The rules governing the number of attempts for JEE Advanced could come up for reconsideration, with discussions having begun within the IIT Council, IIT Kanpur Director Prof Manindra Agarwal told ETEducation in an exclusive conversation. The development comes amid appeals from aspirants for either a third attempt or greater flexibility in using the two attempts currently allowed, citing circumstances that can disrupt preparation and limit their chances of qualifying.
More than 12,000 aspirants have signed an online petition seeking a change in the eligibility rules for JEE Advanced 2027. The campaign’s two proposals are to allow three attempts in three consecutive years, or to retain the two-attempt limit but allow candidates to use those attempts within a three-year window. The petition had 12,139 signatures on Change.org as of October 14. Petition
Explaining why the issue needs careful consideration, Prof Agarwal said the experience of earlier years showed that only a very small number of candidates who used a third attempt ultimately qualified.
“See, it is a very tricky subject. What happens is, there are some students who feel very aggrieved that third attempt is not available because they feel they can’t do it. But as educators, we have to look at the big picture,” he said.
“The data shows that in the past third attempts were allowed. The data shows that the number of students who qualified for the third attempt is minuscule. The downside of allowing third attempt is that a large number of students will attempt it. Very few will actually succeed. So a huge body of students will end up wasting another year, plus a lot of money also, in coaching and others,” IIT Kanpur Director added.
He said the question was whether an additional attempt would benefit the examination system overall, adding that the answer was not straightforward.
“I am not saying one way or the other,” he said.
On the alternative proposal to allow two attempts over three years, Prof Agarwal said that, too, would require detailed consideration. “Those are the issues that will need threadbare discussion within IIT Council,” he said.
Asked about the status of the discussions, he said: “We have started a discussion. We hope to carry this forward and arrive at a considered opinion as to whether it should be done and if yes, how it should be done.”
What students are seeking
Aspirants backing the campaign argue that the current rules leave little room for circumstances beyond a candidate’s control. Illness, accidents, family or financial difficulties and uneven access to guidance can affect preparation, they say, even when students have the academic ability to compete for an IIT seat.
The campaign also points to differences in access to coaching and early preparation. Students from rural areas or lower-income families may begin focused preparation later than peers with greater access to information, resources and coaching, the petition argues.
The petition frames the demand as one of opportunity rather than a lowering of academic standards: “This is not a request to lower standards. It is a request to remove an unnecessary limitation and ensure equal opportunity.”
Students have also sought a response from the authorities, saying representations have been made to the Ministry of Education and IIT bodies. The two proposals reflect an effort to address the same concern in different ways: a third opportunity to compete, or greater flexibility in deciding when to use the two available attempts.
Under the existing rules, candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of twice in two consecutive years, subject to other eligibility conditions, including the year in which they first appear for the Class 12 examination. JEE Main, by comparison, allows candidates to appear over three consecutive years, with two sessions in a year. JEE Advanced eligibility criteria
A precedent for changing the rules
The attempt limit has changed before. In November 2024, the Joint Admission Board (JAB) initially increased the number of permitted JEE Advanced attempts to three, before restoring the earlier limit of two attempts later that month after considering competing requirements. The Supreme Court subsequently allowed a limited group of candidates who had withdrawn from courses between November 5 and November 18, 2024, to register for JEE Advanced 2025; it did not order a general restoration of the third attempt. IIT Kanpur’s account of the 2024 reversal JEE Advanced 2025 report
The current discussions therefore do not amount to a decision to change the rules. Prof Agarwal did not specify a timeline or confirm whether the existing eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2027 would be altered.
For aspirants, the immediate question is whether the discussions will lead to a formal consideration of either proposal before the next examination cycle. For the IITs, the challenge is to weigh candidates’ calls for flexibility against concerns about the costs, duration and outcomes of an extended preparation cycle.
