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JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Marks Required, Number Of Attempts, and More
Updated By Sohini Bhattacharya on 18 Dec, 2025 11:57
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Candidates who are willing to appear for the JEE Main 2026 exam have to meet the eligibility criteria to fill out the application form. The minimum eligibility criteria to appear for the exam is to qualify for the 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Math's. Check the complete JEE Main eligibility criteria 202/6 on the page.
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JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has specified JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026 for aspirants aiming to take JEE Main 2026. Candidates must have completed 10+2 or an equivalent qualification with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, plus one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a technical vocational subject, for admission to BE/BTech programs, with no upper age limit. JEE Main 2026 qualifiers to meet these academic benchmarks as per the official notification, ensuring smooth JEE Main 2026 registration and exam attempts without age barriers.
For the January session exam, the JEE Main application form 2026 is active for registration, and the applicants fulfilling the eligibility criteria can fill out the application form for the JEE Main January session exam between October 31 to November 27, 2025. On the other hand, candidates are advised to go through the JEE Main syllabus 2026 for the best preparation and knowledge of the exam.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
- JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
- JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Qualification
- JEE Main 2026 State Eligibility
- JEE Main Qualifying Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
- JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Droppers 2026
- FAQs about JEE Main
- ADMISSIONS OPEN FOR 2026 SESSION
- JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria Highlights
- JEE Main Sesssion Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course Wise
- JEE Main Marks Eligibility in Class 12th
- Number of Attempts Allowed in JEE Main Exam
- JEE Main Reservation of Seats
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
Aspirants who are preparing for the JEE Mains 2026 must check the JEE Mains eligibility criteria overview below in the table:
JEE Main Eligibility Overview Criteria 2026
Name Of Exam
Joint Entrance Exam-Main (JEE Main)
Conducting Authority
National Testing Agency (NTA)
JEE Main Application Form 2026
October 31 to November 27, 2024
Educational Eligibility for JEE Main
Qualified class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects
JEE Main Age Limit Criteria
No Upper Age Limit
Name Of Exam
Qualifying
Number of Attempts in JEE Main
3 Attempts
- Consecutive Years from appearing for class 12 to the qualifying year and the dropping year
JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026
Paper 1 (BTech/BE): 300 Marks
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Maths
Paper 2 (BArch): 400 Marks
- Maths
- Aptitude
- Drawing
Paper 2B (BPlan): 400 Marks
- Maths
- Aptitude
- Planning
Exam Duration
180 Minutes (3 hours)
Shift Timing
Shift 1: Morning
- 9:00 AM tO 12 PM
Shift 2: Evening
- 3:00 AM tO 6:00 PM
Official Website
jeemain.nta.nic.in
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
JEE Main Educational Qualification 2026
The JEE Mains educational qualifications are different for all the papers: papers 1, 2A, and 2B. Check the paper-wise educational qualification required below:
JEE Main Paper 1 Educational Qualification 2026: Paper 1 comprises the streams B.Tech and B.E. Aspirants must have qualified or appearing in 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics along with any subject prescribed below:
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology, or
- Vocational Subjects (Technical)
Also Read : JEE Main Syllabus
JEE Main Paper 2A Educational Qualification 2026: Paper 2A is for BArch (Bachelor of Architecture) and to opt for Paper 2A the aspirant must have studied 10+2 with Maths, Physics, and Chemistry as compulsory subjects
JEE Main Paper 2A Educational Qualification 2026: Paper 2A is for BArch (Bachelor of Architecture) and to opt for Paper 2A the aspirant must have studied 10+2 with Maths, Physics, and Chemistry as compulsory subjects
JEE Mains Age Limit Criteria 2026
There is no upper age limit to appear for the JEE Mains exam. The aspirants can take the Mains exam at any point of age. However, they have to meet the number of attempts eligibility to appear for the exam.
Also Read : JEE Main Physics Syllabus
Similar Exams:
JEE Main State Eligibility
Aspirants have to provide their state in the JEE Mains application form to appear for the exam. There are certain clauses providing the state in the application. Check the state eligibility criteria for JEE Mains 2026 below:
- Aspirants have to provide the state from which they have qualified for their higher secondary, and not the state from which they belong
- If the aspirants have taken the supplementary exam to improve their marks on 10+2 from a different state, then they have to provide the name of the state from which they have taken the supplementary exam
- The aspirants who belong to the nationality of Nepal and Bhutan have to provide the state where they are residing in India
Check the list of States and Union Territories from where the candidates can apply and satisfy the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026. Check the state and union territory eligibility criteria for the JEE Main 2026 exam in the table below:
JEE Main State Eligibility Criteria :
Adman & Niko bar Iceland's (UT)
Goa
Ladakh
Karnatka
Adhra Pradesh
Gujrat
Lakhsadweep (UT)
Delhi (NCT)
Assam, Sikkim
Himachal Pradesh
Maharashtra
Foreign / OCI / PIO / Nepal
Arunachal Pradesh
Haryana
Madhya Pradesh
West Bengal
Bihar
Jammu & Kashmir
Manipur
Tripura
Chandigarh (UT)
Jharkhand
Meghalaya
Odisha
Chhattisgarh
Uttar Pradesh
Mizoram
Tripura
Rajasthan
Uttarakhand
Tamil Nadu
Telangana
Dadra & Nagar Haveli (UT)
Kerala
Nagaland
Punjab
Also Read : JEE Main Exam Dates 2026
Candidates must check the state code along with the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026. The state code will be required to fill out the JEE Main Application Form 2026. Check the state codes for the JEE Main state eligibility in the table below:
Name Of State
Code
Andhra Pradesh
AP
Arunachal Pradesh
AL
Asam
AM
Bihar
BR
Chhattisgarh
CG
Goa
GO
Gujrat
GJ
Haryana
HR
Himachal Pradesh
HP
Jammu & Kashmir
JK
Jharkhand
JH
Delhi / New Delhi
DL
Himachal Pradesh
Ap
Karnataka
KK
Kerla
KL
Madhya Pradesh
MP
Manipur
MN
Meghalaya
MG
Mizoram
MJ
Nagaland
NL
Odisha
OR
Punjab
PB
Rajsthan
RJ
Sikkim
SM
Tamil Nadu
TN
Telangana
TL
Tripura
TA
Uttar Pradesh
UP
Uttarakhand
UK
West Bengal
WB
Name of Union
Code
Adman & Niko bar Iceland's (UT)
AN
Chandigarh (UT)
CH
Dadra & Nagar Haveli (UT)
DN
Daman & Diu (UT)
DD
Lakshadweep (UT)
LD
Puducherry (UT)
PO
Foreign
Code
Foreign / OCI / PIO / NEPAL /BHUTAN
-
JEE Main Marks Eligibility in Class 12th
There are no marks eligibility in Class 12th for the aspirants to appear for the JEE Main2026 exam. However, to get admission to the top IITS, NITS, IIITS, and other premium colleges of India, the aspirants must have secured an aggregate percentage of 75 in class 12th or have secured 65% aggregate marks along with being in the top 20% of candidates who took the JEE Mains exam.
JEE Main Qualifying Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
Aspirants must check the list of exams that they have to qualify to appear for the exam. Check the list of exams below:
- You must have pursued 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from a recognised board of central or state like CBSE or DBSE.
Or,
- You must have pursued 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from a recognised board of central or state like CBSE or DBSE.
Or,
- You must have pursued 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from a recognised board of central or state like CBSE or DBSE.
Also Read : JEE Main Math Syllabus
Number of Attempts Allowed in JEE Main Exam
Aspirants are allowed to take the JEE Main exam three times in a consecutive year. The first attempt can be taken while appearing for the final exam, the second attempt can be taken after qualifying for the exam, and the third attempt can be taken after the drop year. For example, some who have qualified for their higher secondary exam in 2024 can take the JEE Main exam in the following years:
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
Also Read : JEE Main Chemistry Syllabus
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Droppers 2026
Aspirants are allowed to take the JEE Main exam three times in a consecutive year. The first attempt can be taken while appearing for the final exam, the second attempt can be taken after qualifying for the exam, and the third attempt can be taken after the drop year. For example, some who have qualified for their higher secondary exam in 2024 can take the JEE Main exam in the following years:
- Aspirants who have dropped a year must have qualified for the higher secondary (10+2) in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
- Only three consecutive attempts are allowed for JEE Mains
- Must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Maths as compulsory subjects in 10+2
- There is no upper age limit to appear for the JEE Mains exam for any aspirant
Also Read : JEE Main Best Books 2026
JEE Main Reservation of Seats
Reservations in the JEE Main exam are determined on the basis of categories and regulations of the Government of India. Candidates can check the category wise regulation for the reservation of seats in the JEE Main exam below:
Check the categories which are eligible for the seat reservations below:
- Other Backward Classes (OBC) if they belong to Non-Creamy Layer (NCL)
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Persons with Disability (PWD) with 40% or more disability
Category-Wise JEE Main Reservation of Seats
The candidates can check the percentage of seats reserved for the allocated categories in the table below. According to the latest reservation policy, no modifications have been made to the reservation policy. Check the reservation of seat percentage in the table below according to the categories:
Category
Reservation
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer )
27%
SC
15%
ST
7.5%
EWS
10%
PWD (40% or more disability)
5%
JEE Main Reservation of Seats (Institute Wise)
Institute
Criteria
NIT (Other State Quota)
50% seats reserved for candidates belonging to all other states and Union Territories excluding Home State.
NIT (Home Quota)
50% seats are reserved
Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
Based on Home Quota/ State Quota/ All India Quota
State-Funded Technical Institutes
Based on Home Quota/ State Quota/ All India Quota
IIIIT
Based on Home Quota/ State Quota/ All India Quota
Government Funded Technical Institutes
Based on All India Quota
State Engineering Colleges
Based on State Quota
JEE Main Application Form :
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FAQs about JEE Main Eligibility
No, a Commerce or Arts stream student cannot appear for the JEE Mains 2025 exam, as the willing aspirants have to meet the subject eligibility to appear for the exam. For the BE/Blech exam, candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
No, a Commerce or Arts stream student cannot appear for the JEE Mains 2025 exam, as the willing aspirants have to meet the subject eligibility to appear for the exam. For the BE/Blech exam, candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
No, a Commerce or Arts stream student cannot appear for the JEE Mains 2025 exam, as the willing aspirants have to meet the subject eligibility to appear for the exam. For the BE/Blech exam, candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
No, a Commerce or Arts stream student cannot appear for the JEE Mains 2025 exam, as the willing aspirants have to meet the subject eligibility to appear for the exam. For the BE/Blech exam, candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
No, a Commerce or Arts stream student cannot appear for the JEE Mains 2025 exam, as the willing aspirants have to meet the subject eligibility to appear for the exam. For the BE/Blech exam, candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
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