The JEE Main eligibility criteria have been made available by NTA on their official website, www.nta.ac.in. Candidates aspiring for JEE after 12th exam can review information on the 12th percentage required for JEE Mains, 12th JEE syllabus, nationality, educational background, and more in this post.
Is 75% percent a must to get into JEE Main 2026?
Regardless of their class 12 percentage, candidates are eligible to enroll in JEE Main 2026. Candidates need to know that the 12th percentage required for JEE Mains can range from 45% to 75% for the General category and 40% to 65% required for the SC/ST category, depending on their State.
A minimum score of 75% percentile in the 12th final exam is not mandatory to sit in the JEE 2026 exam. But admission to IITs and NITs requires students to achieve a minimum of 75% to qualify, along with clearing the JEE Main exam. However, candidates with a higher percentage of 98% or 99% will be given priority for admission to the IITs and NITs.
Thousands of candidates with 99 percent competing annually for IITs and NITs makes it impossible for candidates below 90% to be shortlisted. The 75% score requirement for eligibility is only in effect at the time of institute admission. This means the minimum 12th percentage required for JEE Mains varies from college to college.
75% Percent Criteria in JEE Mains requires candidates from the General category to receive a minimum aggregate mark of 75% in the board exam, while candidates from the SC/ST category candidates must receive 65% in the 12thexam to qualify for admission in IITs and NITs based on the JEE 2026 exam.
Candidates who took the Class 12th or equivalent exam in 2023 or 2024 and did not receive a minimum of 75 percentile in JEE Mains qualifying marks are also eligible to sit in the exam but may be dismissed for admission in IITs and NITs even if they do well in the JEE Main Result. However, they can still apply at other engineering colleges where the 12th percentage required for JEE Main is lower than 75%.
There is no minimum age requirement for JEE Main 2026 applicants. However, three consecutive years is the maximum number of tries. Those who are set to appear for the JEE 2026 exam in January 2026 but later fail to satisfy the 75% percent criteria in JEE Mains qualifying marks in the final board exam of March 2025 will be deemed ineligible for admission in IITs and NITs.Every applicant must meet the requirements listed in the JEE Mains eligibility criteria 2025 to be admitted to universities that recognize NTA JEE Main Results.
12th Percentage required for JEE Mains
A score of 45-75% is the minimum 12th Percentage required for JEE Mains qualification for the general category. On the other hand, a score of 40-65% is required in the 12th class for candidates from the SC/ST category. Candidates may attempt the JEE Main exam 6 times during the period of the next 3 years.
Note: 12th percentage required for JEE Mains varies from college to college.
12th Percentage required for JEE Advanced
A score of 75% is the minimum 12th Percentage required for JEE Advanced qualification for the general category.On the other hand, 65% is the minimum score required in the 12th class for candidates from the SC/ST category. Candidates may only attempt the JEE Advanced exam twice in consecutive years.
Note: The 12th percentage required for JEE Advanced varies from college to college.
Qualifying exams for the JEE Main 2025
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The final 12th class exam conducted by any authorized Central or State Board, including the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations in New Delhi and the Central Board of Secondary Education in New Delhi.
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Intermediate or two-year Pre-University test administered by an accredited university or board.
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Final exam for the National Defence Academy's two-year Joint Services Wing program.
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The National Institute of Open Schooling administers the Senior Secondary School Examination, which requires a minimum of five subjects.
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Any public school, board, or university test that is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as being equal to the 10+2 system in India or any other country.
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Vocational Examination for Higher Secondary Certificate.
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A three-year minimum diploma from a State Board of Technical Education or an AICTE-recognized program.
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Advanced (A) level General Certificate of Education (GCE) test (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka).
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The International Baccalaureate Office in Geneva offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma, or the Cambridge University High School Certificate Examination.
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Applicants must present a certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) stating that their passed examination is equivalent to the Class 12 Examination if they have passed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination outside of India or from a board not listed above.
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The candidate must have passed at least one previous public examination (Board or Pre-University) if the Class 12 Exam is not open to the public.
FAQs
Q1. Can I take JEE Main if my Class 12 score is less than 75%?
Yes, you can register and take the test regardless of your 12th grade percentage as long as you have finished your board exams. Only during counseling and institute admissions is the percentage rule examined.
Q2. For the 75% aggregate, which subjects are included?
Boards typically use five required disciplines to determine aggregate marks for B.Tech/B.E. admissions: Physics, Mathematics, and one Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational topic, in addition to any other two subjects.
Q3. What are the 12th prerequisites for a B. Arch or B. Plan?
Candidates expressly seeking B. Arch or B. Plan must receive at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (and 50% aggregate in the qualifying test), even if the aggregate marks requirements are typically the same.
Q4. Are state board students subject to a distinct set of 75% requirements?
No, all central and state boards are subject to the 75% criterion. If you are in the top 20 percentile of your board's successful applicants, you may still be qualified even if you do not satisfy the minimum percentage requirements for your particular board.
Q5. Do students who drop out meet the same percentage requirements?
Yes, repeaters and droppers must fulfil the same academic requirements as new applicants (75% or 65%, depending on the category).