The JEE Advanced Reservation Policy for 2026 will cover various categories, including General, SC, ST, OBC, and PWD. This information will be released along with the official brochure of JEE Advanced 2026. Aspiring individuals who aim to enroll in an IIT must first sit for the JEE Advanced exam. However, candidates can only appear for JEE Advanced 2026 once they qualify the JEE Main examination.
In this article, we will look into the JEE Advanced Reservation Policy.
JEE Advanced Reservation Criteria 2026: Division of Categories in Percentage
Below is the percentage of seat reservations of JEE Advanced Reservation Criteria 2026. The data is categorised into different groups. Additionally, it provides a clearer understanding of the distribution of reservations. Overall, this information is useful for analyzing seating trends.
However, candidates must note that reservation benefits apply only if they meet the JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria conditions set for JEE Advanced.
| Categories | Reservation of Seats |
| General – EWS | 10% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 27% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
The remaining 40.5% of the seats are reserved for candidates from the General category. In addition to this, the Indian Government reserves another 5% of the seats specifically for the PwD category. Furthermore, there are key points aspiring candidates from reserved categories should keep in mind while preparing for JEE Advanced 2025.
It is important to note that, within each category– OPEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST– there is a 5% horizontal reservation available for PwD candidates.
JEE Advanced Reservation Policy: Check Category-wise Reservation
Students preparing for the JEE Advanced 2026 examination should be aware of the reservation system. You can check their category-wise reservation for SC, ST, OBC, and PWD on the JEE Advanced official website. Additionally, students should understand the JEE Advanced Reservation policy thoroughly. This understanding is important if you want to get selected for IIT-JEE 2026.
JEE Advanced Reservation 2026: Points to Remember
Here are some important points for JEE Advanced Reservation 2026. Moreover, they should keep in mind the JEE Advanced Reservation Policy:
- The Government of India determines eligibility criteria for SC/ST candidates.
- Note that the applicants who fall under the CL (Creamy Layer*) category of OBC will not be treated under the Reservation category.
- Aspiring candidates of OBC (CL) will only be eligible for General seats.
NOTE: *Creamy layer is a term used by GoI to notify those who are in a better position, educationally and socially, thus not fitting under the Government-sponsored reservation program.
JEE Advanced Reservation Policy: Reservation for Women
The IIT Council has decided to improve gender balance in undergraduate programs at the IITs.
- In 2021, 20% of supernumerary seats will be reserved for female candidates.
- The supernumerary seats specifically for female candidates will be created without reducing the number of seats made available to non-female candidates.
- These supernumerary seats will only be offered to those female candidates who are declared qualified in JEE Advanced 2026.
- The detailed procedure for implementing this will be set out in the Business Rules of JoSSA 2026.
JEE Advanced Reservation Policy: How To Claim JEE Advanced Reservation 2026?
- Eligible applicants need to complete a relevant form providing all important information for their category.
- Next, they must show proof of their reservation category in the form of documents, like a reservation certificate. These are essential to carry during the time of counselling.
- Any candidate failing to show relevant and acceptable proof shall not be considered under the reservation category, and hence, fall under the General category.
JEE Advanced Reservation Policy: Reservation for Foreign Nationals
JEE Advanced 2026 also allows foreign nationals under the official reservation policy of the Indian Government. Moreover, international candidates who aspire to join any of the high-ranking engineering institutes in India must meet certain criteria. To be considered, they need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Candidates who are not citizens of India by birth (non-citizens).
- The DOB (Date of Birth) of those foreign applicants should be on or after October 1, 2000.
- International candidates must have given his or her class 12 examination or any equivalent exam in his or her respective country in 2019 for the first time in either 2024 or 2025 with the subjects Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
- There are certain countries where citizens need to join the armed forces primarily for a specific period. It can range from 3 months to 3 years after candidates pass the class 12 examination of their respective country of origin. In such exceptional cases, the GoI officials will not count those years in service if an aspiring foreign applicant can provide proper documents.
- The GoI keeps an additional 10% of seats reserved for foreign nationals for the JEE Advanced 2026.
Along with understanding reservation rules, candidates should also stay updated with the JEE Advanced Syllabus to plan their preparation effectively.
Conclusion
Understanding the JEE Advanced Reservation Policy is important for aspirants aiming to secure a spot in an IIT. The Indian Government has provided specific guidelines for reserved categories. As a result, eligible candidates can benefit from reservation quotas. Therefore, it is important for candidates to have the necessary documents to prove their eligibility. Furthermore, we have provided a detailed breakdown of the reservation for various categories in the above sections. Overall, stay informed to secure your place in JEE Advanced 2026.
For complete guidance on eligibility, syllabus, reservation rules, and preparation strategy, students can refer to the academic resources provided by SPM & Lalans.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I am a football player and have represented Kerala U-17. Will I be included under any sports quota for JEE Advanced 2026?
There is no sports quota in JEE Advanced 2026.
2. I am a student in Nepal. Can I apply?
Students who belong to other countries have a quota of 10% under the foreign national reservation student who belongs to the eligibility criteria, allotted by the GoI. They will not be included under OBC/SC/ST communities as stated by the Indian Government.
3. How many seats are allotted to the candidates who belong to Defence backgrounds?
In JEE Advanced 2026, only 2 seats will be allotted to every student who belongs to a defence background. However, an aspiring applicant will be listed under the current merit list.
4. Which caste has the highest reservation in IIT?
JEE Advanced follows reservation categories set by the Indian government. Here’s the breakdown:
- OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes – Non Creamy Layer): 27%
- SC (Scheduled Castes): 15%
- ST (Scheduled Tribes): 7.5%
There’s also a separate 5% reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) within each of the above categories (GEN, OBC-NCL, SC, ST).
5. What is the JEE Advanced Reservation Criteria for OBC candidates?
As per the JEE Advanced Reservation Criteria for OBC, 27% of the seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer of the Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL). Candidates must have a valid OBC-NCL certificate to avail of the reservation benefits.
