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

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

For JEE Main 2026, NTA has clarified and maintained several eligibility rules. This article breaks down all eligibility details, including academic qualifications, age criteria, subjects required, number of attempts, and special cases.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility – At a Glance

Latest NTA Advisories (Must Read Before Applying)

• Update Documents Early: Renew Aadhaar, UDID (for PwD), and category certificates (EWS/SC/ST/OBC-NCL) before registration to avoid rejection.
• Registration Timeline: October 31st to November 27 of 2025.
• NTA's Role: NTA conducts the exam only. It does not verify institute-specific eligibility (e.g., age, domicile). Check target college websites separately.
• No Grievances Accepted: NTA will not entertain RTIs/complaints on institute admission rules.

Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026

Below is a structured breakdown of all eligibility criteria that a candidate must meet or satisfy.

1. Year of Passing

• Eligible: Passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024 or 2025, or appearing in 2026.
• Not Eligible: Passed in 2023 or earlier, or appearing after 2026.
• The passing year is considered as the first time the candidate passed the qualifying exam.
  • Example: If a candidate passed Physics, Chemistry, Biology in 2023 and Mathematics in 2024, the passing year is 2023.
• Improvement Attempts: Do not count as a new "first pass." Original passing year applies.
• Appearing in 2026: Can enter roll/registration/enrollment number during application.

2. List of Accepted Qualifying Examinations

Candidates must have passed one of the following examinations to be eligible for JEE Main 2026:

• Final examination of the 10+2 system conducted by any recognized Central or State Board (e.g., CBSE, CISCE).
• Intermediate or two-year Pre-University Examination conducted by a recognized Board or University.
• 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 at least five subjects.
• Any Public School/Board/University examination in India or abroad recognized as equivalent to 10+2 by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
• Three-year diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education.
• General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
• High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) of Geneva.
• Candidates who completed Class 12 from a foreign or unlisted board must obtain a certificate of equivalence from the AIU.
• If Class 12 is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one public Board/Pre-University exam earlier.
• Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education (BOSSE), Sikkim is also accepted.

Note: Candidates must ensure that their chosen exam qualifies for JEE Main eligibility. The NTA only conducts the test and does not decide on institute-specific admission rules.

3. Age Limit

• No upper age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026.
• Candidates of any age can apply if they meet the Class 12 passing year criteria.
• Institute-Specific Rules: Some colleges (especially state or private ones) may have their own age caps for admission—verify directly.

4. Subject Combination (Mandatory in Class 12)

For B.E./B.Tech (Paper 1):
Must have studied the following subjects in Class 12 (or equivalent):

• Physics (Compulsory)
• Mathematics (Compulsory)
• One of: Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / Technical Vocational Subject

For B.Arch (Paper 2A):

• Mathematics (Compulsory)
• Physics
• Chemistry

For B.Planning (Paper 2B):

• Mathematics (Compulsory)

Note: Most boards require 5 subjects total (including language & required ones).

5. Minimum Marks Requirement

6. Number of Attempts

• 3 consecutive years from the year of passing Class 12.
• 2 sessions per year → Maximum 6 attempts.
• Example (Passed in 2024): Eligible in 2025 (Jan+Apr), 2026 (Jan+Apr), 2027 (Jan+Apr) → 6 attempts.

7. Nationality

The following categories are eligible to apply:

• Indian Nationals
• NRIs (Non-Resident Indians)
• OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India)
• PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin)
• Foreign Nationals

8. State of Eligibility

• The State Code of Eligibility refers to the state from where the candidate passed Class 12 (or equivalent).
• It does not depend on the candidate’s native place or residence.
• Example: If a student lives in Uttar Pradesh but passes Class 12 from a school in Delhi, their State Code of Eligibility = Delhi.
• Candidates from NIOS should select the state where their study centre is located.
• For Indian nationals from Nepal/Bhutan, the state code will be based on the permanent Indian address in their passport.
• For OCI candidates, if Class 12 was passed in India, state code = same as Indian nationals; if passed abroad, eligible only for All India Quota seats (not home state quota) in NITs/IIITs/GFTIs.

9. Eligibility for Droppers

Students who took a gap year can also apply, provided they:

• Passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026.
• Meet the subject and attempt criteria.
• Have studied at least 5 subjects in Class 12 (including Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
• No age restriction applies.

10. Accepted Boards

• International Boards recognized by AIU
• All recognized Central and State Boards
• NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)
• Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education (BOSSE), Sikkim

11. Special & Additional Cases

Droppers / Gap Year Students

• Eligible if Class 12 passing year is 2024–2026 and other criteria are met. No age restriction applies.

Diploma Holders / Non-Standard Qualifications

• Diploma holders may apply, but admission to NITs/IIITs/GFTIs may have restrictions.

Improvement Candidates

• Can use improved Class 12 scores to meet admission marks criteria. Original passing year is considered for eligibility to appear in JEE Main.

Apply for JEE Main 2026 Exam

Download Official JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria PDF:

How to Use This Information When Applying

• Ensure board exam year, subjects, and marks meet eligibility criteria.
• Verify board recognition, state code, Aadhaar, and certificates before registration.
• Regularly check NTA’s official website for updates to the information bulletin.

Final Thoughts

JEE Main 2026 eligibility is candidate-friendly—no age cap, no minimum marks to appear, and 6 attempts. The key restrictions are:

• Passing year (2024–2026)
• Correct subjects
• State code logic

NTA conducts the exam; institutes control admission. Always cross-check with JoSAA, CSAB, and target colleges for additional rules (age, domicile, etc.).

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