JEE Main 2018 Eligibility Criteria

Aspirants must satisfy prescribed eligibility conditions before they apply for JEE Main 2018. From the admission year 2018, CBSE has specified five key points of eligibility criteria. The details of eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2018 are as follows:

Age Limit to appear for JEE Main 2018:

Only Applicant’s those born on or after 1^st October 1993 are eligible for JEE Main examination.

In case of SC, ST and PwD candidates must be born on or after October 1st 1998, a relaxation of 5 years is available. No relaxation is available for OBC Candidates.

Essentially, candidates who are 24 years or less as on October 1, 2017 are eligible to apply.

*Note: DOB as mentioned in the Secondary Education Board/University certificate will be considered as correct.

Qualification Criteria for JEE Main 2018

• Qualifying Exam: Candidates must have passed their higher secondary examination (Class 12^th) or other qualifying examination in the year 2016 or 2017 conduct by any recognized central/ state board such as CBSE, ISCE.
• Candidates who are appearing for their higher secondary examination in 2018 can also fill the JEE Main application form.
• Intermediate or two-year pre-university examination which a recognized Board/ University holds.
•  The final examination of two-year course of the Joint Service Wing of the National Defense Academy.
• National Institute of open Schooling (NIOS) Senior Secondary School Examination with a minimum of five subjects.
• Any Public School, University, Board examination in India or in any foreign country which the Association of Indian University (AIU) recognizes as equivalent to the 12th standard.
•  Diploma Holders: Diploma holders may also apply for JEE Main 2018 but only eligible for admission to IITs. In other words, Diploma holders will be eligible for JEE Main so that they can further apply for JEE Advanced but not eligible for admission based on JEE Main scores.
•   No Minimum Marks: There is no minimum marks requirement in the 12th examination for writing the JEE Main exam. However, candidates must secure the passing marks.

Who is not eligible?

• Candidates who appeared in class 12th/equivalent qualifying Examinations in 2015, did not pass in 2015, but passed in 2016 are also NOT eligible to appear in JEE Main 2018.
• Candidates who have studied only four subjects are NOT eligible.
• The authority doesn’t allow candidates to appear in the exam if they do not have their genuine admit card.

Number of Attempts:

• If other eligibility criteria are fulfilled, a candidate is allowed a maximum of three attempts.

Number of attempts and age limit for the states of Madhya Pradesh and Odisha:

Since the states of Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Odisha have joined JEE Main system from 2014. The age limit, for admission to institutions in these states which were earlier admitting candidates based on their state level examinations, will be as per their past practice only. The number of attempts in such cases will also remain same as per their past practice. This will however be obviously not applicable for admission to IITs/NITs/IIITs/CFTIs.

Pass Percentage in Class 12/Qualifying Examination:

Aadhaar Card Number

All candidates should possess Aadhaar Card and a registered Aadhaar Card Number. While filling application form of JEE (Main)–2018, the candidates will be required to enter their Aadhaar card number, name, date of birth and gender. In case, there is a mismatch in the details, the applicants will not be able to fill the application form for JEE (Main) 2018.