Students seeking admission to NITs, IIITs, other CFTIs, private institutes and state-run institutes to pursue B.Tech., B.E., B.Arch. and B. Planning courses are required to appear for JEE Main. Your percentile in JEE Main along with your AIR will be used for the admission process in all the engineering colleges across India.
Admission to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs through Central Seat Allocation Board
Admission to participating NITs, IIITs, CFTIs through JEE Main is typically made through Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) that governs admission to participating institutes.
Based on your ALL INDIA RANK in the JEE Main, you are entitled to admission to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs participating through CSAB.
For JEE Main 2026, the admission eligibility criteria have been updated as per CSAB/JoSAA recommendations mentioned on the JEE Main eligibility page.
Updated Eligibility Criteria for Admission to NIT+ System (NITs, IIEST, IIITs, GFTIs)
You must:
- Have passed Class XII (or equivalent) with a minimum of five subjects, AND
- Secure at least 75% aggregate marks in Class XII (or equivalent).
- SC/ST/PwD candidates must secure at least 65%.
(This replaces the earlier requirement of “top 20 percentile OR 75%” wording and aligns with the 2026 brochure’s structure.)
- SC/ST/PwD candidates must secure at least 65%.
OR
- Be within the category-wise top 20 percentile of successful candidates in your Class XII board.
Updated Subject Combination Requirements (as per JEE Main 2026)
| Course / Rank Basis | Required Criteria in Class 12 / Equivalent Examination |
| Programs based on Paper 1 rank | Passed Class 12 with Physics, Mathematics, a language, one of Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/Technical Vocational subject, and any one additional subject. |
| Programs based on Paper 2A rank (B.Arch) | Passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and two other subjects. |
| Programs based on Paper 2B rank (B.Planning) | Passed Class 12 with Mathematics and four other subjects. |
Additionally, for B.Arch., the 2026 brochure includes the updated Council of Architecture requirement that states:
“No candidate shall be admitted to architecture course unless she/he has passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with one of Chemistry/Biology/Technical Vocational/Computer Science/IT/Informatics Practices/Engineering Graphics/Business Studies, with at least 45% marks, OR passed a 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics and 45% marks.”
Admission to other Institutions – JEE Main
Other participating institutions and State Engineering colleges affiliated with State universities may either adopt the rank list prepared by NTA or prepare their own rank list based on criteria decided by them. However, many of them consider the All India Ranking of JEE Main for admission to their courses. You must check with other participating institutions and State engineering colleges for their admission criteria.
NTA further clarifies that States may prepare a separate merit list if they use JEE Main scores for admission. For B.Plan admissions, at least 50% marks in Mathematics and 50% aggregate are required as per the 2026 rules.
Number of Seats in various Institutions – JEE Main
You must note that JEE Main is an examination and after the declaration, you need to check with CSAB, Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) or the concerned State Government/institutes for ascertaining your eligibility, the number of seats and the admission process.
NTA reiterates that it does not collect information regarding seat numbers or institutional eligibility criteria.
Reservation of Seats – JEE Main
If you belong to certain reserved categories, you are eligible for relaxed criteria for reservation of seats. Following are the reserved categories:
- Other Backward Classes (OBC) – Non-Creamy Layer (NCL), as per the central list of Other Backward Classes available on the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Government of India website.
- General-EWS
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Persons with Disability (PwD) with 40% or more disability
The reservation rules stated in the 2026 brochure align with your original text, with the following clarifications:
- The benefit of reservation will be given only to those classes/castes/tribes included in the Central List of the Government of India.
- For State engineering colleges, the State Government’s reservation policy applies.
Seat Allocation Process and Admission process – JEE Main
YYour admission would be based on your choices for branches/programs and institutes and ALL INDIA RANKS in JEE Main 2026. You need to regularly visit JEE Main website and NTA website for the latest information.
For 2026, NTA specifies:
- Admission will be conducted through JoSAA/CSAB Seat Allocation Process based on AIR.
- Document verification for identity, date of birth, qualifying examination, state of eligibility, category, and disability (if any) will be done at the time of seat allocation/admission.
- Failure to produce authentic documents may result in cancellation of candidature for admission.
If your rank is revised due to rechecking or revaluation or re-totalling of board marks, you need to produce the revised board mark sheet for verification at the time of seat allocation.
If you are a candidate belonging to any of the reserved categories, i.e., Gen-EWS / SC / ST / OBC / PwD, you would be required to produce an original certificate, issued by a competent authority in support of your reserved category.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Admission through JEE Main 2026
To secure admission to the NIT+ System through JoSAA/CSAB, you must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least five subjects and secured 75% aggregate marks (or 65% for SC/ST/PwD) or be within the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in your respective board. You must also meet the specific subject combination requirements for B.E./B.Tech., B.Arch., or B.Planning as defined by CSAB/JoSAA rules for 2026.
No. NTA only conducts the JEE Main examination and publishes the All India Rank. All admission-related activities—including counselling, seat allocation, eligibility verification and reservation compliance—are managed by CSAB/JoSAA and the respective State or institutional authorities. Candidates must follow the announcements on the official JoSAA and CSAB websites for admission procedures.
Reservation for NITs, IIITs and CFTIs follows the Central Government reservation policy, which applies only to castes, classes and tribes listed in the official Central List. However, State engineering colleges and other institutions may apply their own State-specific reservation policies if they prepare a separate merit list. Candidates should verify reservation rules directly from the institutional or State counselling authorities.
During JoSAA/CSAB counselling, you must produce original and valid documents supporting your identity, date of birth, qualifying examination, category (EWS/SC/ST/OBC), PwD/PwBD status, and State of eligibility. Failure to submit the required documents may lead to disqualification from the admission process. Revised board mark sheets must also be presented if your board results change after re-evaluation.
Yes. Many institutions—including private engineering colleges, State universities and self-financed institutes—use JEE Main 2026 scores as part of their admission criteria. Some may adopt the JoSAA/CSAB ranking system, while others may prepare their own rank list based on additional criteria. Candidates should refer to the specific institute’s admission notification for detailed eligibility and selection requirements.