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Engineering

JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination): Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Application Process

Last updated 17 Oct 2026

National entrance exam for admission to NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded engineering institutes, and the qualifying stage for JEE Advanced.

Annual (2 sessions) 12th (PCM) Engineering

About the Exam

Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE Main is used for admission to NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded technical institutes, and candidates who clear a qualifying threshold become eligible to attempt JEE Advanced for the IITs.

Eligibility (illustrative)

  • •12th standard with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM)

Exam Pattern

Format
Computer-based, objective + numerical answer type
Subjects
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics

Application Process

  1. NTA releases the official notification on jeemain.nta.nic.in — JEE Main is conducted in multiple sessions each year, and the specific session dates are confirmed only in that notification.
  2. Register and submit the online application within the notified window for your chosen session(s).
  3. Download the admit card closer to the exam date from the official site.
  4. Appear for the computer-based exam — scores from your best session (if you attempt more than one) are typically considered, though the exact rule is confirmed each cycle in the official notification.
  5. Check your result/scorecard on the official site. A qualifying percentile makes you eligible to additionally attempt JEE Advanced for IIT admission, subject to the current eligibility criteria set separately for Advanced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a minimum 12th-standard percentage required for JEE Main?

This requirement has changed across different years and varies by institute (NITs/IIITs may apply their own qualifying criteria beyond the exam itself) — check the current official notification rather than a remembered threshold.

How is JEE Main different from JEE Advanced?

JEE Main is the broader exam used for NIT/IIIT/CFTI admissions, and a qualifying JEE Main performance is also the entry gate to separately attempt JEE Advanced, which is used specifically for IIT admissions. The two have different syllabi emphasis and separate application processes.

Can I take JEE Main more than once in the same year?

JEE Main has historically been conducted in multiple sessions within a year, and candidates can typically attempt more than one session — confirm the current session structure and attempt rules in the official notification, since this has varied across years.

Editorial guidance from the CareerChowk team on exam structure and eligibility. Dates, vacancies, cut-offs and results are not shown here — always check the exam's official notification for current information.

Rules, deadlines and current details can change — always confirm specifics on the official exam website, jeemain.nta.nic.in ↗, rather than relying on this page alone.