JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2024: Age Limit, Marks And More
Getting into your dream college is a rollercoaster ride. The journey begins with understanding the contrasting eligibility criteria for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. To ace this exam, you need to grasp the nitty-gritty of academic qualifications, age requirements, and attempts limit. It's not just about meeting the basic standards; it's about surpassing them.
The eligibility criteria serve as a gatekeeper separating aspirants from contenders. It's crucial to comprehend these prerequisites thoroughly before diving into preparation mode. So, let's explore the intricacies together and set you on the right track for JEE Main success.
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JEE Main Eligibility Criteria: Importance
The eligibility criteria for JEE Main hold great significance in determining who can apply for the exam. It ensures that only those students who meet the specified requirements are allowed to take the test. This helps maintain fairness and equal opportunity among all applicants, as it sets a standard benchmark for eligibility.
Furthermore, having clear and specific eligibility criteria also aids students in understanding their own readiness for such a competitive exam. By knowing whether they fulfill these requirements, students can make informed decisions about preparing for and taking on the challenge of JEE Main.
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NTA Guidelines regarding JEE Main Eligibility Criteria
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for establishing and updating the JEE Main eligibility criteria. These guidelines are designed to ensure that candidates possess the essential qualifications needed to attempt this high-stakes examination.
By adhering to these guidelines, NTA maintains consistency across all applications received, thereby upholding fairness throughout the entire application process. It provides a level playing field where every applicant meets similar academic standards before being considered eligible to sit for JEE Main. NTA has rolled out a detailed bulletin for JEE Main eligibility criteria, exam instructions, and other details. You can download the PDF using this link.
JEE Main 2024 Eligibility Criteria
JEE Main eligibility criteria, as posted on NTA JEE Main's official notification, are as follows:
Nationality
All Indian citizens are eligible for JEE Main. Foreign national candidates, as well as OCIs, can also apply.
Age Criteria
There is no age limit for the candidates. The candidates who have passed the class 12/equivalent examination in 2022 and 2023 or appearing in 2024, irrespective of their age, can appear in the JEE (Main) - 2024 examination. Note that the candidates may be required to fulfill the age criteria of the Institute(s) to which they are desirous of taking admission.
List of Qualifying Examinations (QE)
As one of the important JEE Main criteria, the candidate is expected to have qualified any of the following exams:
- Final examination of the 10+2 system is conducted by any recognized Central/ State Board, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi; etc.
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination conducted by a recognized Board/ University.
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy.
- Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling with a minimum of five subjects.
- Any Public School/ Board/ University examination in India or any foreign country is recognized as equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
- Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination.
- A Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State board of technical education of at least 3 years duration.
- General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level.
- High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva.
- Candidates who have completed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination outside India or from a Board not specified above should produce a certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to the effect that the examination they have passed is equivalent to the Class 12 Examination.
- In case the Class 12 Examination is not a public examination, the candidate must have passed at least one public (Board or Pre-University) examination earlier.
Qualifying Marks for Meeting the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates should have secured at least 75% marks in the Class 12 examination or be in the top 20 percentile in the Class 12 examination conducted by respective Boards. For SC / ST candidates, the qualifying marks should be 65% in the Class 12 examination.
- The candidate is also required to pass in each of the subjects of Class 12/qualifying examination. The Admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs will be based on the announced qualifying Percentile by the individual Institutes.
Year of Appearance in Qualifying Examination
- Only those candidates who have passed the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2022, 2023, or those who are appearing in the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2024, are eligible to appear in JEE (Main) - 2024.
- Candidates who passed the Class 12/equivalent examination in 2021 or before, as well as those who will appear in such examination in 2024 or later, are not eligible to appear in JEE (Main) - 2024.
State of Eligibility
- State code of eligibility means the code of the State from where the candidate has passed Class 12 (or equivalent) qualifying examination by virtue of which the candidate becomes eligible to appear in JEE (Main) – 2023. 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.
- If a candidate has passed the Class 12 (or equivalent) qualifying examination from one State but appeared for improvement from another State, the candidate’s State code of eligibility will be from where the candidate first passed the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination and NOT the State from where the candidate has appeared for improvement.
- Candidates who passed/appearing for Class 12 from NIOS should select the State of Eligibility according to the State in which the study Centre is located.
- For Indian nationals passing the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination from Nepal/Bhutan, the State code of eligibility will be determined based on a permanent address in India as given in the passport of the candidate.
- The State code of eligibility of OCI passing Class 12 (or equivalent) examination in India is at par with Indian nationals. However, OCI passing the Class 12 (or equivalent) examination from an institution abroad are eligible for Other State quota seats or All India quota seats (but NOT for Home State quota seats) in all NITs, IIITs and Other-CFTIs.
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JEE Main Eligibility: Unfair Means Practices To Avoid
As per NTA, ‘unfair means practice is an activity that allows a candidate to gain an unfair advantage over other candidates.’ It includes, but is not limited to:
- Being in possession of any item or article which has been prohibited or can be used for unfair practices. These may include any stationery item, communication device, accessories, eatable items, ornaments, or any other material or information relevant or not relevant to the examination in the paper concerned;
- Using someone to write an examination (impersonation) or preparing material for copying;
- Breaching examination rules or any direction issued by NTA in connection with the JEE (Main) - 2024 examination from time to time;
- Assisting other candidates to engage in malpractices, giving or receiving assistance of any kind directly or indirectly or attempting to do so;
- Contacting or communicating or trying to do so with any person, other than the Examination Staff, during the examination time in the Examination Centre;
- Threatening any of the officials connected with the conduct of the examination or threatening any of the candidates;
- Using or attempting to use any other undesirable method or means in connection with the examination;
- Manipulation and fabrication of online documents viz. Admit Card, Rank Letter, SelfDeclaration, etc.;
- Forceful entry in /exit from Examination Centre/Hall;
- Use or attempted use of any electronic device after entering the Examination Centre;
- Affixing/uploading of wrong/morphed photographs/signatures on the Application Form/Admit Card/Proforma;
- Creating obstacles in the smooth and fair conduct of the examination. m) Not attempting the question paper for long time intervals.
- Fidgeting and looking here and there.
- In possession of bits of paper, etc.
- Any other malpractices declared as Unfair Means by the NTA.
- Any candidate with more than one Application Number (more than one SCORE CARDS) will be treated as UFM, even if found at a later stage, and strict action will be taken against that Candidate.
Punishment for using unfair Means practices
If the candidate is found to indulge in any of the above or similar practices, he/she shall be deemed to have used unfair practices and booked under the UNFAIR MEANS (U.F.M.) case. The candidate may be debarred for 3 years in the future and shall also be liable for criminal action and /or any other action as deemed fit.
The result of JEE (Main) - 2024 of the candidate(s) who indulge in Unfair means Practices will be canceled and will not be declared. Similarly, the result of those candidates who appear from the Centre other than the one allotted to them or allow another candidate/person to write the examination on his behalf will be cancelled. No plea will be entertained in this regard.
Keeping the above in view, JEE aspirants are expected to take the exam without indulging in any unfair means. It is important to trust one's preparation and knowledge rather than depend on cheating and illegitimate ways of securing marks.
Closing Thoughts
You've now got a solid grasp of the JEE Main 2024 eligibility criteria. Remember, meeting these requirements is just the first step towards your goal. It's like having the right shoes for a race – essential, but not enough to win. Keep your focus sharp, study hard, and stay updated with any changes in the eligibility criteria. Your dedication will pave the way for your success in the JEE Main exam.
Now, armed with this knowledge, go forth and conquer! Stay motivated, seek support when needed, and keep your eyes on the prize. Good luck on your JEE Main journey!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the basic academic qualifications required for JEE Main eligibility?
To be eligible for JEE Main, candidates must have passed their 10+2 examination or equivalent with Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry primarily. There is no age limit for this exam. For details, one can refer to the NTA JEE Main official bulletin.
2. How many attempts can a candidate make for JEE Main?
Candidates can attempt JEE Main a maximum of three times in consecutive years. The number of attempts that one could take will be 6, i.e., 2 per year. The number of attempts is counted from the year when they first appeared in the exam.
3. Can diploma holders apply for JEE Main?
Yes, diploma holders are also eligible to apply for JEE Main. However, their eligibility is limited to select institutes and specific courses.
4. What documents are essential for applying to JEE Main?
Essential documents include a valid photo ID proof, passport-size photograph, signature image, category certificate (if applicable), and PwD certificate (if applicable).
5. Are there any specific state-wise eligibility criteria for appearing in JEE Main?
Yes, candidates need to fulfill certain state-wise eligibility criteria related to domicile requirements or other specifications as per the respective state's regulations.
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