The JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2025 were officially announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on October 28, 2024 through the information bulletin, providing a comprehensive outline of the qualifications required for students aiming to appear for the JEE Main exam 2025. These guidelines serve as a roadmap for aspirants seeking admission to premier institutions like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
The criteria are applicable to students across India and eligible international candidates, ensuring a standardised selection process.
JEE Main 2025 Eligibility Criteria: Highlights
| Particular | Details |
| Examination Name | Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2025 |
| Age Limit | No age limit |
| Qualifying Exam | Class 12 or equivalent exam |
| Year of passing the Qualifying Exam | 2023, 2024 or appearing in 2025 |
| Subjects in the Qualifying Exam | – For JEE Main Paper 1 (B.Tech): Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, and any one of the following: Chemistry, Biology, or Technical Vocational Subject.
– For JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch): Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects in Class 12. – For JEE Main Paper 2B (B.Plan): Mathematics as a compulsory subject in Class 12. |
| Percentage of Marks | A minimum of 75% marks in Class 12, or be in the top 20 percentile (for admission to colleges) |
| Number of Attempts | Candidates can attempt the JEE Main exam twice a year, for a maximum of three consecutive years. |
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2025
Candidates who wish to apply for JEE Main 2025 must have passed or be appearing for their Class 12 exam in 2023, 2024, or 2025 from a recognised school board.
The JEE Main eligibility criteria primarily consider the following factors:
- Nationality: Candidates applying for JEE Main 2025 must be Indian citizens. Additionally, foreign nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) are also eligible to apply.
- Age: There is no specific age limit for candidates appearing in JEE Main 2025. Any individual who has completed or is currently pursuing their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or 2025 is eligible to participate in the JEE Main 2025 exam.
- Class 12 Qualifying Exam: There is no specific minimum marks requirement in Class 12 for appearing in the JEE Main exam. However, for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, a minimum of 75% marks in Class 12 is typically required.
- List of Recognised Qualifying Examinations: Candidates must have completed one of the following examinations:
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- The final examination of the 10+2 system was conducted by recognised central/state boards like CBSE, CISCE, etc.
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination conducted by a recognised Board/University
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defense Academy
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (with a minimum of five subjects)
- Any Public School/Board/University examination in India or abroad recognised as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination
- A Diploma recognised by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education with a duration of at least three years
- General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) Level
- High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva
- Year of Appearing for the Qualifying Exam: Candidates who have passed or are appearing for their Class 12/equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or 2025 are eligible for the JEE Main 2025 exam.
Number of Attempts in JEE Main 2025
Candidates must have passed or be appearing for their Class 12 exam in 2023, 2024, or 2025 to be eligible for JEE Main 2025. This means that candidates who completed Class 12 before 2023 or will complete it after 2025 are not eligible to appear in JEE Main 2025. It’s worth noting that JEE Main 2025 will be conducted twice: once in January and again in April.
JEE Main State of Eligibility
The State code of eligibility refers to the state board from which the candidate has passed or will pass their Class 12 or equivalent examination. This code determines the state quota for which the candidate is eligible.
- Candidates must note that the State code of eligibility is not based on their native place or current residence. For example, a candidate who appears for the Class 12 exam in Delhi but resides in Uttar Pradesh will have a Delhi State code of eligibility.
- If a candidate has passed Class 12 from one state and then appeared for improvement in another state, their State code of eligibility will be based on the state where they initially passed Class 12.
- For Indian nationals passing Class 12 from Nepal or Bhutan, the State code of eligibility will be based on their permanent address in India as mentioned in their passport.
- OCI/PIO candidates who pass Class 12 from an institution in India are eligible for the same state quota as Indian nationals. However, OCI/PIO candidates who pass Class 12 from an institution abroad are eligible for Other State quota seats or All India Quota seats in NITs, IIEST, and other CFTIs. They are not eligible for Home State quota seats.
JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2025
For institutes run by State Governments, the reservation policy of the respective State will apply. For Central Government-run institutes, reservations are allocated as follows:
- General Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS): 10% of seats are reserved for this category. Only General category candidates who meet the conditions set by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s OM No. 20013/01/2018-BC-II dated January 17, 2019, are eligible. The criteria follow the prevailing Government of India norms/notifications.
- Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL): 27% of seats are reserved. To be eligible, candidates must be listed in the current, updated central list of OBCs (www.ncbc.ac.in). OBCs present only in the State list are not eligible. The criteria for OBC-NCL are as per the Government of India notification. Candidates belonging to the OBC creamy layer are not entitled to reservation and will be considered under the general (GEN) category.
- Scheduled Caste (SC): 15% of seats are reserved.
- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 7.5% of seats are reserved.
- Persons with Disability/ Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwD/PwBD): 5% of seats are reserved within each category (GEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST).
JEE Main 2025 Eligibility Criteria for Admission in IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs participating through CSAB
Candidates seeking admission to NITs, IIITs, and other Central Government Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) based on JEE (Main) Paper 1 rank must have secured at least 75% marks in their Class 12 examination or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective Board’s Class 12 exam.
For Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, the qualifying marks are reduced to 65% in Class 12.
- Passing Marks: Candidates must pass all subjects in their Class 12/qualifying examination.
- Admission Process: Admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs is based on the announced qualifying percentile by individual institutes.
- Detailed Eligibility Information: For complete and up-to-date eligibility details, refer to the CSAB website: https://csab.nic.in/
- B.Arch. Eligibility (Excluding NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs): The Council of Architecture determines the eligibility criteria for admission to B.Arch. programs outside of NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
- B. Planning Eligibility: Candidates must have passed the qualifying examination with a minimum of 50% marks in Mathematics and a 50% overall aggregate.
Subject Combinations for B.E./B.Tech., B.Arch., and B.Planning Programs in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs
This section outlines the subject combinations required in the qualifying examination for admission to various undergraduate programs in National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs).
- B.E./B.Tech.: Candidates must have passed a qualifying examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Additionally, one of the following subjects is required:
- Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Biology, or
- Technical Vocational subjects
- B.Arch.: As per the Gazette of India notification dated July 19, 2023 (F. No. CA/498/2023/MSAE (Regulations)), the B.Arch. eligibility criteria have been updated. To be eligible, candidates must have passed a 10+2 level examination with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Alternatively, they can have passed a 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject and at least 45% aggregate marks.
- B. Planning: Candidates must have passed a qualifying examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject.
Important Note:- It is advisable to always refer to the official websites of the admitting institutes for the latest admission policies and eligibility criteria. Candidates must ensure they meet all admission requirements before applying.
JEE Main Application Form 2025
The JEE Main Registration 2025 process for both sessions follows a clear timeline, and candidates are advised to complete their JEE Main application form 2025 early to avoid last-minute hassle. For Session 1, the registration window will remain open from October 28, 2024, to November 22, 2024 (until 9:00 PM).
Candidates must submit their application forms and pay the registration fee by November 22, 2024 (11:50 PM). To begin the process, candidates need to create an account on the official JEE Main portal by providing personal information and then log in to complete the application form. The next steps involve uploading required documents such as photographs and educational certificates, choosing the exam mode and subjects, and paying the application fee through various payment methods. After successful submission, candidates should print the confirmation page for reference.
Lastly, candidates are advised to stay updated on the release of the JEE Main 2025 admit card on the official website.
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2025: FAQs
What is the age limit for JEE Main 2025?
There is no age limit for appearing in the JEE Main 2025 exam. Candidates who have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or are appearing in 2025 are eligible to apply, irrespective of their age. However, applicants must meet the age criteria (if any) specified by the institutes they are applying to, such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
What is the minimum qualification required for JEE Main 2025?
The minimum qualification required for JEE Main 2025 is passing the Class 12 examination or an equivalent qualifying exam with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Students appearing in the Class 12 exam in 2025 are also eligible to apply.
How many attempts are allowed for JEE Main 2025?
Candidates are allowed three attempts to appear for the exam for JEE Main 2025. These attempts can be spread across multiple years, as long as the candidate meets the eligibility criteria for each session. Candidates need to plan their attempts accordingly to maximise their chances of qualifying.
Can international students appear for JEE Main 2025?
Yes, international students are eligible to appear for the JEE Main 2025 exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA) provides the opportunity for foreign nationals to take the exam, provided they meet the specified eligibility criteria. International students must fulfil conditions related to their nationality, educational qualifications, and the year of passing the qualifying examination. For detailed information on the application process and specific requirements, international candidates are advised to refer to the official NTA website.
Can OCI cardholders appear for JEE Main 2025?
Yes, OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are eligible to appear for the JEE Main 2025 exam. They are considered under the Foreign Nationals category for the exam, and they must fulfill the eligibility criteria outlined by the National Testing Agency (NTA). While the basic eligibility requirements remain the same, OCI cardholders may have specific conditions regarding nationality, qualifying exam, and other criteria related to admission into institutes. It’s advised to check the detailed guidelines on the official NTA website for complete information
