing year, and subjects. There are no special conditions for droppers; the same eligibility for IIT criteria apply to everyone:
- Droppers and repeaters are allowed if their passing year is within the given limit
- No different JEE Age Limit is applied
- Subject rules and admission conditions stay the same
- Foreign nationals must have qualifications recognised by AIU.
Reservation Policy for JEE Main 2026
The reservation policy under JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 follows Government of India guidelines and is used during admission and counselling. These reservations assist students of various social and economic classes to receive equal chances in higher education:
|
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 Reservation |
|
| Social Category | Reserved Seats Percentage |
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| EWS | 10% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| PwD (applies within each group) | 5% |
Required Documents for JEE Main 2026 Registration
Candidates should check the JEE Main 2026 documents required and keep all files and details ready in the correct format for JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026. Having documents ready will ensure fewer errors and time (race against time phrase meaning) wastage in filling the form. The list of documents for JEE Main 2026 registration is given below:
When applying, candidates must upload the following:
- Scanned Photograph: Recent, colour or black & white, white background, JPG/JPEG format (10 KB – 200 KB).
- Scanned Signature: Black on white paper, JPG/ JPEG format (4 KB-30 KB).
- Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card (preferred), Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID or School ID.
- Educational Certificates: Class 10 certificate (Date of Birth), and Class 12 marksheet/ certificate (when available).
- Category Certificate: SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS (when applicable) in PDF format (not exceeding 300 KB).
- PwD Certificate: To candidates who are claiming relaxation (where applicable).
- Bank Account: To make online payment via UPI, net banking, or credit/debit card.
All documents must be clear and within the given size limits (PDF for certificates and JPG/JPEG for images).
FAQs on JEE Main 2026 Admission Requirements
Q: Which subjects are needed for B.E./B.Tech through JEE Main 2026?
For B.E./B.Tech admission through the JEE Main 2026 exam, students must have passed Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects. Further, they ought to have learnt one of the following: Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a Technical Vocational subject. Usually, at least five subjects are needed, and passing these in Class 12 is required as part of JEE Main 2026 educational qualifications.
Q: Can a student from the Biology stream take B.Tech through JEE Main?
Yes, Biology (PCB) students can appear for B.Tech in the JEE Main 2026 exam, but there are limitations. They can write the exam, but for most engineering branches (like B.Tech Biotechnology) in IITs/NITs, they cannot get admission without having studied Mathematics in Class 12, as Mathematics is compulsory for most B.Tech courses under the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria.
Q: What is the minimum Class 12 percentage for JEE Main 2026?
For admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs via JEE Main 2026 Admission Requirements, students must score at least 75% in Class 12 (or equivalent) or be in the top 20 percentile of their board. For SC/ST students, the minimum percentage is 65% according to JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026.
Q: Is the 75% rule applicable for JEE Main 2026?
Yes, the 75% requirement in Class 12 applies under JEE Main 2026 Admission Criteria. Students seeking admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, or planning for JEE Advanced must get at least 75% marks (65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20 percentile of their board.
Q: Is there any age restriction for JEE Main?
There is no upper or lower JEE Age Limit for JEE Main, so students of any age can apply if they meet the Class 12 passing year criteria (the year of exam, one year before, or two years before) and other academic conditions in the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria.
Q: How many times can a student attempt JEE Main?
Students can take a total of 6 attempts for the JEE Main 2026 exam in 3 consecutive years, with 2 sessions (January and April) each year, starting from the year they passed or appeared for Class 12. For example, they can appear twice in 2024, twice in 2025, and twice in 2026 if eligible in 2024.
Q: What is the “State Code of Eligibility” in JEE Main 2026?
The JEE Main 2026 exam State Code of Eligibility shows the state or union territory where a student passed Class 12 (or equivalent). This is used to decide the “Home State quota” for NITs/IIITs/CFTIs in JoSAA/CSAB counselling, not based on residence, birthplace, or nationality, as per JEE Main Admission Requirements 2026.
Q: Are NIOS students eligible for JEE Main 2026?
Yes, NIOS students can appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam, provided they meet the NTA rules. They must pass Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024, 2025, or 2026 with Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Biology/Technical Vocational subjects according to the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026.
