JEE Advanced 2026: IIT Roorkee Issues Eligibility Criteria
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, has officially announced the eligibility criteria for candidates aspiring to take the Joint Entrance Examination, Advanced (JEE Advanced) 2026. This prestigious examination is a gateway for students seeking admission to various undergraduate programs at IITs across India.
Examination Schedule
JEE Advanced 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on May 17, 2026. The examination will consist of two papers:
- Paper 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Paper 2: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
The exam will be conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format over a total duration of six hours. IIT Roorkee will soon release the list of examination centres and a detailed schedule for candidates.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2026 are as follows:
1. Performance in JEE Main 2026
Candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 successful candidates in the BE/BTech paper of JEE Main 2026. The distribution of candidates based on category is as follows:
| Sl No. | Category | Number of “Top” Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OPEN | 96,187 – 1,01,250 |
| 2 | OPEN-PwD | 5,063 |
| 3 | GEN-EWS | 23,750 – 25,000 |
| 4 | GEN-EWS-PwD | 1,250 |
| 5 | OBC-NCL | 64,125 – 67,500 |
| 6 | OBC-NCL-PwD | 3,375 |
| 7 | SC | 35,625 – 37,500 |
| 8 | SC-PwD | 1,875 |
| 9 | ST | 17,812 – 18,750 |
| 10 | ST-PwD | 938 |
Note that the total number of candidates may exceed 2,50,000 due to tied ranks or scores in any category. Additionally, OCI/PIO (I) candidates are not eligible for any reservation benefits, except for OPEN-PwD.
2. Age Limit
Candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2001. There is a five-year age relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, allowing those candidates to be born on or after October 1, 1996.
3. Number of Attempts
A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
4. Appearance in Class 12 (or Equivalent) Examination
Candidates must have appeared for the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2025 or 2026, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Candidates who appeared in Class 12 (or equivalent) for the first time in 2024 or earlier are not eligible, regardless of the subjects attempted.
It is important to note that if the examination board declared results for the academic year 2023-24 after June 18, 2024, candidates from that board who appeared in 2024 will be eligible, provided they meet all other criteria.
5. Earlier Admission at IITs
Candidates should not have been admitted to any IIT under any academic program listed in the JoSAA Business Rules of 2025. This includes candidates who accepted an IIT seat, regardless of whether they continued in the program. Candidates whose admission was canceled after joining any IIT are also ineligible.
However, candidates who were admitted to a preparatory course in any IIT for the first time in 2025 can appear for JEE Advanced 2026. Additionally, candidates who were allocated a seat in an IIT through JoSAA 2025 but did not report, withdrew, or had their seat canceled before the last round of seat allotment are eligible, provided they meet the other conditions.
Conclusion
Eligible candidates can stay updated on important dates and further details by visiting the official JEE Advanced website at jeeadv.ac.in.
Note: It is crucial for candidates to carefully review all eligibility criteria and ensure they meet the requirements before applying for JEE Advanced 2026.
