No Relaxation in 75% Rule for JEE Admissions 2026, Clarifies IIT Roorkee

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, the organizing institute for JEE Advanced 2026, has clarified that there is no relaxation in the Class 12 eligibility requirement for admission to IITs. The clarification comes after reports and discussions suggesting that candidates may receive a one-time exemption from the minimum qualifying marks requirement due to concerns surrounding board examination evaluations and re-evaluation requests.

According to the clarification, candidates seeking admission to IITs through JEE Advanced 2026 must continue to satisfy the prescribed Class 12 eligibility criteria. The institute emphasized that participation in counselling should not be interpreted as a waiver of admission requirements.

JEE Advanced 2026 IIT Admission Eligibility Criteria Remains Unchanged

The eligibility criteria for IIT admissions continue to remain the same for the current admission cycle.

Existing Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must satisfy either of the following conditions:

• General, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates: Minimum 75% marks in Class 12 or equivalent examination.
• SC, ST and PwD candidates: Minimum 65% marks in Class 12 or equivalent examination.
• Alternatively, candidates may qualify if they are placed within the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective board examinations.

These eligibility conditions are part of the admission requirements prescribed by the Joint Admission Board (JAB) and remain applicable for admissions to IITs across the country.

Why Confusion Arose Over the 75% Eligibility Rule?

The issue gained attention after concerns were raised by students whose Class 12 results were under re-evaluation or review. Several candidates who qualified JEE Advanced 2026 feared losing admission opportunities because their current board examination marks fell short of the required threshold. Earlier, IIT Roorkee had announced that such candidates could participate in the JoSAA Counselling 2026 process and receive provisional seat allotments while awaiting revised board examination results. This led to speculation that the 75% rule itself had been relaxed. However, the institute has now clarified that counselling participation does not imply exemption from the final eligibility requirements.

JoSAA Counselling 2026 Participation Allowed, But Admission Conditions Apply

One of the most important aspects of the clarification is that candidates who are currently below the eligibility threshold may still participate in counselling.

What Candidates Are Allowed To Do

• Register for JoSAA Counselling 2026
• Fill institute and branch preferences
• Participate in seat allocation rounds
• Receive provisional seat allotments
• Complete counselling formalities within prescribed timelines

What Remains Mandatory

• Meeting the required 75% (or 65%) eligibility criterion
• Qualifying under the top 20 percentile rule, where applicable
• Submitting valid and updated board examination documents before final admission confirmation

Failure to satisfy these conditions may result in cancellation of the allotted seat

IIT Roorkee and JAB Response to Student Demands

Following demands from students and parents seeking a one-time exemption, the Joint Admission Board (JAB) reviewed concerns related to board examination evaluation timelines and rechecking processes. The issue became particularly relevant because counselling schedules and re-evaluation result announcements often overlap. Despite these concerns, the admission authorities have not announced any formal relaxation in the eligibility requirements. Instead, the relief provided is limited to allowing affected candidates to remain part of the counselling process while awaiting revised results.

Impact on JEE Advanced 2026 Qualified Candidates

The clarification is especially important for candidates who have:

• Qualified JEE Advanced 2026
• Applied for board examination re-evaluation
• Awaited revised mark sheets
• Scored marginally below the required percentage

Such candidates can continue participating in JoSAA counselling without losing immediate admission opportunities. However, they must eventually satisfy the prescribed eligibility criteria before admission can be finalized.

What Candidates Should Do Next?

Students participating in the ongoing admission process should carefully monitor both counselling and board examination updates.

Recommended Actions

• Complete JoSAA registration and choice filling on time.
• Track board re-evaluation results regularly.
• Preserve all mark sheets and supporting documents.
• Follow official notifications issued by IIT Roorkee, JAB and JoSAA.
• Avoid relying on unofficial reports regarding admission rule changes.

Candidates should remember that counselling deadlines and document submission timelines remain critical for securing admission.

JoSAA Counselling 2026 Continues for JEE Advanced Qualifiers

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process has already commenced for qualified candidates. Through this centralized process, students can seek admission to:

• Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
• National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
• Other Government Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs)

Seat allocation continues to be based on:

• JEE Advanced rank
• Category
• Candidate preferences
• Seat availability

The Class 12 eligibility requirement is verified separately during the admission process