JoSAA Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026 determines who can participate in the joint seat allocation process for IITs, IISc, NITs, IIEST, IIITs (Triple-I-Ts), and other Government-Funded Technical Institutes for the academic year 2026–27.
The eligibility criteria have two layers, the examination-level criterion (what JEE exam you cleared and at what level) and the academic criterion (your Class XII performance). Both must be satisfied simultaneously to get a seat. Missing either one, even if you have an excellent JEE rank means your allotted seat can be cancelled at any stage.
This article explains the full JoSAA 2026 eligibility criteria, covering IIT/IISc and NIT+ System separately, along with category-wise details and Class XII requirements.
JoSAA 2026 Eligibility Criteria – Overview
| Eligible For | Exam Requirement |
| IIT/IISc – Regular Programs | Qualified JEE Advanced 2026 |
| IIT – Preparatory Courses | Qualified JEE Advanced 2026 |
| NIT+ System – B.E./B.Tech. | Rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 |
| NIT+ System – B.Arch. | Rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper IIA |
| NIT+ System – B.Plan. | Rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper IIB |
A candidate can be eligible under more than one criterion. However, only ONE seat is allocated regardless of eligibility under multiple criteria.
JEE Advanced 2026 Eligibility for IITs/IISc
To be eligible for IIT and IISc seats through JoSAA 2026, a candidate must:
- Have qualified JEE Advanced 2026 i.e., appeared in both papers and met the minimum qualifying marks for at least one rank list.
- Satisfy the Class XII (or equivalent) performance requirement.
The minimum qualifying marks in JEE Advanced 2026 for inclusion in rank lists are:
| Rank List | Min % in Each Subject | Min % Aggregate |
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 10.0% | 35.0% |
| GEN-EWS Rank List | 9.0% | 31.5% |
| OBC-NCL Rank List | 9.0% | 31.5% |
| SC Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| ST Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| All PwD Rank Lists | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| Preparatory Course Rank Lists | 2.5% | 8.75% |
JEE Main 2026 Eligibility for NIT+ System
For NITs, IIEST, IIITs, and Other GFTIs, the eligibility is based on JEE Main 2026:
- B.E./B.Tech. programs: Rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper 1.
- B.Arch. programs: Rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper IIA.
- B.Plan. programs: Rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper IIB.
Foreign nationals are NOT eligible for NIT+ System seats through JoSAA 2026. All other JEE Main 2026 rank holders (including OCI/PIO (I) card holders) can participate.
Class XII Performance Requirements – IITs/IISc
For IIT and IISc programs, a candidate must satisfy at least one of the following Class XII criteria:
Criterion A: Minimum 75% Aggregate Marks
Candidate must have at least 75% aggregate marks in Class XII (or equivalent) examination. (For SC, ST, PwD, it’s 65%).
Aggregate would be based on five subjects namely Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, 1 Language (language in which candidate has more marks), 1 more subject (highest marks). Marks would be normalized to be out of 100 for each subject if not so.
Criterion B: Top 20 Percentile
Candidate must be within the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class XII board examination, in the relevant academic year. The percentile is calculated category-wise by each board.
If a board does not publish top 20 percentile data, the candidate must produce a certificate from the board in the format given in Annexure 11 of the Business Rules. If such a certificate is not produced, CBSE cut-off marks for the respective category are applied.
Year of Appearance
Class XII performance is considered as follows:
- Candidates appearing in Class XII for the first time in 2026: marks of 2026 examination.
- Candidates who appeared first in 2025 and did not reappear in 2026 in any subject: marks of 2025 examination.
- Candidates who appeared first in 2025 and appeared for improvement in some subjects in 2026: best of the two attempts per subject is used.
- Candidates who appeared first in 2025 and reappeared in ALL subjects in 2026: best of the two full performances is used.
Class XII Performance Requirements – NIT+ System
For NIT+ System seats, the candidate must have appeared in Class XII for the first time in 2024, 2025, or 2026, and must satisfy at least one of:
| Criterion | Requirement | SC/ST/PwD Relaxation |
| Minimum Aggregate Marks | 75% aggregate in Class XII (minimum five subjects) | 65% aggregate |
| Top 20 Percentile | Within top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their board | Same threshold, but percentile is category-wise |
The five subjects for NIT+ aggregate calculation are the same as for IIT/IISc: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Language (best), and one other subject (best).
Category-Wise Eligibility and Category Tags
Candidates are assigned a category tag for seat allocation based on nationality and disability status:
| Category Tag | Who is Assigned This Tag |
| GEN | Indian nationals not belonging to EWS/OBC-NCL/SC/ST and not PwD |
| GEN-PwD | Indian nationals of general category with benchmark disability |
| GEN-EWS | Indian nationals of general category under Economically Weaker Section – valid EWS certificate required |
| GEN-EWS-PwD | EWS candidates with benchmark disability |
| OBC-NCL | Indian nationals in Non-Creamy Layer of OBC – valid certificate required, caste must be in Central List |
| OBC-NCL-PwD | OBC-NCL candidates with benchmark disability |
| SC | Indian nationals belonging to Scheduled Castes – valid SC certificate required |
| SC-PwD | SC candidates with benchmark disability |
| ST | Indian nationals belonging to Scheduled Tribes – valid ST certificate required |
| ST-PwD | ST candidates with benchmark disability |
| Foreign Tag (IITs/IISc only) | Non-Indian nationals and OCI/PIO (F) card holders – supernumerary seats only |
Category tags are assigned based on JEE (Main) 2026 registration data (for NIT+ candidates) or JEE (Advanced) 2026 registration data (for IIT/IISc candidates). The tag is subject to document verification, if a certificate is found invalid, the tag is downgraded.
State Code of Eligibility – NIT+ System
For NIT+ System seats, each candidate is also assigned a State Code of Eligibility. This is the state from which the candidate first appeared for the Class XII (or equivalent) examination — not the state of domicile, native place, or current residence.
| Scenario | State Code of Eligibility |
| Appeared in Class XII from Delhi, resident of Noida (UP) | Delhi |
| First appeared from UP, appeared for improvement from Delhi | Uttar Pradesh |
| Studied abroad (e.g., UK, Gulf), has permanent address in India | State as per Indian passport permanent address |
| OCI/PIO (I) card holder appeared in India | Same as Indian nationals – state of Class XII appearance |
The State Code of Eligibility determines eligibility for Home State (HS) and Other State (OS) seat pools in NIT+ institutes. Home State candidates generally have access to a reserved pool of seats in institutes located in their state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is eligible for JoSAA 2026 counselling?
A. Any candidate who has qualified JEE Advanced 2026 for IITs/IISc or secured a rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper 1/IIA/IIB for NIT+ System and meets the Class XII performance requirement is eligible. Foreign nationals can participate in IIT/IISc allocation but not in NIT+ System allocation through JoSAA.
Q. What is the Class XII requirement for IIT admission through JoSAA 2026?
A. A candidate must have secured at least 75% aggregate marks in Class XII (65% for SC/ST/PwD), OR be within the top 20 percentile of their board in the respective category. The aggregate is computed across five subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Language, and one other subject.
Q. Is there a minimum JEE Advanced score required for IIT eligibility?
A. For the CRL, a candidate needs at least 10% marks in each subject and 35% aggregate. For OBC-NCL and GEN-EWS, it is 9% per subject and 31.5% aggregate. For SC/ST and all PwD categories, it is 5% per subject and 17.5% aggregate.
Q. What is the state code of eligibility and why does it matter?
A. The state code of eligibility is the state from which you first appeared in the Class XII exam not your home state. It determines whether you qualify for Home State (HS) or Other State (OS) seat pools in NIT+ System institutes. Home State candidates typically have access to a separate pool of reserved seats in institutes in their state.
Q. Can a candidate who is awaiting Class XII result revaluation participate in JoSAA 2026?
A. Yes. Such candidates must still register and fill choices within the deadline (June 11, 2026), even if they are not currently eligible. If their revised result makes them eligible, they can be considered for seat allocation in subsequent rounds. They must email the organising institute (IIT Roorkee) with the revised certificate by the notified deadline.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.