Students planning to join top engineering colleges like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) through JEE Main 2026 must be aware of an important rule. It is now mandatory to score at least75% marksin their Class 12 board examinations for admission to these institutes. Even if a student gets a good rank in JEE Main, they will not get admission without meeting this 75% Class 12 marks rule.
The JEE Main 2026 exam will be held in two sessions. The first session is scheduled fromJanuary 21 to 30, 2026. The second session will take place fromApril 2 to 9, 2026.
Key Dates for JEE Main 2026 (Session 1)
- Exam Dates:January 21 to 30, 2026
- City Intimation Slip:First week of January 2026
- Admit Cards:3 to 4 days before the exam date
For Session 1, the registration process has already closed. The National Testing Agency (NTA) received about14.5 lakh applicationsthis year. Registration for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 will open in thelast week of January 2026.
Class 12 Marks Rule: What You Need to Know
Students do not need a minimum percentage in their board exams to apply for the JEE Main exam itself. However, the minimum marks rule applies strictly at the time of admission to colleges.
Admission to IITs
To get into an IIT, students must first clear the JEE Main 2026 cutoff to be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026. The cutoff marks will be announced with the JEE Main Session 2 results. Additionally, students must have at least75% marksin their Class 12 board exams.
Admission to NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and Other GFTIs
For admission to these institutes, students have two ways to meet the Class 12 marks criteria:
- Pass Class 12 (or equivalent) with at leastfive subjectsand secure a minimum of75% marks overall.
- OR, be among thetop 20 percentileof successful candidates in their Class 12 board examination for their specific category.
For students belonging to theSC, ST, and PwD categories, the minimum marks requirement is65%in Class 12. There is no rule for minimum marks in individual subjects.
Required Subjects in Class 12
Students must have passed specific subjects in their Class 12 exams based on the course they wish to apply for. The table below lists these subject requirements:
| Course | Required Subjects in Class 12 |
| For BE/BTech | Physics, Mathematics, a Language, any one from Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/Technical Vocational subjects, and any other subject. |
| For BArch | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and two more subjects different from these three. |
| For BPlan | Mathematics and four other subjects. |
Important Exception to the Rule
While the 75% or top 20 percentile rule is widely applicable, some institutes may have their own admission pathways. For example, IIIT Hyderabad allows admission through its Undergraduate Entrance Exam (UGEE) without the 75% Class 12 marks criteria.
Students are advised to check the specific admission rules of their preferred colleges carefully, along with the official JEE Main 2026 information, to ensure they meet all requirements.
