As per the notification, candidates must first secure a position among the top 250,000 successful candidates in JEE Main 2026 (B.E./B.Tech paper) to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. The reservation percentages for various categories remain unchanged, and PwD candidates will continue to receive 5% reservation within each category.
Revised age criteria have also been released. General category candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001, to be eligible. SC, ST, and PwD candidates will receive a five-year age relaxation, meaning their date of birth must be on or after October 1, 1996.
The institute has also clarified rules regarding the number of attempts. Candidates may appear for JEE Advanced only twice, and both attempts must be in two consecutive years, making timely preparation essential.
Major Change in Class 12 Eligibility
A significant modification has been introduced regarding Class 12 qualification. Only candidates who first appeared in the Class 12 board examination in 2025 or 2026 will be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026. Those who completed Class 12 in 2024 or earlier will not be eligible. However, if a board declares its 2023–24 results on or after June 18, 2024, candidates who appeared for Class 12 in 2024 will be considered eligible. If a board withholds results, the candidate will not be deemed eligible.
Rules for Candidates Previously Admitted to IITs
Clear guidelines have also been issued for candidates who were allotted IIT seats earlier. Any candidate who was previously allotted a seat in an IIT, accepted the seat, reported for admission, or later had the seat cancelled will not be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026. Exceptions apply to candidates admitted to preparatory courses in 2025 and those who were allotted an IIT seat through JoSAA 2025 but did not report; such candidates remain eligible to appear for the exam.
Official Exam Dates Announced
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the schedule for JEE Main 2026.
- Session 1: January 21 to 30, 2026
- Session 2: April 1 to 10, 2026
IIT Roorkee will conduct the JEE Advanced 2026 computer-based test (CBT) on May 17, 2026.