JEE Advanced 2026 records highest-ever number of female qualifiers

Female participation in India's premier engineering entrance examination reached a new high this year, with more than 10,000 girls qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026 for the first time.

Data released by IIT Roorkee showed that 10,107 female candidates were among the 56,880 students who qualified for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other participating institutions through JEE Advanced 2026.

The institute said the outcome reflects a growing presence of women in engineering and technology education and points to increased participation in competitive STEM examinations over recent years.

IIT Roorkee stated that "the trend reflects the growing participation of young women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, with the number of female candidates appearing for JEE Advanced increasing significantly in recent years."

The institute described the result as evidence of a broader and more diverse talent pool seeking admission to the country's leading engineering institutions.

It noted that "the record qualification figures highlight the expanding talent pool of women aspiring to pursue engineering and technology education at the country's premier institutions."

Highlighting the significance of the achievement, IIT Roorkee added, "While we strive for an even better ratio, this achievement represents a significant step towards greater gender diversity in technical education and reinforces the ongoing transformation of India's STEM ecosystem through broader access, opportunity, and participation."

JEE Advanced 2026 results were announced on June 1 after the examination was conducted on May 17. A total of 187,389 candidates registered for the examination, while 179,694 appeared in both papers.

Shubham Kumar from the IIT Delhi zone emerged as the overall topper, securing All India Rank (AIR) 1 with 330 marks out of 360.

The highest-ranked female candidate was Arohi Deshpande from the IIT Delhi zone. She scored 280 marks and secured the 77th position in the Common Rank List (CRL).

The IIT Delhi zone dominated the top ranks this year, with Kabeer Chhillar securing the second position with 329 marks and Jatin Chahar finishing third with 319 marks.

The record number of female qualifiers comes amid continuing efforts by IITs and policymakers to improve gender representation in engineering education, a field that has traditionally seen lower participation from women.