JEE Advanced 2026: SC, ST Qualification Rates Rise Sharply; Women Hit Six-Year High | Education and Career News
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JEE Advanced 2026: SC candidates saw a sharp rise in qualification, with the rate crossing 50% in 2026, up from 40.41% in 2025. Among ST candidates, it rose from 33.99% to 42.14%.
Candidates who receive a seat in Round 1 must carefully check the details mentioned in their allotment letter. (Representative/File)
The qualification rates of candidates from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories recorded a sharp increase in JEE Advanced 2026, while the proportion of female candidates qualifying for the examination reached its highest level in six years, according to the official analysis of the examination conducted by IIT Roorkee.
The data shows that the SC qualification rate increased to 50.16% in 2026, up from 40.41% in 2025. Among ST candidates, the qualification rate rose from 33.99% in 2025 to 42.14% in 2026. The qualification rate among women also increased, reaching 23.4% in 2026, the highest recorded during the 2021-2026 period.
The increase in the SC category was particularly notable. In 2026, more than half of the SC candidates who appeared for JEE Advanced qualified the examination. The qualification rate stood at 50.16%, compared with 40.41% in 2025. For ST candidates, the qualification rate increased by more than eight percentage points, from 33.99% in 2025 to 42.14% this year.
The figures represent the proportion of candidates who met the qualifying criteria in their respective categories. They should not be interpreted as the proportion of candidates who secured admission to an IIT.
The share of female candidates qualifying for JEE Advanced also increased in 2026. At 23.4%, the female qualification rate was the highest recorded over the six-year period from 2021 to 2026.
The data comes amid continued efforts to improve women’s participation in engineering education and IITs. However, qualification should be distinguished from final admission, as candidates must subsequently participate in the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process and secure a seat based on rank, category, preferences and seat availability.
A total of 56,880 candidates qualified for JEE Advanced 2026. Of these, 52,559 candidates registered for JoSAA counselling, while 4,321 candidates did not participate in choice filling.
The number of candidates qualifying for the examination is significantly higher than the number of seats available across the IITs. In 2026, the final IIT seat allocation involved 18,861 seats.
This means that clearing JEE Advanced does not automatically guarantee admission to an IIT. Candidates who qualify must participate in counselling and compete for seats based on their ranks, category and programme preferences.
The 2026 figures point to significant changes in the composition of candidates meeting the JEE Advanced qualifying criteria, particularly among SC and ST candidates and women.
However, the qualification rate alone does not explain why these changes occurred. Factors such as the number and performance of candidates appearing in each category, the qualifying criteria and the overall distribution of marks can influence the final rates.
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Ask News18In JEE Advanced 2026, the qualification rate for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates increased to 50.16%, up from 40.41% in 2025. Meanwhile, the qualification rate for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates rose from 33.99% in 2025 to 42.14% in 2026.
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October 05, 2026, 15:11 IST
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