JEE Admission 2026: No relief on the 75% marks criterion; IIT Roorkee dashes students' hopes..

Following the declaration of JEE Advanced 2026 results, lakhs of students are now focused on the admission process for IITs and NITs. Amidst ongoing discussions regarding CBSE results, re-evaluation, and marks, demands had arisen for some relaxation in the mandatory 75% Class 12 marks requirement for IIT admissions this year; however, IIT Roorkee has now fully clarified the situation. The institute has explicitly stated that there will be no relaxation in the 75% marks eligibility criterion this year, meaning students must adhere to the pre-established rules for admission to IITs and NITs.

Why was the demand for relaxation in the 75% rule raised?
After the JEE Advanced 2026 results were announced, many students and parents expressed concern that some students had secured lower-than-expected marks in Class 12. Additionally, many students are awaiting the outcome of the CBSE re-evaluation process. This sparked a discussion on whether the 75% marks eligibility requirement could be lowered or temporarily waived for this year, but IIT Roorkee has made it clear that this will not happen.

What did IIT Roorkee say?
Speaking to the news agency ANI, IIT Roorkee stated that students from 36 different education boards across the country participate in the JEE admission process. Consequently, it would not be appropriate to alter the rules based on disputes or issues concerning a single board. The institute noted that the 75% marks eligibility criterion was pre-determined and made public as early as December; therefore, changing the rules midway through the admission process is not feasible.

What are the rules for admission?
Qualifying in JEE Main or JEE Advanced is not sufficient on its own for admission to IITs, NITs, and other centrally funded technical institutes. Candidates are required to secure at least 75% marks in their Class 12 board examinations or rank within the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. While candidates from reserved categories are granted relaxations under this rule, the 75% marks criterion remains mandatory for general category students.

**Many students faced setbacks last year as well**

IIT Roorkee noted that last year, too, there were many candidates who performed well in the JEE exam but could not secure admission to IITs or NITs because they did not meet the minimum marks requirement for Class 12. The institute maintains that this rule applies equally to all students; therefore, it is not possible to alter it this time due to any specific circumstances.

**IIT Roorkee is in contact with CBSE**
However, IIT Roorkee has stated that it is in constant communication with the CBSE. The institute acknowledges the difficulties faced by affected students and is making efforts to resolve them on a priority basis. Should any student encounter issues related to re-evaluation or other procedures, the institute will coordinate with the relevant agencies to assist.

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