IIT Kanpur has released the eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2025. To appear for the exam, students must fulfill the specific conditions set by the conducting IIT. Failing to meet these criteria will lead to disqualification from the examination. Therefore, candidates are strongly advised to carefully review the eligibility requirements and thoroughly verify all details in the application form before submission to avoid any future issues.
Who is Eligible for JEE Advanced 2026?
To be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must satisfy specific conditions regarding their performance in JEE Main 2026 , You must have appeared for your Class 12th (or equivalent) examination for the first time in 2025 or 2026 .You must have studied Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.
Minimum Qualification Required for JEE Advanced
To appear for JEE Advanced, candidates must first qualify the JEE Main examination and rank among the top 2.5 lakh candidates (including all categories) based on their performance in Paper 1 of JEE Main. Additionally, candidates should have passed their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination in either the current year (2026) or the previous year (2025) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. It is also essential that the candidates have not been admitted to an IIT earlier or accepted an IIT seat through JoSAA, even if they later withdrew. Meeting these academic and examination-based criteria is the minimum qualification required to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
| Number of Top JEE Main 2025 Candidates Eligible for JEE Advanced | |||
| S. No. | Category | Number of “Top” Candidates | Total per Category |
| 1 | OPEN | 96,187 | 1,01,250 |
| 2 | OPEN-PwD | 5,063 | |
| 3 | GEN-EWS | 23,750 | 25,000 |
| 4 | GEN-EWS-PwD | 1,250 | |
| 5 | OBC-NCL | 64,125 | 67,500 |
| 6 | OBC-NCL-PwD | 3,375 | |
| 7 | SC | 35,625 | 37,500 |
| 8 | SC-PwD | 1,875 | |
| 9 | ST | 17,812 | 18,750 |
| 10 | ST-PwD | 938 | |
- OPEN: 1,01,250 candidates (including 5,063 PwD)
- GEN-EWS: 25,000 candidates (including 1,250 PwD)
- OBC-NCL: 67,500 candidates (including 3,375 PwD)
- SC: 37,500 candidates (including 1,875 PwD)
- ST: 18,750 candidates (including 938 PwD)
- Total Top Candidates Eligible: 2.5 lakh across all categories, including horizontal PwD reservations.
JEE Advanced Eligibility for Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals are also eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2026, but their eligibility criteria differ from those of Indian candidates. Here are the specific requirements for foreign candidates:
- Academic Qualification: Foreign nationals must have completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. The qualifying exam should be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
- Age Limit: Candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2001. A relaxation of 5 years is provided for candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwD), making the cut-off date October 1, 1996 for such candidates.
- Number of Attempts: A foreign national can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years, just like Indian candidates.
- JEE Main Not Required: Foreign nationals are not required to appear for JEE Main. They can apply directly for JEE Advanced and are considered under the 15% supernumerary seats in IITs.
- Documents Required: At the time of registration, foreign candidates must upload valid identification proof, academic certificates, and a recent passport-size photograph.
Category-Wise Relaxation in JEE Advanced Eligibility (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)
To promote equal opportunities, JEE Advanced offers various relaxations in eligibility criteria for reserved categories:
- SC/ST Candidates: Get a 5-year age relaxation (must be born on or after October 1, 2001), lower qualifying marks in Class 12, and are included in separate merit lists with reduced cutoffs.
- OBC-NCL Candidates: Receive a 5-year age relaxation, similar to SC/ST, along with relaxed cutoffs in qualifying exams and JEE Advanced rank list.
- GEN-EWS Candidates: Benefit from a 10% reservation in seat allocation, with slightly relaxed cutoffs compared to the General category.
All these categories are part of the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers eligible for JEE Advanced, with horizontal reservation also applicable for PwD candidates within each group
JEE Advanced Eligibility for PwD Candidates
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) are given horizontal reservations within their respective categories, including OPEN, OBC, SC, ST, and GEN-EWS. PwD candidates also get relaxation in the age limit. All other eligibility criteria remain the same.
Documents Required to Prove JEE Advanced Eligibility
Candidates must upload and present the following documents to confirm their eligibility for JEE Advanced:
- Class 10 certificate (for date of birth verification)
- Class 12 mark sheet or certificate (for qualifying exam proof)
- JEE Main 2026 scorecard
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued by a competent authority
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Scribe request letter (for PwD candidates needing a scribe)
- Nationality proof (for foreign nationals – passport or equivalent)
Changes in JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria in 2026
- No 75% marks or Top 20 Percentile rule in Class 12.
- Foreign nationals can apply directly without JEE Main.
- Preparatory course candidates (2025) are eligible.
- Max 2 attempts rule continues.
- 5-year age relaxation for SC/ST/PwD remains unchanged.
These updates aim to make the exam more accessible and inclusive for all aspirants
JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
No—no board percentage criteria is applicable since 2023. That criterion has been scrapped.
Yes, foreign nationals/OCI/PIOs can register directly without qualifying JEE Main. They must follow age/educational norms and have dedicated seats (10%)
A candidate may appear twice in two consecutive years (e.g., 2025 & 2026) .
Yes—5 years relaxation for SC/ST/PwD. That makes the cutoff October 1, 1996 for these categories.
Candidates must be top 250,000 in JEE Main 2026, born on/after October 1, 2001 (1996 for SC/ST/PwD), have first taken Class 12 in 2025/2026, and have not been admitted to IIT before.
