JEE Main 2027
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main 2027) & JoSAA / CSAB centralized engineering e-counselling — 75% board & top 20 percentile criteria, raw marks vs percentile normalizer, JoSAA 6-round unified seat allocation, CSAB special rounds, and comprehensive cutoffs for 32 NITs, 26 IIITs & 40+ GFTIs.
JEE Main 2027 Overview & Key Highlights
The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is India's apex national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It governs undergraduate admissions into B.Tech, B.E., B.Arch, and B.Planning programs across 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, 40+ GFTIs, and acts as the sole qualifying preliminary examination for JEE Advanced (IIT admissions).
| Exam Full Name | Joint Entrance Examination (Main) — JEE Main 2027 |
| Conducting Agency | National Testing Agency (NTA) • Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Govt of India |
| Official Portals | Exam Portal: jeemain.nta.nic.in • Agency: nta.ac.in |
| Counselling & Allocation | Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) at josaa.nic.in (6 Unified Rounds) followed by CSAB Special Rounds at csab.nic.in • Complete counselling updates, choice filling guides & seat matrix at Jee Counselling |
| Rank & Percentile Analysis | Multi-shift normalized NTA score, CRL All India Rank (AIR), and category rank distributions analyzed at Jee Rank Predictor |
| Frequency & Sessions | Twice a year — Session 1 (January 2027) and Session 2 (April 2027). Candidates can take either or both. Best score is retained. |
| Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) across 300+ Indian cities and 25+ foreign cities (Drawing section for B.Arch is pen-and-paper). |
| Papers Offered |
Paper 1: B.E. / B.Tech (300 Marks • 75 Questions to attempt
out of 90) Paper 2A: B.Arch (400 Marks • Math, Aptitude & Drawing) Paper 2B: B.Planning (400 Marks • Math, Aptitude & Planning) |
| Participating Institutes | 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, 40+ Central Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs), top state universities (DTU, NSUT, IIIT Delhi, PEC, Thapar, etc.), and premier private universities. |
| IIT Admission Linkage | Top 2,50,000 successful candidates (across all categories) in JEE Main CRL qualify to appear for JEE Advanced 2027 for admission into the 23 IITs. |
| Test Mediums / Languages | 13 Languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. |
JEE Main 2027 Eligibility & 75% Board Criteria Evaluator
While there is NO minimum percentage requirement to *appear* in JEE Main, getting admitted to an NIT, IIIT, or GFTI requires securing at least 75% aggregate in Class 12 OR being in the Top 20 Percentile of your respective board. Test your eligibility below.
Interactive JoSAA & NIT Eligibility Evaluator
Evaluate your 75% board rule status, category relaxation, and Home State vs Other State quota classification.
📋 The 75% & Top 20%ile Rule Explained
For admissions into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs through JoSAA/CSAB, the qualifying requirements are strictly enforced:
- General / OBC-NCL / EWS: Minimum 75% aggregate marks in Class 12th board exams.
- SC / ST / PwD: Minimum 65% aggregate marks in Class 12th board exams.
- Top 20 Percentile Alternative: If you score below 75% but fall within the top 20 percentile of successful candidates of your respective state board, you remain fully eligible!
- Subject Combination: Must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects + Chemistry/Bio/Biotech/Vocational + 1 Language + 1 Any Other Subject.
📍 State Code of Eligibility Demystified
A common pitfall among JEE aspirants is confusing their birthplace or parents' domicile with their State Code of Eligibility:
- School Location Determines State: Your State Code is strictly determined by where you physically took/passed Class 12th board exams.
- Kota / Coaching Hub Rule: If you are from Bihar or UP but completed 12th from a school or dummy school in Rajasthan, your State Code is Rajasthan (Home State for MNIT Jaipur).
- NIOS / Open School: Determined by the location of the study center where you appeared for the 12th board examinations.
- Indian Students Abroad: Determined by the permanent address in India as declared in the passport.
⏳ Number of Attempts & Age Limit
NTA and Joint Admission Board maintain specific rules regarding longevity of eligibility:
- No Upper Age Limit: There is no age bar for candidates appearing in JEE Main.
- 3 Consecutive Years: You can appear in JEE Main for a maximum of 3 consecutive years starting from the year you appeared for Class 12 (Fresher + 1st Dropper + 2nd Dropper).
- Comparison with JEE Advanced: JEE Advanced allows only 2 consecutive attempts (Fresher + 1st Dropper only). 2nd droppers can appear for JEE Main for NITs/IIITs but not JEE Advanced!
JEE Main 2027 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Comprehensive breakdown of Paper 1 (B.E. / B.Tech) and Paper 2 structure, question distribution, section-wise marks, negative marking, and the NTA multi-shift normalization engine.
| Subject | Section A (MCQs) | Section B (Numerical Value) | Total Questions to Attempt | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 Questions (Compulsory) | 10 Questions (Answer any 5) | 25 Questions | 100 Marks |
| Physics | 20 Questions (Compulsory) | 10 Questions (Answer any 5) | 25 Questions | 100 Marks |
| Chemistry | 20 Questions (Compulsory) | 10 Questions (Answer any 5) | 25 Questions | 100 Marks |
| Total (Paper 1 B.Tech) | 60 MCQs | 30 Numericals (Attempt 15) | 75 Questions | 300 Marks |
🎯 Marking Scheme & Negative Marking
- Correct Answer: +4 marks in both Section A (MCQs) and Section B (Numerical).
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (negative marking applies to both MCQs and Numerical questions!).
- Unattempted / Marked for Review: 0 marks.
- Duration: 3 Hours (180 minutes) for regular candidates; 4 Hours for PwD candidates with compensatory time.
⚖️ Tie-Breaking Protocol (Identical Score)
If two or more candidates obtain identical total NTA Percentile scores, ties are resolved in the following strict hierarchy:
- 1. Higher NTA Score in Mathematics.
- 2. Higher NTA Score in Physics.
- 3. Higher NTA Score in Chemistry.
- 4. Candidate with lower ratio of incorrect to correct answers across all subjects.
- 5. Candidate with lower ratio of incorrect to correct answers in Math, then Physics, then Chemistry.
- 6. Older in age followed by ascending order of Application Number.
🔬 NTA Percentile Normalization Formula
Because exams take place across morning and evening shifts on multiple days, raw marks cannot be directly compared. NTA converts raw marks to a normalized percentile score (to 7 decimal places):
JEE Main 2027 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank Estimator
Enter your expected raw score out of 300 to instantly simulate your projected NTA Percentile, Common Rank List (CRL) rank range, Category Rank, and qualifying status for JEE Advanced 2027. For official multi-shift distribution algorithms and historical mark-vs-rank tables, visit Jee Rank Predictor.
NTA Percentile & AIR Rank Simulator
Calibrated with 5 years of historical multi-shift NTA distribution datasets across 14+ lakh candidates.
JoSAA 2027 e-Counselling Decision & Seat Simulator
Master the crucial JoSAA decision rules: Freeze, Float, and Slide. Choosing the wrong option or failing to pay the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) results in total cancellation and forfeiture of your seat. For complete choice filling orders, round-wise cutoffs and seat matrices, visit Jee Counselling.
JoSAA Round 1–6 Allotment Decision Engine
Select your allotment state and personal preference to see required action steps, fee deadlines, and verification safeguards.
Reservation Policy, Quotas & Seat Matrix
JoSAA and CSAB implement the Government of India statutory reservation framework, Home State (HS) versus Other State (OS) allocations in NITs, and the mandatory 20% Female Supernumerary Quota.
📊 Statutory Category Quotas
- General-EWS: 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (Family income < ₹8 Lakh/annum, valid central format).
- OBC-NCL: 27% reservation. Must be listed in the Central OBC List and certificate issued on or after April 1, 2026/2027.
- Scheduled Caste (SC): 15% reservation across all participating institutes.
- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 7.5% reservation across all institutes.
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5% horizontal reservation within each category for benchmark disabilities ≥ 40%.
🏛️ Home State (50%) vs Other State (50%) in NITs
In all 32 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), total seats are split exactly in two equal pools:
- Home State Quota (HS - 50%): Reserved exclusively for candidates whose State Code of Eligibility matches the state where the NIT is situated (e.g. Tamil Nadu students for NIT Trichy).
- Other State Quota (OS - 50%): Open to candidates belonging to any other state across India based strictly on All India Rank.
- IIITs Exception: Most Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) have 100% All India Quota (AI), with no Home State reservation (except IIIT Bhubaneswar & IIIT Delhi via JAC).
👩 20% Female Supernumerary Quota
To eliminate gender disparity in engineering colleges, MHRD/Ministry of Education introduced supernumerary seats:
- Minimum 20% Female Enrollment: Additional seats are created over and above the sanctioned capacity strictly for girl students.
- No Dilution of Neutral Seats: Male/Neutral seats remain completely unaffected.
- Dual Rank Consideration: Female candidates are considered for both Open Gender-Neutral seats and Female-Only Supernumerary seats, drastically improving their closing rank prospects!
JEE Main 2027 Schedule & Key Milestones
Authoritative timeline for JEE Main 2027 Session 1 (January), Session 2 (April), JoSAA unified seat allocation, and CSAB special rounds.
Session 1 Online Application Form Opens
NTA releases the official JEE Main 2027 information bulletin. Online registration and fee payment portal opens at jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Session 1 Application Deadline & Correction Window
Last date to submit application and pay fee. 3-day correction window allows candidates to rectify category, exam cities, and uploaded photograph/signature.
Advance City Intimation & Admit Card Release
NTA releases advance city slips followed by admit cards with exact shift timings, exam center address, and reporting guidelines.
JEE Main 2027 Session 1 Exam Window
Computer Based Test conducted in two daily shifts (Morning: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM; Afternoon: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM) across India and abroad.
Session 1 NTA Percentile Scorecard Declaration
NTA releases shift-wise answer keys, response sheets, and normalized NTA percentile scores. (Ranks are NOT released until after Session 2!).
Session 2 Registration Window Opens
Candidates who missed Session 1 or wish to improve their score register for Session 2. Candidates who already paid during Session 1 simply log in and select courses/cities.
JEE Main 2027 Session 2 Exam Window
Session 2 Computer Based Tests conducted across multiple dates and shifts.
Final All India Common Rank List (AIR) & Cutoff Declaration
NTA compiles the best of Session 1 and Session 2 NTA scores, publishes All India CRL ranks, Category ranks, and official qualifying cutoffs for JEE Advanced 2027.
JoSAA 2027 Centralized Choice Filling Commences
Unified registration on josaa.nic.in. Candidates fill unlimited college and branch combinations across 23 IITs, 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 40+ GFTIs. Two Mock Allotments released.
JoSAA Seat Allocation Rounds (Rounds 1 through 6)
Six sequential rounds of seat allotment, online document verification, seat acceptance fee payment, and Freeze/Float/Slide execution.
CSAB Special Rounds 1 & 2 for Vacant NIT+ Seats
Central Seat Allocation Board conducts two special rounds to fill remaining vacant seats across NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs with fresh choice filling.
Step-by-Step JoSAA & CSAB Counselling Roadmap
A visual walkthrough of the complete admission lifecycle — from online choice filling to physical reporting at your allotted NIT or IIIT.
1️⃣ Registration & Choice Filling
Log in to JoSAA portal using your JEE Main Application Number and Password. Fill an unlimited number of choices in strict descending order of your actual preference.
- Do not restrict choices — fill 150+ combinations if possible.
- Place dream branches at the top; realistic colleges in the middle; safe backups at the bottom.
2️⃣ Mock Allotments & Choice Locking
JoSAA publishes Mock Seat Allocation 1 and 2 based on choices filled by all candidates to indicate realistic allotment chances.
- Reorder your preferences based on mock results.
- Lock your choices before the deadline, or they will auto-lock automatically.
3️⃣ Round Allotment & SAF Payment
When a seat is allotted in any round, you MUST complete mandatory online reporting:
- Choose Freeze, Float, or Slide.
- Pay mandatory Seat Acceptance Fee: ₹35,000 (GEN/OBC/EWS) or ₹17,500 (SC/ST/PwD).
- Upload Class 10, Class 12, Category, Medical Fitness, and State Eligibility documents.
4️⃣ Query Resolution & Document Verification
The virtual reporting center verifies your uploaded documents online. If an anomaly is found, a query will be raised on your portal:
- You must respond to queries within the specified 24–48 hour deadline.
- Failure to respond will lead to seat cancellation!
5️⃣ Partial Admission Fee (PAF)
After Round 6, candidates holding confirmed seats in the NIT+ system must pay the mandatory Partial Admission Fee (PAF ₹40,000 for GEN/OBC, ₹20,000 for SC/ST) to confirm their admission before physical reporting.
6️⃣ CSAB Special Rounds (Optional Upgrades)
Vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs are auctioned in CSAB Special Round 1 and Round 2. Candidates can retain their JoSAA seat while trying for massive branch/college upgrades.
Top NITs, IIITs & GFTIs Closing Rank Cutoffs
Explore authoritative JoSAA General Category (Gender-Neutral) All India closing rank ranges across premier institutes for Computer Science (CSE), Electronics (ECE), and Core branches.
| Institute Name | Type & NIRF Rank | CSE Closing CRL Rank | Core Branches (ME/CE/EE) | College Predictor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NIT Tiruchirappalli (NITT) Apex National Institute of Technology |
NIT • NIRF #9 | 1,100 – 4,600 | 9,500 – 24,000 | Predict NITT → |
|
NIT Karnataka, Surathkal (NITK) Premier Coastal Technology Hub |
NIT • NIRF #12 | 1,600 – 5,200 | 11,000 – 28,000 | Predict NITK → |
|
NIT Rourkela (NITR) Largest Campus in Eastern India |
NIT • NIRF #16 | 2,800 – 7,800 | 15,000 – 36,000 | Predict NITR → |
|
NIT Warangal (NITW) First Regional Engineering College (REC) |
NIT • NIRF #21 | 2,100 – 6,400 | 12,500 – 31,000 | Predict NITW → |
|
NIT Calicut (NITC) Premier Institute in Kerala |
NIT • NIRF #23 | 3,500 – 9,800 | 17,000 – 41,000 | Predict NITC → |
|
IIIT Hyderabad (IIITH) Apex Computer Science Research Institute |
IIIT • Premier Autonomous | 800 – 1,900 | Dual Degree: 1,500 – 4,800 | Predict IIITH → |
|
IIIT Allahabad (IIITA) MHRD Institute of National Importance |
IIIT • NIRF #87 | 4,200 – 6,800 | Business Informatics: 7,000 – 9,500 | Predict IIITA → |
|
MNNIT Allahabad (Prayagraj) Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology |
NIT • NIRF #49 | 3,900 – 8,900 | 15,500 – 38,000 | Predict MNNIT → |
|
MNIT Jaipur Malaviya National Institute of Technology |
NIT • NIRF #37 | 4,500 – 9,500 | 16,500 – 39,000 | Predict MNIT → |
|
IIIT Bangalore (IIITB) Premier IT Capital Research Institute |
IIIT • NIRF #74 | 5,800 – 9,200 | iMTech CSE: 6,000 – 9,500 | Predict IIITB → |
|
VNIT Nagpur Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology |
NIT • NIRF #41 | 5,200 – 10,800 | 18,000 – 44,000 | Predict VNIT → |
|
Punjab Engineering College (PEC) Historic Centenary Deemed University |
GFTI • NIRF #101 | 8,500 – 16,500 | 28,000 – 65,000 | Predict PEC → |
|
BIT Mesra, Ranchi Birla Institute of Technology |
GFTI • NIRF #53 | 11,000 – 21,000 | 38,000 – 85,000 | Predict BIT → |
Mandatory Document Checklist for JoSAA & CSAB Verification
Keep digital scans and physical copies ready. Documents must strictly adhere to the Government of India / JoSAA central formats. Filter by your category below.
Class 10th Certificate / Birth Certificate
Official proof of candidate's Date of Birth (DOB) and parentage details as recognized by the education board.
Class 12th (or Equivalent) Marksheet
Proof of passing qualifying examination and meeting the mandatory 75% aggregate marks (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or Top 20 percentile.
JEE Main 2027 Scorecard & Admit Card
Official NTA scorecard exhibiting normalized percentile scores, CRL All India Rank, and Category Rank.
Medical Fitness Certificate (Annexure 7)
Mandatory format prescribed by JoSAA, duly signed and stamped by a registered medical practitioner (MBBS or higher).
Cancelled Cheque or Bank Passbook Copy
Pre-printed bank account details in candidate's or parent's name for online fee refund processing in case of withdrawal.
OBC-NCL Certificate (Central Format)
Must be issued strictly on or after April 1, 2026/2027 by a competent authority, certifying non-creamy layer status and caste inclusion in the Central List.
GEN-EWS Certificate (Central Format)
Issued on or after April 1, 2026/2027 by an authority not below Tehsildar, certifying annual gross family income below ₹8 Lakh.
SC / ST Caste Certificate
Permanent caste certificate in prescribed central format issued by a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer, or designated competent authority.
PwD Certificate & UDID Card
Unique Disability ID (UDID) or disability certificate from a recognized government medical board indicating ≥ 40% benchmark disability.
State Code of Eligibility Proof
Class 12th Admit Card or School Bonafide Certificate showing physical location of examination center if Class 12 marksheet doesn't specify.
Frequently Asked Questions (JEE Main 2027 & JoSAA)
Clear, authoritative answers to the most critical doubts regarding NTA registration, session scores, eligibility, and seat allocation rules.
No, it is entirely optional. You can choose to appear only in Session 1 (January), only in Session 2 (April), or in both sessions. If you appear in both, NTA takes the best of the two NTA percentile scores to compile your final All India Common Rank List (CRL) and Category Rank. Appearing in both sessions is strongly recommended to gain exam temperament and maximize your highest score.
There is NO minimum percentage requirement to appear for the JEE Main exam itself — any candidate who has passed or is appearing in Class 12 with PCM is eligible to take the test. However, to be admitted to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and IITs via JoSAA/CSAB counselling, candidates must secure at least 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD) OR fall in the Top 20 Percentile of their respective Class 12 board.
Your State Code of Eligibility is determined strictly by the state where your Class 12 school or examination center is located. It is completely independent of where you were born, your parents' residential domicile, or your native state. For instance, if your permanent home is in Patna (Bihar) but you completed Class 12 from a school in Kota (Rajasthan), your state code of eligibility is Rajasthan. You will be considered under Home State for MNIT Jaipur, and Other State for NIT Patna.
Your existing allotted seat remains 100% safe and reserved for you. Choosing "Float" merely indicates that you are open to being upgraded to a higher preference choice if a vacancy arises in subsequent rounds. If no higher preference becomes available, you retain your original seat until the final round.
The Seat Acceptance Fee is ₹35,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and ₹17,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. It is paid once upon receiving your first seat allotment. If you decide to withdraw from the counselling process before the final round (Round 5 for IITs, Round 6 for NITs), the fee is refunded after a nominal processing deduction of ₹7,000.
Yes! Candidates holding confirmed seats in the NIT+ system can participate in CSAB Special Round 1 and 2. You can submit fresh choices. If you are allotted a new higher choice in CSAB, your previous JoSAA seat is automatically transferred. If no new seat is allotted in CSAB, your existing JoSAA seat is safely retained.
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) comprises 90 questions across Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry (30 questions per subject). Each subject has 20 compulsory MCQs in Section A and 10 Numerical Value questions in Section B, where candidates must attempt any 5. Total questions to attempt: 75 for 300 marks. Negative marking of -1 applies to both MCQs and Numerical questions.
For JoSAA and CSAB counselling 2027, all OBC-NCL and General-EWS certificates must be issued strictly on or after April 1, 2026 (or April 1, 2027 as stipulated by the upcoming information brochure). Certificates issued prior to April 1 of the financial year will be rejected, and the candidate's category will be converted to General.