The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria is a guide for students based on the exact rules they must follow to appear for the exam. Since the IITs set these rules, every student needs a clear understanding of them. Moreover, the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria decides who can move ahead from JEE Main and who gets disqualified. Therefore, students must read every point carefully before submitting the application form to avoid issues later.
For accurate guidance and trusted updates, students can also refer to SPM & Lalans Coaching (your go-to platform for reliable JEE preparation resources).
As only the top JEE Main performers can appear for the Advanced exam, it is important to stay updated with the dates and details becomes extremely important. Additionally, the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria include rules related to age, attempts, JEE Main rank, Class 12 performance, past IIT admission status, and more. As a result, understanding these rules early helps students prepare with confidence.
JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria 2025: Overview
Students aiming for IITs can also explore our detailed JEE Advanced Preparation Course for structured guidance and expert-designed study plans.
The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria ensures that only deserving students qualify for IIT admissions. Moreover, students must clear JEE Main, meet the minimum marks requirement in Class 12, and follow all eligibility rules. Furthermore, any student who fails to meet even one requirement gets disqualified immediately. Therefore, the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria must be understood in detail before planning the exam.
Criterion 1 – Qualifying in JEE Main 2026
The first and most important rule in the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria is qualifying for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1. Students must have to clear the exam and their rank should be among the top 250,000 candidates. To understand the minimum score required, you can check our detailed guide on minimum marks in JEE Main to qualify for JEE Advanced. Hence, the selection is category-wise and follows a strict percentage distribution.
Category-Wise Breakdown
- OPEN – 40.5%
- GEN-EWS – 10%
- OBC-NCL – 27%
- SC – 15%
- ST – 7.5%
- PwD – 5% (Horizontal reservation)
Order of Selection (Top 250,000)
Here is the category wise selection order :
| S. No. | Category | Number of “Top” Candidates | Total per Category |
| 1 | OPEN | 96,187 | 101,250 |
| 2 | OPEN-PwD | 5,063 | |
| 3 | GEN-EWS | 23,750 | 25,000 |
| 4 | GEN-EWS-PwD | 1,250 | |
| 5 | OBC-NCL | 64,125 | 67,500 |
| 6 | OBC-NCL-PwD | 3,375 | |
| 7 | SC | 35,625 | 37,500 |
| 8 | SC-PwD | 1,875 | |
| 9 | ST | 17,812 | 18,750 |
| 10 | ST-PwD | 938 |
Hence, this distribution shows how strictly the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria filters students through category-wise rankings.
Criterion 2 – Number of Attempts Allowed
According to the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria, students can attempt the exam only two times in two consecutive years. Therefore, no student gets more than two attempts under any situation. Due to his strict rule, planning becomes important for every aspirant.
Criterion 3 – Age Limit for JEE Advanced 2025
The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria specify that students must be born on or after 1 October 2001. However, SC, ST, and PwD candidates get 5 years of age relaxation, which means they must be born on or after 1 October 1996.
Also, students are advised to must stay updated, as the exam authority may update the age rules before the final notification. Still, the age rule mentioned above usually remains unchanged every year.
Criterion 4 – Previous Admissions in IITs
The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria clearly states that students who were already admitted to any IIT in previous years cannot appear for JEE Advanced again. This rule also applies to students :
- Who have joined an IIT and later withdrew
- Students which were expelled from an IIT
- Moreover, the students which admissions were cancelled
However, the following candidates remain eligible:
- Students allotted an IIT seat in JoSAA 2025 but
- Did not report offline or online
- Withdrew before the last round
- Had the seat been cancelled before the final round
- Did not report offline or online
Hence, this exception ensures fairness while maintaining strictness in the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria.
Criterion 5 – Class 12 Qualification Requirements
The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria allow students who appeared for Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 with physics, chemistry, and mathematics to apply. Students who first appeared in 2024 or earlier cannot apply.
However, there is an exception. If a board declares its Class 12 results for the 2023–24 session on or after 21 September 2024, then students appearing for Class 12 in 2024 from that board can still apply for JEE Advanced 2026, if they satisfy all other rules.
Hence, this makes the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria fair for boards with delayed results.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Students / OCI / PIO Candidates
The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO candidates is slightly different.
Criterion A – Age Limit
- Firstly, the student must be born on or after 1 October 1999
- Second, the mandatory military service countries get relaxation
- Moreover, they must upload government-issued proof during registration
Criterion B – Attempts Allowed
- Only two attempts in two consecutive years
Criterion C – Class 12 Appearance
- First, they must have appeared first in 2025 or 2026 with PCM
- Second, students who appeared first in 2024 or earlier are not eligible
- Lastly, the results which were announced on or after 23 September 2023, 2024 students become eligible
Criterion D – Previous IIT Admissions
- Students previously admitted to an IIT are not eligible
- Also, the students allotted an IIT seat but who did not join or withdrew before the last round are eligible
Hence, these rules ensure that the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria remain uniform for all categories.
Conclusion
The JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria for 2025 play a vital role in deciding who can move ahead toward IIT admissions. Since these rules cover age limits, attempts, JEE Main ranks, Class 12 requirements, and past IIT admissions, students must check every detail carefully. Moreover, staying updated helps avoid disqualification due to small mistakes. When students understand the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria clearly, they can prepare with confidence and focus on performing well in both JEE Main and JEE Advanced
For any other information, check: JEE Advanced
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Have there been any changes in the eligibility Criteria compared to previous years?
The core rules remain mostly the same. The top 250,000 JEE Main candidates qualify, and the age and attempt limits continue unchanged.
Q2. Will I be eligible for JEE Advanced 2025 if I pass Class 12 in 2024?
You will be eligible only if your board declared the 2023–24 results on or after 21 September 2024.
Q3. What if I selected the wrong category during JEE Main registration?
Your eligibility will depend on the corrected documents and category norms. Incorrect category selection may affect your JEE Advanced qualification.
Q4. What percentile is required in JEE Advanced for IIT admissions?
There is no fixed minimum percentile. Admissions depend on rank, seat availability, cutoff trends, and category.
Q5. Which subjects are counted under the Class 12 requirement for eligibility Criteria?
Physics, chemistry, and Mathematics must be your compulsory subjects for eligibility.
