JEE Main 2026 for engineering-The application form will open this year for the exam that will be conducted in January 2026 for the first session. The exam is organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in two sessions: January 2026 (Session 1) and April 2026 (Session 2). The official notification, including exact exam dates, eligibility criteria, application details, syllabus updates, and exam pattern, will be released on the official website (jeemain.nta.nic.in) around November 2025.
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Do you know about the 75th percentile criteria for Engineering admission? We have given the details of this 75 percent criteria in the following paragraph, check below.
Key Details for JEE Main 2026 Application
Exam Schedule
- Session 1: January 2026
- Session 2: April 2026
- The notification will be released, and generally, the application form for the first session opens in November 2025.
- Application Process
- Online application for Session 1 is expected to start in November 2025
- For Session 2, registration will open in February 2026.
- Registration is online only via the official portal. Required steps: register, fill out the form, upload documents, and pay the fee online.
JEE Main 2026 Application: Eligibility Criteria
- Must have passed or appeared in Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board by 2026.
- Core subjects needed: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
Exam Pattern
- Paper 1 (BE/BTech): 75 questions—25 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (MCQs and numerical value-based).
- Paper 2A (BArch): Mathematics, Drawing, and General Aptitude.
- Paper 2B (BPlan): Mathematics, General Aptitude, Planning.
- Each correct answer: +4 marks; each wrong answer: -1 mark.
- Exam Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT).
- Duration: 3 hours.
JEE Main 2026 Application: Syllabus
- Based on NCERT Class 11 and 12 topics in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- The latest syllabus and changes will be provided with the November 2025 notification. Some topics were recently removed from Physics, and Section B of Paper 2 has fewer optional questions. The list of exam centres was also reduced.
Admit Card & Results
- Admit cards: Released ~3 days before each session.
- Results: Session 1 results announced in February 2026, Session 2 in April 2026. For those appearing in both sessions, the better score is counted.
Preparation
- Practice with mock tests and previous years’ papers is recommended.
- Regular updates and details will be available on the official NTA JEE Main portal.
Application Tips
- Prepare necessary documents (photo, signature, category certificate, etc.) for upload.
- Review eligibility carefully before applying.
For counselling and admissions to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs, qualifying JEE Main is required; for IITs, candidates must clear JEE Advanced after JEE Main.
Stay updated with the official NTA JEE Main website for all announcements and changes related to JEE Main 2026.
What is the 75% Criterion for Engineering Admission?
The 75 per cent criteria in JEE Main refer to the requirement that, for admission to certain prestigious engineering institutes—specifically, the NITs (National Institutes of Technology), IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology), and GFTIs (Government Funded Technical Institutes)—a candidate must either:
- Score at least 75% marks in their 12th board examination (or 65% for SC/ST candidates) OR
- Be in the top 20 percentile of their respective board examinations.
Important Points
- The 75% criterion is NOT required to appear for the JEE Main exam itself. Anyone who meets the basic educational qualification (passing 12th/equivalent) can write the JEE Main.
- The 75% marks/top 20 percentile rule is only applicable at the time of admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JEE Main. It is not applicable to all engineering colleges in India.
- Private colleges, state government colleges, and some other institutions may have their own eligibility criteria, which often do not require 75% in board exams.
- For admission to IITs through JEE Advanced, the 75% mark or top 20 percentile in board exams is also a requirement, though there have been occasional relaxations and changes in this rule.
- NTA (National Testing Agency) has not removed this criterion for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs as of the latest (2025–2026) updates.
JEE MAIN 2026 Application: Summary Table
| Institute Type | 75%/Top 20 Percentile Criteria | When Applicable |
| NIT/IIIT/GFTI | Yes | At time of admission via JEE Main |
| IIT | Yes (for admission, via JEE Advanced) | At time of admission via JEE Advanced |
| State Govt/Private Engg Colleges | Usually No (check individual college policies) | As per college norms |
If you are targeting NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs, you must ensure you fulfill the 75% marks or top 20 percentile criteria in your board exams. For other colleges, check their specific admission requirements.
What Happens if You Do Not Meet the 75% Criteria?
Not meeting the 75 percent threshold in your Class 12 board exams will significantly affect your chances at the top engineering institutes that participate in national-level counselling for JEE Main and JEE Advanced:
- NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs: You need either 75% marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20 percentile of your respective board to be eligible for admission, regardless of your JEE Main score. If you do not fulfill either of these requirements, you cannot participate in JoSAA or CSAB counselling for these institutes, even if you have a very high rank or percentile in JEE Main.
- IITs: Similar rules apply. To secure admission via JEE Advanced, the 75% or top 20 percentile criterion is necessary.
- Private and Other Colleges: Many private universities and some top autonomous institutes (e.g., IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Bangalore, Amity University, MIT Pune, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute, etc.) have their own eligibility rules. A number of these do not require 75% in boards and may admit you based on your JEE Main rank or other criteria. State-level engineering admissions may also have different requirements, so always check each institution’s admission policy.
JEE Main 2026 Application: Summary Table
| College type | 75%/Top 20 Percentile Required? |
| NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Yes, for admission via JEE Main/JoSAA |
| IITs | Yes, for admission via JEE Advanced |
| Most Private Colleges | No (varies, check specific requirements) |
| State Govt. Colleges | Varies by state; check respective policies |
If you do not meet the 75% threshold and are not in your board’s top 20th percentile, you will not be eligible for admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and IITs, even if you clear the respective exams. However, you can still seek admission in several top private and some autonomous colleges that do not have this criterion.
You should always check admission brochures or official websites for the latest eligibility requirements.
