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JoSAA Counseling 2026: The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counseling for 2026 has commenced. Admission to engineering seats in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs is granted solely based on JoSAA counseling; however, for candidates who failed to meet the criterion of securing 75% marks in their Class 12 examinations, the very commencement of JoSAA counseling has become a source of distress. Such candidates are anxiously hoping that the re-evaluation process for their CBSE Class 12 answer sheets is completed promptly. Specifically, if a student's marks increase during the CBSE re-evaluation process—thereby enabling them to fulfill the 75% marks criterion—only then will they become eligible for admission to IITs, NITs, and IIITs.

If the 75% marks criterion is not met, the students stand to lose an entire academic year. Although CBSE opened the application portal for the re-evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets on June 2nd, students are still reporting difficulties in submitting their applications. Meanwhile, amidst these developments, demands have begun to surface for granting a relaxation regarding the 75% marks criterion for Class 12. The Central Government has, in the past, granted exemptions from this specific criterion—requiring 75% marks in Class 12 for admission—for entry into IITs and NITs.

Let us delve into this entire matter in detail. We will examine how students' difficulties have been compounded due to their inability to meet the 75% marks criterion in Class 12. We will explore when exactly this 75% marks criterion for Class 12 was first implemented, and what the admission system entailed before its introduction. Furthermore, we will identify the specific year in which the government granted an exemption from this Class 12 75% marks criterion.

Passed the JEE, Yet 'Failed' in Class 12
Many students planning to pursue engineering after completing their Class 12 education are facing a peculiar set of challenges this year. In fact, to facilitate admission into NITs, IITs, GFITs, and other engineering colleges, the JEE Main—comprising Session 1 and Session 2—is conducted in January and April. Subsequently, in May, the JEE Advanced examination is held for admission into the IITs. Only those candidates who achieve top scores in JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. Notably, the CBSE Class 12 results are released during the interval between the JEE Main and JEE Advanced examinations.

This year, a decline has been observed in the CBSE Class 12 results. A particularly significant drop was recorded in the results for the Science stream. Many students failed to secure the requisite 75 marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Among these students are many who performed well in JEE Main, as well as others who achieved good scores in JEE Advanced.

**75% Marks in Class 12 Mandatory for Engineering Admissions**
Essentially, to secure admission to engineering seats across various institutions—including IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFITs—candidates are required to fulfill a specific criterion: obtaining 75% marks in their Class 12 examinations. In other words, while admission to engineering programs at these institutions is indeed granted based on scores obtained in JEE Advanced and JEE Main, simultaneously fulfilling the 75% marks criterion in Class 12 is a mandatory prerequisite. For candidates belonging to the SC/ST categories, the qualifying threshold is set at 65%.

**The 75% Marks Rule for Class 12 Was Implemented in 2017**
The criterion requiring 75% marks in Class 12 for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFITs is not a recent development; indeed, it has been in effect for nearly a decade. Specifically, this rule was implemented in 2017. The Union Ministry of Education introduced these changes in 2017, acting upon the recommendations submitted by the Dr. Ashok Mishra Committee. These changes were implemented to eliminate the weightage previously assigned to Class 12 marks in determining JEE Main rankings. In its place, a new admission policy was established based solely on JEE Main and JEE Advanced scores; however, a mandatory stipulation was introduced requiring candidates to secure at least 75% marks in Class 12—in addition to their JEE Main and Advanced scores—to be eligible for admission to IITs, NITs, and IIITs.

**What was the rule before this?**
Before 2017, rankings for admission purposes were determined based on a combination of JEE scores and Class 12 marks. Specifically, JEE scores carried a weightage of 60%, while Class 12 marks accounted for the remaining 40%. However, even during that period, securing a minimum of 60% marks in Class 12 was a mandatory prerequisite for admission to NITs and IIITs.

**Exemption from the 75% Class 12 Marks Criterion in 2021 and 2022**
Before this, during the years 2021 and 2022, the Ministry of Education had granted students an exemption from the criterion requiring 75% marks in Class 12 for admission to IITs, NITs, and IIITs. This decision was taken by the Union Ministry of Education to provide relief to students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in admissions being granted without the enforcement of this specific criterion for two consecutive academic sessions.

**Demands for Granting Grace Marks in Class 12**
Meanwhile, students and parents are demanding that CBSE Class 12 students be awarded grace marks, specifically requesting the allocation of 20 grace marks. Students attribute the decline in Class 12 results to the "OSM system," alleging that the CBSE failed to properly scan the answer sheets. Consequently, they contend that they did not receive accurate marks.