The JEE Main Reservation quota for different category students is a provision by the Government of India that specifies the eligibility criteria and distribution of reservation categories in IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) via JoSAA Counselling.
The JEE Main reservation policy aims to foster equal access to higher education for individuals from reserved categories, which include OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). The reservations offered will align with the guidelines set by the Central Government and will be shown in the official JoSAA seat matrix.
Candidates asserting entitlement to reservation benefits are required to fulfil the JEE Main reservation eligibility criteria and provide all essential documents demanded by the pertinent authority during the verification of documents.
Candidates from reserved categories also vie for Open (Gender-Neutral) positions strictly on merit. If a candidate is awarded a reserved seat on merit, they will keep the open seat that can be offered to another qualifying candidate.
JEE Main Reservation Quota by Category in JEE 2027
The JEE Main reservation percentages in the table below are only applicable at CFTIs and GFTIs that participate in JoSAA Counselling rounds.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| General (Open) | Unreserved |
| General – Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS) | 10% |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 5% (Horizontal Reservation in each category) |
The Open category lacks a set JEE Main reservation percentage. This category encompasses seats left after all other categories are fulfilled. Individuals from every category are eligible to vie for Open positions solely based on merit.
Explaining JEE Main Reservation Categories in Depth
General (Open) Category: The Open category does not have a defined percentage of reservations. It indicates the count of seats remaining after the reservations are accounted for. All candidates can vie for Open seating regardless of their category and solely on merit.
JEE Main Reservation Quota for GEN-EWS: Individuals from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category qualify for a 10% reservation.
To secure EWS reservation, applicants need to:
- Fall under the General category.
- Adhere to the income standards recommended by the Central Government.
- Generate a legitimate EWS certificate in the required format during the counseling session.
JEE Main Reservation Quota for OBC-NCL: Individuals from the Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) qualify for 27% reservation.
To obtain OBC-NCL reservation:
- The caste needs to be part of the Central List of OBCs.
- The applicant should be part of the Non-Creamy Layer.
- It is essential to have a valid OBC-NCL certificate provided by the appropriate authority.
JEE Main Reservation Quota for Scheduled Caste (SC): Individuals from the Scheduled Caste (SC) group are granted a 15% reservation in the institutes that are part of the program. During document verification, a legitimate SC certificate in the required format must be presented.
JEE Main Reservation Quota for Scheduled Tribe (ST): Students from this category can avail 7.5% of the total seats offered by an institute. Applicants need to present a valid ST certificate from the appropriate authority to obtain the benefit.
JEE Main Reservation Quota for Persons with Disabilities (PwD): Candidates having Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) qualify for 5% horizontal reservation. In contrast to other reservations, PwD reservation is horizontal, signifying it is implemented within each category, including:
- Open
- GEN-EWS
- OBC-NCL
- A legitimate disability certificate provided by the appointed medical authority is necessary.
Vertical vs. Horizontal Reservation
JoSAA Counselling follows a vertical and horizontal reservation system.
- Vertical reservations partition the overall seat allocation into distinct, non-overlapping groups according to social and economic criteria.
- Horizontal reservations do not generate independent, additional seats. Instead, they span all vertical categories to guarantee minimal representation for certain groups.
| Vertical Reservation | Horizontal Reservation |
| GEN-EWS | PwD |
| OBC-NCL | Applied within every category |
| SC | |
| ST |
NRI / PIO / OCI & DASA / CIWG Allocation
- NRI / OCI / PIO students are not included in the central reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST, EWS) for JEE Main / central engineering admissions. They typically compete through open positions unless involved in a specific quota/scheme.
- The DASA program (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) is the pathway through which foreign nationals, NRIs, OCIs, and PIOs can secure seats in various NITs / IIITs / Central Technical Institutes. Admission through DASA relies on JEE Main rank but is not part of the reservation quota for Indian reserved categories.
- CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) quota: Certain institutions offer additional seats under CIWG. For instance, around 5% of additional seats from the DASA quota are reserved for CIWG applicants.
JEE Main Reservation by Category in NITs, IIITs, IITs, and GFTIs
The Government reservation policy applies to all institutes involved in JoSAA, although the seat allocation process differs slightly.
| Institute Type | Category Reservation | Home State Quota |
| IITs | Yes | No |
| NITs | Yes | Yes |
| IIITs | Yes | Institute-specific |
| IIEST Shibpur | Yes | Yes (as per JoSAA rules) |
| Other GFTIs | Yes | Institute-specific |
NITs also adhere to the Home State (HS) and Other State (OS) quota system, while IIT admissions rely exclusively on category reservations and JEE Advanced rankings.
JEE Main Reservation Quota: Necessary Documents
Applicants requesting reservation benefits should prepare the following documents:
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
- JEE Main or JEE Advanced Scorecard
- Class 10 Certificate
- Class 12 Mark Sheet
- Aadhaar Card or Government-issued Photo ID
- Passport-size Photographs
- JoSAA Seat Allotment Letter
All certificates should be provided in the format specified by JoSAA and remain valid on the date of document verification.
Key Aspects of Reservation by Category
- Reservation advantages can be accessed only following successful document validation.
- Candidates from reserved categories can also obtain Open seats through merit.
- OBC reservation applies solely to individuals included in the Central OBC List.
- EWS reservation is accessible solely to candidates who fulfil the specified income and asset requirements.
- PwD reservation is horizontal and relevant to all categories.
- Invalid or expired category certificates could lead to the cancellation of reservation advantages or allotment within the Open category.
FAQs
Q1. What are the criteria for reservations in JEE Main?
The reservation percentages set by the central government for institutes participating in the JEE Main (NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs) are:
- OBC-NCL: 27% (must belong to the central OBC list)
- SC: 15%
- GEN-EWS: 10% (family income below ₹8 lakh)
- ST: 7.5%
- PwD: 5%
Q2. Is it possible to secure a NIT with a rank of 75000?
Yes, obtaining an NIT admission with a 75,000 rank in JEE Main is possible, but your choices will mainly be restricted to less prestigious or newer NITs (primarily in the North-East) and core or non-computer science courses.
Q3. What is the reservation percentage for girls in IIT?
IITs offer a 20% additional seat quota for female applicants in B.Tech programs.
Q4. Which caste holds the highest reservation in IIT?
The OBC-NCL category holds the largest reservation percentage at 27% in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Q5. What is the treatment of SC ST students in IITs?
Students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) face a combination of institutional assistance, financial aid, academic stress, and social difficulties.
