JEE Main age limit 2026: There is no age limit for appearing in the JEE Main examination. The National Testing Agency does not specify any age limit for the JEE Main exam. However, candidates do need to satisfy other JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria to be able to apply for the exam. As per the JEE Main eligibility criteria, JEE Main exam aspirants must have completed their class 12/ equivalent exam in 2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026. They can apply for the JEE Main 2026 exam, irrespective of their age.
Last year, NTA removed the optional questions from section B of the JEE Main papers, which were introduced during Covid. Instead of getting choices in 10 questions, candidates will now have to attempt all 5 questions.
Candidates can check the detailed eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 for age limit on this page. Students must note that they will have to fulfil the age criteria of their desired Institution. Read the entire article to know more about the JEE Main age limit 2026.
There is no age limit for candidates applying for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE Main). However, Candidates are required to pass the class 12 or equivalent exam in 2024, 2025 or 2026 to participate in the exam. Candidates can only attempt the JEE Main exam for three consecutive years. In case of any gap between the 3 years, candidates will be ineligible to attempt the exam next year. The JEE Main exam is held twice every year.
Also Check: How Many Attempts for JEE Mains
Candidates can check the table below to have an understanding of JEE Main 2026. The following table consists of necessary information regarding the JEE Main exam.
Particulars | Details |
JEE Main conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Mode of examination | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
Phases | 2 (January, April) |
Paper 1 | BE/BTech |
Paper 2 | B.Arch and B.Plan |
Duration | Single paper: 3 hours Paper 2A + 2B: 3 hours 30 minutes |
Number of questions | 75 questions |
Total marks | 300 marks |
Paper 1 subjects | Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics |
Paper 2 subjects |
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Candidates have to check the eligibility criteria of JEE Main 2026 before filling out the application form. Applicants failing to meet the necessary JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026 will be rejected during the admission process. The following table shows some prerequisites to meet before applying for JEE Main 2026.
Eligibility Criteria | Requirement |
Qualifying Exam | Class 12/equivalent exam. |
Passing year | 2024, 2025 and 2026. |
Minimum percentage | 75% marks in class 12. |
JEE Main Age limit | No age limit. |
Number of attempts | JEE Main is held two times a year. Candidates can appear in JEE Main for three consecutive years from the year they pass their class 12 examination. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, a candidate of age 30 is eligible to attempt JEE Main 2026 exam provided he/ she has completed 12th standard in 2024, 2025 or 2026.
Candidates do not require 75% in 12th to apply for JEE Main 2026 exam. However for admission to institutes like IITs, NITs etc, candidates require a minimum of 75% marks.
No, There is no age limit for JEE Main 2026.
No. Candidates do not require 75 % in class 12 to appear for JEE Main 2026.
Yes, candidates who have qualified 12th from NIOS in the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 are eligible for JEE Main 2026 exam.
The JEE Main 2026 score is only valid for the current academic year. Hence, it cannot be carried over to the next year.
Candidates who have completed their Class 12 exams in 2024 or 2025, or are currently appearing for their Class 12 exams in 2026, are eligible to apply for JEE Main 2026.
No, the 75% criteria in JEE Advanced has not been removed.
JEE Main is held 2 times a year. So, a candidate can write the JEE Main exam for three consecutive years i.e. six attempts.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Generally an income certificate isn't required for the JEE Main registration, but if you want to claim the EWS quota, then you need this. You must provide the certificate, issued by a government authority, as proof of your family's income being below the specified limit for the reservation category you wish to apply under.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Yes, as JEE does accepts improvement examination scores, so you must go for it but most of the state boards have already conducted or are conducting their 2025 improvement exams. If you have already given your improvement that's fine. If you have not given improvement this year then you can take your improvement next year.
Thank You.
Hello,
Yes, you can prepare for and take the JEE Main exam after completing your intermediate (12th year) exams. This is a common path for students who want to dedicate a year to intensive preparation without the pressure of simultaneous board exams.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hello,
You can get the JEE 2025 Syllabus from this link : JEE Main Class 12th Syllabus 2026
Hope it helps !
You said you belong to the BC category, converted Christian from a Scheduled Caste background under 16A, and your community certificate is BC. You are giving the JEE exam and want to know which category you should choose and what benefits are there.
If you have a BC certificate, it means you are not eligible for the Scheduled Caste category now because after conversion to Christianity, SC reservation does not apply. So, in JEE or any central exam, you cannot use SC.
JEE and other central exams use the Central Government category list, not the state one. The Central categories are General, General-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST.
The BC category used by your state is not always the same as OBC-NCL. You need to check if your BC community name appears in the Central OBC list. If it appears there, you can select OBC-NCL. If it is not in the Central OBC list, you must select either General or General-EWS, depending on your family income.
If your family income is below 8 lakh per year, and you do not belong to any reserved category, you can choose General-EWS. If your income is above that, you must select General.
The difference between OBC-NCL and General-EWS is that OBC-NCL students get 27 percent reservation in IITs, NITs, and IIITs, and they also get government scholarships. General-EWS students get 10 percent reservation and can apply for EWS scholarships. General students do not get reservation or category-based scholarships.
So, the steps are simple. Check if your community is listed in the Central OBC list. If it is there, choose OBC-NCL in your JEE form. If it is not there, see if you are eligible for EWS. Otherwise, choose General.
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