JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Updated: New NTA Rules, Age Limit, Qualification & Attempts

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The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is one of India’s most competitive engineering entrance exams. Before starting preparation, candidates must first ensure they meet all eligibility requirements set by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

For JEE Main 2026, NTA has maintained several key rules—some unchanged, and some recently clarified. This article breaks down all eligibility details, including academic qualifications, age limits, subjects required, number of attempts, and other special cases.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility – At a Glance

Eligibility Parameter	Details
Exam Conducted By	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Year of Class 12 Passing	2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026
Age Limit	No upper age limit
Attempts Allowed	Up to 6 (2 sessions each year, for 3 years)
Subjects Required	Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational
Minimum Marks for Admission	75% (Gen/OBC/EWS) or 65% (SC/ST) or top 20 percentile
Nationality	Indian, OCI, PIO, NRI, Foreign nationals
Mode of Application	Online at jeemain.nta.ac.in

Latest Advisory & Preparatory Updates from NTA

Before diving into the core eligibility, a couple of recent advisories from NTA are especially important:

NTA has asked prospective candidates to update their Aadhaar card, Unique Disability ID (UDID) (for PwD candidates), and category certificates (EWS/SC/ST/OBC-NCL) ahead of registration to avoid discrepancies.
Registration for JEE Main 2026 is expected to commence in October 2025 (tentative) via the official portal https://jeemain.nta.nic.in.

These steps help reduce errors in the application and verification process.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility: Core Criteria

Below is a structured breakdown of all eligibility criteria that a candidate must meet or satisfy. Where there is uncertainty (because the official 2026 brochure isn’t out yet), I note that too.

1. Year of Passing / Qualifying Examination

Candidates must have passed their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing in 2026.
Candidates who passed Class 12 before 2024 or will appear after 2026 are not eligible to apply for JEE Main 2026.

2. Age Limit

NTA has maintained that there is no upper age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026.
However, some institutions (especially state engineering colleges or private ones) may impose their own age restrictions during admission. Candidates should check the age criteria of the target institution separately.

Also See: Class 11 JEE Preparation – How to Build a Strong Foundation in Physics, Chemistry & Maths

3. Subject Combination / Qualifying Subjects

To be eligible, a candidate’s Class 12 (or equivalent) must include certain subjects, depending on the course applied for:

For B.E. / B.Tech (JEE Main Paper 1):
Must have studied Physics and Mathematics, and at least one additional subject from Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / Technical Vocational Subject.
For B.Arch (Paper 2A):
Must have studied Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry in the qualifying exam.
For B.Planning (Paper 2B):
Mathematics is a compulsory subject in Class 12.
In many boards, students must have passed a total of five subjects in Class 12 or equivalent (including the required ones).

4. Minimum Marks Requirement & Admission Requirements

To appear in JEE Main: There is no minimum percentage requirement mandated by NTA. Students who fulfil the subject and year criteria can register.
For admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs (via JEE Main):
- General / OBC / EWS category candidates must have 75% marks in Class 12 or be in the top 20 percentile of their board.
- SC / ST category candidates require 65% marks or being in the top 20 percentile.
- Improved scores obtained through Class 12 improvement exams will also be accepted for meeting the 75% / 65% admission rule.

5. Number of Attempts & Validity/Years Allowed

Candidates can attempt JEE Main for up to three consecutive years after their qualifying exam year.
Since JEE Main is held twice a year (January & April), this effectively allows up to 6 attempts (2 per year) over those three years.
This means, for example, if someone passes Class 12 in 2024, they can attempt in 2025 and 2026 (i.e., three years: 2024, 2025, 2026) with two sessions each.

6. Nationality & Board Recognition

Eligible candidates include Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals.
The qualifying examination (Class 12 or equivalent) must be from a recognized board (Central, State, NIOS, or equivalent authority).
International boards recognized equivalently by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) are also accepted.

Also See: JEE Main 2026 Overview – Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Application & Latest Updates

7. State / Domicile Eligibility (for State Quota Seats)

For appearing in JEE Main, there is no domicile restriction.
However, for state quota seats in engineering colleges, domicile may matter.
State of eligibility in JEE is determined by the state from which the candidate passed their Class 12 examination (not necessarily their place of birth or residence).
If a student passed from one state, but later appears in improvement from another, their state code is taken from the state of first passing.

Special & Additional Cases

When dealing with non-standard candidate profiles, here’s what current guidelines suggest:

Droppers / Gap Year Students

Students who take a drop year are eligible, provided their Class 12 passing year falls within 2024–2026 (or they are appearing in 2026) and they fulfill other criteria (subjects, etc.).
There is no age restriction, so taking a drop year for preparation does not lead to disqualification.

Diploma Holders / Non-Standard Qualifications

Some sources indicate diploma holders may apply for JEE Main, but there may be limitations on using that score for admission to NITs / IIITs / GFTIs.
However, official confirmation for 2026 is not yet clarified.

Improvement Candidates

Students who retake subjects or appear for improvement exams may use their improved scores to meet the 75% or 65% requirement for admission (not for appearing in JEE Main itself).
For JEE Main registration, the initial qualification (or appearing) requirement still holds.

Can I appear in January 2026 if my Class 12 board exams are scheduled after that?

It depends on when results are declared and if your board allows issuing a provisional pass certificate. Usually, appearing candidates for 2026 can take both January and April sessions, but it's safer to check exact dates and board policy.

Can I appear for JEE Main if I have backlog subjects from Class 11 or 12?

You must have passed the qualifying examination (Class 12) in full to be eligible. Backlogs may disqualify you from applying in that year unless cleared before registration.

Also See: Class 11 JEE Preparation – How to Build a Strong Foundation in Physics, Chemistry & Maths

I’m passing Class 12 in 2026. Can I apply?

Yes — appearing candidates in 2026 meet the year criteria. You can take the January 2026 session (if timelines allow) or start from April 2026.

I took a drop year after Class 12 in 2024. Am I still eligible?

Yes — you can appear in 2025 and 2026, as long as all other subject and board recognition conditions are met.

Is there any age limit?

No upper age limit from NTA’s side — but check the target college’s age rules, especially state engineering colleges.

My board exam percentage is below 75%. Can I still appear?

Yes — there’s no minimum marks requirement to sit for JEE Main. The 75%/65% rule applies only for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admissions.

How to Use This Information When Applying

Before applying, candidates should ensure their board exam year, subjects, and marks meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
Be especially careful about subject codes, board recognition, and state code of eligibility.
Keep updated, verified certificates and documents (especially Aadhaar, category, UDID) ready ahead of registration, as advised by NTA.
Candidates are advised to regularly check NTA’s official website and the released information brochure once published—some eligibility details may be officially updated or refined.

Final Thoughts

While the official 2026 JEE Main eligibility brochure may contain minor revisions, the structure and rules tend to follow the previous years’ patterns. The most critical eligibility criteria, like year of passing, subject requirements, number of attempts, and percentage thresholds for admissions, are well-established.

By ensuring all criteria are satisfied in advance, aspirants can avoid last-minute issues or disqualification. Once NTA releases the formal information bulletin, one should cross-check and update accordingly.