IIT Roorkee Maintains 75% Board Marks Rule for JEE Admissions 2026

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, serving as the organizing institute for JEE Advanced 2026, has unequivocally stated that there will be no relaxation in the mandatory 75% aggregate marks criterion for Class 12 board examinations for admission into the prestigious IITs. This decision comes amidst significant concerns and appeals from students following reported discrepancies and delays in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) re-evaluation process, particularly under its newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Numerous students, despite achieving competitive ranks in JEE Main and even qualifying JEE Advanced, found themselves in a precarious situation, potentially falling short of the required 75% board aggregate (or 65% for SC/ST/PwD categories) due to what they perceived as evaluation errors. The issue gained considerable traction on social media, with many aspirants urging for a one-time exemption, citing the unprecedented nature of the CBSE evaluation challenges, similar to relaxations provided during the COVID-19 pandemic years (2020-2022). However, IIT Roorkee, in consultation with the Joint Admission Board (JAB), maintained that altering the eligibility criteria at this stage is not feasible. The primary reason cited is the participation of candidates from 36 different school boards in the JEE admission process. Relaxing the norms solely for issues pertaining to one board, such as CBSE, would lead to unfairness and uniformity concerns across the diverse pool of applicants. The institute also highlighted that the 75% criterion was published well in advance in December 2025, and candidates in previous years had lost seats due to non-fulfillment of this percentage, making a last-minute change impractical. Despite the firm stance on the eligibility percentage, IIT Roorkee and JAB have offered a crucial concession to students awaiting revised marksheets. Qualified candidates are permitted to participate in the ongoing JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counselling 2026 and fill their choices, irrespective of whether their current Class 12 marks meet the 75% threshold. However, this participation is conditional: final admission and seat allotment will only be confirmed upon the submission of a revised scorecard that unequivocally demonstrates compliance with the required 75% aggregate (or 65% for reserved categories). The deadline for submitting these revised marksheets via email ([email protected]) has been set as July 15, 2026. It is important to understand that the 75% rule is an admission eligibility criterion, not a condition to appear for the JEE Advanced examination itself. Students can take JEE Main and qualify for JEE Advanced without meeting this percentage, but they will not be granted admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, or other centrally funded technical institutions (GFTIs) through JoSAA counselling if they fail to meet this board marks requirement by the specified deadline. An alternative route to meet the eligibility is to be among the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective board examinations. The CBSE re-evaluation process itself has been fraught with challenges. Reports indicate a significant volume of re-evaluation requests, with over 1.6 lakh students applying, reflecting widespread student dissatisfaction with the initial results. The delays in processing these re-evaluation results created immense anxiety among students, as the college admission timelines, including JoSAA counselling, proceeded without pause. The Supreme Court even intervened, urging CBSE to expedite the release of pending re-evaluation results. While IIT Roorkee acknowledged these concerns and stated its commitment to being in close touch with CBSE to resolve issues for affected candidates on priority, the core eligibility rule remains non-negotiable for securing a final seat. This situation underscores the critical interplay between board examination performance and competitive entrance tests in India's higher education landscape. While JEE Advanced tests aptitude and knowledge for engineering, the Class 12 board marks serve as a fundamental academic baseline for admission to top institutions, emphasizing the importance of consistent academic performance throughout schooling. The current scenario highlights the need for robust and timely evaluation systems in board examinations to prevent disruptions in the admission cycles of premier institutions.

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