JEE Advanced 2026: IIT Roorkee Releases Key Eligibility Requirements
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has officially announced the eligibility criteria for candidates wishing to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination, Advanced (JEE Advanced) 2026. This prestigious examination is a crucial step for students aiming to gain admission into various Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) programs across Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Exam Date Confirmation
The JEE Advanced 2026 examination is scheduled to take place on May 17, 2026. The test will be conducted in a computer-based format at various centers throughout India.
Eligibility Criteria Overview
Candidates must meet all five eligibility criteria set forth by IIT Roorkee to qualify for the JEE Advanced 2026 examination. Below are the detailed requirements:
Criterion A1: Performance in JEE Main 2026
To qualify for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must rank among the top 250,000 successful aspirants in the B.E./B.Tech paper of JEE Main 2026. The distribution of candidates across categories is as follows:
- General – Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS): 10% (23,750 candidates)
- Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL): 27% (64,125 candidates)
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15% (35,625 candidates)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5% (17,812 candidates)
- Open Category: 40.5% (96,187 candidates)
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): A 5% horizontal reservation within each group
Note: The total number of candidates may slightly exceed 250,000 due to tied ranks or scores.
Criterion A2: Age Limit
Eligible candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2001. There is a relaxation of five years for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories, who must have been born on or after October 1, 1996.
Criterion A3: Number of Attempts
Candidates are permitted to appear for JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
Criterion A4: Appearance in Class XII Examination
Candidates must have appeared for their Class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in 2025 or 2026, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Candidates who appeared for the first time in 2024 or earlier are not eligible, regardless of their subject combination.
Important Note: If a Class XII board declared results for the academic year 2023–24 on or after June 18, 2024, candidates who appeared in 2024 are also eligible. However, if the board declared results before this date, and an individual candidate’s result was withheld, that candidate is not eligible.
Criterion A5: Earlier Admission to IITs
Candidates are not eligible if they:
- Have already been admitted to any Indian Institute of Technology under any academic program listed in the JoSAA Business Rules 2025.
- Accepted an IIT seat by reporting online or at a physical reporting center in the past.
- Had their admission canceled after joining an IIT.
Exceptions: Candidates who were admitted to a preparatory course in 2025 may appear for JEE Advanced 2026. Candidates who were allocated an IIT seat in JoSAA 2025 but did not report online or at a reporting center, withdrew before the final round, or had their seat canceled before the final round are still eligible, provided they also meet Criteria A1 to A4.
Important Dates for JEE Main 2026
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed the schedule for JEE Main 2026:
- Session 1: January 21 to January 30, 2026
- Session 2: April 1 to April 10, 2026
With two sessions of JEE Main, candidates have the opportunity to improve their scores before competing for a place in the top 250,000 list required for JEE Advanced.
Conclusion
The eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2026 set by IIT Roorkee are designed to ensure that only qualified candidates are allowed to compete for admission into prestigious engineering programs. It is essential for candidates to carefully review and understand these requirements to ensure their eligibility.
Note: Candidates are encouraged to stay updated with any further announcements from IIT Roorkee regarding JEE Advanced 2026.
