JoSAA 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Understand exactly who qualifies for IIT, NIT, IIIT & GFTI seats — including the 75% board marks rule and category relaxations.

Who Is Eligible for JoSAA 2026?

JoSAA 2026 serves two distinct groups of candidates. The first group is JEE Advanced 2026 qualified candidates (56,880 students in 2026), who are eligible for seats at all 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 54 GFTIs. The second group consists of JEE Main 2026 qualified candidates who did not appear or qualify JEE Advanced — they can only participate for NIT, IIIT, and GFTI seats.

Beyond the rank requirement, all candidates must satisfy the academic eligibility criteria: they must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, and must meet the minimum marks threshold in their board examination.

Eligibility Summary by Institute Type

IITs (23 institutes)

JEE Advanced 2026 valid rank + 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD)

NITs (31 institutes)

JEE Main 2026 valid rank + 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD)

IIITs (26 institutes)

JEE Main 2026 valid rank + 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD)

GFTIs (54 institutes)

JEE Main 2026 valid rank + 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD)

The 75% Class 12 Marks Rule — Explained

The 75% aggregate marks criterion applies to the five main subjects in Class 12 (PCM + English + one optional subject). The rule was re-introduced after being waived during COVID years and is fully applicable for JoSAA 2026 admissions.

Category-wise Minimum Marks in Class 12

General / OBC-NCL / EWS

75% aggregate

SC / ST / PwD

65% aggregate

Alternatively, candidates in the top 20 percentile of their respective board also qualify, even if their aggregate is slightly below 75%. This provides relief for students from boards where scoring 75% is more difficult.

Important: A candidate who gets a JoSAA seat allotment but fails to meet the 75% criterion at the time of original document verification will lose their allotted seat. Do not assume you are eligible — verify your board percentage before registering.

Year of Passing & Attempt Limit

Candidates must have passed (or appeared in) Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or 2026. Students who passed in 2023 or earlier are not eligible for JoSAA 2026 admissions (except for IIT admissions where only 2024 and 2025 passouts were previously eligible — confirm the 2026 brochure).

For JEE Advanced, there is a limit of 2 attempts in consecutive years. Candidates who attempted JEE Advanced in both 2025 and 2026 have exhausted their attempts and cannot sit again. For JEE Main, NTA allows 2 sessions per year; the best score is used for ranking.

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JoSAA 2026 Eligibility – FAQs

Common questions about eligibility for JoSAA 2026 counselling

Is 75% in Class 12 mandatory for JoSAA 2026 admission?

Yes. For IIT seats, you need at least 75% aggregate in Class 12 (or top 20 percentile in your board, whichever is lower). For NIT/IIIT/GFTI seats under JoSAA, the same 75% rule applies (65% for SC/ST/PwD). However, NTA may grant relaxation — always check the official JoSAA Information Brochure for the current year's rule.

Can a student who appeared in JEE Main 2026 but not JEE Advanced 2026 register for JoSAA?

Yes. JEE Main 2026 qualified candidates can register for JoSAA 2026 and compete for seats in 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 54 GFTIs. They are NOT eligible for IIT seats. Only candidates who cleared JEE Advanced 2026 can be allotted IIT seats.

What is the age limit for JoSAA 2026?

For IITs, candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2001 (General/OBC/EWS). SC/ST/PwD candidates get a 5-year relaxation (born on or after October 1, 1996). NITs and GFTIs generally follow the same age criterion but check institute-specific rules. Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025 are eligible (2026 passouts also eligible).

How many attempts of JEE Advanced are counted toward JoSAA eligibility?

A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of 2 times in consecutive years. JoSAA 2026 eligibility requires a valid JEE Advanced 2026 rank (for IITs) or JEE Main 2026 rank (for NITs/IIITs/GFTIs). There is no restriction on IIT admission based on number of JEE attempts.

Are diploma holders eligible for JoSAA 2026?

No. JoSAA 2026 is only for candidates who have cleared Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and who have a valid JEE Main 2026 or JEE Advanced 2026 rank. Diploma holders must apply through DASA (for NRIs) or lateral entry programs which are separate from JoSAA.

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Disclaimer

Dates and information are based on official announcements and previous year patterns. Always verify on official portals: jeeadv.ac.in, josaa.nic.in, jeemain.nta.nic.in.