JEE Advanced 2026 Eligibility

JEE Advanced eligibility criteria

Indian-national and OCI/PIO(I) applicants must meet all five official criteria: JEE Main shortlisting (normally the top 2,50,000, with tie provisions), age, attempts, first Class 12 appearance and prior IIT admission. The standard birth-date threshold is 1 October 2001, with five-year SC/ST/PwD relaxation. Normally Class 12 first appearance must be 2025 or 2026, and attempts are limited to two consecutive years. The official page specifies a limited 2024-board-result exception and prior-IIT-admission exceptions; check them directly.

Eligibility must be checked in layers: examination eligibility, programme eligibility, category or reservation eligibility, and counselling eligibility. Passing the entrance test does not repair a missing qualifying subject or certificate. A candidate awaiting a result may be allowed to participate provisionally, but admission normally remains conditional on producing the required evidence by the prescribed date.

Compare the application with the Class 10 certificate, qualifying-examination records and identity document. Names, initials, date of birth and category information should be consistent. If there is a genuine difference, obtain lawful correction or written guidance; never edit an official certificate. Candidates claiming a reserved category, disability benefit or residence condition should use the exact format and validity period required in the current notice.