The JEE Main 2027 eligibility criteria are released every year to outline the requirements that JEE aspirants must fulfil to take the exam. The JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) Main exam is conducted twice every year by NTA (National Testing Agency). Before the dates are announced, NTA releases the information bulletin detailing the eligibility criteria for JEE Main, including age limits, nationality criteria, passing marks, qualifying exam criteria, and more.
This blog focuses on clearing all the confusion around JEE Main 2027 eligibility. Whether you are giving the exam for the first time or are a dropper, the article discusses every aspect. Check each section to find out if you meet the JEE eligibility criteria, and stay updated with the NTA notifications released on the official website for more details on JEE Main 2027. Once the eligibility is confirmed, the next step is selecting the right coaching institute.
Who Can Apply for JEE Main 2027?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) allows candidates who meet the prescribed educational and eligibility requirements to apply for JEE Main 2027. Generally, students who have passed or are appearing in their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination with Physics, Mathematics, and one additional subject can apply for the examination. Admission eligibility may vary depending on the course selected, such as B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, or B.Plan.
The following candidates are expected to be eligible for JEE Main 2027:
- Students appearing for their Class 12 examination in 2027.
- Candidates who passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2025 or 2026.
- Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals seeking admission to participating institutions.
- Candidates who satisfy the subject requirements for their desired course.
- Aspirants who have not exceeded the maximum number of permitted JEE Main attempts.
Note: Before registering, candidates should carefully verify the latest eligibility conditions announced by NTA to ensure they meet all requirements for JEE Main 2027.
Complete NTA Updated Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2027
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2027 on its official website https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/. The JEE Main 2027 exam dates will be released and will be conducted in two shifts. The first shift will be conducted in January 2027. The second session will be conducted in April 2027. The eligibility criteria for Session 2 remain the same as those for Session 1. Candidates who appear in the January session will also be eligible to reappear in the April session to improve their score. The best score out of both sessions will be considered final. Check out the latest JEE Main 2027 NTA updates, including exam dates and results.
| Particular | Key Details |
| Age Limit Criteria | There is no age limit criterion for the JEE Main exam. (Check individual institution age limit criteria for your desired college.) |
| Number Of Attempts Criteria | 6 total attempts in 3 consecutive years |
| Qualifying Exam Criteria | Class 12 or equivalent recognised board |
| Year Of Passing | Should have passed Class 12 or a recognised board in 2025, 2026, or will be appearing in 2027. |
| Minimum Marks Required Criteria | No minimum Class 12 percentage required to appear in JEE Main 2027 |
| Mandatory Subjects Criteria | Physics and mathematics are mandatory for the JEE Main Paper 1. Physics, Maths, and Chemistry are mandatory for the JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch). Maths mandatory for JEE Main Paper 2B (B.Plan) |
| State Code Of Eligibility | Based on the Class 12 qualifying exam state |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals/NRIs/PIOs/OCIs/Foreign Nationals |
JEE Main 2027 Age Limit Criteria
According to the NTA’s official eligibility criteria, there is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in Sessions 1 and 2 of JEE Main 2027. However, candidates must have passed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination in 2025 or 2026, or be appearing for it in 2027. The age at which the student took the Class 12 exam does not matter; provided they meet the other eligibility conditions, they will be eligible for JEE Main 2027.
- No upper age limit for appearing in JEE Main 2027.
- The NTA has not set any minimum age limit to appear in JEE Main.
- Candidates must fulfil the Class 12 (or equivalent) qualification requirements applicable for JEE Main 2027.
- Admission to certain institutes may still be subject to the institute’s own age-related rules and regulations.
Note: The official JEE Main 2027 Information Bulletin has not yet been released. However, NTA has consistently maintained a no-age-limit policy in recent years, and candidates are advised to check the official notification once it is published.
JEE Main 2027 Number of Attempts Criteria
Aspiring candidates for JEE Main 2027 must meet specific eligibility criteria regarding the number of attempts. Those who have completed their Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 or are currently in the process of appearing for the Class 12 exams in 2027 are eligible to participate in JEE Main 2027. However, candidates who completed their Class 12 before 2024 or are scheduled to appear in Class 12 after 2027 are not eligible for the exam. It’s worth noting that JEE Main 2027 will be conducted twice in January and April.
JEE Main 2027 Qualifying Examination Criteria
To be eligible for JEE Main 2027, candidates must have cleared the qualifying exam criteria. Candidates who have cleared the Class 12 or equivalent examination are eligible. Check out all the eligible qualifying boards for JEE Main 2027:
- The final examination, Class 12 (10+2), is conducted by a recognised state or central board of examination. These include CBSE, CISCE, all state-level boards like RBSE and others.
- An intermediate or pre-university examination conducted by a recognised Board or University is eligible.
- Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy conducts the final examination of the two-year course, which is eligible.
- Senior secondary school examination, which is conducted by the NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). To be eligible for NIOS, a candidate must have a minimum of 5 subjects.
- Any Public school/Board/ University examination in India or abroad, which is recognised as an equivalent examination to the Class 12 (10+2) examination by the AIU (Association of Indian Universities).
- Higher secondary certificate vocational examination.
- Any diploma which is recognised by AICTE or any state board of technical education. The diploma duration should be at least three years.
- GCE (General Certificate Examination) from London, Cambridge, Sri Lanka, is an eligible board at the Advanced (A) level.
- High School certificate, Examination of the Cambridge University, or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the Indian Baccalaureate Office, Geneva is an eligible qualifying examination board.
- Candidates who appeared for Session 1 in January can give the Session 2 exam as well.
JEE Main 2027 Class 12 Passing Year Criteria
To be eligible to take the JEE Main 2027, students should meet the qualifying exam passing year criteria. As per the eligibility criteria released by NTA,
- Candidates who have completed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in the years 2025 and 2026 are eligible to take JEE Main 2027.
- Candidates who are appearing for the Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2027 are also eligible to appear for the JEE Main 2027 exam.
- Candidates who have completed Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2024 or before that are not eligible for JEE Main 2027.
Minimum Marks Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2027
If we talk about the eligibility criteria in terms of minimum marks required to give JEE Main, here are the requirements:
- To get admission to IITs, candidates must secure a minimum of 75% in their Class 12 board exams or be in the top 20th percentile in their qualifying exam.
- This 75% criterion is applicable for admissions into IITs, NITs, CFTIs and other top engineering institutes.
- For reserved category candidates, a minimum of 65% marks is required to get admission to various undergraduate courses offered at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs.
- No such minimum marks criteria is required to appear for the JEE Main 2027 exam. In terms of marks eligibility, candidates falling under the general category must secure a minimum of 75% in their Class 12 board exams or rank in the top 20th percentile in their qualifying examination to meet the minimum marks to qualify for JEE Main 2027. This criterion is essential for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs.
Compulsory Subjects in Class 12 for JEE Main
The JEE Main 2027 is designed for three distinct courses – B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Plan – each with specific subject requirements.
Compulsory Subject Requirements for Paper 1 (B.Tech)
Candidates must have Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects, along with one additional subject from Chemistry, Biology, or a Technical Vocational Subject.
Compulsory Subject Requirements for Paper 2A (B.Arch)
Successful completion of Class 12 or an equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics is a prerequisite.
Compulsory Subject Requirements Criteria for Paper 2B (B.Plan)
Candidates are required to have Mathematics as a subject in their Class 12 or equivalent examination.
Nationality Criteria for JEE Main 2027
Based on the eligibility criteria released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for JEE Main 2027, the nationality criteria have also been given. Candidates of different nationalities who wish to take the JEE Main 2027 exam are eligible, provided they fulfil other eligibility criteria as well.
- All Indian nationals are eligible to take the JEE Main 2027 as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria.
- OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India) are eligible for JEE Main 2027 and can apply.
- PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) are eligible for JEE Main 2027 until they meet the other eligibility criteria, including the Class 12 year of passing and more.
- Foreign nationals are also permitted for JEE Main 2027. Check the information bulletin released by NTA on their official website for more details on the nationality criteria for JEE Main 2027.
State Code of Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2027
The State Code of Eligibility refers to the state from which a candidate has passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination. Most students confuse the state code of eligibility with the state code being their residence, domicile, or nationality.
The State Code is used during JoSAA/CSAB counselling when the seats are allocated for admissions into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs. Let us understand how the allotment of the State Code of Eligibility Is Decided:
- For candidates who are studying in India, the State Code is considered to be the state from which the candidate has passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination.
- For candidates who are studying abroad or out of India, they must choose the State Code based on their permanent address registered in India.
- For candidates who belong to the NRI / OCI / PIO category, they must choose the State Code based on their Indian residential/permanent address.
- For candidates who are from NIOS or are Open School candidates, the state code is based on the AIU-recognised study centre and not on home address.
From the above information, we can conclude that the State Code is not decided and considered based on the state the candidate is currently living in.
| State | Code |
| Andhra Pradesh | AP |
| Arunachal Pradesh | AL |
| Assam | AM |
| Bihar | BR |
| Chhattisgarh | CG |
| Delhi/New Delhi | DL |
| Goa | GO |
| Gujarat | GJ |
| Haryana | HR |
| Himachal Pradesh | HP |
| Jammu and Kashmir | JK |
| Jharkhand | JH |
| Karnataka | KK |
| Kerala | KL |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP |
| Maharashtra | MR |
| Manipur | MN |
| Meghalaya | MG |
| Mizoram | MZ |
| Nagaland | NL |
| Odisha | OR |
| Punjab | PB |
| Rajasthan | RJ |
| Sikkim | SM |
| Tamil Nadu | TN |
| Telanagan | TL |
| Tripura | TA |
| Uttar Pradesh | UP |
| Uttarakhand | UK |
| West Bengal | WB |
| Union Territory | Code |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | AN |
| Chandigarh | CH |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | DN |
| Daman and Diu | DD |
| Lakshadweep | LD |
| Puducherry | PO |
JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria for Droppers and Repeaters
Every year, many candidates decide to retake the JEE Main to get admission into the best engineering colleges in India. Droppers and repeaters are eligible to give the JEE Main again until they meet the JEE Main eligibility criteria. There are no special eligibility rules released by NTA for droppers and repeaters. If you wish to retake JEE Main in 2027, make sure you meet these eligibility requirements released by NTA:
- No age limit:
There is no minimum or maximum age limit to give the JEE Main exam. Students of any age can attempt JEE Main 2027, including droppers and repeaters. - Year of passing the Class 12 requirement:
To be eligible for JEE Main 2027, a candidate must have passed Class 12 in the year 2025 or 2026. Students who have passed in 2024 or earlier are not considered eligible candidates for JEE Main 2027. - Maximum number of attempts:
There is a total of 6 maximum attempts allowed for JEE Main 2027. Hence, if a dropper or repeater has not given 6 attempts in 3 consecutive years, they are eligible to take JEE Main 2027. - Mandatory subjects requirement:
Droppers must have completed Class 12 with mandatory subjects Physics, Maths and one of the subjects from Chemistry, Biology or a technical vocational course for B.Tech course admissions. - Minimum Class 12 marks:
To get admission to IITs, NITs, and other top colleges, candidates must meet either a minimum of 75% aggregate marks or the top 20 percentile criterion in Class 12. For SC/ST candidates, the minimum aggregate marks criterion in Class 12 is 65%. This minimum percentage criterion applies only to JEE Advanced, not to JEE Main. - Nationality eligibility criteria:
Droppers or repeaters who are Indian nationals, foreign Nationals, NRIs, OCIs & PIOs are eligible to give JEE Main 2027. For foreign candidates, they are eligible provided that their Class 12 qualification is equivalent to an AIU-recognised board. Their state code will be based on their permanent indian address.
| Particulars | Key details |
| Age limit | No lower or upper age limit criteria for droppers or repeaters. |
| Educational qualification | Must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or 2027. |
| Number of attempts allowed | Maximum of 6 attempts in 3 consecutive years |
| Subject requirement criteria | Mathematics and physics are compulsory subjects in Class 12, and one additional subject from chemistry, biology, or a technical vocational subject. |
| Minimum qualification marks criteria | No minimum qualifying marks to take the JEE Main 2027 exam. 75% aggregate to get admission into IITs, NITs, and other institutes. |
JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria to Appear for JEE Advanced 2027
Students who want to get admission to the IITs for undergraduate courses have to clear JEE Advanced along with JEE Main. But to be eligible to write the JEE Advanced, students must have cleared the JEE Main. Candidates can give both Session 1 and Session 2 to qualify for the JEE Advanced exam. The best score out of the two will be considered.
- JEE Main criteria: The top 2.5 lakh candidates (from all categories) who cleared JEE Main 2027 are eligible to take JEE Advanced 2027.
- Age limit criteria: The age criteria for JEE Advanced 2027 are that candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2002. Age relaxation is given for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Maximum number of attempts criterion: A candidate can attempt the JEE Advanced exam a maximum of two times for two consecutive years.
- Passing marks criteria: Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination in the year 2025 or 2026.
- Minimum marks criteria: To be eligible for JEE Advanced 2027 and get admission into IITs, candidates should meet the criteria by scoring 75% aggregate marks or be in the top 20th percentile in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST candidates).
- Earlier admission in IITs: If any candidate has been admitted into the IITs earlier, they are not eligible to give the JEE Advanced again.
FAQs
Students who have passed Class 12 or equivalent exam in 2025 and 2026 are eligible. Also, students who will be appearing in 2027 are eligible to take JEE Main 2027. Mandatory to have subjects mathematics physics, along with one additional subject from Chemistry, Biology, or a technical/vocational subject. Read the NTA-released official guidelines for JEE Main 2027.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, NTA removed the 75% criteria to be eligible for the JEE Main exam. There is no minimum class 12 percentage criterion to be eligible for JEE Main 2027 anymore. However, the 75% criterion is applicable to get admission into the top engineering colleges like IITs, NITs, and others.
There is no minimum qualifying percentage required to take the JEE Main 2027. Any student who has passed Class 12 in 2025, 2026, or 2027 with the required subjects is eligible to take the JEE Main 2027.
There is no specified age limit given by NTA for eligibility for JEE Main 2027. Candidates of any age who have passed Class 12 or will be appearing in 2027 are eligible. They should also meet the other eligibility criteria.
The JEE Main exam is conducted twice every year in two sessions. Candidates can either give both sessions or any one of them as per their choice. The best score among the two sessions will be considered. In total, the maximum number of attempts allowed is 6 attempts in 3 consecutive years.
Yes, students who are appearing for Class 12 improvement exams in 2027 are eligible to take the JEE Main 2027 exam. Just make sure the eligible subjects are included in the Class 12 papers.
No, students don’t need to attempt both the JEE Main sessions that are conducted every year. Candidates can appear in one or both sessions as per their choice. Generally, candidates attempt both sessions as it increases the chances of scoring a higher percentile.
In class 12 or equivalent exam, candidates must have studied physics, mathematics and any one of the following subjects: chemistry, biology, biotechnology or a technical vocational subject. For Paper 1, mathematics and physics are mandatory. For Paper 2A, mathematics, physics and chemistry are mandatory subjects, and maths is mandatory for Paper 2B.
No, JEE Main has the same eligibility criteria across all states. There is no specific state-wise eligibility criterion for JEE Main 2027. The state code of eligibility applies during the counselling process to get home-state quota admissions for NITs, GFTIs and many more colleges.
No, the eligibility criteria to appear for JEE Main 2027 are the same for both Session 1 and Session 2. There is no such difference in the JEE eligibility criteria between the two sessions.
Yes, candidates can appear only in Session 2 without attempting Session 1. There is no such compulsion to give both sessions to qualify or clear the exam.
