JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification, Attempts & More

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria: Before applying for the JEE Main 2026, applicants must ensure that they fulfill the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria to apply for the exam. If someone does not meet the criteria for applying, he/she will not be allowed to sit for the exam. 

NTA will release the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria at the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates will be able to check the details like educational qualification, age limit, nationality, marks required, compulsory subjects, and more in the eligibility criteria of JEE Main 2026. 

Table of Contents

• JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria Highlights
• JEE Main Age Limit
• Total Number of Attempts for JEE Main
• JEE Main-State Code of Eligibility
• JEE Main Eligibility Criteria: Year of Passing Qualifying Examination
• JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Exams
• JEE Main 2026: Subject Combinations for Admissions
• JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Admissions to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs
• JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in JEE Advanced
• FAQs

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Highlights 

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria NTA Qualifying Exams

Note: For admission into IITs/NITs/IIITs, a minimum of 75% marks in Class 12 or top 20 percentile criteria may apply.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Students from Open School or NIOS

Students who completed their Class 12 education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or any recognized open schooling board are eligible to appear for JEE Main 2026. However, they must fulfill the following conditions:

• The student must have passed Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational Subjects in their qualifying exam.

• The open schooling board must be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or relevant educational authorities.

• Students must have passed the exam in 2024, 2025, or be appearing in 2026.

However, for admission into IITs/NITs/IIITs through JEE, students must also meet the eligibility criteria set by the institutes, including subject combinations and percentage requirements.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for Foreign Nationals 

Foreign nationals can apply for JEE Main 2026 if they meet the eligibility criteria set by NTA and participating institutes. Here's what they need to know:

• Foreign students must have completed equivalent Class 12 education with Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical subjects.

• Their qualification must be recognized as equivalent to the Indian 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

• They are not required to appear for JEE Advanced for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded institutes but must apply through DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) or the regular JEE Main route.

• Valid passport and student visa are required at the time of admission.

• They must fulfill age limits, attempt limits, and academic eligibility similar to Indian students.

Foreign students are advised to regularly check the official NTA website and the DASA portal for updates and detailed instructions.

JEE Main 2026 State Code of Eligibility 

The JEE Main State Code of Eligibility refers to the Code of the State from where the candidate has passed the Class 12th / other qualifying examination and becomes eligible to sit for the JEE (Main) exam. 

Provided below are the codes of different JEE Main cities:

JEE Main 2026 Age Limit 

The NTA has not specified any particular age limit for the JEE Main aspirants. JEE (Main) Examination 2026 is open to candidates who have passed the Class 12/equivalent exam in 2023 and 2024 or 2025, regardless of their age. However, candidates may be required to meet the age criteria of the institute(s) they wish to appear for.

Total Number of Attempts for JEE Main

As per the National Testing Agency, students are eligible to appear for JEE Main for 3 consecutive years beginning from the year they pass their Class 12. For example, if a student passes Class 12th in 2022, he/she will be able to appear in JEE Main in 2023, 2024, and 2025 only. 

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Admissions to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs

NITs/IIITs/GFTIs Admission: Students who have passed class 12th with a minimum of 75% marks or scored in the top 20 percentile in their class (65% for SC/ST candidates) are eligible. 

JEE Main 2026 Admission (B.Arch/B.Planning): Candidates must have passed a 10+2 or equivalent exam from any recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in JEE Advanced 2026

To be eligible for JEE Advanced, applicants must be among the top 250,000 rank holders (including all categories) in the JEE Main entrance exam. The total number of applicants may also be more than 250,000 in case there are "equal" ranks/scores in each category.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Year of Passing Qualifying Examination

As stated by the authority in JEE Main Total number of attempts, a candidate can appear for the exam if he/she has passed the qualifying exam a maximum of 3 years ago. For example, if a candidate wishes to appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam, he/she must not have passed the qualifying exam before 2020. 

JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Exams 

• The final examination of the 10+2 system is conducted by any recognized Central/State Board, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi; etc.
• Intermediate or two-year pre-university examination conducted by a recognised board or 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 any foreign country is recognised as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
• A diploma recognised by AICTE or a state board of technical education of at least 3 years duration.
• General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
• High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva.
• Candidates who have completed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination outside India or from a board not specified above should produce a certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to the effect that the examination they have passed is equivalent to the Class 12 Examination.
• In case the Class 12 Examination is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one public (Board or Pre-University) examination earlier.

JEE Main 2026: Subject Combinations for Admissions

JEE Main is conducted for admissions into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Provided below are the JEE Main subject combinations in qualifying exams:

• B.Tech/B.E: Physics and Maths as mandatory subjects along with one of the subjects such as Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational subjects.
• B.Arch: Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry subjects.
• B. Planning: Applicants must have passed the qualifying exam with math.

JEE Main Related Links

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria: FAQs

Question: I belong to Haryana State. What will be my state code of eligibility?
Answer: The state of eligibility means the code of the state from where you have done your 12th. In case you have completed your 12th grade from Haryana, the state code of eligibility will be 13. 

Question: If I have done my class 12th from NIOS, what should I mention as the state of eligibility?
Answer: In such particular cases, candidates have to mention the code of the state in which their NIOS study center was located.

Question: What are the eligibility criteria to apply for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs?
Answer: Students must secure a minimum of 75% marks (65% for the SC/ST category) or be the top 20 percentile scorer in class 12 to be eligible for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

Question: What are the mandatory subjects for admission into BTech courses offered by NITs?
Answer: The subjects for admission into B.Tech/B.E courses are physics and mathematics as mandatory subjects, along with one of the biotechnology, chemistry, biology, or technical as the vocational subject.

Question: I have appeared two times for the JEE Main exam. Can I appear for the third time too?
Answer: As per the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria laid down by the authorities, you can appear as many times in 3 consecutive years from the year of passing Class 12th.