JEE Main 2027 Eligibility
JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Class 12 Passing Year, Subjects and Attempts
Updated: 1 November 2026 | By AAYAM Career Institute, Indore
To appear for JEE Main 2027, a candidate must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2025 or 2026, or be appearing in it in 2027. There is no age limit for JEE Main, and no minimum Class 12 percentage is needed to sit the exam.
JEE eligibility works in three stages: permission to sit JEE Main, eligibility for JEE Advanced, and the academic conditions for NIT, IIIT and IIT admission. Meeting one does not automatically satisfy the others. This guide explains each stage for the 2027 cycle.
NTA released the JEE Main 2027 Information Bulletin with Session 1 registration on 24 October 2026. The JEE Advanced 2027 brochure and JoSAA 2027 rules are not out yet; where this page refers to them, it follows the rules of the last cycle, and we will update it when the 2027 documents are released.
JEE Main 2027 Eligibility Criteria at a Glance
| Criterion | JEE Main 2027 requirement |
|---|---|
| Class 12 passing year | Passed in 2025 or 2026, or appearing in 2027 |
| Age limit | None |
| Minimum Class 12 marks to sit the exam | None |
| Sessions | January 2027 (Session 1) and April 2027 (Session 2); one or both |
| Subjects for B.E./B.Tech admission | Physics and Mathematics, plus Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject |
| Marks for NIT, IIIT and IIT admission | 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or the board's top 20 percentile, as per the last JoSAA cycle |
| JEE Advanced 2027 | Top 2,50,000 in JEE Main Paper 1 (all categories together) |
Class 12 Passing Year for JEE Main 2027
You can apply for JEE Main 2027 if you passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2025 or 2026, or if you are appearing in it in 2027. Candidates who passed in 2024 or earlier are not eligible, whatever their age.
| Class 12 status | Eligible for JEE Main 2027? |
|---|---|
| Passed in 2024 or earlier | No |
| Passed in 2025 | Yes |
| Passed in 2026 | Yes |
| Appearing in 2027 | Yes |
JEE Main 2027 Age Limit
There is no age limit for JEE Main 2027. The passing-year rule above is the only time-based condition. Institutes that admit students through JEE Main may still apply their own age rules, so check them before you fill choices in counselling.
JEE Main having no age limit does not mean IITs have none. JEE Advanced has its own date-of-birth condition, covered below.
Class 12 Subjects Required for JEE Main 2027
You can sit JEE Main without a minimum percentage, but admission to each course needs the right Class 12 subjects:
| Paper | Course | Class 12 subjects needed for admission |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | B.E. / B.Tech | Physics and Mathematics compulsory, plus one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject |
| Paper 2A | B.Arch | Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics |
| Paper 2B | B.Planning | Mathematics |
PCB students cannot take admission to B.E./B.Tech through Paper 1 without Mathematics. Biology can replace Chemistry as the third subject, but Mathematics and Physics cannot be replaced.
How Many Attempts Are Allowed in JEE Main?
JEE Main 2027 is held in two sessions: Session 1 in January 2027 and Session 2 in April 2027. You can take one or both, and if you take both, your better NTA score is used for the rank list. Candidates registered for Session 1 can use the same application number for Session 2.
Because you can apply in the year you appear in Class 12 and in the two years after it, you get up to three years, or six sessions, in total. Session 1 registration runs from 24 October to 22 November 2026; see the full JEE Main 2027 registration dates.
The 75% Criterion and Top 20 Percentile
There is no minimum Class 12 percentage to sit JEE Main 2027. The 75% rule applies only at admission. In the last JoSAA cycle, candidates needed either 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% for SC, ST and PwD)or a place in their board's category-wise top 20 percentile to take a seat at an NIT, IIIT, IIT or other centrally funded institute. These are alternatives: you need only one.
The top 20 percentile is not your JEE Main percentile. It is a board-wise cutoff in Class 12 marks, published by JoSAA for each board and category. Check the JoSAA 2027 rules on josaa.nic.in when they are released.
JEE Advanced 2027 Eligibility
For IIT admission, you must also qualify JEE Advanced 2027. Its brochure is not out yet; the conditions below follow the rules applied every year:
| Condition | JEE Advanced 2027 (expected, based on the last cycle) |
|---|---|
| Qualify JEE Main | Among the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main 2027 Paper 1, all categories together |
| Date of birth | On or after 1 October 2002 (1 October 1997 for SC, ST and PwD) |
| Attempts | Maximum two, in two consecutive years |
| Class 12 | First appeared with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in 2026 or 2027 |
Qualifying JEE Advanced does not guarantee an IIT seat. Seats are allotted through JoSAA counselling, based on your JEE Advanced rank and the Class 12 conditions above. Check the brochure on jeeadv.ac.in when it is released.
NIOS, Diploma and Other Equivalent Qualifications
Class 12 from any recognised central or state board is accepted. NIOS Senior Secondary with at least five subjects, and a diploma of at least three years recognised by AICTE or a state board of technical education, are also accepted as equivalent qualifications. Candidates from foreign or unlisted boards may need an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities.
An equivalent qualification lets you sit the exam. You still need the subject and marks conditions above for admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age limit for JEE Main 2027?
There is no age limit for JEE Main 2027. You only need to have passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026, or be appearing in 2027. Institutes you apply to may have their own age rules.
Can I apply for JEE Main 2027 if I passed Class 12 in 2024?
No. Only candidates who passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026, or who are appearing in 2027, are eligible.
Is 75% in Class 12 required to appear for JEE Main 2027?
No. There is no minimum Class 12 percentage to sit JEE Main. The 75% (65% for SC, ST and PwD) or top 20 percentile condition applies to admission to NITs, IIITs, IITs and other centrally funded institutes through JoSAA.
How many attempts are allowed in JEE Main?
JEE Main is held in two sessions each year, and you can take one or both. Because you can apply in the year you appear in Class 12 and the two years after, you get up to three years, or six sessions, in total.
Which subjects are compulsory for JEE Main Paper 1?
For B.E./B.Tech admission, Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, along with one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject.
Can PCB students appear for JEE Main?
Not for B.E./B.Tech without Mathematics. Mathematics and Physics are compulsory for Paper 1. Biology can be the third subject in place of Chemistry, but Mathematics cannot be replaced.
What is the age limit for JEE Advanced 2027?
Based on the rule followed every year, candidates should be born on or after 1 October 2002, with five years' relaxation (1 October 1997) for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Confirm this in the JEE Advanced 2027 brochure when it is released.
Can NIOS or diploma students apply for JEE Main 2027?
Yes. NIOS Senior Secondary with at least five subjects and a recognised diploma of at least three years are accepted as equivalent qualifications, subject to the subject and marks conditions for admission.
Sources: JEE Main 2027 Information Bulletin (NTA) and the JEE Advanced and JoSAA rules of the last cycle. For official updates, visit jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Prepare for JEE 2027 with AAYAM
Once you know you are eligible, the next step is a preparation plan. AAYAM runs classroom JEE Main and Advanced batches in Indore for Class 11, Class 12 and droppers.