Students have launched an online petition urging the government to allow candidates three attempts at the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced, which is conducted for admission to undergraduate programmes at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The petition points out that while JEE Main, the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced, allows candidates three attempts, JEE Advanced permits only two consecutive attempts. JEE Main is conducted for admission to institutions such as the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and also serves as the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced.

“JEE Advanced is not just an exam—it is the gateway to India’s most prestigious institutions, the IITs. For lakhs of students, it represents years of hard work, sacrifice and determination. Yet, under the current policy, students are limited to only two consecutive attempts, while JEE Main allows three attempts within the same admission system.

“If improvement is allowed in JEE Main, why is it restricted in JEE Advanced? This inconsistency denies many capable and hardworking students a fair opportunity to demonstrate their true potential,” the petition on Change.org stated.

Vikash Kumar, who is leading the campaign, said the proposed change would particularly benefit students from underprivileged and rural backgrounds.

“Students, particularly those from rural India, are often unaware of this examination until they complete Class 12. By the time they appear for JEE Main for the third time, even if they secure top ranks, they are no longer eligible for JEE Advanced. Many such students could get an opportunity if one more attempt were allowed,” Kumar said.

“Allow a third consecutive attempt for JEE Advanced 2027, especially for second-time droppers, or introduce a policy allowing two attempts in three consecutive years. This is not a request to lower standards. It is a request to remove an unnecessary limitation and ensure equal opportunity. A fair system should measure students’ true potential, not restrict them through rigid timelines. Don’t limit talent by attempts,” the petition stated.

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