Credentials

Over 12,000 aspirants have called for a review of the JEE Advanced eligibility criteria, urging the Union Education Ministry, the IIT Council and the Joint Admission Board (JAB) to reconsider the existing attempt limit. In their petition, they have cited medical emergencies, family circumstances and examination stress as factors that could disrupt preparation and affect candidatesโ chances of securing admission to the IITs.
The aspirants said they had been raising the issue for over three months and had approached the JEE Advanced chairperson at IIT Delhi, along with officials from the Ministry of Education.
Under the existing rules, candidates can appear for JEE Advanced twice in two consecutive years, beginning with the year they pass Class 12. They must also qualify through JEE Main and meet the other prescribed eligibility conditions.
The aspirants have proposed either allowing three attempts over three consecutive years or spreading two attempts across a three-year period. They argue that the changes would give candidates greater flexibility without relaxing the examinationโs standards or guaranteeing admission to an IIT.
The students identified unequal access to coaching, academic guidance and early awareness of competitive examinations as key reasons to reconsider the eligibility policy.
According to their representation, many students from rural areas, government schools and smaller towns become familiar with the difficulty and preparation requirements of JEE Advanced relatively late. They argued that such aspirants may use up their permitted attempts before they have sufficient time to understand the examination and prepare at the required level.
The students also highlighted the difficulties faced by candidates who cannot afford long-term coaching or lack access to mentors, reliable internet facilities and suitable study environments.
They argued that extending the eligibility window would give such students more time to strengthen their concepts and problem-solving skills. Their demand, they said, was not for easier questions or relaxed selection criteria, but for a fairer opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
In their submissions, the students said they had approached officials associated with JEE Advanced and the Ministry of Education on multiple occasions since July 2026.
According to the details provided by the aspirants, a representation was submitted to the JEE Advanced chairperson at IIT Delhi on August 19. A separate submission was delivered to the office of the Secretary (IITs) at the Ministry of Education on August 25.
The students said they raised the issue again during a meeting at IIT Delhi on September 18, when they discussed both proposed changes to the eligibility rules.
According to the students' account of the meeting, IIT Delhi would place the proposals for three attempts over three years and two attempts over three years before the Joint Admission Board for consideration.
The aspirants also said they had submitted supporting documents and counterarguments addressing concerns about the feasibility and likely benefits of an additional attempt.
However, the information shared by the students does not establish that the Joint Admission Board has approved either proposal. A formal decision on the demand remains unconfirmed.
The demand has raised questions about whether an additional attempt would improve admission outcomes or lead candidates to spend more time and money preparing without securing a seat.
In a report published by ThePrint, IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal questioned whether a third attempt would substantially increase the number of successful candidates, raising concerns about the additional time and resources students might invest.
The aspirants, however, have questioned the difference between the attempt limits for JEE Main and JEE Advanced. โIf improvement is allowed in JEE-Main, why is it restricted in JEE-Advanced? This inconsistency denies many capable and hardworking students a fair opportunity to demonstrate their true potential,โ the students said in their representation.
The top 2,50,000 candidates who qualify through JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced, subject to the prescribed criteria. The aspirants argue that students facing academic setbacks, limited coaching access or unforeseen circumstances need more time to prepare and demonstrate their abilities.
They maintain that the number of candidates who might qualify should not be the sole consideration, arguing that an additional attempt could give more students a fair chance to compete on merit. Any change would require the authorities to assess its impact on examination administration and the existing admission process.
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