JEE Main 2024: Eligibility Criteria, Documents Required & Age Limit

JEE Main 2024 Eligibility Criteria:

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve deep into the eligibility criteria for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2024, an examination that serves as a gateway to some of India's most prestigious engineering colleges. Mastering these eligibility requirements is vital for prospective engineers aiming to secure admission into the institution of their dreams.

The basic requirement to take JEE Main 2024 exam is to pass a 10+2 examination. The section below covers the detailed JEE Main 2024 Eligibility Criteria:

JEE Main 2024 Age Limit Criteria:

While there is no specific age limit for appearing in JEE Main, candidates should be aware that certain institutes may have age restrictions for particular programs. Therefore, it's crucial to check the age requirements of the colleges to which you intend to apply.

JEE Main 2024 Total Number of Attempts:

• Candidates are permitted a maximum of 3 consecutive attempts at JEE Main Exam.
• It's important to note that appearing in both the January and April sessions of JEE Main within a single year is counted as a single attempt.
• Careful planning and preparation are essential to make the most of these attempts.

75% Criteria in JEE Main 2024 (Qualifying Marks):

Achieving the necessary qualifying marks is not only crucial for JEE Main but also for eligibility to appear in JEE Advanced (for IIT admissions). The qualifying criteria are as follows:

• General Category: Candidates must secure a minimum of 75% marks in their 10+2 examination. Additionally, they should be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
• SC/ST Category: For candidates from the SC/ST category, the qualifying marks are relaxed to 65%

Note: This criterion had been scrapped for JEE Main 2021 & 2022 but NTA has re-introduced the same for the academic year 2024-25.  ​

JEE Main 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Subject Combination

JEE Main 2024 subject combination that is essential for the candidates in order to gain admission to any of the IIITs, NITs, and GFTIs is given below:

• B.E/B.Tech - Compulsory subjects in the form of Mathematics and Physics along with either Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology as the third subject in any of the qualifying examinations.
• B.Arch - Any of the qualifying exams needs to be passed with Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry.
• B.Planning - Mathematics is compulsory as a passing subject.

JEE Main 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Droppers:

There is no specific age limit for candidates to apply and sit for the exam. However, there are a few requisites to be met in case a student wishes to take a gap year after Class 12 or wants to re-appear for the JEE Main Exam.

• For admissions into NITs, IIITs and CFTIs admissions, applicants must have obtained a 75% aggregate or be amongst the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. At least 65% of marks are required for SC/ST category candidates.
• Only three attempts are allowed for JEE Main in continuity. So, for 2024, it is essential that the appearing candidates have passed their Class 12 exams in 2020 or 2021.
• It is critical that any applicant must have had at least five subjects for the 12th class or qualifying exam with compulsory ones in the form of Physics, Mathematics, and chemistry/biology/biotechnology.

JEE Main 2024 Documents Required:

JEE Main 2024 mandatory documents that are needed for the candidature:

• Identity Card: Any Proof of Identity in the form of PAN Card, Drivers Licence, Voter ID, Aadhaar Card (government provided).
• Photograph and Signature: Scanned copies Signature and Photograph are needed. Both the documents should be with a minimum size of 10 KB and a maximum size of 100 KB. The ideal dimensions should be 3.5 cm X 4.5 cm and in the format of JPEG/JPG only.
• Educational Documents: Class 10th Marksheet and Certificate, Class 12th Marksheet are required.

JEE Main 2024 Reservation of Seats:

The Government of India has a section of the total number of seats in JEE Main reserved for different categories of candidates. The allocation of seats is in the form of:

• Admission to NITs/ IITs/ CFTIs participating via Central Seat Allocation Board will be based on AIR (All India Rank).
• Also, earlier the candidate must have secured at least 75% marks in 10+2 exams or be in the top 20 percentile in 10+2 conducted by the respective board.
• For SC/ ST candidates, the qualifying marks in 10+2 are 65% or more. 

JEE Main 2024 State of Eligibility:

• While filling JEE Main 2024 registration form, candidates have to fill the state from which they passed their class 12th exam or an equivalent exam.
• The candidates’ JEE Main Eligibility Criteria will depend upon the state from which the 12th exam is cleared.
• It is important to note that the State code of eligibility does NOT depend upon the native place or the place of residence of the candidate.

Eligibility for Admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs:

In addition to the general eligibility criteria, candidates seeking admission to National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) must adhere to these additional requirements:

Admission to B.E./B.Tech Programs:

• Rank in JEE Main: Candidates should secure a rank in the JEE Main examination.
• Participation in Counseling: To secure admission, candidates must participate in the centralized counseling process. The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts this process for NITs, IIITs, and some other institutions.

Admission to B.Arch and B.Plan Programs:

Aspiring architects and urban planners must meet the following criteria:

• Qualification in JEE Main Paper 2/3: Candidates should qualify in the relevant paper of JEE Main, i.e., Paper 2 for B.Arch and Paper 3 for B.Plan.

Remember, success in JEE Main not only opens the door to top engineering colleges but also sets the foundation for a promising career in the ever-evolving world of technology and innovation.