How to get IIT admission for BTech after class 12th?

If you’re asking “how to get IIT admission in BTech after Class 12th,” here’s the straight answer: clear JEE Main, rank in the top 2,50,000 to become JEE Advanced–eligible, qualify JEE Advanced, and lock your seat in JoSAA counselling.

You see, getting into an IIT after Class 12th is the dream of millions of students across India- but only a fraction make it through the funnel. In 2025, out of 13.8 lakh JEE Main registrants, only 54,378 qualified JEE Advanced for about 18,000 IIT seats. The competition is fierce, and the pathway is tightly structured.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how to get admission in IIT for BTech after Class 12th. From eligibility criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced, to the role of Class 12th marks, to how JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counselling and category reservations work. We’ll also look whether alternative routes exist and by the end, you’ll have a step-by-step roadmap of what it really takes to enter an IIT.

What is the criteria for IIT Admission?

To apply for an IIT BTech course after Class 12, you must qualify the JEE Entrance Exam. Along, with this, you need to have a minimum required score in class 12th and if you are eligible, you can go for reservations. Let’s us see the requirements for admission in detail:

Class 12th marks requirement for IIT admission

For admission to IITs, students must also meet the Class XII performance criterion. Here are the requirements:

• A student must score at least 75% aggregate marks in Class 12 (or equivalent).
• For SC/ST/PwD candidates, the minimum is 65% aggregate.
• Alternatively, if you don’t meet the percentage criteria, you can still qualify if you are in the top 20 percentile of your Class 12 board exams.

JEE Mains eligibility after 12th

• Students who passed/are appearing in Class 12 with Physics & Maths + one of Chemistry/Biology/Technical.
• There is no age limit for JEE Main.
• Conducted by NTA in two sessions (January & April).
• Students can appear in either or both sessions.
• Best score is taken forward for ranking..

Why it matters: JEE Main (Paper 1) score decides your AIR and percentile; top 2,50,000 across categories become eligible for JEE Advanced.

JEE Advanced eligibility criteria

To appear for JEE Advanced you must:

• Be among the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main (across categories).
• Candidates must have appeared in Class 12 (or equivalent) for the first time in the current or previous year with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects; those who appeared earlier are not eligible.
• Observe the attempt limit (maximum three times are allowed in three consecutive years).

Reservation Quotas under JoSAA

All IITs follow Government of India reservation policy for admissions:

• 27% seats for OBC-NCL– Need a valid OBC-NCL certificate, issued after April 1 of the admission year.
• 10% seats for EWS– Need an EWS income & asset certificate, also issued after April 1 of the admission year.
• 15% seats for SC– Need a caste/tribe certificate in the Government of India format.
• 7.5% seats for ST– Need a caste/tribe certificate in the Government of India format.
• 5% horizontal reservation for PwD candidates across all categories- Need a PwD certificate (disability certificate) from a recognized medical authority.
• Supernumerary female quota– Around 20% of total seats earmarked. Female candidates with lower rank may still get a seat in female-only supernumerary quota. No extra certificate is needed.

Important: These still require JEE Advanced qualification as the quota only affects seat allocation and not the entrance process.

step by step process to get admission into iit

Getting into an IIT for BTech mainly revolves around two entrance exams: JEE Main and JEE Advanced, followed by counselling. Here’s a breakdown in a simple, step-by-step way:

• Appear for JEE Main: This is the first step in the IIT admission journey. JEE Main is held twice a year, in January and April, and it acts as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. Your performance here determines if you’re eligible for the next stage.
• Qualify for JEE Advanced: Only the top performers in JEE Main get a chance to appear for JEE Advanced. Think of this as the real gateway to IITs — your rank here matters the most.
• Clear JEE Advanced with a good rank: JEE Advanced is tougher and tests your conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Scoring well here is essential to get your preferred IIT and branch.
• Register for JoSAA Counselling: Once you have your JEE Advanced rank, you need to participate in JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counselling. This is where you select your preferred IITs and BTech branches, rank your choices, and wait for the seat allotment.
• Complete document verification and pay fees: After seat allotment, you’ll need to verify your documents at the allotted IIT and pay the admission fees. Once done, your seat is officially confirmed, and you’re ready to start your IIT journey!

Documents required for IIT Admission

• Class 10 & 12 Mark Sheets and Passing Certificates
• JEE Main & JEE Advanced Scorecards
• Category Certificate (if applicable)
• Passport-size Photographs
• Valid Photo ID
• Medical Fitness Certificate
• Migration Certificate
• Provisional Certificate / Transfer Certificate
• Income Certificate / Scholarship Documents
• Anti-Ragging Affidavit
• Domicile Certificate

when does iit admission start?

The IIT BTech admission process follows a structured timeline, and knowing these key dates helps you plan your preparation effectively:

• JEE Main: Conducted twice a year- in January and April. Applications usually open a few months prior, around November for the January session and February for the April session.
• JEE Advanced: Held once a year, typically in May or June, for students who qualify JEE Main.
• JoSAA Counselling: The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) handles seat allocation, generally between June and July. This is when you fill your choices, lock your preferred branches, and check seat allotments.
• Academic Session: Most IITs start classes around July or August, once admissions are confirmed and documents are verified.

Tip: Always keep an eye on the official JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and JoSAA websites for the latest notifications, as dates can shift slightly each year.

Fees and scholarships for iit btech students

Here’s a breakdown of the fees, scholarships and other expenses as an IIT students:

1. Tuition Fee
   • On average, the tuition fee for BTech programs at IITs ranges from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh per semester.
   • For example, IIT Delhi charges around ₹1.75 lakh per semester for general category students.
   • Fees may vary slightly depending on the IIT and the branch you choose, but all IITs maintain a standardized fee structure.
2. Hostel & Mess Charges
   • Living on campus is almost mandatory for first-year students, so you’ll need to account for hostel and mess fees.
   • Hostel rent usually ranges from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 per semester, while mess charges are about ₹12,000–₹20,000 per semester, depending on the IIT.
   • This means your total living cost on campus could be around ₹20,000–₹30,000 per semester.
3. Fee Waivers and Concessions
   • IITs provide fee waivers for students from economically weaker sections. For instance, if your annual family income is below ₹1 lakh, you may be eligible for a full tuition waiver.
   • Partial waivers are also available for families with income up to ₹5 lakh per year.
4. Scholarships
   • Central Government Scholarships: e.g., Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students.
   • IIT-specific Scholarships: Many IITs offer merit-cum-means scholarships, fee waivers, or hostel fee reductions based on academic performance.
   • Private Scholarships: Organizations like Tata, Infosys, and foundations like Inspire or Aditya Birla also offer scholarships to deserving students.

can i get into iiT without jee?

Many students wonder if it’s possible to join an IIT without appearing for JEE, especially for BTech. The answer is a big NO. If you are an Indian student aiming for a core BTech program, JEE Advanced is mandatory. Admission to all undergraduate engineering courses in IITs is strictly through the JEE Main → JEE Advanced → JoSAA counselling route.

However, Some IITs allow foreign students to apply without JEE, often using SAT scores or equivalent exams. They must still meet academic eligibility (like minimum grades and age criteria).

IITs also offer non-engineering UG programs like BS Economics, BS Sciences, and BDes via UCEED. These programs have separate entrance exams and do not require JEE Advanced.

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