Quick Overview
To appear for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must secure a position among the top 2,50,000 rank holders in JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 (B.E./B.Tech) across all categories. The age criteria plays a crucial role in eligibility. Candidates from the General and OBC categories should be born on or after 1 October 2001, while those belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories are given a 5-year relaxation, making the eligible birth date 1 October 1996 or later.
Additionally, JEE Advanced can be attempted only twice, and that too in two consecutive years. In this article, we break down the complete details related to age limit, eligibility conditions, and number of attempts for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Advanced Age Limit 2026 – Official Guidelines
The Joint Admission Board (JAB) will release the official eligibility rules for JEE Advanced 2026, which is expected to be conducted by IIT Roorkee. As per the prescribed age limit:
- General / OBC candidates must have been born on or after 1 October 2001
- SC / ST / PwD candidates must have been born on or after 1 October 1996
The age requirement is a strict condition, and candidates who do not meet it will not be allowed to participate, regardless of their JEE Main score.
When it comes to attempts, students are allowed to appear for JEE Advanced only two times, and both attempts must fall in consecutive years.
Also Read
- JEE Main Exam Hall Instructions 2026 – Points Every Candidate Must Know – Jeet Neeti
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates – Latest Official Updates – Jeet Neeti
JEE Advanced 2026
To get a clear idea about JEE Advanced 2026, students can refer to the table given below. It includes all the important details related to the JEE Advanced exam that students should know.
| Particulars | Revised Information |
| Eligibility based on JEE Main 2026 | Only the top 2,50,000 successful candidates from JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) will be considered eligible. |
| Academic Qualification (Class 12) | 1. Candidate’s first attempt in Class 12 (or equivalent) must be in 2025 or 2026. 2. Must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as mandatory subjects. |
| Age Criteria | 1. For General/Open category: Date of birth must be on or after October 1, 2001. 2. For SC/ST/PwD categories: Eligible if born on or after October 1, 1996 (includes 5-year relaxation). |
| Number of Attempts | Candidates can take the exam a maximum of two times, and both attempts must be in consecutive years. |
| Examination Mode | The test will be held in Computer-Based Mode (CBT). |
| Exam Pattern | There will be two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2, both are mandatory. Each paper will be of 3 hours duration. |
| Subjects Covered | Questions will be asked from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in both papers. |
| Question Format and Total Marks | The number of questions and total marks change every year. The exact structure will be shared in the official 2026 brochure. |
| Reservation Breakdown (within top 2.5 lakh) | OPEN – 40.5% GEN-EWS – 10% OBC-NCL – 27% SC – 15% ST – 7.5% PwD – 5% (applies across all categories as horizontal reservation) |
| Past IIT Admissions Rule | Candidates who have already joined any IIT in the past (even if they later withdrew after final allotment) cannot apply. But if admission was cancelled before the last round in 2025, they may still be eligible. |
| Conducting Authority | IIT Roorkee |
| Important Reminder | Applicants must ensure they fulfil every condition before applying for JEE Advanced 2026. No additional relaxations will be provided beyond those officially mentioned. |
JEE Advanced 2026 Eligibility Through JEE Main
To qualify for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must feature in the category-wise rank list of JEE Main 2026, prepared based on scores obtained in Paper-1 (B.E./B.Tech).
The top 2,50,000 candidates across all categories are shortlisted for JEE Advanced. The category-wise distribution generally follows these reservation norms:
- GEN-EWS: 10%
- OBC-NCL: 27%
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- OPEN (Unreserved): 40.5%
These percentages are based on recent admission trends and the eligibility framework defined by the authorities.
Also Read: How to Crack JEE Exam: Important Tips & Tricks You Should Know – Jeet Neeti
JEE Advanced Age Limit 2026 – Category-Wise Breakdown
As outlined by the Joint Admission Board:
- General Category: Born on or after 1 October 2001
- SC / ST / PwD Categories: Born on or after 1 October 1996
This rule applies to candidates who first appeared in Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026. Students who passed Class 12 earlier than 2025 are not eligible for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Advanced Age Limit 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates should carefully verify that they satisfy all the eligibility conditions prescribed by the Joint Admission Board (JAB). Failure to meet even a single requirement can lead to disqualification or rejection of the application during the counselling stage. The table below outlines the key eligibility details, including the JEE Advanced age limit and other essential criteria.
JEE Advanced 2026 Requirements
| Criteria | Eligibility Condition |
| Age Limit for JEE Advanced | 1. For General/Open category: Must be born on or after October 1, 2001. 2. For SC/ST/PwD candidates: Should be born on or after October 1, 1996 (includes 5-year age relaxation). |
| Educational Qualification | The candidate should have first appeared for Class 12 or its equivalent exam in 2025 or 2026 and should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. |
| JEE Main Qualification | Should be in the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 (B.E./B.Tech.), including all categories. |
| Attempt Limit | Each student can take JEE Advanced two times only in two consecutive years (i.e., it offers two attempts) (e.g., 2025 and 2026). |
| Previous IIT Admission Rule | Not eligible if previously admitted to any IIT, unless the seat was withdrawn or cancelled before the final JoSAA round in 2025, and the candidate never reported or joined physically. |
Key Conditions for Appearing in JEE Advanced 2026
To summarize the major eligibility requirements:
- Candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 rank holders in JEE Main 2026 Paper-1
- Only two attempts are permitted, and both must be in consecutive years
- The exam is conducted once a year and includes two compulsory papers on the same day
- Eligibility depends on age criteria as well as the year of first Class 12 attempt (2025 or 2026)
If you meet all these conditions and clear the JEE Main cutoff, you can proceed with the JEE Advanced 2026 application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the age limit for JEE Advanced 2026?
Candidates from the General category must be born on or after 1 October 2001. For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, a 5-year relaxation is provided, allowing those born on or after 1 October 1996 to apply.
How many attempts are allowed for JEE Advanced?
A student can attempt JEE Advanced only twice, and both attempts must be in two consecutive years.
Can I appear for JEE Advanced without clearing JEE Main?
No. Only candidates who rank among the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 are eligible for JEE Advanced.
Do reserved category candidates get any benefits?
Yes. Reserved category candidates receive age relaxation and seat reservations within the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers as per government norms.
Is a student who passed Class 12 in 2024 eligible for JEE Advanced 2026?
No. Only students who first appeared for Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 are eligible.
Can I apply if I was previously allotted an IIT seat but didn’t join?
You may be eligible only if your admission was cancelled or withdrawn before final seat allocation in 2024, and you never joined any IIT classes.
If I appeared for JEE Advanced 2025 but didn’t qualify, can I try again in 2026?
Yes. As long as 2026 is your second consecutive attempt and you still satisfy all eligibility and age-limit conditions, you can reappear.