JEE Main 2027
Joint Entrance Examination (Main)
JEE Main is the national engineering and architecture entrance conducted by NTA twice a year. Its rank decides admission to NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes through JoSAA/CSAB, and its top scorers qualify for JEE Advanced.
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Mode
- Computer Based Test (CBT); the Drawing Test of Paper 2A is on paper
- Frequency
- Twice a year (Session 1 in January, Session 2 in April); the better NTA score counts
- Duration
- 3 hours (3 hours 30 minutes if both B.Arch and B.Planning are taken)
JEE Main 2027 Eligibility
Updated on 18 October 2026 · Compiled from official National Testing Agency notices
These rules are from the 2026 Information Bulletin. NTA publishes the binding 2027 criteria with the new bulletin, and admission eligibility is separate from the right to sit the exam.
Who can appear
- Age: there is no age limit for appearing in JEE Main. Individual institutes may apply their own age criteria for admission.
- Year of passing: in 2026 the bulletin allowed candidates who passed Class XII or equivalent in 2024 or 2025, or were appearing in 2026. Those who passed in 2023 or earlier were not eligible. By the same pattern, 2027 should cover those who passed in 2025 or 2026 or appear in 2027, but the 2027 bulletin must confirm this.
- Attempts: because only three passing years are eligible, a candidate effectively gets three consecutive years. Appearing in both sessions in the same year does not use up an extra year.
- Minimum marks: none to sit the exam. The marks condition applies only at admission.
Recognised qualifying examinations
- Final Class 12 examination of a recognised Central or State Board such as CBSE or CISCE.
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination of a recognised board or university.
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy.
- NIOS Senior Secondary examination with at least five subjects, and the Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education, Sikkim.
- Public school, board or university examinations in India or abroad recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as equivalent to 10+2, with an AIU certificate where required.
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
- A diploma recognised by AICTE or a state board of technical education, of at least three years.
- GCE A-level, Cambridge High School Certificate or International Baccalaureate Diploma.
- If Class XII is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one earlier public (Board or Pre-University) examination.
Subject requirements for admission
For NIT+ institutions the bulletin lists these subject combinations in the qualifying examination.
| Programme | Qualifying subjects |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 rank (B.E./B.Tech) | Physics, Mathematics, a language, one of Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / Technical Vocational subject, and any other subject |
| Paper 2A rank (B.Arch) | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and two other subjects (NIT+ system) |
| Paper 2B rank (B.Planning) | Mathematics and four other subjects; at least 50% in Mathematics and 50% aggregate for B.Planning |
For B.Arch the bulletin also quotes the Council of Architecture rule: 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics plus Chemistry, Biology, a technical vocational subject, Computer Science, IT, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics or Business Studies, with at least 45% aggregate; or a 10+3 diploma with Mathematics and 45%.
Category, reservation and nationality
- Reservation for NIT+ institutions: Gen-EWS 10%, OBC-NCL 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, and 5% horizontal reservation for persons with benchmark disability in each category.
- OBC-NCL benefit applies only to castes in the central list; creamy layer candidates are treated as General.
- State government institutions follow their own state reservation policy.
- The state code of eligibility is the state where you passed Class XII for the first time, not your home state. NIOS candidates use the state of the study centre.
- OCI candidates who passed Class XII in India are treated at par with Indian nationals; those who passed abroad are eligible for All India quota seats but not Home State quota seats.
- PwD/PwBD candidates who qualify for a scribe get compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour.
Special cases: gap year, improvement, diploma
- Gap year or dropper: eligible if the Class XII passing year falls inside the allowed window.
- Improvement: the passing year is the year you first passed. If you passed Class XII in 2023 with a Biology stream and later passed Mathematics in 2024, 2023 counts as the passing year.
- Diploma holders: a three-year AICTE or state board diploma is a listed qualifying examination.
- NIOS students: eligible with a minimum of five subjects.
The 75% rule for NIT+ admission
To get a seat in NITs, IIEST, IIITs and other GFTIs through JoSAA/CSAB, the 2026 bulletin (quoting CSAB recommendations) requires a pass in Class XII or equivalent with at least five subjects and either of the following.
- At least 75% aggregate in those five subjects (65% for SC, ST and PwD candidates), OR
- A position within the category-wise top 20 percentile of successful candidates in your own Class XII board examination.
Exam versus admission
The 75% rule does not stop you from registering or appearing. It is checked during seat allocation, and JoSAA/CSAB may modify the criteria; read the JoSAA Business Rules and CSAB brochure each year.
More JEE Main eligibility guides
- JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualifying Exam, AttemptsJEE Main 2027 eligibility explained — no age limit, who can appear based on Class 12 passing year, number of attempts allowed, subject requirements, and minimum marks...Read guide
- 75 Percentile JEE Main 2026 = What Rank?75 percentile in JEE Main 2026 roughly corresponds to CRL rank 3,50,000–3,95,000 and marks around 65–75/300. See college options, category-wise notes and the full...Read guide
- JEE Main 75% Rule: 2026 Cycle Nuances, 2027 ChecklistThe 75% board marks or top 20 percentile rule as it stood in the 2026 cycle (NIT+ via JoSAA/CSAB), plus what to verify for JEE Main 2027 in the new bulletin.Read guide
- Does JEE Main Require 75% in Class 12?JEE Main has no 75% requirement to appear, but JoSAA admission to IITs and NITs usually needs 75% in Class 12 or top 20 percentile.Read guide
- JEE Main and JEE Advanced Attempts Limit for 2027JEE Main's 3-year window and JEE Advanced's 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years, with 2027 scenarios by Class 12 year. Confirm in 2027 documents.Read guide
- JEE Main 2027 Attempts Allowed: Years and SessionsJEE Main 2027 attempts: three consecutive years from your Class 12 passing year, two sessions each. Based on the 2026 rule; confirm in the 2027 bulletin.Read guide
- JEE Main 2027 Age Limit: Rule, Myths and EligibilityIs there an age limit for JEE Main 2027? NTA set none in 2026; passing year decides eligibility. Expected to continue; confirm in the 2027 bulletin.Read guide
- Diploma Holders and JEE Main 2027 EligibilityCan diploma holders appear for JEE Main 2027? The 2026 bulletin accepted 3-year AICTE or state-board diplomas. Limits and lateral entry explained.Read guide
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for JEE Main?
No. The 2026 bulletin states there is no age limit, though institutes may set their own age rules for admission.
How many times can I attempt JEE Main?
NTA does not state a numeric limit but allows only three Class XII passing years, so you effectively get three consecutive years. Both sessions in one year count as one year.
Can I write JEE Main with less than 75% in Class 12?
Yes. The 75% condition applies to NIT+ admission, not to the exam.