The JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 plays an important role in providing equitable access and opportunities to all aspirants. It is designed for candidates from diverse backgrounds to gain admission to highly sought-after engineering institutions, such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. If you’re planning to take the exam and want to prepare with expert guidance, you can explore various JEE Main preparation courses at SPM & Lalan’s coaching to boost your chances of success.
According to the NTA reservation rules for 2026, specific percentages of seats are reserved for various categories. These include SC, ST, OBC-NCL, GEN-EWS, and PwD. This reservation system is designed to ensure inclusivity. It also promotes equal opportunity for everyone to access quality education.
In this blog, we will look in detail at the JEE Main reservation criteria 2026. We will also discuss the JEE Main category-wise reservation and NITs quota.
JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026
The JEE Main Reservation Criteria for 2026 reserves seats for eligible students from reserved categories. This is done to ensure their fair representation in admissions. According to the government’s notification, the NTA revises the reservation rules each year. Candidates should note that they will be eligible for the reservations only if they meet the eligibility criteria. They must also produce the original documents during counseling.
Reservation of seats is based on the mentioned reservation percentage. This occurs during JoSAA and CSAB counseling rounds. The reservation of seats for different categories is fixed. This fix applies to all participating institutes for JEE Main admission.
Below is the JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026:
| Categories | JEE Main Reservation (%) |
| General Economically Weaker Sections (GEN-EWS) | 10% |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5% |
| Non-Creamy Layer of Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Persons with Disabilities | 5% in each category |
JEE Main Category-Wise Reservation 2026
JEE Main category-wise reservation 2026 refers to the availability of seats for different student categories. The NTA will accommodate all eligible candidates from reserved categories. They will allot seats to these candidates accordingly. The category certificate will be verified during the counselling process. If a student has an invalid or missing certificate, their category will be automatically converted to the General category. Therefore, it is important to upload a valid caste or EWS certificate that is issued by an authorized authority.
1. JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026: OBC-NCL
JEE Main OBC-NCL reservation allocates 27% of seats for students. This reservation is specifically for those belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer of Other Backward Classes. The OBC-NCL category includes students from socially and educationally backward communities. Importantly, these students do not belong to the creamy layer.
According to the NTA reservation rules for 2026, candidates need to have an OBC-NCL certificate. This certificate must be issued after April 1, 2026, in order to avail of the reservation benefits. Additionally, the OBC-NCL certificate should follow the format provided by the Government of India.
The JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 is designed for OBC-NCL candidates. It aims to provide better opportunities for OBC-NCL students seeking admission to engineering institutes. The criteria also ensure that seats are reserved for them. This reservation happens on a preferential basis during the allotment of seats across all government engineering colleges.
2. JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026: Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
According to the NTA reservation rules for 2026, there is a 5% seat reservation for candidates with any disability. The JEE Main Reservation Criteria for 2026 applies to candidates with benchmark disabilities.
Candidates with disability-related conditions are eligible for this reservation. This includes visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, and any other disability. To qualify, candidates must provide a valid medical certificate. A competent medical board must issue this certificate and should certify the disability.
3. JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026: Women
The JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 for women states that female candidates should receive a fair chance in admissions to engineering colleges in India. Institutes such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs reserve a certain percentage of seats for female candidates. This reservation is provided under the “supernumerary quota.”
The goal of this category reservation is to promote women’s participation in the field of technical education. The NTA reservation rules for 2026 do not fix any national percentage. Instead, they allow institutes to follow their own internal reservation policies for female candidates.
4. JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026: EWS
The EWS quota in JEE Main refers to a reservation of 10% of the seats for candidates from the General category. It is specifically for those candidates whose family income is below ₹8 lakh per annum. This quota was implemented to promote the economic upliftment of the weaker sections of society. These weaker sections do not belong to any of the SC, ST, or OBC categories.
Candidates should submit a valid EWS certificate. This certificate must be issued by the competent authority for the current financial year. The NTA reservation rules for 2026 also clarify that only candidates genuinely from the EWS category can claim this reservation. Eligibility is based on their income and assets.
In order to take full advantage of the JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026, candidates must first complete the JEE Main application process accurately. This includes selecting the correct category and submitting all necessary documentation. If you’re unsure about the application process or need more detailed guidance, check out our detailed guide on JEE Main Online Application 2026.
JEE Main State-Universities Reservation Criteria 2026
Apart from NITs and IIITs, many state universities and engineering colleges also accept JEE Main scores. The category-wise reservation for JEE Main state-universities reservation criteria 2026 can vary. This difference is based on the norms set by the respective state governments. For example, if you’re specifically looking for the reservation criteria for Assam, you can refer to this detailed guide on JEE Main reservation in Assam.
Some states may have separate reservation percentages for local SC, ST, and OBC communities. The NTA reservation rules 2026 are valid for centrally funded institutes only. State-funded institutes are governed by their respective state government norms. These may include other regional quotas as well.
Students need to thoroughly read the eligibility conditions. These conditions are mentioned by the university. This is important before applying for admission under any reserved category.
What are the Steps to Claim JEE Main Reservation 2026?
Candidates must undergo certain formalities to be eligible for the benefits reserved for candidates from reserved categories. Below are the steps for claiming JEE Main Reservation 2026:
1. The very first step is to fill out the JEE Main 2026 application form, in which they have to give details of all kinds, including the category they belong to.
2. Candidates are not required to produce any document to prove their category at this stage.
3. The authorities will not consider the further claims they may raise if a candidate forgets to tick the checkbox of the category reserved for them.
4. Candidates will have to produce some documents that are specific to the category, like the caste or category certificates, during the JEE Main 2026 counseling process.
5. Candidates who cannot produce the certificate for any of the reserved categories for JEE Main 2026 will be treated as candidates of the unreserved/general category.
What are the Required Documents For JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026?
Candidates can check the required documents for the JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 from below:
- Category certificate issued in the prescribed format by the competent authority
- Caste or Tribe certificates in the case of SC/ST.
- A disability certificate issued by the competent authority in case of Persons with disability.
JEE Main NIT Reservation Criteria 2026
The JEE Main NIT Reservation Criteria 2026 are divided into two quotas. These are the Home State quota and the Other State quota. Fifty percent of seats in NITs are reserved for candidates from their home state or union territory (UT). The remaining fifty percent of seats are reserved for candidates from other states.
- Apart from the above reservation, all category-wise reservations, like JEE Main SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD, are applicable for both quotas.
- This is done to make sure that deserving candidates get a fair chance of getting seats based on their category and state of eligibility.
- Students who are applying for NITs under the EWS quota in JEE Main or any other reserved category need to keep in mind that they should be eligible for both domicile and reservation as per NTA reservation rules 2026.
1. Union Territories And Home State Quota in NITs
JEE Main category-wise reservation includes provisions for candidates from Union Territories (UTs) that do not have their own National Institutes of Technology (NITs). The National Testing Agency (NTA) has mapped these UTs to specific NITs. This mapping is done for the purpose of home state quota reservation.
Below lists the UTs and their mapped NITs:
| Union Territories | NITs |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | NIT Puducherry |
| Lakshadweep | NIT Goa |
| Daman and Diu | NIT Goa |
| Dadar and Nagar Haveli | NIT Goa |
| Chandigarh | NIT Delhi |
2. JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 for NIT Warangal and Goa
The home state reservation criteria apply to NIT Warangal and NIT Goa in JEE Main 2026. Each NIT has its own reservation criteria. This is specific to the JEE Main Reservation Criteria for 2026.
| Name of the NIT | Quota | Eligible candidates |
| NIT Warangal | Home State Quota | Candidates belonging to Telangana claim reservation under this quota |
| Other States Quota | Candidates belonging to other states and those belonging to Andhra Pradesh can both apply for admission under this quota. | |
| Andhra Pradesh Quota | Candidates from the state of Andhra Pradesh are eligible to apply for admission under this quota. | |
| NIT Goa | Home State Quota | Candidates from Goa have a 40% reservation of seats. In case of further vacancy of seats, 10% of seats are filled by candidates from Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep. |
| Other States Quota | Candidates of Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep can apply for admission. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 promotes inclusivity. It reserves seats for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, GEN-EWS, and persons with disabilities. Understanding these rules is crucial for candidates. They need to ensure proper documentation to take full advantage of this system. This enables them to pursue their engineering aspirations. Ultimately, they can contribute to India’s technological growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the reservation for SC and ST in JEE Main 2026?
SC candidates have a 15% reservation, and ST candidates have a 7.5% reservation, as per the JEE Main SC ST OBC reservation policy.
2. How much is the EWS quota in JEE Main 2026?
The EWS quota in JEE Main provides 10% reservation of the total seats for candidates of the General category with a family income of less than ₹8 lakh.
3. What are the NTA reservation rules 2026 for OBC-NCL candidates?
According to the NTA reservation rules 2026, OBC-NCL candidates can avail of a 27% reservation in seats if they are in the central non-creamy layer list.
4. Can a PwD candidate get a reservation in JEE Main?
Yes, 5% seats are reserved under each category for PwD candidates as per the JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026.
5. How is the home state quota used in NITs?
As per the JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026, 50% seats in NITs are reserved for students whose domicile is the same as that of the institute’s state or Union Territory.
