JoSAA 2026 Preparatory Course – IIT Prep Course for SC/ST/PwD

What Is the IIT Preparatory Course?

The IIT Preparatory Course (also called the Prep Course) is a one-year residential programme conducted at seven IITs for candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories. It was established by the IIT Joint Admission Board (JAB) to provide a bridge for students who came very close to qualifying for IIT admission but fell just short of the minimum marks threshold.

The philosophy behind this programme is recognition that talented SC/ST/PwD candidates may have faced systemic disadvantages in their preparation. The one-year course brings them up to IIT academic standards, after which they write JEE Advanced again the following year with a guaranteed admission pathway if they qualify.

Eligibility Criteria for the 2026 Preparatory Course

Eligibility for the IIT Preparatory Course is determined by the Joint Admission Board (JAB) each year based on JEE Advanced performance. Here are the key criteria:

• Category: You must belong to SC, ST, or PwD category. OBC-NCL and EWS candidates are not eligible for the preparatory course.
• JEE Advanced Appearance: You must have appeared in JEE Advanced 2026. This automatically means you qualified JEE Main 2026 in the top 2.5 lakh.
• Minimum Marks Threshold: You must have scored above the minimum preparatory marks in JEE Advanced 2026 (announced by JAB after results). These marks are lower than the regular admission threshold but show you are academically close.
• No Previous Preparatory Course: Candidates who have previously attended the preparatory course at any IIT are not eligible again.
• Age Criteria: Born on or after October 1, 2001 (October 1, 1996 for PwD). This is the same as regular JEE Advanced eligibility.
• Attempts: JEE Advanced can be attempted a maximum of 2 times. If this was your first attempt, the preparatory course + next year JEE Advanced is your second attempt. Plan accordingly.

IITs Offering the Preparatory Course & Seat Distribution

Seven IITs host the Preparatory Course. The seat distribution is as follows (approximate based on recent years):

* Exact seats are announced by JAB after JEE Advanced results. Total preparatory seats across all IITs: approximately 150–200.

The Preparatory Course Pathway: How It Works

1. 1

   JEE Advanced 2026:

   You appear and qualify the exam but score below the minimum marks for regular IIT admission. You score above the minimum preparatory threshold set by JAB.

2. 2

   JoSAA Choice Filling:

   Add 'Preparatory Course' at your preferred IITs as choices in JoSAA. You can rank multiple IITs' preparatory courses based on your location preference.

3. 3

   Allotment & Acceptance:

   If allotted a preparatory course seat, pay the seat acceptance fee (Rs.15,000 for SC/ST/PwD). Report to the respective IIT campus at the start of the academic year.

4. 4

   One Year On Campus:

   Attend the preparatory course at the IIT campus. You receive Rs.5,000/month stipend, free hostel accommodation, and access to IIT library and facilities. Focus entirely on strengthening Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

5. 5

   JEE Advanced 2027:

   Appear for JEE Advanced 2027 (your second and final attempt if 2026 was your first). The qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced is waived — you are guaranteed to write the exam as a preparatory course student.

6. 6

   IIT B.Tech Admission:

   If you qualify JEE Advanced 2027 with a sufficient rank, you get direct admission to an IIT B.Tech programme through JoSAA 2027 under SC/ST/PwD reservation.