JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Minimum Marks, Number of Attempts
The eligibility criteria for the JEE Main exam are released every year to outline the requirements that JEE aspirants must fulfil to take the exam. The JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) Main exam is conducted twice every year by NTA (National Testing Agency). And before the dates are out, NTA releases the information bulletin containing detailed information on eligibility criteria for JEE Main, including age limit, nationality criteria, passing marks criteria, qualifying exam criteria and many more.
This blog focuses on clearing all the confusion around JEE Main 2026 eligibility. Whether you are giving the exam for the first time or are a dropper, the article discusses every aspect. Check each section to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria and stay updated with the NTA notifications released on the official website for more details on JEE Main 2026. Once the eligibility is confirmed, the next step is selecting the right coaching institute.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria Overview (NTA Updated)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 on its official website https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/. The JEE Main 2026 exam dates have been released and will be conducted in two shifts. The first shift will be conducted from January 21 to January 30, 2026. The second session will be conducted from April 2 to April 9, 2026. Check out the latest JEE Main 2026 NTA updates, including exam dates and results.
| JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria Particulars | Key Details |
| Age Limit Criteria | There is no age limit criterion for the JEE Main exam. (Check individual institution age limit criteria for your desired college.) |
| Number Of Attempts Criteria | 6 total attempts in 3 consecutive years |
| Qualifying Exam Criteria | Class 12 or equivalent recognised board |
| Year Of Passing | Should have passed class 12 or recognised board in 2024, 2025, or will be appearing in 2026. |
| Minimum Marks Required Criteria | No minimum class 12 percentage required to appear in JEE Main 2026 |
| Mandatory Subjects Criteria | Physics and mathematics are mandatory for the JEE Main Paper 1. Physics, Maths, and Chemistry are mandatory for the JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch). Maths mandatory for JEE Main Paper 2B (B.Plan) |
| State Code Of Eligibility | Based on the Class 12 qualifying exam state |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals/NRIs/PIOs/OCIs/Foreign Nationals |
JEE Main 2026 Age Limit Eligibility Criteria
As per the official eligibility criteria released by NTA, there is no upper or lower age limit to be eligible to give JEE Main 2026. Candidates should have passed class 12 or equivalent examination in the year 2024, 2025 or will be appearing in the year 2026. No matter what age the student gives their class 12 exam, they will be eligible for JEE Main 2026 if they meet other eligibility requirements.
JEE Main 2026 Number of Attempts Criteria
Aspiring candidates for JEE Main 2026 must meet specific eligibility criteria regarding the number of attempts. Those who have completed their class 12 in 2024 or 2025 or are currently in the process of appearing for the class 12 exams in 2026 are eligible to participate in JEE Main 2026. However, candidates who completed their class 12 before 2023 or are scheduled to appear in class 12 after 2026 are not eligible for the exam. It’s worth noting that JEE Main 2026 will be conducted twice in January and April.
JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Examination Criteria
To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have cleared the qualifying exam criteria. Candidates who have cleared class 12 or equivalent examination are eligible. Check out all the eligible qualifying boards for JEE Main 2026:
- The final examination class 12 (10+2) is conducted by a recognised state or central board of examination. These include CBSE, CISCE, all state-level boards like RBSE and others.
- An intermediate or pre-university examination conducted by a recognised Board or University is eligible.
- Joint Services Wing of national defense academy conducts the final examination of the two-year course, which is eligible.
- Senior secondary school examination, which is conducted by the NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). To be eligible for NIOS, a candidate must have a minimum of 5 subjects.
- Any Public school/Board/ University examination in India or abroad, which is recognised as an equivalent examination to the class 12 (10+2) examination by the AIU (Association of Indian Universities).
- Higher secondary certificate vocational examination.
- Any diploma which is recognised by AICTE or any state board of technical education. The diploma duration should be at least three years.
- GCE (General Certificate Examination) from London, Cambridge, Sri Lanka, is an eligible board at the Advanced (A) level.
- High School certificate, Examination of the Cambridge University, or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the Indian Baccalaureate Office, Geneva is an eligible qualifying examination board.
JEE Main 2026 Class 12 Passing Year Criteria
To be eligible to give the JEE Main 2026, students should meet the qualifying exam passing year criteria. As per the eligibility criteria released by NTA,
- Candidates who have completed class 12 or an equivalent examination in the year 2024 and 2025 are eligible to give JEE MAIN 2026.
- Candidates who are appearing for the Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2026 are also eligible to appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam.
- Candidates who have completed class 12 or equivalent examination in 2023 or before that are not eligible for JEE Main 2026.
Minimum Marks Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026
If we talk about the eligibility criteria in terms of minimum marks required to give JEE Main, here are the requirements:
- To get admissions in IITs, candidates must secure a minimum of 75% in their class 12 board exams or be in the top 20th percentile in their qualifying exam.
- This 75% criterion is applicable for admissions into IITs, NITs, CFTIs and other top engineering institutes.
- For reserved category candidates, a minimum of 65% marks is required to get admission to various undergraduate courses offered at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs.
- No such minimum marks criteria is required to appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam. In terms of marks eligibility, candidates falling under the general category must secure a minimum of 75% in their Class 12 board exams or rank in the top 20th percentile in their qualifying examination to meet the minimum marks to qualify for JEE Mains 2026. This criterion is essential for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Compulsory Subjects in Class 12
The JEE Main 2026 is designed for three distinct courses – B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Plan – each with specific subject requirements.
Compulsory Subject Requirements for Paper 1 (B.Tech)
- For JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.Tech.):
Candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects, along with one additional subject from Chemistry, Biology, or a Technical Vocational Subject.
Compulsory Subject Requirements for Paper 2A (B.Arch)
- For JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch.):
Successful completion of Class 12 or an equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics is a prerequisite.
Compulsory Subject Requirements Criteria for Paper 2B (B.Plan)
- For JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan.):
Candidates are required to have Mathematics as a subject in their Class 12 or equivalent examination.
Nationality Criteria for JEE Main 2026
Based on the eligibility criteria released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for JEE Main 2026, the nationality criteria have also been given. Candidates of different nationalities who wish to take the JEE Main 2026 exam are eligible, provided they fulfil other eligibility criteria as well.
- All Indian nationals are eligible to give the JEE Main 2026 as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria.
- OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India) are eligible for JEE Main 2026 and can apply.
- PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) are eligible for JEE Main 2026 until they meet the other eligibility criteria, including class 12 year of passing and more.
- Foreign nationals are also permitted for JEE Main 2026. Check the information bulletin released by NTA on their official website for more details on the nationality criteria for JEE Main 2026.
State Code of Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026
The State Code of Eligibility refers to the state from which a candidate has passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination. Most students confuse the state code of eligibility with the state code being their residence, domicile, or nationality.
The State Code is used during JoSAA/CSAB counselling when the seats are allocated for admissions into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs. Let us understand how the allotment of the State Code of Eligibility Is Decided:
- For candidates who are studying in India, the State Code is considered to be the state from where the candidate has passed class 12 or equivalent examination.
- For candidates who are studying abroad or out of India, they must choose the State Code based on their permanent address registered in India.
- For candidates who belong to the NRI / OCI / PIO category, they must choose the State Code based on their Indian residential/permanent address.
- For candidates who are from NIOS or are Open School candidates, the state code is based on the AIU-recognised study centre and not on home address.
From the above information, we can conclude that the State Code is not decided and considered based on the state the candidate is currently living in.
| State | Code |
| Andhra Pradesh | AP |
| Arunachal Pradesh | AL |
| Assam | AM |
| Bihar | BR |
| Chhattisgarh | CG |
| Delhi/New Delhi | DL |
| Goa | GO |
| Gujarat | GJ |
| Haryana | HR |
| Himachal Pradesh | HP |
| Jammu and Kashmir | JK |
| Jharkhand | JH |
| Karnataka | KK |
| Kerala | KL |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP |
| Maharashtra | MR |
| Manipur | MN |
| Meghalaya | MG |
| Mizoram | MZ |
| Nagaland | NL |
| Odisha | OR |
| Punjab | PB |
| Rajasthan | RJ |
| Sikkim | SM |
| Tamil Nadu | TN |
| Telanagan | TL |
| Tripura | TA |
| Uttar Pradesh | UP |
| Uttarakhand | UK |
| West Bengal | WB |
| Union Territory | Code |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | AN |
| Chandigarh | CH |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | DN |
| Daman and Diu | DD |
| Lakshadweep | LD |
| Puducherry | PO |
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Droppers and Repeaters
Every year, many candidates decide to retake the JEE Main to get admission into the best engineering colleges in India. Droppers and repeaters are eligible to give the JEE Main again until they meet the JEE Main eligibility criteria. There are no special eligibility rules released by NTA for droppers and repeaters. If you wish to retake JEE Main in 2026, make sure you meet these eligibility requirements released by NTA:
- No age limit:
There is no minimum or maximum age limit to give the JEE Main exam. Students of any age can attempt JEE Main 2026, including droppers and repeaters. - Year of passing the class 12 requirement:
To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, a candidate must have passed class 12 in the year 2024 or 2025. Students who have passed in 2023 or earlier are not considered eligible candidates for JEE Main 2026. - Maximum number of attempts:
There is a total of 6 maximum attempts allowed for JEE Main 2026. Hence, if a dropper or repeater has not given 6 attempts in 3 consecutive years, they are eligible to give JEE Main 2026. - Mandatory subjects requirement:
Droppers must have completed Class 12 with mandatory subjects Physics, Maths and one of the subjects from Chemistry, Biology or a technical vocational course for B.Tech course admissions. - Minimum class 12 marks:
To get admissions in IITs, NITs, and other top colleges, candidates must meet a minimum 75% aggregate marks or the top 20 percentile requirement criteria for class 12. For SC/ST candidates, they must meet 65% aggregate marks criteria in class 12. This minimum percentage criterion is applicable only for JEE Advanced and not for JEE Main. - Nationality eligibility criteria:
Droppers or repeaters who are Indian nationals, foreign Nationals, NRIs, OCIs & PIOs are eligible to give JEE Main 2026. For foreign candidates, they are eligible provided that their class 12 qualification is equivalent to the AIU-recognised board. Their state code will be based on their permanent indian address.
| Particulars | Key details |
| Age limit | No lower or upper age limit criteria for droppers or repeaters. |
| Educational qualification | Must have passed class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or 2026. |
| Number of attempts allowed | Maximum of 6 attempts in 3 consecutive years |
| Subject requirement criteria | Mathematics and physics are compulsory subjects in class 12, and one additional subject from chemistry, biology, or a technical vocational subject. |
| Minimum qualification marks criteria | No minimum qualifying marks to take the JEE Main 2026 exam. 75% aggregate to get admissions into IITs, NITs, and other institutes. |
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria to Appear for JEE Advanced 2026
Students who want to get admission in the IITs for undergraduate courses have to clear JEE Advanced along with JEE Main. But to be eligible to write the JEE Advanced course, students must have cleared the JEE Main. Find out the 5 mandatory conditions released by IIT Roorkee to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.
- JEE Main criteria: The top 2.5 lakh candidates (from all categories) who cleared JEE Main 2026 are eligible to give JEE Advanced 2026.
- Age limit criteria: The age limit criteria for JEE Advanced 2026 are that candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001. Age relaxation is given for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Maximum number of attempts criterion: A candidate can attempt the JEE Advanced exam a maximum of two times for two consecutive years.
- Passing marks criteria: candidates must have passed class 12 or equivalent examination in the year 2025 or 2026.
- Minimum marks criteria: To be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026 and get admissions into IITs, candidates should meet the criteria or scoring 75% aggregate marks or be in the top 20th percentile in class 12 (65% for SC/ST candidates).
- Earlier admission in IITs: If any candidate has been admitted into the IITs earlier, they are not eligible to give the JEE Advanced again.
Most students start preparing for JEE Advanced after confirming their eligibility. Build a study strategy by referring to the JEE Advanced 2026 study plan and Matrix topper strategies.
FAQs
Students who have passed class 12 or equivalent exam in 2024 and 2025 are eligible. Also, students who will be appearing in 2026 are eligible to give JEE Main 2206. Mandatory to have subjects mathematics, physics, along with one additional subject from chemistry, biology, or a technical vocational subject. Read the NTA-released official guidelines for JEE Main 2026.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, NTA removed the 75% criteria to be eligible for the JEE Main exam. There is no minimum class 12 percentage criterion to be eligible for JEE Main 2026 anymore. However, 75% criteria is applicable to get admissions into the top engineering colleges like IITs, NITs, and others.
There is no minimum qualifying percentage required to give the JEE Main 2026. Any student who has passed class 12 in 2024, 2025, and 2026 with the required subjects is eligible to give the JEE Main 2026.
There is no specified age limit given by NTA to be eligible for JEE Main 2026. Candidates of any age who have passed class 12 or will be appearing in 2026 are eligible. They should also meet the other eligibility criteria.
The JEE Main exam is conducted twice every year in two sessions. Candidates can either give both sessions or any one of them as per their choice. The best score among the two sessions will be considered. In total, the maximum attempts allowed are 6 attempts in 3 consecutive years.
Yes, students who are appearing for class 12 improvement exams in 2026 are eligible to give the JEE Main 2026 exam. Just make sure the eligible subjects are included in the class 12 papers.
No, students don’t need to attempt both the JEE Main sessions that are conducted every year. Candidates can appear in one or both sessions as per their choice. Generally, candidates attempt both sessions as it increases the chances of scoring a higher percentile.
In class 12 or equivalent exam, candidates must have studied physics, mathematics and any one of the following subjects: chemistry, biology, biotechnology or a technical vocational subject. For paper 1, mathematics and physics are mandatory. For paper 2A, mathematics, physics and chemistry are mandatory subjects, and maths is mandatory for paper 2B.
No, JEE Main has the same eligibility criteria across all states. There is no specific state-wise eligibility criterion for JEE Main 2026. The state code of eligibility applies during the counselling process to get home-state quota admissions for NITs, GFTIs and many more colleges.
