Eligibility Criteria - Link for Eligibility Criteria for Appear

Key Highlights

• Organizing Institute: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee)
• Target Examination: Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) 2026
• Applicability: Indian Nationals and OCI/PIO Candidates
• Core Rule: Candidates must simultaneously fulfill each of the five criteria (A1 to A5) to appear for the exam.

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) has released the complete "Eligibility Criteria - Link for Eligibility Criteria for Appear" details for candidates hoping to take the JEE (Advanced) 2026. This is the definitive set of regulations established by the Joint Admission Board (JAB) for admission to the various academic programs at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

To secure eligibility, candidates must show stellar performance in the B.E./B.Tech. paper of JEE (Main) 2026, adhere to specific birthdate thresholds, satisfy the limited number of attempts, fulfill precise timeline constraints for their Class XII (or equivalent) board exams, and comply with strict regulations regarding previous admissions to any IIT. Aspiring students must understand these terms entirely before proceeding with their preparation.

• Criterion A1 - Performance in JEE (Main) 2026:
  • Candidates must rank among the top 2,50,000 successful candidates in the B.E./B.Tech. paper of JEE (Main) 2026.
  • Category-wise distribution percentages: Open (40.5%), OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), GEN-EWS (10%), and ST (7.5%).
  • Within each of these five categories, a 5% horizontal reservation is allocated for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
  • Exact Category-Wise Seat Matrix (Top 2,50,000 Candidates):
    1. OPEN: 96,187
    2. OPEN-PwD: 5,063
    3. GEN-EWS: 23,750
    4. GEN-EWS-PwD: 1,250
    5. OBC-NCL: 64,125
    6. OBC-NCL-PwD: 3,375
    7. SC: 35,625
    8. SC-PwD: 1,875
    9. ST: 17,812
    10. ST-PwD: 938
  • Note: The total number of candidates chosen may slightly exceed 2,50,000 due to tied ranks/scores.
  • OCI/PIO (I) Candidates: Not eligible for reservation categories (GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST) and must qualify solely under the OPEN (Sl No. 1 and/or 2) category.
• Criterion A2 - Age Limit:
  • General and OBC candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001.
  • SC, ST, and PwD candidates receive a 5-year age relaxation, meaning they must be born on or after October 1, 1996.
• Criterion A3 - Number of Attempts:
  • A candidate can attempt JEE (Advanced) a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
• Criterion A4 - Appearance in Class XII (or equivalent):
  • Candidates must have appeared for their Class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2025 or 2026 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as compulsory subjects.
  • Candidates who appeared in Class XII in 2024 or earlier are NOT eligible to apply, regardless of subject combinations or results.
  • Special Exception: If a board declared the results of the 2023-24 academic year on or after June 18, 2024, candidates from that board who appeared in 2024 are eligible to sit for JEE (Advanced) 2026, provided they meet all other criteria. Candidates with withheld results declared before this date remain ineligible.
• Criterion A5 - Earlier Admission at IITs:
  • Candidates must NOT have been admitted to any academic program listed under the JoSAA Business Rules of 2025 at any IIT, regardless of whether they continued or withdrew.
  • Candidates whose admission was cancelled after joining an IIT are also ineligible.
  • Exceptions: Candidates admitted to an IIT preparatory course for the first time in 2025 are eligible. Candidates who were allocated a seat in JoSAA 2025 but (i) did not report online, (ii) withdrew before the last round, or (iii) had their seat cancelled before the last round are eligible.

1. Check Your JEE Main 2026 Rank: Ensure that your scorecard places you in the "top 2,50,000" candidates list based on the cutoffs declared for your specific category.
2. Review Age Cutoff Criteria: Verify that your birth date falls on or after October 1, 2001 (or October 1, 1996, for relaxed categories).
3. Validate Your Class 12 Year of Appearance: Confirm your first attempt at the Class XII or equivalent examination was in 2025 or 2026, unless you satisfy the specific "June 18, 2024" board declaration exception.
4. Confirm Your IIT Admission History: Ensure that you have not previously been admitted to, or accepted and kept a seat at, an IIT during any previous JoSAA counselling cycles.
5. Learn How to Apply for Eligibility Criteria - Link for Eligibility Criteria for Appear: Navigate to the official JEE Advanced 2026 online portal hosted by IIT Roorkee and access the registration link.
6. Register and Upload Documents: Fill in the JEE Main roll number, personal credentials, and upload scanned copies of mandatory documents (category certificates, PwD certificates, board marksheets) before submitting the application fee.