.png&w=1920&q=75)
JEE Main Reservation 2026 provides reserved seats for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories. The National Testing Agency (NTA) follows the Government of India norms for seat reservation in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The reservation percentages are GEN-EWS (10%), OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), and PwD (5% horizontal). Reserved category candidates also benefit from lower cutoffs, reduced application fees, and relaxation in eligibility criteria.
Table of Contents
JEE Main Reservation Criteria 2026 Overview
The JEE Main reservation criteria ensure fair access to quality technical education for students from various socio-economic backgrounds. These reservation percentages apply during JoSAA and CSAB counselling for seat allocation in centrally funded technical institutions.
| Category | Reservation Percentage | Type of Reservation |
|---|---|---|
| General (Open/Unreserved) | 40.5% | Vertical |
| GEN-EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 10% | Vertical |
| OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer) | 27% | Vertical |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 15% | Vertical |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 7.5% | Vertical |
| PwD (Persons with Disability) | 5% | Horizontal (within each category) |
| Female Supernumerary | Up to 20% | Supernumerary (extra seats) |
Total Seats Available for Reserved Category Candidates
Reserved category candidates can compete for both reserved and open (general) seats. This increases their overall chances of admission.
| Category | Reserved Seats | Open Seats Eligible | Total Accessible Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 40.5% | - | 40.5% |
| EWS | 10% | 40.5% | 50.5% |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | 40.5% | 67.5% |
| SC | 15% | 40.5% | 55.5% |
| ST | 7.5% | 40.5% | 48% |
OBC-NCL Reservation in JEE Main 2026
OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer) candidates receive 27% reservation in JEE Main. This is the largest reserved category after the general quota.
Eligibility for OBC-NCL Reservation
- Candidate must belong to the Central OBC list issued by the Government of India (not just state list)
- Must belong to the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) as per government norms
- OBC-NCL certificate must be issued on or after April 1, 2025 for JEE Main 2026
- Certificate must follow the format prescribed by the Government of India
- Candidates belonging to Creamy Layer are treated as General category
Non-Creamy Layer Criteria
| Parameter | Criteria for Non-Creamy Layer |
|---|---|
| Annual Family Income | Below ₹8 lakh per annum |
| Government Employment | Parents should not be in Group A/B government services |
| Agricultural Land | Should not own irrigated agricultural land above certain limits |
| Property | Should not own residential property in urban areas above specified limits |
Important: Only candidates listed under the Central OBC list are eligible for OBC reservation in JEE Main. Candidates who are only in their state's OBC list must apply under the General category.
SC/ST Reservation in JEE Main 2026
Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates receive 15% reservation while Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates receive 7.5% reservation in JEE Main 2026.
Eligibility for SC/ST Reservation
- Candidate must belong to SC/ST as per the Central List of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes
- Valid caste certificate issued by a competent authority is mandatory
- Certificate should be in the prescribed format
- Original documents required during JoSAA/CSAB counselling
Benefits for SC/ST Candidates
- Lower JEE Main cutoff (20-30% lower than General category)
- Reduced application fee for JEE Main examination
- Relaxation in minimum qualifying marks (65% instead of 75% in Class 12)
- Age relaxation of 5 years in JEE Advanced
- Access to government scholarships and fee waivers
JEE Main 2025 Qualifying Cutoff (Category-wise)
| Category | Qualifying Cutoff Percentile |
|---|---|
| General | 93.2362181 |
| EWS | 81.3266412 |
| OBC-NCL | 79.6757881 |
| SC | 60.0923182 |
| ST | 46.6975840 |
| PwD | 0.0018700 |
EWS Reservation in JEE Main 2026
The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation was introduced in 2019 to provide 10% quota to candidates from the General category who belong to economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Eligibility for EWS Reservation
- Candidate must belong to General category (not SC/ST/OBC)
- Annual family income must be below ₹8 lakh
- Should not own agricultural land above 5 acres
- Should not own residential plot above 100 square yards in notified municipalities
- Should not own residential plot above 200 square yards in non-notified areas
- Should not own residential flat above 1000 square feet
Documents Required for EWS
- EWS Income and Asset Certificate issued by a competent authority
- Certificate must be valid for the current financial year (2025-26)
- Both Central EWS certificate and State EWS certificate are accepted
- Certificate issued on or after April 1, 2025 is valid for JEE Main 2026
PwD Reservation in JEE Main 2026
Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates receive 5% horizontal reservation across all categories. This means 5% seats are reserved for PwD within General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST categories.
Eligibility for PwD Reservation
- Candidate must have at least 40% disability (benchmark disability)
- Disability certificate must be issued by a recognized government medical authority
- Certificate should follow the format prescribed under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
Types of Disabilities Covered
| Category | Disabilities Included |
|---|---|
| Visual Impairment | Blindness, Low Vision |
| Hearing Impairment | Deaf, Hard of Hearing |
| Locomotor Disability | Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy, Muscular Dystrophy, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims |
| Intellectual Disability | Autism, Learning Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders |
| Multiple Disabilities | Two or more disabilities combined |
| Speech & Language | Speech and Language Disability |
Facilities for PwD Candidates During Exam
- Extra time (compensatory time) during the examination
- Option to use a scribe for assistance
- Accessible examination centers
- Relaxation in eligibility criteria
Female Reservation in JEE Main 2026 (Supernumerary Quota)
To promote gender diversity in engineering, NITs and IIITs provide a 20% supernumerary quota for female candidates. These are extra seats created above the sanctioned intake.
Key Points About Female Supernumerary Quota
- Up to 20% additional seats are created for female candidates
- These seats are over and above the total sanctioned intake
- Female candidates can also compete for regular seats under all categories
- Not all institutes have the same percentage - it varies by institution
- Implemented to improve gender ratio in technical education
Home State Quota in NITs
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) follow a unique reservation system based on Home State and Other State quotas. 50% seats are reserved for candidates from the state where the NIT is located.
Home State vs Other State Quota
| Quota Type | Percentage | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Home State (HS) | 50% | Candidates who passed Class 12 from the state where NIT is located |
| Other State (OS) / All India | 50% | Candidates from all other states |
Home State Quota for States Without NITs
Some states and Union Territories do not have their own NIT. For candidates from these regions, the following NITs consider them as Home State candidates:
| State/UT Without NIT | NIT Considered as Home State |
|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | NIT Arunachal Pradesh |
| Bihar | NIT Patna |
| Chhattisgarh | NIT Raipur |
| Delhi | NIT Delhi |
| Jharkhand | NIT Jamshedpur |
| Madhya Pradesh | MANIT Bhopal |
| Maharashtra | VNIT Nagpur |
| Punjab | NIT Jalandhar |
| Rajasthan | MNIT Jaipur |
| Tamil Nadu | NIT Trichy |
| Uttar Pradesh | MNNIT Allahabad |
| West Bengal | NIT Durgapur |
Special Cases: NIT Warangal and NIT Goa
NIT Warangal and NIT Goa follow different home state quota criteria:
| NIT | Home State Quota Includes |
|---|---|
| NIT Warangal | Candidates from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (combined) |
| NIT Goa | Candidates from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka (combined) |
Impact of Home State Quota on Cutoffs
Home State quota significantly impacts cutoff ranks. Home State candidates generally have relaxed cutoffs compared to Other State candidates.
Example: NIT Trichy CSE (2025 Final Round)
| Category | Other State (OS) Closing Rank | Home State (HS) Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General | 1,605 | 4,624 |
| OBC-NCL | 2,856 | 5,421 |
| SC | 713 | 1,180 |
| ST | 38 | 2,710 |
Reservation in Different Institutes
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
IITs are central government institutions and follow only All India Quota. There is no Home State or Other State quota in IITs.
- Admission based on JEE Advanced rank
- Category-wise reservation: SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC-NCL (27%), EWS (10%), PwD (5%)
- All India Quota only - no state-wise distribution
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
IIITs follow both All India Quota and Home State/Other State quota depending on the institute type.
- Centrally funded IIITs: All India Quota
- PPP mode IIITs: May have state quota based on funding pattern
- Category reservation same as NITs
Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
GFTIs like BIT Mesra, IIEST Shibpur, Assam University have their own quota systems.
- Most GFTIs follow All India Quota
- Some institutes have Home State quota in addition to All India Quota
- Check individual institute policies for specific details
DASA/CIWG Quota for NRI/OCI/PIO Candidates
NRI, OCI, and PIO candidates do not fall under regular reserved categories. They are admitted through separate schemes.
| Scheme | Eligibility | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) | Foreign Nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs | 15% supernumerary seats |
| CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) | Children of Indian workers in Gulf countries | Supernumerary seats with reduced fees |
Documents Required for Claiming Reservation
Category-wise Document Requirements
| Category | Documents Required | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| SC/ST | Caste Certificate from competent authority | No expiry (must be in prescribed format) |
| OBC-NCL | OBC-NCL Certificate with Non-Creamy Layer declaration | Issued on or after April 1, 2025 |
| EWS | EWS Income and Asset Certificate | Valid for current financial year (2025-26) |
| PwD | Disability Certificate from government medical authority | Must show 40% or more disability |
Competent Authorities for Issuing Certificates
- SC/ST Certificate: District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tehsildar, or equivalent authority
- OBC-NCL Certificate: District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, or authorized revenue officer
- EWS Certificate: District Magistrate, SDM, Tehsildar, or officer of equivalent rank
- PwD Certificate: Government hospital medical board, authorized medical authority
How to Claim Reservation in JEE Main 2026
Step-by-Step Process
- During JEE Main Registration: Select your category (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD) accurately while filling the application form
- No Documents Required Initially: No certificates need to be uploaded during JEE Main registration
- During JoSAA Registration: Confirm your category during JoSAA counselling registration
- Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of all category certificates during JoSAA document upload phase
- Document Verification: Present original documents during physical reporting at allotted institute
- Admission Confirmation: After successful verification, admission is confirmed under the claimed category
Important Points to Remember
- Category selected during JEE Main application is final for JoSAA counselling
- Changes in category are generally not entertained after submission
- Invalid or missing certificates will shift the candidate to General category
- Ensure certificate format matches government-prescribed format
- OBC-NCL certificate must be from Central list, not just state list
Benefits of Reservation in JEE Main
Academic Benefits
- Lower Cutoffs: Reserved categories have relaxed qualifying and admission cutoffs
- Relaxed Eligibility: SC/ST candidates need 65% in Class 12 (instead of 75% for General)
- Age Relaxation: SC/ST candidates get 5 years age relaxation in JEE Advanced
- Higher Closing Ranks: Reserved categories have higher closing ranks, making admission easier
Financial Benefits
- Reduced Application Fee: SC/ST/PwD candidates pay lower JEE Main application fee
- Fee Waivers: Many institutes offer tuition fee waivers for reserved categories
- Government Scholarships: Post-Matric scholarships, National Fellowship schemes available
- Education Loans: Priority in education loan processing for reserved categories
JEE Main 2026 Application Fee (Expected)
| Category | Male Candidates | Female Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS/OBC-NCL | ₹1,000 | ₹500 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹500 | ₹250 |
What Happens If Documents Are Rejected?
If your category certificate is found invalid or missing during JoSAA counselling:
- Your reservation claim will be cancelled
- You will be treated as General (Unreserved) category candidate
- Seat allotment will be based on General category cutoff and availability
- If your rank does not meet General category cutoff, you may lose the seat
- No appeal or reconsideration is entertained for invalid documents
Reservation Impact on Cutoffs: A Comparison
Reserved categories have significantly relaxed cutoffs compared to General category. Here's a comparison for top NITs:
NIT Trichy CSE Closing Ranks (2025)
| Category | Closing Rank | Difference from General |
|---|---|---|
| General | 1,605 | - |
| EWS | 4,720 | +194% |
| OBC-NCL | 2,856 | +78% |
| SC | 713 | -56% (better rank needed) |
| ST | 1,088 | -32% (better rank needed) |
Note: For SC/ST categories in top NITs, competition can be very high, sometimes requiring better ranks than General due to fewer applicants in that category.
Conclusion
JEE Main Reservation 2026 ensures equal opportunities for candidates from various socio-economic backgrounds. Understanding the reservation criteria, eligibility requirements, and document requirements is crucial for claiming benefits during JoSAA counselling.
Key Takeaways:
- Category-wise reservation: EWS (10%), OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), PwD (5%)
- NITs have 50% Home State and 50% Other State quota
- OBC-NCL certificate must be from Central list, issued after April 1, 2025
- EWS income limit: Below ₹8 lakh per annum
- PwD requires minimum 40% disability certificate
- Female supernumerary quota: Up to 20% extra seats in NITs/IIITs
- Invalid documents result in shift to General category
- Reserved candidates can also compete for General (Open) seats
For official details, visit: jeemain.nta.ac.in and josaa.nic.in
Frequently Asked Questions
- The JEE Main reservation percentage is: GEN-EWS (10%), OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), and PwD (5% horizontal across all categories). The remaining 40.5% seats are for General (Unreserved) category. These percentages apply to all centrally funded institutions like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- No, only OBC-NCL certificates from the Central Government list are valid for JEE Main reservation. Candidates who are in their state's OBC list but not in the Central OBC list must apply under the General category. The certificate must be issued on or after April 1, 2025 for JEE Main 2026.
- Home State quota reserves 50% of seats in NITs for candidates who passed their Class 12 from the state where the NIT is located. The remaining 50% seats are available under Other State (All India) quota. Home State candidates typically have relaxed cutoffs compared to Other State candidates.
<pre><code></div>
</code></pre>
- Yes, reserved category candidates can compete for General (Open) seats based on their merit. EWS candidates can compete for 50.5% total seats, OBC for 67.5%, SC for 55.5%, and ST for 48% seats. If their rank qualifies for General cutoff, they can get admission under General category.
- For EWS reservation, the annual family income must be below ₹8 lakh. Additionally, candidates should not own agricultural land above 5 acres, residential plot above 100 square yards in notified municipalities, or residential flat above 1000 square feet. EWS candidates must not belong to SC/ST/OBC categories.
- Yes, NITs and IIITs provide up to 20% supernumerary (extra) seats for female candidates. These are additional seats created above the sanctioned intake to improve gender diversity. Female candidates can also compete for regular seats under all categories. The supernumerary quota does not reduce seats for other candidates.
- If your category certificate is rejected (invalid format, expired, or not from Central list for OBC), your reservation claim will be cancelled. You will be treated as General category candidate. If your rank does not meet General cutoff, you may lose the allocated seat. Always ensure your documents are valid before counselling.
- No, IITs are central government institutions and follow only All India Quota. There is no Home State or Other State quota in IITs. Admission is purely based on JEE Advanced rank with category-wise reservation (SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, PwD 5%).
- Category changes are allowed during the JEE Main form correction window, but you must provide valid supporting documents. Once the correction window closes, category cannot be changed. The category selected in JEE Main application remains final for JoSAA counselling. Choose your category carefully during registration.
- Vertical reservation (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS) provides a fixed percentage of total seats. Horizontal reservation (PwD, Female) is applied within each vertical category. For example, 5% PwD seats are reserved within General, SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories separately. A PwD-SC candidate benefits from both SC vertical and PwD horizontal reservation.
fits you best?
Get personalized guidance from our admission counselors
