In a record, over 10,000 women clear JEE-Advanced

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NEW DELHI: Women’s success rate in JEE-Advanced reached a record high in 2026 despite fewer registrations, with over 10,000 qualifying for the first time during this period. Yet their share of IIT seat allotments barely changed, from 20.15% to 20.22%. Of the top 100 rankers, 97 were allotted seats at just three IITs – Bombay, Delhi and Madras – with Bombay alone taking 68.This time, a total 18,861 admissions were made in IITs, with 20% being female candidates. Among the top 25 rankers, 8 candidates each took admission in IIT Delhi and IIT Madras, while six toppers took admission in IIT Bombay.The Joint Implementation Committee report, prepared by IIT Roorkee, shows sharp gains for SC and ST candidates. Including candidates with disabilities in both years, their qualification rates among registered candidates rose by 9.9 and 8.3 percentage points, respectively, to 50.2% and 42.1%.SC qualifiers increased from 12,528 to 15,856, while the ST count rose from 5,017 to 6,379. Both increases were around 27%, faster than the 4.6% rise in the number of qualifiers, from 54,378 to 56,880.

JEE(A): Women accountfor 23% of registrations but 17.8% of qualifiers

Of 43,112 registered women, 10,107 qualified, taking their success rate to 23.4%, against 21.7% last year. In 2025, 9,404 women qualified from 43,413 registrations. Among women who appeared in both papers, the success rate was 24.9%.Women accounted for 23% of registrations but 17.8% of qualifiers, showing that their improved success rate has yet to close the gap with male candidates.Women received 3,814 seat allotments, up from 3,664, out of 18,861 overall. Their qualifying count grew 7.5%.IITs have added seats exclusively for women to ensure they make up at least one in five new undergraduate students. Their share of allotments is only slightly above that level. The report records 3,777 allotments in seats set aside for women and 37 in seats open to all genders. Women are considered first for women-only seats within the relevant category.

The small number allotted seats open to all therefore does not show how many could have secured them on rank alone.The qualifying total also includes students eligible for a one-year preparatory course before starting an IIT degree. Their number rose from 9,644 to 13,127, nearly a quarter of all qualifiers. This route is available to eligible SC and ST candidates and those with disabilities against unfilled reserved seats. Those admitted must pass the course before entering allotted degree programme.Excluding this group, SC and ST qualifiers still increased by about 17% and 19%. However, the overall number qualifying directly for degree programmes fell from 44,734 to 43,753. The report records 189 seat allotments for this course. Qualifying for either of these routes does not guarantee an IIT seat; admission also depends on rank, eligibility and available seats.