The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria for both the January and April sessions, keeping the guidelines consistent across both exam periods. With JEE Main 2026 set to take place in January and April, it is important for aspirants to thoroughly understand the eligibility requirements mentioned in the official JEE Main information bulletin.
This article will provide key details on age limits, number of attempts, required marks, and pass percentages for JEE Main 2026. Candidates must carefully review these criteria to ensure their eligibility and stay updated on the latest announcements.
JEE Main Exam 2026 Eligibility Criteria- Key Highlights
| Examination Name | Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Purpose | Gateway to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs; Qualifying test for JEE Advanced |
| Category | National Level Undergraduate (UG) Exam |
| Level of Exam | Rigorous National Examination |
| Number of Sessions | Two |
| Mode of Exam | – Paper 1 (B.E/B.Tech): Computer-Based Test (CBT)- Paper 2A (B.Arch.): CBT (except Drawing Test)- Paper 2B (B.Plan.): Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Official Website | jeemain.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in |
Qualifying Examination Criteria for JEE Main 2026
To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have completed one of the following exams:
- The final examination of the 10+2 system is conducted by recognized Central/State Boards like CBSE, CISCE, etc.
- Intermediate or two-year pre-university exam conducted by a recognized Board/University.
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defense Academy.
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling with a minimum of five subjects.
- Any Public School/ Board/ University examination in India or abroad recognized as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of India Universities (AIU).
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
- A Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State board of technical education with a duration of at least three years.
- General Certificate Education examination (London/ Cambridge/ Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
Nationality Requirement for JEE Main 2026
Candidates applying for JEE Main 2026 must be Indian citizens. Additionally, foreign nationals, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), are also eligible to apply.
Age Limit in JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
There is no specific age restriction for appearing in JEE Main 2026. Candidates who have completed their Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025 or are currently appearing in 2026 are eligible, regardless of their age.
Number of Attempts Allowed JEE Main 2026
JEE Main 2026 allows candidates to attempt the exam twice- once in January and again in April. Those who have completed their Class 12 in 2024 or 2025 or are currently in Class 12 ( 2026) are eligible. However, candidates who completed Class 12 before 2023, or will appear after 2026 are not eligible.
Marks Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026
- General Category: Candidates must secure at least 75% in class 12 or rank in the top 20 percentile of their board exam to qualify for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
- Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC/ PwD): A minimum of 65% in Class 12 is required for eligibility in these institutions.
Subject Requirements in Class 12 for JEE Main Eligibility 2026
The JEE Main 2026 exam is divided into three papers. Each with specific subject criteria:
- For BTech (Paper 1): Candidates must have studied Physics and Mathematics, along with one additional subject from Chemistry, Biology ,or a Technical Vocational Subject.
- For BArch (Paper 2): Candidates must have completed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
- For B.Plan (Paper 2B): Mathematics is a mandatory subject in Class 12 or its equivalent.
State Code of JEE Main Eligibility Criteria
The state code of eligibility for JEE Main 2026 is determined by the state where a candidate completed their Class 12 (or equivalent) qualifying exam, not their place of residence or birth. For instance, if a student studies in Delhi but lives in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, their eligibility state is Delhi.
NIOS students must select their study center’s location. Indian nationals from Nepal/ Bhutan use their passport’s permanent address, while OCI/PIO candidates from abroad qualify for Other State or All India quota in NITs, IIESTs and so forth:
States and Codes
| State | Code | State | Code |
| Andhra Pradesh | AP | Maharashtra | MR |
| Arunachal Pradesh | AL | Manipur | MN |
| Assam | AM | Meghalaya | MG |
| Bihar | BR | Mizoram | MZ |
| Chhattisgarh | CG | Nagaland | NL |
| Delhi/New Delhi | DL | Odisha | OR |
| Goa | GO | Punjab | PB |
| Gujarat | GJ | Rajasthan | RJ |
| Haryana | HR | Sikkim | SM |
| Himachal Pradesh | HP | Tamil Nadu | TN |
| Jammu & Kashmir | JK | Telangana | TL |
| Jharkhand | JH | Tripura | TA |
| Karnataka | KK | Uttar Pradesh | UP |
| Kerala | KL | Uttarakhand | UK |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP | West Bengal | WB |
Union Territories and Codes
| Union Territory | Code |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | AN |
| Chandigarh | CH |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | DN |
| Daman & Diu | DD |
| Lakshadweep | LD |
| Puducherry | PO |
Year of Appearance Eligibility in JEE Main 2026
As per the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria, candidates must have completed their Class 12 or equivalent exams in 2024 or 2025 or be currently appearing for it in 2026. Applicants who completed their class 12 or equivalent exam in 2023 or earlier, as well as those who will appear in 2027 or later, are not eligible to apply for JEE Main 2026.
Eligibility for JEE Main 2026 for Droppers
| Criteria | Details |
| Age Limit | No specific age limit for repeaters. |
| Educational Qualification | Passed Class 12 exam in 2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026. |
| Attempt Limit | Maximum of three consecutive attempts allowed for JEE Main. |
| Minimum Qualification Marks | Candidates must secure the minimum required qualification marks for JEE Main 2026. |
| Subject Requirement | Should have studied at least five subjects in Class 12 or equivalent exam. Mandatory subjects include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. |
Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in JEE Advanced through JEE Main
- JEE Main Qualification: Candidates must have appeared in JEE Main and met the minimum cutoff set by NTA.
- Top 2,50,000 Ranks: To be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must rank among the top 2,50,000 in the Common Rank List.
- Number of Attempts: Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in consecutive years after passing Class 12 or an equivalent examination.
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JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible for JEE Main 2026, candidates must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and meet NTA’s cutoff. No age limit applies.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) typically conducts JEE Main in two sessions: the first in January and the second in April. The exact dates for JEE Main 2026 have not yet been announced.
Candidates must be in the top 2,50,000 of JEE Main 2026, have passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026, and can attempt JEE Advanced only twice in consecutive years.
A student can attempt JEE Main 2026 up to three consecutive years after passing Class 12, with a maximum of two attempts per year, as the exam is conducted in two sessions.
Candidates can attempt JEE Main 2026 twice in a year (January and April sessions) and a maximum of three consecutive years after passing Class 12, allowing up to six total attempts.