Your Guide to the Official JEE Mains Eligibility Criteria

Planning to appear for JEE Mains? Before you register, it’s crucial to understand whether you meet the official JEE Mains eligibility criteria. While lakhs of students prepare for the exam every year, a surprising number are unaware of some of the most basic eligibility rules leading to form rejection or disqualification during counseling.

In this guide, we break down everything you need to know: academic qualifications, subject combinations, number of attempts, reservation rules, age limits, and common mistakes to avoid.

Let’s help you avoid surprises and get 100% clarity before your attempt.

What Is JEE Mains?

JEE Mains is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is India’s national-level entrance exam for undergraduate engineering programs. Your JEE Mains score is used for admission into:

• NITs (National Institutes of Technology)
• IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology)
• CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutions)
• GFTIs (Government Funded Technical Institutions)
• Various top-tier private universities
• And, qualifying for JEE Advanced, which is required for admission into IITs

Now that the exam's importance is clear, let’s understand who can appear and under what conditions.

Academic Qualification

Minimum Requirement

To be eligible for JEE Mains, you must have:

• Passed Class 12 or equivalent with:
• Physics
• Mathematics
• One of: Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or Technical Vocational Subject

The board must be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Year of Passing

You’re eligible if you:

• Passed Class 12 in 2023 or 2024, or
• Are appearing in 2025

Anyone who passed before 2023 is not eligible, regardless of marks.

Subject Requirements in Class 12

Many students overlook the exact subject combination needed. Here’s what you must have taken in Class 12:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• One elective: Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / Technical Subject
• Language (usually English or Hindi)
• One additional subject

So, a total of five subjects is mandatory. If you took only four subjects, your application may be rejected.

This combination ensures you meet the requirements for both JEE Mains and college admission post-exam.

Number of Attempts

JEE Mains allows:

• 3 consecutive years of eligibility after Class 12
• 2 sessions per year (typically in January and April)

That totals 6 attempts maximum.

Example:

If you passed Class 12 in 2024, you can appear in:

• 2024 (2 sessions)
• 2025 (2 sessions)
• 2026 (2 sessions)

You may appear in either one or both sessions per year. Your best score from both sessions is considered for merit.

Age Limit

JEE Mains Age Criteria (2025)

There is no upper age limit for JEE Mains.

As long as you meet the academic and year-of-passing criteria, your age doesn’t disqualify you from taking the exam.

This rule benefits droppers, working students, or anyone returning to academics after a break.

However, age limits do apply if you're planning to appear for JEE Advanced (IITs). So check those separately.

Minimum Percentage Criteria

Here’s where it gets tricky—because many confuse JEE eligibility with college admission criteria.

• There is no minimum percentage required to appear for JEE Mains.
• But to gain admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, you must have:
• 75% aggregate marks in Class 12 (for General/OBC/EWS)
• 65% for SC/ST/PwD

So you can write JEE Mains with any Class 12 score—but getting into college depends on your percentage.

Reservation and Category-Based Rules

Central Reservation System (Applicable During Admissions)

As per Government of India norms, seats are reserved as follows:

• OBC-NCL: 27%
• SC: 15%
• ST: 7.5%
• EWS: 10%
• PwD: 5% (within each category)

To claim reservation:

• You must upload valid, recent certificates (PDF format)
• For OBC, it must be the Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued within the last year
• PwD students must have at least 40% disability

These rules do not affect eligibility to write the exam—but they are vital during counseling and seat allocation.

State of Eligibility

Your state of eligibility is defined by the location of your Class 12 school board, not your current residence or place of birth.

Why It Matters:

• Home State Quotas in NITs are decided based on this
• If you studied abroad, your eligibility is determined by your Indian nationality and passport

Changing this after applying is not possible, so double-check before form submission.

JEE Mains Eligibility for Droppers

Yes, droppers are fully eligible for JEE Mains—provided they are within the 3-year window of passing Class 12.

Key Notes for Droppers:

• All 6 attempts are still available unless you've already used some
• You still need to meet subject, document, and percentage requirements
• Age is not a barrier
• Many successful candidates, including toppers, are droppers

Taking a drop year is normal, but it only helps if you're using that time with a structured study plan.

Eligibility for Foreign and NIOS Candidates

• NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) students are eligible
• Foreign nationals who’ve completed Class 12 in India can also apply
• If you studied outside India, your Class 12 board must be recognized by AIU (Association of Indian Universities)

In both cases, valid documentation is essential—preferably approved by a notary or embassy in the case of foreign schooling.

Documents Required During Application

When applying for JEE Mains, you’ll need to upload:

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signature scan
• Class 10 certificate (for DOB verification)
• Category certificate (if applicable)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)

Make sure all files are in correct dimensions and size (as per NTA guidelines), or your form may be rejected.

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Wrong Subject Combination

Taking PCM without a third elective like Chemistry or Biology can disqualify your application.

2. Old or Invalid Certificates

OBC-NCL or EWS certificates must be from the current financial year. Using older documents is a common reason for disqualification during counseling.

3. Incorrect Year of Passing

If you mistakenly select the wrong year (e.g., 2022 instead of 2023), your application could be invalid.

4. Assuming Percentage Isn’t Needed

Yes, it’s not required for JEE Mains—but it is crucial for college admission. Don’t ignore your board marks.

5. Waiting Too Late to Apply

Centers, exam cities, and preferred shifts fill up fast. Apply as early as possible to avoid travel and slot issues.

Final Checklist Before You Apply

Before hitting "Submit", make sure:

• ✅ You passed Class 12 in 2023, 2024, or are appearing in 2025
• ✅ You studied PCM + one additional subject (total 5 subjects)
• ✅ Your documents are scanned, clear, and updated
• ✅ You haven’t exhausted your 6 attempts
• ✅ Your category details and certificates are current and valid
• ✅ You meet the college admission mark requirements

Missing even one of these can ruin your application—and delay your dream college.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the JEE Mains eligibility criteria isn’t just about filling out a form—it’s about safeguarding your entire college admission process. Missteps in eligibility are harder to fix later, and they can cost you an entire year.

The rules are simple if you follow them closely:

• Stick to the 3-year window
• Ensure correct subjects and number of papers
• Prepare your documents ahead of time
• Take all attempts seriously
• Don’t rely on luck—rely on understanding the system

Now that you're clear on eligibility, your focus can shift to what really matters: preparation, consistency, and performance.

You’ve cleared Step 1. Now let’s get to work on Step 2.