Planning to appear for JEE Main 2026? Check key eligibility criteria before you start preparing at jeemain.nta.ac.in

If you're aiming to take the JEE Main 2026, it's important to understand the eligibility rules set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These include guidelines on academic qualifications, subject combinations, age limit, number of attempts, and more.

As of now, the official eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 haven’t been released. Students are advised to follow the previous year’s rules until updates are published on the official website — jeemain.nta.ac.in.

Detailed Breakdown of Eligibility Requirements

Age Criteria

NTA does not impose an upper age limit. However, individual institutions may have specific age requirements for admissions.

Year of Qualifying Exam
Students who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or are appearing in 2026, are eligible.

Minimum Marks to Appear
There is no minimum percentage required in Class 12 to write JEE Main.

Eligibility for NITs/IIITs/GFTIs
To be eligible for admission through JEE Main:

• Gen/OBC/EWS: 75% in Class 12 or top 20 percentile
• SC/ST: 65% marks

Subjects Required

• B.E./B.Tech: Physics + Math + one from Chemistry, Biology, Biotech, or Technical Vocational
• B.Arch (Paper 2A): Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
• B.Planning (Paper 2B): Mathematics only

Attempts Permitted
Students may attempt the exam in three successive years, with two sessions per year, totaling a maximum of six attempts.

Domicile
Not required for JEE Main itself, but may be needed to claim state quota in certain colleges.

Nationality
The exam is open to Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals.

Recognized Boards
Students must have passed their qualifying exam through:

• Central or State Boards
• NIOS, or
• International boards approved by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)

As JEE Main 2026 draws nearer, NTA may issue clarifications regarding diploma holders, improvement exam candidates, and other special cases. Students are encouraged to keep checking the official website for announcements.