JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Attempts and Qualifying Marks

JEE Main 2027 eligibility criteria set by NTA require students to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Mathematics, and one additional subject from a recognised board — and there is no upper age limit to appear in the exam.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts JEE Main in two sessions each year — Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April. Students who passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026, or who are appearing in 2027, are eligible for JEE Main 2027. No minimum percentage in Class 12 is required to sit for the exam. However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) through JoSAA, students must have secured at least 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% for SC, ST, and PwD students) or be in the top-20 percentile of their respective board.

• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for JEE Main 2027.
• Number of Attempts: Students can attempt JEE Main up to 6 times — 2 sessions per year over 3 consecutive years.
• Year of Passing Class 12: Eligible if you passed in 2025 or 2026, or are appearing in 2027.
• Qualifying Marks for NIT/IIIT/CFTI Admission: 75% aggregate in Class 12 or top-20 percentile of your board (65% for SC/ST/PwD students).
• Compulsory Subjects: Physics and Mathematics are mandatory; the third subject must be Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a Technical Vocational subject.

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JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria Overview

NTA publishes the complete eligibility norms in the official JEE Main 2027 Information Bulletin before registration opens. The table below summarises all key parameters at a glance.

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Age Limit for JEE Main 2027

There is no upper age limit to appear in JEE Main 2027. NTA removed the age restriction in 2017, and this policy continues for the 2027 exam cycle. Students of any age who meet the academic qualifications and attempt limits can register.

However, note that IITs set a separate age criterion for admission via JEE Advanced. For JEE Advanced 2027, General and OBC-NCL students must have been born on or after October 1, 2002. SC, ST, and PwD students receive a 5-year relaxation and must have been born on or after October 1, 1997. This age requirement applies only to JEE Advanced and IIT admission — not to JEE Main registration or NIT/IIIT admission.

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Number of Attempts Allowed in JEE Main 2027

Students can attempt JEE Main a total of 6 times — 2 sessions per year over 3 consecutive years, starting from the year they first passed or appeared in Class 12.

If you appear in both Session 1 and Session 2 of 2027, NTA uses the higher NTA Score of the two for rank calculation. You do not need to appear in both sessions — appearing in even one is valid for that year.

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Educational Qualification for JEE Main 2027

Students must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised central or state board with at least five subjects, including Physics and Mathematics.

Students who passed Class 12 without Physics or Mathematics in their subject combination are not eligible for B.E./B.Tech programmes, even if they clear JEE Main. Verify your subject combination before filling the application form.

Diplomas, polytechnic certificates, or open-school qualifications may be considered equivalent subject to the specific institution’s admission policy. For NIT and IIIT admission, only Class 12 from a recognised central or state board qualifies.

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Qualifying Marks in Class 12 for JEE Main 2027

No minimum Class 12 percentage is required to appear in JEE Main 2027, but the percentage matters at the admission stage. Students aiming for NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs through JoSAA counselling must meet the Class 12 qualifying marks criterion independently of their JEE Main rank.

• The top-20 percentile threshold varies by board and is published by NTA after board results are declared each year.
• Students who clear JEE Main but do not meet the 75% or top-20 percentile norm cannot be allotted a seat at NITs, IIITs, or CFTIs through JoSAA, regardless of their rank.
• Students targeting IITs through JEE Advanced must also satisfy the Class 12 eligibility norms set by the Joint Admission Board for that cycle.
• The aggregate percentage is calculated using the marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Language, and one additional subject as per the respective board’s policy.

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Category-wise Eligibility Relaxation for JEE Main 2027

NTA follows central government reservation norms for JEE Main 2027. Category-based relaxations apply primarily at the admission stage, not during exam registration.

Students claiming OBC-NCL reservation must produce a valid non-creamy-layer certificate issued on or after April 1, 2026, at the time of JoSAA document verification. EWS students must submit an income and asset certificate issued by a competent authority for the financial year 2026-27.