A major announcement has been released for IIT aspirants across the country. IIT Roorkee has officially published the complete eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2026, bringing clarity to students preparing for this highly competitive exam.

The JEE Advanced 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on May 17, 2026, and the latest guidelines confirm that no major changes have been made in attempts, eligibility, or selection process.

Two Attempts Rule: No Change by IIT Roorkee

The most important point in the notification is that students will continue to get only two attempts for JEE Advanced:

• First attempt – In the same year they pass Class 12
   

• Second attempt – In the following year
   

This clearly means the attempts rule remains exactly the same as previous years.

Who Can Appear? Class 12 Eligibility Explained

According to the information shared by IIT Roorkee and explained by a career counselling expert at Gurukripa Career Institute (GCI):

Eligible students include:

• Students who pass Class 12 in 2025
   

• Students who pass Class 12 in 2026
   

• Students whose Class 12 results were declared after June 18, 2024
   

This rule opens the opportunity for a large number of students to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.

JEE Main 2026: Top 2.5 Lakh Students Will Qualify for Advanced

As always, only the top performers in JEE Main 2026 will get a chance to appear in JEE Advanced.

Category-wise distribution of top 2.5 lakh students:

• General (GEN): 1,01,250
   

• EWS: 25,000
   

• OBC-NCL: 67,500
   

• SC: 37,500
   

• ST: 18,750
   

This clearly shows that the competition remains intense, and students must aim for a strong JEE Main rank.

Age Limit for JEE Advanced 2026

Only students born on or after October 1, 2001 are eligible for JEE Advanced 2026.

The age criteria has not changed, and students older than this cutoff will not be able to apply.

Important Rules for Students Who Attended JoSAA 2025 Counseling

IIT Roorkee has also clarified the rules for students who received IIT seats last year:

Eligible to Appear Again in 2026:

• Students who received an IIT seat but did not complete online reporting
   

• Students who withdrew their IIT seat till Round 5
   

Not Eligible:

• Students who joined any IIT (even if they later left or changed their mind)
   

This ensures fairness for both fresh candidates and those who missed admission last year.

No Major Changes in JEE Advanced 2026

The new guidelines clearly show:

• Attempts remain unchanged (2 attempts)
   

• Age limit remains unchanged
   

• Selection through top 2.5 lakh students from JEE Main remains the same
   

Overall, the structure and rules of the exam continue to follow the existing pattern.

What Should Students Do Now?

With the official guidelines out, this is the right moment for aspirants to:

• Plan a clear strategy
   

• Strengthen fundamentals
   

• Practice mock tests and previous papers
   

• Follow a consistent preparation routine
   

Students at institutions like Gurukripa Career Institute (GCI) are advised to start building momentum for JEE Main and Advanced right away.

Conclusion

The JEE Advanced 2026 notification by IIT Roorkee brings clarity and stability for aspirants. Since no major changes have been made, students can continue preparing with confidence, knowing the exam pattern and eligibility remain exactly as expected.