In a major update for engineering aspirants across the country, IIT Roorkee, the organising institute for JEE Advanced 2026, has officially announced five key eligibility criteria that students must fulfill to secure admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
The announcement aims to bring clarity and uniformity to the admission process for the upcoming academic session.

1. Performance in JEE Main 2026

Only candidates who rank among the top 2.5 lakh performers in JEE Main 2026 across all categories will be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.
The distribution includes:

• GEN-EWS: 4%

• OBC-NCL: 27%

• SC: 15%

• ST: 7.5%

• PwD: 5% horizontal reservation

This ensures a fair representation while maintaining merit as the primary criterion.

2. Age Limit Requirement

Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001.
For reserved categories (SC, ST, PwD), a relaxation of 5 years applies, extending the age limit accordingly.

3. Number of Attempts Allowed

A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
This means only those who appeared for the exam in 2025 or are appearing for the first time in 2026 are eligible.

4. Class 12 (10+2) Qualification Criteria

Candidates must have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in either 2025 or 2026 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Those who passed before 2025 are not eligible.

Additionally:

• Students must meet the minimum performance criteria set by IITs.

• The requirement of a minimum percentage (like 75%) is expected to continue, though IIT Roorkee may release further clarification soon.

5. Earlier Admission Restrictions

Any candidate who:

• has already been admitted to any IIT,

• accepted a seat through JoSAA, even if the admission was later cancelled,

• or paid seat acceptance fees,

will not be eligible to sit for JEE Advanced 2026.

The only exception is candidates whose admission to IIT was cancelled before the first round of seat allotment in 2024, making them eligible again.

Why This Announcement Matters

The eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced form the foundation for lakhs of aspirants planning their preparation strategy.
IIT Roorkee’s early announcement ensures students:

• Understand their qualification status clearly

• Avoid confusion regarding attempts and age limits

• Plan Class 12 board and JEE Main performance accordingly

Experts suggest that early clarity will help coaching institutes and students streamline their preparation roadmaps.

What’s Next?

IIT Roorkee is soon expected to release:

• Complete JEE Advanced 2026 information brochure

• Syllabus updates, exam pattern, registration dates

• Guidelines for PwD and foreign candidates

Students are advised to follow official JEE Advanced and IIT Roorkee portals for verified updates.