JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – NTA will release the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 online at jeemain.nta.nic.in. To check the eligibility criteria, go to the JEE Main 2026 exam portal, and then under the “Information” tab, click on Eligibility Criteria. The eligibility criteria will also be outlined in the JEE (Main) 2026 Information Bulletin.
Only such candidates who meet the JEE Main eligibility criteria must fill out the JEE Main 2026 application form.
The JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria will include age limit, academic qualification, minimum marks, compulsory subjects, state of eligibility, etc. If a candidate fails to meet these criteria, he or she can be disqualified at any stage of the admission process.
As per the prescribed eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026, one must have passed 10+2 exam in 2024 or 2025 with a minimum aggregate of 75% marks (SC/ST candidates need 65%). There is no age limit for the exam.
The JEE Main 2026 exam will be conducted in TWO sessions – January and April. The exam can be attempted a maximum of THREE times in consecutive years.
Keep reading to learn the full details of JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria.
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Table of Contents
What is the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026?
Carefully go through the eligibility criteria of JEE Main 2026 before filling out the application form.
The information entered by the candidate in the application form will be verified at the time of JoSAA 2025 counseling. Any candidate who is found to be faking their eligibility will be disqualified from the admission process.
For admission to the NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs, the candidate needs to meet the following criteria.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Qualifying Exam & Minimum Marks
| Parameter | Eligibility Criteria |
| Qualifying Exam | The candidate must have passed the 10+2 or an equivalent exam in 2024 or 2025. |
| Candidates appearing in qualifying exam | Candidates who are appearing in the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2026 can also apply. |
| Minimum marks in the qualifying exam | At least 75% marks or be in the top 20 percentile the qualifying exam. Note: SC/ST candidates need only 65% marks. |
| Pass in each subject | The candidate needs to pass in each of the subjects of the qualifying exam. |
Also Read:
| Best Books for JEE Main 2026 – Study Material Recommended by Toppers |
| JEE Main Syllabus 2026 – Section-wise Topics, Important Topics, Weightage |
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Subject Combination
| Course | Subject combination in 10+2 or equivalent exam |
| B.E/B.Tech | Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with one of the Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/ Technical Vocational subjects. |
| B.Arch. | 10+2 Level exam – Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics 10+3 Diploma exam – Mathematics |
| B.Planning | Mathematics |
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Age Limit
There is no age limit for appearing in JEE (Main) – 2026. However, the candidates may be required to fulfill the age criteria of the Institute(s) to which they are desirous of taking admission.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – List of Qualifying Examinations (QE)
The final examination of the 10+2 system, conducted by any recognized Central/ State Board, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi; etc.
- 10+2 examination
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defense Academy
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling with a minimum of five subjects.
- Any Public School/ Board/ University examination in India or any foreign country is recognized as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
- A Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State board of technical education of at least 3 years duration.
- General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
- High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva.
- Candidates who have completed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination outside India or from a Board not specified above should produce a certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to the effect that the examination they have passed is equivalent to the Class 12 Examination.
- In case the Class 12 Examination is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one public (Board or Pre-University) examination earlier.
Eligibility Criteria for JEE Advanced 2026
To appear in the JEE Advanced 2026, the candidate at the minimum must meet the following conditions.
- Performance in JEE Mains 2025 – The candidate must be among the top 2,50,000 successful candidates (including all categories) in B.E./B.Tech. Paper of JEE (Main) – 2026.
- Number of Attempts – A candidate can attempt JEE (Advanced) a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
What if I don’t meet JEE Main Eligibility Criteria?
The eligibility criteria of the candidate will be verified at the time of JEE Main 2026 counseling aka JoSAA Counseling 2026. Every information entered by the candidate in the JEE Main application form will be cross-checked.
The candidate will have to produce original academic, age, caste, and other relevant certificates.
If any discrepancy is found, the candidate will be disqualified. In some cases, criminal cases may also be filed against candidates, especially if the candidate use fake documents.
So, only such candidates who meet the JEE Main eligibility criteria must apply for admission.