JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Check Age Limit, Year of Passing, Qualification, Number of Attempts
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 is prescribed by the NTA in its official notification PDF. To appear for JEE Main 2026 exam, go through the details including age limit, educational qualification, marks secured in class 12th, nationality, and compulsory subjects, among others.
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria is released by the National Testing Agency. The candidates who are keen on applying for the JEE Main 2026 exam for session 1 and session 2 must check out the eligibility criteria that has been specified here. The JEE Main Registration 2026 for Session 1 was active till November 27, 2026 while JEE Main registration for Session 2 will be begin from last week of January 2026 onwards. candidates are advised to go through the age limit, nationality, education qualification that has been specified here.
Candidates should fill out the JEE Main Application Form as per the dates notified by the NTA. Aspirants are advised to go through the eligibility criteria in detail before filling JEE Main Application Form. It should be noted that only those fulfilling JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria can proceed with the admission process further. The JEE Main 2026 exam dates shall also be checked by the aspirants.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria is released by the NTA, and the students must go through the details carefully and check if they are eligible to fill application form. Those who will not be able to meet the criteria can be rejected at any stage of the admission process.
| JEE Main Particulars | JEE Main Eligibility Criteria |
| Qualifying exam |
|
| Age Limit | There is no age limit to appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam. |
| Total number of attempts for JEE Main | Candidates can appear in the JEE Main exam for three consecutive years. |
| Subjects |
|
JEE Main Qualifying Exams 2026
Candidates going eligibility criteria must also read carefully the JEE Main Qualifying Exams 2026 which will qualify them eligible to appear for JEE Main exam. The Qualifying exams to appear for JEE Mains will include the final exam of class 12th from any recognized board or university or any other equivalent exam.
| S. No. | JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Exam |
| 1. | The final class 12th exam conducted by any recognized Central/State board such as CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education); Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE) |
| 2. | Intermediate or 2 year pre-university exam conducted by a recognized Board/University |
| 3. | The final exam of the two years course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy |
| 4. | Senior Secondary School examination which is conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling with a minimum of 5 subjects. |
| 5. | Any public/school/board/university exam in India or in any other foreign country which is recognized as equivalent to 10+2 system by Association of Indian Universities |
| 6. | Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination |
| 7. | An AICTE recognized diploma or a state board of technical education of a minimum of 3 years of duration |
| 8. | General Certificate Education examination at the Advanced (A ) level |
| 9. | High School certificate examination of the Cambridge University or the International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva |
Also check:
| JEE Main Syllabus | JEE Main Exam Pattern |
| JEE Main Admit Card | JEE Main Answer Key |
| JEE Main Cut Off | JEE Main Analysis |
JEE Mains 2026 State of Eligibility
Candidates appearing for JEE Main 2026 Exam will be required to fill state of eligibility. The details will be the part of the eligibility criteria of JEE Mains 2026 which must be correct while filling the application form.
- If the candidate has passed the class 12th exam or equivalent from a State but they have appeared for improvement/supplementary exam from a different state, then the state code from where the candidate passed the qualifying exam will be taken into consideration.
- The state code for the JEE Main eligibility does not depend on the native place or the residence place of the student.
- Candidates who have passed exam of class 12th or an equivalent exam from NIOS will have to choose the state of eligibility based on the state in which the study center was located.
- For the Indian Nationals who passed the exam of class 12th from Nepal or Bhutan, JEE Main state Code of Eligibility will be provided based on the permanent address in India as mentioned in the Passport.
- The State Code of Eligibility of OCI/PIO who passed the class 12th exam in India will be at par with Indian Nationals, however, OCI/PIO passing the exam of class 12th from a college abroad will be able for other State quota seats or All India quota seats in all NITs, IIEST and CFTIs.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 for IIITs, NITs and GFTIs
| Particulars | Eligibility |
| NITs/IIITs/GFTIs | Candidates must have passed the exam of class 12th with a minimum of 75% marks or they must be in the top 20 percentile in their class 12 exam. |
| JEE Main 2026 admission (B.Planning/B.Arch) | The candidate must have passed a 10+2 or an equivalent exam from a recognized board with minimum of 50% average marks |
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria for droppers
Find the JEE Mains Eligibility 2026 for droppers mentioned in the points below:
- There is no age limit defined by the exam-organising body
- Candidates looking for JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 for droppers must have passed the class 12 exam. Three consecutive terms will be allowed to them for the JEE Main 2026 Examination.
- They also must have secured a minimum JEE Main 2026 qualifying score.
- Students must have taken at least 5 subjects for class 12 or the qualifying exam. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics will be mandatory.
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FAQs
- What is JEE Main 2026 exam eligibility?+The eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 exam is to have completed/ appeared in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Candidates who have passed class XII / equivalent examination in 2024, 2025 or are appearing in 2026, irrespective of their age, can appear in JEE (Main) exam.
- What is JEE Main full form?+JEE Main full form is Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE-Main), formerly All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE). The exam is composed of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is for those who wish to take admissions in B. Tech/B.E courses. Paper 2 is further segregated into two parts, Paper 2A for B. Arch courses, and Paper 2B for B.
- How many times is the JEE Main exam held?+The National Testing Agency conducts JEE Main exam twice in a year. It is initially held in January and then in April. Candidates can appear either once in each session or in both sessions. The best of two scores will be considered for preparing the JEE Main result.
- What is the difference between JEE Main Paper 1 and Paper 2?+The JEE Main Paper 1 and Paper 2 have a basic difference in the subject that the candidates study. JEE Main Paper 1 is for those candidates who wish to take admission in B. Tech/B.E courses, whereas Paper 2 has further two parts - Paper 2A for B. Architecture courses, and Paper 2B for B. Planning.
- What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?+JEE Main exam is held each year for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs and other private and government institutions. On the other hand, the top 2.5 lakh candidates are eligible to appear for IIT exam, i.e. JEE Advanced.
- How many times is JEE Main exam conducted in a year?+The JEE Main exam is conducted two times a year. The first session is conducted in January, while the second session is held in April. If a candidate appears for both the sessions, then best of two scores is taken for consideration.
- What is the syllabus for JEE Main 2026 Exam?+JEE Main syllabus is divided for Paper 1,2 and 2A. The JEE Main Syllabus for Paper 1 (B.E./B. Tech) with subjects that are Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The Paper 2 syllabus is for the B.Architecture with Mathematics General Aptitude Drawing as its subjects. Lastly, Paper 2A syllabus is for B.Planning with subjects that are Mathematics, General Aptitude and Planning.
- What is JEE Main Exam?+The full form of JEE Main is Joint Entrance Examination – Main. It is a national-level engineering entrance examination in India that is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) two times a year. JEE Main exam is used for admission to undergraduate engineering programs at NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. It is also the qualifying test for appearing into JEE Advanced exam.