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Record Number of Female Candidates Qualify in JEE Advanced 2026

The JEE Advanced 2026 examination has recorded a historic achievement with over 10,000 female candidates qualifying, the highest in six years. Despite this progress, the increase in their share of IIT admissions remains marginal. The Joint Implementation Committee of IIT Roorkee has provided insights into the results, revealing that female students secured 3,851 out of 18,861 seats. The overall success rates for SC and ST candidates have also improved, while the General and OBC-NCL categories saw a decline. This article delves into the details of the results and the implications for future admissions.
By Ambika Singh Oct 7, 2026, 15:07 IST

Significant Improvement in JEE Advanced 2026 Results



The JEE Advanced 2026 examination has shown a notable enhancement in student performance, particularly among female candidates seeking admission to IITs. This year, over 10,000 women successfully qualified for the exam, marking a significant achievement not seen in the past six years. Despite this increase, the proportion of female students gaining admission to IITs has seen only a slight rise. The Joint Implementation Committee of IIT Roorkee released details about the exam results and seat distribution, indicating that female candidates secured 3,851 out of the total 18,861 available seats.


Female Candidates Achieve New Milestone

In total, 43,112 female candidates registered for the JEE Advanced 2026, with 40,562 participating in both papers. Out of these, 10,107 qualified, resulting in a success rate of 23.4%, an improvement from 21.7% in 2025. Among those who took both papers, 24.9% of female candidates qualified, compared to 9,404 who succeeded last year. However, their representation among all qualified candidates remains at 17.76%.


IIT Admissions for Female Students

The total number of seats available across IITs was 18,861, with female students securing 3,851, which represents 20.22% of the total admissions. This is a slight increase from 20.15% in 2025. Of these, 3,777 seats were allocated under a special quota for female students, while 37 women gained admission through gender-neutral seats. This initiative aims to enhance female representation in IITs to at least 20% at the undergraduate level.


Top Female Candidate Achieves Impressive Rank

The highest-scoring female candidate in JEE Advanced 2026 achieved an All India Rank (AIR) of 77 with a total score of 280 marks, including 101 in Mathematics, 86 in Physics, and 93 in Chemistry. Among the top 100 candidates, 97 chose to enroll in IIT Bombay, Delhi, or Madras, with IIT Bombay admitting 68 of these top performers.


Improved Success Rates for SC and ST Candidates

This year also saw an increase in the success rates for SC and ST candidates. The success rate for SC candidates rose from 40.41% to 50.16%, while ST candidates improved from 33.99% to 42.14%. A total of 15,856 SC candidates and 6,379 ST candidates qualified. In contrast, the success rate for General category candidates fell from 43% to 39.8%, and for OBC-NCL candidates, it decreased from 18.2% to 17.5%.


Overall Qualification Statistics

The JEE Advanced 2026 was held on May 17 in two shifts, with 1,87,389 candidates registered and 1,79,694 appearing for both papers. Ultimately, 56,880 candidates qualified, with some eligible for a one-year preparatory course.


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