IIT Roorkee Releases Five-Point Eligibility Rules For JEE Advanced 2026
IIT Roorkee has officially shared the five main rules you must meet to apply for JEE Advanced 2026. If you want to study at an IIT, you need to check all these rules carefully. They cover your JEE Main rank, your age, how many times you can attempt the exam, your Class 12 passing year, and if you have ever been admitted to an IIT before. This article breaks down every rule clearly.
Why Knowing the Rules is Super Important
Thinking about the eligibility rules first is the most important step for getting into an IIT. The Joint Admission Board (JAB) makes these rules to keep the quality of the IITs high and fair. If you miss even one rule—like being too old or trying the exam too many times—all your hard preparation might be wasted. Since IIT Roorkee is running the JEE Advanced 2026 exam, these five points are the final, official rules.
The 5 Rules for JEE Advanced 2026
1. JEE Main Rank Requirement
You must be among the Top 2,50,000 students who qualify in the JEE Main 2026 exam (this includes all reservation categories).
2. Age Limit
You must be born on or after October 1, 2001. Students in the SC, ST, and PwD categories get a 5-year relaxation on this age limit.
3. Attempts Limit
You can take the JEE Advanced exam a maximum of two times, and these attempts must be in consecutive (back-to-back) years.
4. Class 12 (Board) Year
You must have appeared for your Class 12 (or equivalent) exam for the **first time in either 2025 or 2026**.
5. Previous IIT Admission
You must NOT have accepted a seat in any IIT in the past, even if you left the course later. If you took a seat, you cannot write JEE Advanced 2026.
What About Your Class 12 Marks?
Beyond the JEE Advanced score, your Class 12 marks are also checked for final admission. To get a seat in an IIT, you must meet one of these two conditions:
- Get at least 75% total marks in your Class 12 (or equivalent) board exam.
- OR, be in the top 20 percentile of students who passed in your specific board examination.
Good news for SC/ST and PwD students: the minimum mark requirement is lower, at 65% aggregate. Remember to focus on both your JEE preparation and scoring well in your board exams.
How Seats are Divided by Category
| Reservation Category | Percentage of Total Seats |
|---|---|
| General (Open) | 40.5% |
| OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) | 27% |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 15% |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 7.5% |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 10% |
| PwD (Persons with Disability) | 5% Horizontal (within each category) |
What is the JEE Advanced Exam Like?
The JEE Advanced exam has two required papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. You take both papers on the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
- The exam is held completely on a Computer (CBT mode).
- Each paper lasts for three hours(four hours for PwD candidates).
- Questions cover Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics equally.
- The scoring is tricky: there are many different types of questions (single correct, multiple correct, etc.) and they often use negative marking, so guessing is risky.
You must attempt both Paper 1 and Paper 2 to be included in the final ranking. Your total score from both papers decides your All India Rank (AIR).
JEE Advanced 2026 Official Exam Day
The official date set by IIT Roorkee for JEE Advanced 2026 isSunday, May 17, 2026. Mark your calendar! The exam will happen online in two sessions on that day.
🎯 Final Advice: Don't Miss a Step
You need to check these five eligibility rules right at the start of your preparation. Missing any one rule can permanently stop you from trying. Pay special attention to the two-attempt limit and the age rule, especially if you are planning a gap year. Plan your path to IIT with full confidence and clear information!