If you are planning to appear for the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) 2026, then the first thing you need to do is check whether you are eligible to apply. The OJEE cell, which is the government exam conducting authority, sets specific eligibility criteria for each course offered through the exam. From undergraduate courses like B.Pharm, B.CAT to postgraduate programs like MBA, MCA, M.Tech and M.Pharm, each course has its own academic and percentage requirements.

More than 40 top colleges and B-schools across Odisha accept the OJEE score, making it an important gateway for students aspiring for technical and professional education in the state. The OJEE 2026 Registration already started on January 28, 2026, and candidates are advised to review the eligibility norms carefully before submitting their applications. Also remember, eligibility is strictly verified at the time of admission. So, if you are found ineligible at any stage, your admission may be cancelled even if you qualify for the exam.

In this article, we have explained the OJEE 2026 eligibility criteria, such as educational qualification, age limit, nationality, experience and more important information in detail. Check out the article below.

OJEE Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights

Take a look at the table below for a brief overview of the OJEE 2026 eligibility criteria.

You may also Check OJEE 2026 Registration

OJEE Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course- wise

See below for course-wise OJEE eligibility criteria for 2026.

OJEE 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduate Courses

B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy)

• Candidates must have passed Class 12th examination in the science stream.
• The qualifying subjects should include Mathematics or Biology with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects.
• Minimum 45% aggregate marks are required for General candidates and 40% marks for SC/ST candidates.
• There is no age limit for admission to B.Pharm programme.

BHMS / BAMS

• Candidates must have passed Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany and Zoology) as main subjects.
• They must have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in all three subjects.
• The minimum age of the candidate should be 17 years as on December 31, 2024.

Note:

Admission to BHMS and BAMS is based on NEET (UG) score; OJEE conducts only the counselling process.

B.CAT

• Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream (Science, Arts, or Commerce) from a recognized board.
• Minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST) are required.
• No specific age limit is mentioned for this course.

Integrated MBA

• Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream.
• Minimum qualification is 45% for General and 40% for SC/ST.
• No age limit is applicable for this course.

Lateral Entrance in B.Tech (for Diploma holders)

• Applicants must have completed 3 years Diploma in Engineering/Technology from an Odisha-recognized institution.
• Minimum required marks: 45% for General and 40% for SC/ST.

Lateral Entry in B.Tech (for B.Sc. graduates)

• Candidates must have a B.Sc degree with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST).
• They must have studied Mathematics in 10+2.

Lateral Entry in B.Pharm

• Candidates must have passed Diploma in Pharmacy with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST).

Note: OJEE exam is not conducted for admission to MBBS, BDS, BE/BTech. Applicants will be admitted on the basis of NEET and JEE Main respectively.

OJEE 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduate Courses

MBA

Aspirants should have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline or a four-year degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, or Pharmacy with at least 50% marks. Final year students are also eligible to apply. There is no age limit for admission to the MBA programme.

MCA

To apply for the MCA programme, candidates should have a three-year bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks. Additionally, they should have studied Mathematics at the 10+2 level or at the postgraduate level. Final year students are also eligible. There is no age limit for MCA admission.

M.Tech

Applicants should have completed a bachelor's degree in the relevant field with at least 50% marks. Qualifying exam participants are also eligible. The OJEE cell has not specified any age limit for M.Tech admission.

M.Pharm

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in pharmacy with at least 50% marks. Final year students of graduation are also eligible. OJEE Cell has not fixed any age limit for admission to M.Pharm.

M.Arch

Candidates applying for M.Arch should have a bachelor's degree in architecture with at least 50% marks. Final year students are also eligible to apply. OJEE Board has not fixed any age limit for this program.

OJEE 2026 Reservation Criteria

OJEE 2026 has reservation provisions for some reserved categories. The reservation criteria in OJEE are provided for candidates belonging to the following categories:

Odisha State Category

• SC/ST
• Green Card Holders
• Physically Handicapped or Disabled Persons
• Wards of Ex-Servicemen Resident of Odisha
• Women Candidates
• Tuition Waiver Scheme

Odia Speaking Candidates Resident Outside Odisha

• Non-Resident Indians
• Outside State Category
• Candidates applying under any reserved category must keep in mind a few important guidelines. For example, during the OJEE 2026 counselling process, they will be required to submit valid documents as proof of their eligibility for the claimed reservation.
• It is important to understand that just claiming reservation is not enough - it is also important for candidates to still meet the minimum eligibility criteria prescribed for OJEE 2026. Additionally, the percentage of reserved seats may vary from one institution to another, depending on the category and course.

OJEE 2026 Reservation: Important Points to Remember

Before applying for OJEE 2026 under any reserved category, candidates must be aware of the following important guidelines:

• Reserved category seats are not available for lateral entry in engineering or technology degree programs.
• To avail the benefits of reservation, candidates must strictly fulfill the eligibility criteria specified for the reserved category they are applying for. Failure to fulfill any of the requirements will result in rejection of the reservation claim and the application may be declared ineligible.
• For mining engineering programs, both female candidates and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) are not eligible for admission as per the government guidelines.
• After the declaration of OJEE 2026 results, the authorities will release separate merit lists for each reserved category to facilitate the admission process.
• While appearing for counselling, candidates will have to submit valid supporting documents for each reservation claim. If these documents are not provided at the time of counselling, the candidate's admission will not be processed further.

OJEE 2026 Reservation: Required Documents

During the document verification process, candidates will have to present all the mandatory certificates to verify their reservation claim. Failure to provide the required documents may result in cancellation of admission through OJEE.

A valid 'Odisha Resident' certificate is required for most reserved categories, while some may also require income certificate or other supporting documents depending on the category.

The list of documents that candidates will have to submit for various reserved categories during verification is given in the table below. Please note that all certificates must be issued on or after January 2026 to be considered valid.

OJEE 2026 Reservation: Course-wise

The following table gives the details of seat reservation for each category for various courses.