My neice qualified for IIT Advance this year, his IIT mains is 95.63%tile (General-EWS). But in CBSE 12th last year, he got 74.25% nd this year in CBSE improvement it's still not 75%. His PCM is 75%+ but overall less than 75%. What options he has apart from bits ? Shall we make him give IIT Advance ? Any advice ?

Hello Mr. Arpan Singh,

Your niece's situation is complicated, but it is not entirely hopeless. The 75% aggregate in Class 12 (or being in the top 20 percentile in her board) is an absolute requirement for IIT admission, even if she clears JEE Advanced. It is still a requirement for eligibility for admission, just as it is for JEE Mains and all engineering colleges in India. Since her overall CBSE % is below 75% (even with improvement), she will not be eligible for IIT counselling, unless she meets the eligibility for top 20 % grade criteria based on her JEE Mains on the Category eligibility basis (General-EWS). These are some options:

1. Check eligibility for Top 20 Percentile – If her total marks place her in the top 20 percentile for CBSE in her category, then she can still write JEE Advanced and potentially gain an IIT admission. CBSE publishes this data every year.
2. Write JEE Advanced for Practice – Even if she is not eligible this year, writing Advanced will give her a big advantage if she drops a year.
3. NITs/IIITs based on JEE Main Rank - Again, the same 75% or percentile rule applies, so the top 20 percentile can save her.
4. Private & State Universities – VIT, SRM, Amrita, Manipal, etc. or engineering colleges run by state governments, which have their own eligibility norms.
5. BITS Pilani - No board % relaxation, but needs 75% in PCM and 60% individually in PCM, which she has achieved, and can attempt BITSAT.
6. Options abroad - If this is financially feasible, then consider universities abroad where the JEE score carries weight so far as boards is not a strict cutoff.