JEE Main 2026 Eligibility – Age Limit, Qualification, and Percentage Criteria

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will soon release the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria on the official website – jeemain.nta.nic.in. Once announced, candidates can check all details of the JEE Main 2026 eligibility on this page. To be eligible for the JEE Main 2026 exam, candidates must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025 or be appearing for the examination in 2026. The eligibility conditions will include parameters such as educational qualification, age limit, nationality, minimum marks in Class 12, required percentage, and compulsory subjects. There is no upper age limit for appearing in the JEE Main 2026 examination. As per the schedule, the NTA will conduct the JEE Main 2026 exam from January 21 to 30, 2026.

Overview of JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) defines the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026. It includes parameters like academic qualification, age requirement, subjects in Class 12, and the number of attempts allowed. Candidates can go through the following sections for complete details.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Key Details

JEE Main Qualifying Exam 2026

Candidates must have passed the Class 12 exam or its equivalent in 2024 or 2025. Those appearing in Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2026 are also eligible to apply.

JEE Main Age Limit 2026

There is no age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026. Candidates who passed Class 12 or an equivalent exam in 2024, 2025, or are appearing in 2026 can take the exam regardless of age. However, they must fulfill the age criteria prescribed by the institute they wish to join.

JEE Main Number of Attempts 2026

Candidates can attempt the JEE Main for three consecutive years. The entrance examination will be held twice a year – in January and April. Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026, are eligible to apply.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria – Subjects in Class 12

• B.E./B.Tech – Physics, Mathematics, and one among Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Technical Vocational Subjects
• B.Arch – Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry
• B.Plan – Mathematics

JEE Main 2026 – Accepted Qualifying Exams

• Final exam (10+2 system) conducted by a recognized Central or State Board such as CBSE or ISCE.
• Final exam 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 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 (HSC) Vocational Examination.
• A Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education of a minimum of three years duration.
• General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
• High School Certificate Examination of Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) from Geneva.
• Candidates who completed Class 12 (or equivalent) from a foreign or unlisted board must provide a certificate from AIU confirming equivalency to the Indian Class 12 system.
• If Class 12 is not a public exam, candidates must have passed at least one public exam (Board or Pre-University) earlier.

JEE Main Eligibility Marks in 12th

To appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam, there is no minimum marks requirement in Class 12 for eligibility. However, candidates must have secured at least 75% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics to get admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other reputed institutes. The eligibility marks in Class 12 are essential for admission regardless of the candidate’s JEE Main rank or percentile. For SC and ST candidates, the JEE Main eligibility marks in 12th remain the same.

JEE Main 2026 State of Eligibility

The state code of eligibility for JEE Main 2026 does not depend on the candidate’s native or residential state. If a student passes the Class 12 or equivalent exam from one state but appears for improvement or supplementary exams in another, the state where the student originally passed the qualifying exam will be considered. For candidates appearing from NIOS, the state of eligibility is determined based on the location of the study centre.

Indian nationals who have passed Class 12 or equivalent from Nepal or Bhutan will have their state code assigned based on the permanent address in India as mentioned in their passport. For OCI/PIO candidates, those who passed Class 12 in India will have eligibility similar to Indian nationals, while those who passed from abroad will be considered for Other State or All India quota seats in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.

List of JEE Mains States

Below is the list of States and Union Territories (UTs) for JEE Main 2026 along with their respective state codes. In case of any official update or change, it will be reflected here.

JEE Mains Eligibility Criteria for Admissions in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs

For admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, candidates must have passed the Class 12 exam with at least 75% marks (65% for SC/ST) or should be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. For B.Arch and B.Planning programs, students must have obtained at least 50% aggregate marks in their 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board.

JEE Main 2026: Subject Combinations for Admissions

• B.Tech/B.E – Physics and Mathematics are mandatory subjects, along with one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Technical Vocational subjects.
• B.Arch – Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are required subjects.
• B.Planning – Mathematics must be one of the main subjects in the qualifying exam.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in JEE Advanced

Candidates who rank among the top 2,50,000 in the JEE Main exam across all categories will be eligible to appear for the JEE Advanced exam. The distribution of categories among the top candidates is provided below based on previous years.

JEE Mains 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Droppers

Droppers are candidates who take a year’s break to prepare for JEE Main 2026. The eligibility criteria for droppers remain the same as for regular candidates:

• No age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2026.
• Must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing in 2026.
• Allowed up to three consecutive attempts.
• Must have studied at least five subjects in Class 12, including Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• Should meet the minimum marks required as per the eligibility criteria.