From Class 11 to your first engineering job, every step in one place
Start at the colourful box on the left and follow the branches. Press + to open a branch. Tap any box to read what it means, the rules and the official links. Boxes marked "to learn from" also list free books, videos, practice tests and guides.
Written for students and parents. Rules, dates and seat numbers were checked against NTA, JEE Advanced, JoSAA and IIT/NIT documents on 4 Oct 2026.
Key
Rules change every year. Before you apply, always read the latest notice on the official website linked in each box. This page is a free guide, not an official source.
Become an Engineer The JEE path and every other route
The main road: Class 11–12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths → JEE Main → (JEE Advanced for IITs) → JoSAA counselling → 4-year B.Tech . JEE is not the only way in. India has about 16 lakh engineering seats (reported AICTE figure) and only about 67,000 are filled through JoSAA. State exams, private university exams and Class 12 marks fill the rest. In 2026, about 15.4 lakh students sat JEE Main and 56,880 qualified JEE Advanced. Aim high, but always keep a state-exam backup. Rules change almost every year. Confirm dates and rules on the official sites linked in each box. Official sources Inside this branch Class 11–12: get eligible JEE Main JEE Advanced (IITs) Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB Other routes into engineering Choosing college and branch Life during B.Tech After B.Tech Fees and scholarships
Class 11–12: get eligible PCM and the 75% rule
Inside this branch Subjects you need The 75% rule Age and attempts How to prepare Free video lectures Books to use Class 11–12: get eligible
Subjects you need For B.E./B.Tech: Physics and Maths compulsory , plus one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject, plus a language. For IITs, JEE Advanced needs Physics, Chemistry and Maths . Biology students without Maths cannot take engineering through JEE. Official sources Class 11–12: get eligible
The 75% rule To join an IIT, NIT, IIIT or other central institute you need 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC, ST and PwD), or be in the top 20 percentile of your board. A great JEE rank is useless if you miss this, so do not ignore board exams. Official sources Class 11–12: get eligible
Age and attempts JEE Main : no age limit. You can take it in the year of Class 12 and the next 2 years (3 years, 2 sessions each).JEE Advanced : at most 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years, and an age limit (for 2026: born on or after 1 Oct 2001; 5 years extra for SC, ST, PwD).In Nov 2024 the attempts were raised to 3 and then reversed to 2 within two weeks. The rule today is 2. Official sources Class 11–12: get eligible
How to prepare Start in Class 11: about half of JEE comes from the Class 11 syllabus. Master NCERT first (especially Chemistry, where many questions come straight from it), then move to harder problem books. Solve past papers and take a full timed mock test every week in the final months. Coaching is optional. Many toppers use free videos, free government apps and past papers. This is general advice, not an official rule. Learn from these Book Free Book Free Book Free Book Free Book Free Book Free Course Free App Free App Free Class 11–12: get eligible
Free video lectures Free full-syllabus JEE lectures on YouTube from well-known teachers. Learn from these Video Free Video Free Video Free Video Free Video Free Video Free MathonGo JEE Main strategy and past-paper walkthroughs. Video Free Unacademy JEE Large free archive of lectures (fewer new uploads in 2026). Class 11–12: get eligible
Books to use Standard books most JEE students use. Start with NCERT; add one problem book per subject. Learn from these Book Paid Concepts of Physics, Vol 1 & 2 – H.C. Verma Core physics for Main and Advanced. Start here after NCERT.
Book Paid Understanding Physics series – D.C. Pandey Chapter-wise practice for Main and Advanced.
Book Paid Problems in General Physics – I.E. Irodov Very hard; only for Advanced, only after H.C. Verma.
Book Paid Physical Chemistry – O.P. Tandon; Concise Inorganic Chemistry – J.D. Lee (JEE edition) Tandon suits Main; J.D. Lee adds Advanced depth.
Book Paid Organic Chemistry problems – M.S. Chouhan or Himanshu Pandey (GRB) Organic practice, mainly for Advanced.
Book Paid R.D. Sharma (basics); S.L. Loney (Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry) R.D. Sharma for boards and Main; Loney for Advanced depth.
Book Paid Cengage series (G. Tewani for Maths, B.M. Sharma for Physics) Big problem banks for Main and Advanced.
JEE Main The first exam, held twice a year
Learn from these Official Free Official Free Practice Free Practice Free Practice Free Practice Free Inside this branch Exam pattern Two sessions Architecture and planning papers How many take it JEE Main
Exam pattern Computer-based. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) : Maths, Physics and Chemistry, each with 20 multiple-choice + 5 numerical questions. 75 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours . +4 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong one, on every question.Changed in 2025: the optional numerical questions were removed, so all 5 numericals are compulsory and have negative marking. No on-screen calculator. Available in 13 languages . Official sources JEE Main
Two sessions Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April . You can take one or both; your best score counts.JEE Main 2027 Session 1: 22–30 January 2027. Official sources JEE Main
Architecture and planning papers Paper 2A (B.Arch) : Maths, Aptitude and a pen-and-paper Drawing test (400 marks).Paper 2B (B.Planning) : Maths, Aptitude and planning questions.JEE Main
How many take it 2026: about 16 lakh registered and 15.4 lakh appeared across both sessions. You needed about the 93.4 percentile (General category) to qualify for JEE Advanced in 2026. Official sources
JEE Advanced (IITs) Only for the top 2.5 lakh
Inside this branch Who can take it Exam pattern 2026 at a glance Architecture at IITs (AAT) JEE Advanced (IITs)
Who can take it The top 2,50,000 candidates of JEE Main (across categories). Maximum 2 attempts in consecutive years; age limit applies (see Class 11–12 branch). JEE Advanced (IITs)
Exam pattern Two compulsory papers of 3 hours each on the same day, computer-based, in English and Hindi. The question types and marks change every year (360 marks in 2026), so practise with several years of past papers. Official sources JEE Advanced (IITs)
2026 at a glance Held on 17 May 2026 by IIT Roorkee. About 1.87 lakh registered and 56,880 qualified (10,107 women). JEE Advanced 2027 is expected to be organised by IIT Delhi (reported; dates not yet announced). Official sources JEE Advanced (IITs)
Architecture at IITs (AAT) B.Arch at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee and IIT (BHU) needs the 3-hour Architecture Aptitude Test after JEE Advanced.
Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB Turning your rank into a seat
Learn from these Official Free Official Free Official Free Article Free Official Free Inside this branch What JoSAA covers Rounds and choices Home-state quota and seats for women CSAB: leftover seats Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB
What JoSAA covers JoSAA fills seats in 138 institutes : 23 IITs, IISc Bengaluru (new in 2026), 31 NITs, IIEST Shibpur, 26 IIITs and 56 other government-funded institutes.67,323 seats in 2026: about 18,951 at IITs/IISc, 25,162 at NITs/IIEST, 11,518 at IIITs.IIT seats use your JEE Advanced rank; all others use your JEE Main rank. Official sources Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB
Rounds and choices 2026 had 5 rounds (13 June to 16 July). After each round you choose: Freeze (keep this seat), Float (try for any higher choice) or Slide (try for a better branch in the same institute). Seat acceptance fee: ₹30,000 (₹15,000 for SC, ST, PwD), adjusted in your fees. Official sources Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB
Home-state quota and seats for women NITs keep part of their seats for students from their home state , so your state NIT is often easier to get. Extra supernumerary seats for women are added so every IIT and NIT has at least 20% women: 1,480 extra at IITs and 427 at NITs in 2026. Official sources Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB
CSAB: leftover seats After JoSAA, CSAB runs special rounds for vacant seats in NITs, IIITs and other institutes. Register for it if you did not get a seat. Official sources
Other routes into engineering Most engineers come this way
Learn from these Official Free Official Free Official Free AP EAPCET Andhra Pradesh engineering entrance. Official Free Official Free Official Free Inside this branch State entrance exams Private university exams Diploma first, then B.Tech Defence and science routes Other routes into engineering
State entrance exams Each state fills its government and private colleges through its own exam: e.g. MHT-CET (Maharashtra, two attempts from 2026), KCET (Karnataka), WBJEE (West Bengal), AP and Telangana EAPCET. Some states admit on JEE Main scores instead. Check your state's counselling website. State government colleges are often excellent and much cheaper. Official sources Other routes into engineering
Private university exams BITSAT (BITS Pilani, two sessions), VITEEE (VIT), COMEDK UGET (Karnataka private colleges), SRMJEEE and others.Check fees carefully: private B.Tech can cost much more than government colleges. Official sources Other routes into engineering
Diploma first, then B.Tech Do a 3-year polytechnic diploma after Class 10, then join B.Tech directly in the second year (lateral entry). A recognised diploma also counts as a qualifying exam for JEE Main. Other routes into engineering
Defence and science routes Army 10+2 TES and Navy 10+2 B.Tech : engineering degree paid for by the forces, shortlisted on your JEE Main rank.IISERs (science research) now admit only through their own test, IAT , not JEE Advanced.Official sources
Choosing college and branch Rank, branch and fit
Inside this branch College or branch? Rankings (NIRF) Popular branches Choosing college and branch
College or branch? Use previous years' JoSAA opening and closing ranks to see what your rank can realistically get. A branch you enjoy at a good college usually beats a "hot" branch you dislike. Look at placement data, not only the brand. This is general advice, not an official rule. Official sources Choosing college and branch
Rankings (NIRF) The government's NIRF 2025 top 10 for engineering: IIT Madras, Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Hyderabad, Guwahati, NIT Trichy and IIT (BHU). The 2026 list was not out yet. Official sources Choosing college and branch
Popular branches Computer Science and related branches (AI, data science, IT) are the most demanded. Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil and Chemical remain strong core branches. New programmes keep appearing (e.g. IIT Kanpur's B.Cyber in 2026).
Life during B.Tech 4 years, 8 semesters
Learn from these Course Free Course Free SWAYAM Government online courses; credits can transfer at many colleges. Official Free Practice Free Course Free Course Free Inside this branch How the degree works Make the most of it Life during B.Tech
How the degree works 4 years (8 semesters), credit-based, with labs, projects and usually a summer internship. Under NEP rules many institutes let you exit with a UG Certificate after year 1 or a UG Diploma after year 2 , and come back later. Official sources Life during B.Tech
Make the most of it Build skills beyond the syllabus: coding, projects, internships, clubs and competitions. Free courses from IIT professors on NPTEL and SWAYAM can earn credits at many colleges.
After B.Tech Jobs, GATE, higher studies
Learn from these Official Free Official Free Official Free Article Free Inside this branch After B.Tech
Jobs Campus placements in IT, core engineering, consulting and startups. Government: SSC JE and RRB JE , UPSC Engineering Services , and PSU jobs through GATE (see the Government Jobs roadmap). After B.Tech
GATE Run by IIT Madras for 2027 (exam days 6–21 February 2027, 30 papers including a new Robotics & Automation paper). Used for M.Tech admission and by several PSUs for hiring. Score valid 3 years. Official sources After B.Tech
Higher studies M.Tech in India (GATE), MS abroad (GRE), MBA (CAT), or a research PhD.
Fees and scholarships Money should not stop you
Learn from these Official Free Official Free Article Free Inside this branch What it costs Fee waivers at IITs and NITs Scholarships and loans Fees and scholarships
What it costs IIT : tuition ₹1 lakh per semester (about ₹8 lakh for 4 years, plus hostel).NIT : tuition ₹62,500 per semester (about ₹5 lakh for 4 years, plus hostel).State government colleges are usually much cheaper; private colleges can cost ₹8–20 lakh or more for the degree (approximate). Official sources Fees and scholarships
Fee waivers at IITs and NITs SC, ST and PwD students pay no tuition.Family income under ₹1 lakh a year: full tuition waiver . ₹1–5 lakh: two-thirds waived. So a poor family's child at an IIT pays very little tuition. Official sources Fees and scholarships
Scholarships and loans AICTE Pragati : ₹50,000 a year for girls in technical courses (family income up to ₹8 lakh). AICTE Saksham : the same for students with disabilities.Central Sector Scholarship : for students above the 80th percentile in Class 12 with family income under ₹4.5 lakh.PM-Vidyalaxmi : education loans with no collateral or guarantor for good institutions, with interest support for families earning up to ₹8 lakh.Official sources