JEE Advanced attempt limit under review: 12,000 aspirants demand a third chance
By TUF News Desk · Published 17 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
More than 12,000 JEE Advanced aspirants have asked the IITs for one more shot at the exam. A petition submitted to the Union Education Ministry, the IIT Council and the Joint Admission Board seeks either a third attempt at JEE Advanced, or a rule change that lets candidates use their two permitted attempts across three years instead of two.
The demand has now moved inside the system. IIT Kanpur Director Prof Manindra Agarwal has confirmed that the IIT Council has started discussing the request. But he called the question a very tricky one, and stressed that nothing has been decided. “For now, this is a discussion, not a decision,” he said, giving no timeline for when the deliberations might conclude.
What the petition asks for
The online petition, which had collected 12,139 signatures on Change.org by October 14, lays out two alternatives. The first is to allow three attempts in three consecutive years. The second keeps the two-attempt cap but removes the consecutive-years requirement, letting candidates spread the two attempts over three years.
The petitioners argue that illness, family emergencies, stress and uneven access to coaching can sink a candidate’s performance in an exam that controls admission to all 23 IITs. They also point to what they call an inconsistency: JEE Main lets candidates appear over three consecutive years, with two sessions each year, while JEE Advanced restricts them to two attempts in two years counted from their Class 12 year.
Why the IITs are cautious
Agarwal’s own response shows where the resistance comes from. He said historical data from periods when a third attempt was allowed showed that only a very small number of third-attempt candidates actually qualified. In his view, allowing another attempt would pull a large number of students into an extra year of preparation and coaching fees with very little chance of a better result.
On the second proposal, letting the two attempts be used within three years, he said it would need detailed discussion among IIT Council faculty members before any change could reach the Joint Admission Board for a formal decision.
The rule as it stands
Until the JAB formally announces otherwise, the old rule applies. Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times, in two consecutive years, starting from the year they first appear for Class 12. Only the top 2,50,000 qualifiers of JEE Main are eligible to sit for the exam. Any revision will be communicated officially, and the official JEE Advanced portal is where candidates should check for it.
What this means for students preparing now
Plan around the current rule, not the debate. A policy change, if it comes, will have to pass through the IIT Council and the JAB, and neither body has set a timeline. Students aiming for the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur or any other IIT should therefore prepare on the assumption that they get two attempts. If the rule does change, it will only give you more room. If you are still weighing which institutes to target, our guide to choosing a university in India explains how to compare them beyond the entrance exam.
Frequently asked questions
Will JEE Advanced 2027 allow three attempts?
Not yet. The IIT Council has only started discussing the proposal. The current rule, two attempts in two consecutive years, remains in force until the JAB formally announces a change.
Who is asking for the change?
An online petition signed by more than 12,000 aspirants, submitted to the Education Ministry, the IIT Council and the Joint Admission Board, asking for either three attempts in three years or two attempts within three years.
Why does JEE Main allow more attempts than JEE Advanced?
JEE Main allows candidates to appear over three consecutive years with two sessions each year, while JEE Advanced currently restricts candidates to two attempts in two consecutive years. That difference is one of the petition’s main arguments.
Where will the official announcement come if the rule changes?
Any change would be announced by the Joint Admission Board through official channels, including the official JEE Advanced portal.
Frequently asked questions
Will JEE Advanced 2027 allow three attempts?
Not yet. The IIT Council has only started discussing the proposal, and the Joint Admission Board has announced no change. The current rule of two attempts in two consecutive years remains in force.
Who is asking for a change to the JEE Advanced attempt limit?
An online petition signed by more than 12,000 aspirants, submitted to the Education Ministry, the IIT Council and the Joint Admission Board, asking for either three attempts in three years or two attempts within three years.
Why does JEE Main allow more attempts than JEE Advanced?
JEE Main allows candidates to appear over three consecutive years with two sessions each year, while JEE Advanced restricts candidates to two attempts in two consecutive years. Petitioners call this inconsistency unfair.
Where will an official announcement come if the rule changes?
Any change would be announced by the Joint Admission Board through official channels, including the official JEE Advanced portal.
Sources: The Times of India (Education Times), Hindustan Times, The Economic Times (ETEducation), Jagran Josh