JEE Mains 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age limit, educational qualification, number of attempts, nationality requirements and category-wise relaxation — everything you need to know before applying.
Am I Eligible?
Check all boxes to confirm your eligibility
There is no minimum percentage required in Class 12 to appear for JEE Mains. However, admission to NITs/IIITs requires 75% aggregate (or top 20 percentile in your board).
Educational Qualification
Subject requirements differ by paper type
Paper 1 (B.Tech/B.E.)
Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Must have passed in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing in 2026 board exams.
Paper 2A (B.Arch)
Class 12 with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Must have scored ≥50% aggregate in PCM. Architecture Council of India criteria also apply.
Paper 2B (B.Planning)
Class 12 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject. Aggregate 50% is preferred. No requirement for Physics or Chemistry.
Appearing Candidates
Students appearing in Class 12 board exams in 2026 are eligible to appear. However, admission to NITs/IIITs is subject to passing Class 12 with the required marks.
Open School Candidates
Students from NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) and state open school boards are eligible, provided they have the required subjects.
Number of Attempts
6 total attempts across 3 years — choose wisely
Maximum Attempts
6 (3 years × 2 sessions per year)
Year of Appearance
Year of Class 12 pass + 2 consecutive years
Example
Passed Class 12 in 2024 → can appear in 2024, 2025 and 2026 sessions
No Attempt Limit for OCI/PIO/Foreign Nationals
Subject to NTA annual notification
Category-wise Relaxation
Government-mandated relaxations for reserved categories
General / EWS
No age relaxation. Standard eligibility applies.
OBC-NCL
3 years age relaxation for NIT/IIIT admission. No relaxation in exam eligibility.
SC / ST
5 years age relaxation for NIT/IIIT admission. Lower qualifying percentage in some institutes.
PwD (Divyangjan)
Horizontal reservation of 5% seats. 10 years additional age relaxation for NIT admission. 4-hour exam duration.
Nationality & Domicile
JEE Mains is open to Indian and international candidates
Indian Citizens
All Indian nationals can appear regardless of domicile state.
NRI (Non-Resident Indians)
Eligible. Admission through JoSAA under DASA or state quota.
OCI Card Holders
Eligible on par with NRIs under DASA scheme.
PIO Card Holders
Eligible. Treated as NRI category for admission purposes.
Foreign Nationals
Can appear. Admission via DASA scheme at NITs/IIITs.
J&K Domicile Candidates
Additional seats reserved under central quota in NITs.
Common Misconceptions
Don't let wrong information cost you your attempt
Myth: There is an age limit of 25 years
Fact: NTA removed the age limit for JEE Mains from 2021. You can appear at any age as long as you meet the Class 12 criteria.
Myth: You need 75% marks in Class 12 to appear for JEE Mains
Fact: 75% marks are required for admission to NITs/IIITs (or top 20 percentile in board). This is an admission criterion, NOT a criterion to appear for the exam itself.
Myth: You can appear unlimited times
Fact: Maximum 6 attempts across 3 consecutive years (2 sessions per year), starting from your Class 12 pass year.
Myth: Dropping a year disqualifies you
Fact: Drop years are allowed. You can appear in JEE Mains up to 2 years after passing Class 12, regardless of the reason for the gap.