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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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
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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.
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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.
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