JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Qualification, Attempts & 75% Rule

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main 2026), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is the qualifying exam for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) across India. It also serves as the screening test for JEE Advanced 2026, the gateway to the prestigious IITs.

Before applying, candidates must carefully review the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria prescribed by NTA — including age limit, educational qualification, number of attempts, passing year, and the 75% marks rule. Understanding these parameters is crucial, as any error or ineligibility at the time of registration can lead to disqualification during counselling or admission.

This article provides a complete overview of the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria, covering category-wise rules, subject combinations, qualifying examinations, eligibility for droppers, and the applicability of the 75% criterion for NIT, IIIT, and IIT admissions.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Key Highlights

The following table presents a quick summary of the major eligibility parameters for JEE Main 2026, as per the NTA’s expected guidelines. These details will be confirmed once the official JEE Main 2026 Information Bulletin is released by NTA.

Detailed NTA JEE Mains 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has laid down a set of parameters that every candidate must meet to be eligible for the JEE Main 2026 examination. These include age limit, educational qualification, year of passing, subject requirements, and admission criteria for institutes like NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.

Below is a detailed explanation of each eligibility rule to help students avoid confusion before filling out the JEE Main 2026 application form.

Also Check: JEE Mains Syllabus

JEE Main Age Limit 2026: Is There an Upper Age Cap?

There is no upper age limit prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates appearing in the JEE Main 2026 exam. Students who have completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026, can apply for the exam irrespective of their date of birth.

This means that both first-time candidates and droppers are eligible to register for JEE Main 2026, provided they have passed or are appearing for the qualifying exam in the eligible years.

Important Note:
While NTA does not impose any age restriction for appearing in the exam, some institutes may have specific age criteria for admission. For example, certain state-level engineering colleges or universities that use JEE Main scores for admission might follow their own age limits. Therefore, aspirants should always verify the admission policy of the institute they wish to apply to.

Educational Qualification for JEE Main 2026: Minimum Marks, Subjects & Accepted Boards

To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognized board. Students appearing for their Class 12 exams in 2026 are also eligible to apply.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) recognizes the following as qualifying examinations for JEE Main:

• The Class 12 examination conducted by CBSE, CISCE (ISC), or any State Board recognized by the Government of India.
• The Intermediate or Pre-University examination conducted by a recognized board or university.
• The 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 a minimum of five subjects.
• Any public school, board, or university examination in India or abroad recognized as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination recognized by AIU or equivalent authority.

Year of Passing Class 12 for JEE Main 2026

The year of passing Class 12 plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for JEE Main 2026. Candidates must meet the following year criteria to apply:

• Students who passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025 are eligible to appear for JEE Main 2026.
• Students who are appearing for their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2026 are also eligible to register.

However, candidates who passed the qualifying examination before 2024 (i.e., in 2023 or earlier) are not eligible to apply for JEE Main 2026 under any circumstances.

Example:
A student who passed Class 12 in 2023 cannot appear for JEE Main 2026, but a student appearing for the Class 12 exam in 2026 can apply provisionally.

This rule ensures that only recent school pass-outs and appearing candidates are considered for admission to undergraduate engineering programs through JEE Main 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Droppers

Students who take a year or more off after Class 12 to focus on entrance exam preparation are commonly known as 'droppers'. If you are a dropper, you are fully eligible to appear for JEE Main 2026, provided you meet the criteria set by the NTA.

Here are the key eligibility points for droppers:

1. Year of Passing Class 12: You must have passed your Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025. Candidates who passed in 2023 or any year prior are not eligible for JEE Main 2026.
2. Age Limit: There is no age restriction. As a dropper, you can apply irrespective of your age.
3. Number of Attempts: You are eligible to appear in both sessions of JEE Main 2026 (Session 1 and Session 2). Your best score of the two attempts will be considered for your final rank.
4. Admission Criteria (75% Rule): The eligibility criteria for admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs remain the same. You must have secured at least 75% marks (65% for SC/ST) in your Class 12 board exam or be in the top 20 percentile of your board in the year you passed (i.e., 2024 or 2025).

How Many Attempts for JEE Main 2026?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the JEE Main exam twice a year to give students multiple opportunities to improve their scores and performance. For JEE Main 2026, the exam will be held in two sessions — Session 1 (January/February) and Session 2 (April).

Candidates can appear in either one session or both, depending on their preparation level. Students who appear in both sessions will have their best score from the two considered for the final merit list and All-India Rank (AIR).

This two-attempt system allows candidates to evaluate their performance in the first session and enhance their preparation for the second. There is no restriction on the number of consecutive years a student can take JEE Main, provided they meet the year-of-passing eligibility criteria (2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026).

JEE Main 2026 Subject Combination and Eligibility for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning

To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have studied specific subjects in their Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent examination, depending on the course they wish to apply for. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has clearly defined separate subject combinations for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning programs offered by NITs, IIITs, and other participating institutions.

The 75% Criteria for JEE Main 2026 Explained (Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs)

One of the most common areas of confusion among aspirants is the difference between appearing for the JEE Main exam and becoming eligible for admission to institutes like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. It is important to understand that the 75% marks rule is applicable for admission, not for appearing in the exam itself.

Eligibility to Appear vs. Eligibility for Admission

• Eligibility to Appear in JEE Main 2026:
  There is no minimum percentage requirement in Class 12 to register or appear for the JEE Main 2026 examination. Any candidate who has passed or is appearing in Class 12 (2024, 2025, or 2026) can take the test.
• Eligibility for Admission (75% Rule):
  To qualify for admission into NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs), candidates must meet the minimum marks criteria set by NTA and the participating institutes.

JEE Main 75% Rule for Admission 2026

As per NTA and JoSAA admission guidelines:

• Candidates must have secured at least 75% marks in their Class 12 board examination, or
• They should be in the top 20 percentile of their respective Class 12 board (for the academic year in which they passed).

This rule applies only during counselling and seat allocation for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

Also Check: JEE Main 2026 Admit Card: Release Date, and Download Link

Relaxation for Reserved Category Candidates

• For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, the minimum percentage requirement is relaxed to 65% in Class 12.
• The top 20 percentile criterion is also applicable for these categories, meaning if a student falls in the top 20 percentile of their respective board, they will still be eligible even if their aggregate percentage is below 65%.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Diploma Holders and Foreign Nationals

Apart from regular Class 12 students, the National Testing Agency (NTA) also allows diploma holders and foreign nationals to apply for JEE Main 2026, provided they meet the prescribed academic and examination requirements. These candidates can use their scores for limited but important purposes, depending on their qualification type.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Diploma Holders

Candidates who have completed a three-year diploma in engineering or are in the final year of their diploma course are also eligible to appear for the JEE Main 2026 examination.

However, it’s crucial to understand the scope of eligibility:

• Diploma holders can appear for JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) only for the purpose of admission to IITs through JEE Advanced, not for admission to NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs.
• Their JEE Main score will not be considered for direct admission into NITs or IIITs, since these institutions require candidates to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
• Diploma candidates who wish to join IITs must qualify JEE Main first, and then appear for JEE Advanced 2026.

Example:
A student who has completed a diploma in Mechanical Engineering can apply for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1, and upon qualifying, become eligible to appear in JEE Advanced 2026 for admission to IITs.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are also eligible to appear for JEE Main 2026, subject to certain conditions defined by NTA.

Key points include:

• The candidate must have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as mandatory subjects.
• The qualifying examination must be recognized as equivalent to the Indian 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• Foreign nationals do not require an Aadhaar card to apply for JEE Main; a valid passport serves as identity proof.
• Their eligibility for admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs will depend on the equivalence of their qualifying marks and AIU certification.

Note:
OCI/PIO candidates are treated at par with Indian nationals for seat allocation in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs as per the latest government policies, while foreign nationals may have to apply under the DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) scheme.

State Code of Eligibility for JEE Main 2026: Home State Quota, NIOS & Abroad Rules

The State Code of Eligibility is used in JoSAA counselling to decide whether a candidate falls under the Home State quota or Other State quota for admissions to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Since ~50% seats in each NIT are reserved for Home State candidates, selecting the correct state code directly impacts admission chances.

How is the State Code of Eligibility Determined?

Your State Code of Eligibility is based on the state/UT from which you passed (or are appearing in) Class 12 / equivalent—not on birthplace, domicile, or permanent address.

Scenario-wise rules (student-friendly):

• Regular Schooling (CBSE/ISC/State Board): Passed Class 12 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh → State Code of Eligibility = Uttar Pradesh (irrespective of native place or permanent residence).
• NIOS / Open Schooling: Determined by the location of the NIOS study/exam centre used for the qualifying examination.
• Improvement Exams: If you took improvement, the state remains the one from which you originally passed Class 12 (first qualifying pass).
• Passed Class 12 Outside India (Indian nationals): Assigned as “Outside India / Other State” for counselling purposes (not linked to passport address or domicile).

Also Check: JEE Main 2026 State Code of Eligibility: Home State Quota

Check and Verify Before You Apply

Understanding the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria is the first and most critical step in your engineering journey. Always double-check every parameter against the official NTA information bulletin once it is released. Ensuring you meet all requirements will lead to a smooth application process and prevent any issues during admissions.