NITs, IIITs Admission Without JEE Main 2026: Know the Alternate Channels

As the JEE Main 2026 registration nears, engineering aspirants wonder: Is it possible to get admission to NITs or IIITs without appearing for JEE Main?

Alternative Ways for Admission to NITs, IIITs Without JEE Main

The answer is that the JEE Mains exam remains a widely accepted exam required for B.Tech admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. NTA will conduct the JEE Main 2026 exam in January and April. Admissions to these premier institutes will be done through JoSAA counselling based on JEE Main 2026 ranks. But there are alternate admission routes for students who aspire to study at these institutes.

IIIT Hyderabad UGEE, LEEE, SPEC

IIIT Hyderabad conducts its own entrance exam as well for admission to the institute. Candidates can apply and sit for the IIITH UGEE, LEEE, and SPEC channels for undergraduate admission based on test scores and interviews instead of JEE Main. It is important to note that the UGEE mode is held for admission to dual degree programmes. Graduates of the dual degree programmes earn two degrees: B.Tech and Master of Science by Research. Students cannot use their score for the JoSAA counselling process as it is an institute-specific test.

Postgraduate Admissions

If students wish to join NITs or IIITs for M.Tech, MSc, or PhD, JEE Main is not required. Instead, admissions are conducted via GATE, JAM or the institute's test.

In conclusion, admission to NITs and IIITs without JEE Mains is possible, but hardly for the B.Tech route. Candidates can choose alternate study routes for admission to these institutes for dual-degree or PG programmes. However, admission to the first-year B.Tech seats in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs will be done based on JEE Main and the JoSAA counselling.