JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria 2026 (Out), Age Limit, No of Attempts
IIT Roorkee has released the official eligibility rules for JEE Advanced 2026 on the official website. After the JEE Main Session 1 results (declared on February 16), students now need to focus on Session 2 (April 2–9, 2026) to qualify for JEE Advanced, which will be held on May 17, 2026.
To be eligible, candidates must meet key conditions related to rank, age, attempts, academic qualification, and previous IIT admission status.
Who Can Apply for JEE Advanced 2026?
To appear for JEE Advanced 2026, you must:
- Be among the top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main 2026 (Paper 1 - B.E./B.Tech)
- Meet category-wise cutoff distribution set by authorities
- Fulfill all eligibility conditions (age, attempts, academics, etc.)
Category-Wise Distribution of Candidates
| Category | Total Candidates |
|---|---|
| OPEN | 1,01,250 |
| GEN-EWS | 25,000 |
| OBC-NCL | 67,500 |
| SC | 37,500 |
| ST | 18,750 |
- 5% seats in each category are reserved for PwD candidates
Educational Qualification Required
Candidates must:
- Qualify JEE Main 2026 (Paper 1)
- Pass Class 12 (or equivalent) for the first time in 2025 or 2026
- Have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects
- Study from a recognized board (CBSE, State Boards, IB, Cambridge, etc.)
Important Update
- The 75% marks rule is removed
- The top 20 percentile rule is also removed
So, no minimum board percentage is required for JEE Advanced 2026.
Age Limit for JEE Advanced 2026
| Category | Date of Birth Requirement |
|---|---|
| General | Born on/after Oct 1, 2001 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 5-year relaxation (on/after Oct 1, 1996) |
Number of Attempts Allowed
- Maximum 2 attempts
- Attempts must be in consecutive years
Example: If you appear in 2025, you can also appear in 2026, but not later.
Eligibility for Droppers
- Students who passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 are eligible
- Droppers are allowed only if within attempt and year limits
- Students who passed in 2024 or earlier are NOT eligible
Reservation and Relaxation
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Relaxation | 5 years for SC/ST/PwD |
| Reservation | As per government rules |
| PwD Reservation | 5% horizontal in each category |
These rules help ensure fair access to IITs for all categories.
Eligibility for Foreign Nationals
Foreign students (including OCI/PIO) have separate rules:
- Do not need JEE Main
- Can directly apply for JEE Advanced
- Seats are limited to 10% (supernumerary)
- No reservation (treated under OPEN category)
- Must meet age and academic requirements
- Valid passport or OCI/PIO proof required
Can Diploma Students Apply?
- Diploma alone is not enough
- Must have Class 12 with PCM subjects
- Diploma holders can give JEE Main, but not JEE Advanced unless they meet Class 12 criteria
Documents Required for JEE Advanced 2026
Candidates must provide:
- Class 10 (DOB proof)
- Class 12 marksheet & certificate
- JEE Main scorecard
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Passport/OCI card (for foreign nationals)
Key Changes in JEE Advanced 2026
- 75% board marks rule removed
- Top 20 percentile rule removed
- Foreign students can apply directly
- Age relaxation continues
- Attempt limit remains the same (2 consecutive years)
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Eligibility
| Feature | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts | 3 (non-consecutive) | 2 (consecutive only) |
| Age Limit | No strict limit | Strict limit applies |
| Qualification Year | Flexible | Only 2025 or 2026 |
| Rank Requirement | No rank required | Top 2,50,000 required |
| Board Marks Rule | Not required | Not required |
| Foreign Candidates | Must give JEE Main | Can apply directly |