NTA JEE Mains 2025: What is Reservation criteria and seat allotment process for OBC-NCL, Gen-EWS, SC, ST and PwD

JEE Main reservation entitles admission of candidates from Gen-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD categories in various colleges in the seats reserved for them to the extent defined by the Government of India. Read more to know how any seats are reserved and the admission process.

The government of India provides reservations in admission at various colleges to provide fair opportunities for candidates from various categories, especially from the economically and marginally backward class. Candidates qualifying JEE Main for admission to various engineering colleges also get the benefit of reservation at the time of college admission.

A certain number of seats are reserved in every course for candidates belonging to reserved categories. A separate All India Rank list of reserve category candidates is prepared and the allotment of seats is done based on the position in the rank list.  Several colleges also give reservations to female candidates and a certain number of supernumerary seats are reserved for female candidates.

Indian nationals belonging to certain categories are admitted under the seats reserved for them by the rules prescribed by the Government of India. The categories and the extent of NTA JEE Mains 2025 reservation are as follows:

• General category belonging to Economically Weaker Section (GEN- EWS) - 10% of seats in every course. The benefit of reservation will be given only to those General category candidates who satisfy the conditions issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The criteria for GEN-EWS will be as per the prevailing norms and/or notifications of the Government of India.
• Other Backward Classes belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer (OBC- NCL) - 27% of seats in every course.
  • OBCs should be listed in the current updated central list of OBCs
  • OBCs present in the State list but not covered in the central list of OBCs are NOT eligible to claim the reservation.
  • The criteria for OBC-NCL will be as per the notification of the Government of India.
  • Candidates belonging to the creamy layer of OBC are NOT entitled to reservation. Such candidates are treated as belonging to the general (GEN), i.e. unreserved category, and they will be eligible only for the OPEN seats - the seats for which all candidates are eligible.
• Scheduled Caste (SC) - 15% of seats in every course.
• Scheduled Tribe (ST) - 7.5% of seats in every course.
• Persons with Disability/ Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwD/PwBD) - 5% seats in each of the GENERAL, GEN-EWS, OBC- NCL, SC and ST category seats.

JEE Main 2025 Exam Details

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the JEE Main 2025 exam in two sessions in January and April. The application form for session 1 is closed. All the registered candidates will be issued the JEE Main Admit Card 2025 to appear in the exam. The advance intimation of exam city for JEE Mains 2025 will be announced in the first week of January and admit card will be issued 3 days before the exam date.

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