All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) has ruled that Chemistry will not be considered a mandatory subject to take admission in B.Tech/ BE courses. Earlier, candidates had to opt for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as main subject in 12th standard- to be eligible for admission into B.Tech. Now, if the decision is considered, Chemistry will be scrapped from the eligibility criteria.
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Latest Update as on 03 Sep 2026
Checked on 03 Sep 2026
As of 03 Sep 2026, no official source — including AICTE, NTA, or any central regulatory body — has published a confirmed notification stating that Chemistry is no longer a compulsory subject for B.Tech admission.
As of 03 Sep 2026, no official source — including AICTE, NTA, or any central regulatory body — has published a confirmed notification stating that Chemistry is no longer a compulsory subject for B.Tech admission. The claim that Chemistry has been removed as a mandatory eligibility requirement for B.Tech has circulated on education platforms, but it cannot be treated as confirmed without an official circular or gazette notification. AICTE, the apex technical education regulator, has historically revised model eligibility norms and communicated them to institutions ahead of each admission cycle. Based on previous-year patterns, any such eligibility change for 2027-28 admissions would be expected to appear on aicte-india.org between August and November 2026. Students are strongly advised to monitor AICTE's official portal and their target university's admissions page, and not to rely on unverified secondary sources until an official circular is published.
- No official notification on removing Chemistry as a compulsory B.Tech eligibility subject has been confirmed as of 03 Sep 2026.
- AICTE had previously revised model eligibility norms; any similar revision for 2026-27 admissions would typically be announced by AICTE between July–September of the preceding year (tentative, based on past patterns).
- JEE Main 2027 eligibility criteria — which may reflect any AICTE norm change — are expected to be notified by NTA around October–November 2026 (last year: NTA issued information brochure in Oct–Nov 2025; tentative).
- State technical universities and institutes are expected to update their individual eligibility rules in alignment with AICTE guidelines, likely by December 2026–January 2027 (tentative, pattern-based).
- Students applying for B.Tech admissions in 2027 should watch AICTE's official portal (aicte-india.org) and their target institution's website for any confirmed eligibility changes (tentative advisory).
- If Chemistry is formally made optional, NTA is expected to revise JEE Main subject eligibility accordingly in the 2027 information brochure (tentative, unconfirmed).
Sources: AICTE Official Website · NTA JEE Main Official Website
Candidates those who are pursuing or have completed class 12 wih Physics, Mathematics along with some optional subjects like Biology, Computer science, Business studies, Information Technology (IT), Biotechnology, Engineering Graphics and Agriculture will be eligible to take the engineering/Technology course from the next session. However, for the current session, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics is mandatory.
With this effect, a thousand more additional students will be able to appear in the engineering exams for pursuing engineering course in AICTE approved colleges in India.
While most of the Engineering college take admission on the basis of JEE Mains conducted by NTA, many states conduct their own engineering entrance exams, hence this move is beneficial for students with other subject options along with Physics and Mathematics which are mandatory for B.Tech/BE courses.
At present, there are around 3,000 engineering institutions that is catering 13.2 Lakh undergraduate degrees in Engineering and Technology. If the above optional courses are introduced, this number would hike up in coming years.
Major Changes This Year
No major change regarding Chemistry's compulsory status for B.Tech admission eligibility has been officially announced as of 03 Sep 2026. No official source material was retrievable to confirm this change. It is tentatively expected — based on prior AICTE eligibility reform patterns and unverified signals from education websites — that AICTE may relax subject-specific compulsory requirements to broaden access to technical education. However, until AICTE or NTA publishes an official circular, all such reports remain unconfirmed. Students should treat Chemistry as a required subject unless an official notification explicitly states otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chemistry no longer compulsory for B.Tech admission in 2026-27?
This has not been officially confirmed by AICTE or NTA as of 03 Sep 2026. The claim is circulating on education platforms but lacks an official circular. Treat Chemistry as required until an official notification is published.
Which body has the authority to change B.Tech eligibility criteria in India?
AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) sets model eligibility norms for B.Tech admissions in India. Individual universities may also specify additional requirements within AICTE's framework.
Will JEE Main 2027 eligibility change if Chemistry is made optional?
If AICTE formally revises eligibility norms to make Chemistry optional, NTA is likely to reflect this in the JEE Main 2027 information brochure, expected around October–November 2026. This is tentative and unconfirmed.
Where can I check the official update on B.Tech eligibility?
Monitor aicte-india.org for AICTE circulars and jeemain.nta.nic.in for JEE Main 2027 eligibility updates. Always rely on official portals, not third-party education websites.
Can a student without Chemistry in Class 12 apply for B.Tech right now?
As of today, most institutions still require Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) for B.Tech admissions. Until an official AICTE notification changes this, students without Chemistry may be ineligible at most institutes.
Did AICTE previously relax any B.Tech eligibility norms?
Yes, AICTE has historically revised eligibility norms — for example, it previously allowed students with Biology (PCMB) to apply for certain B.Tech programs. However, a blanket removal of Chemistry as compulsory has not been officially confirmed as of 03 Sep 2026.
What subjects will be compulsory for B.Tech eligibility if Chemistry is removed?
This is speculative as no official notification confirms the change. Tentatively, Physics and Mathematics may remain mandatory. Students must wait for an official AICTE circular before drawing conclusions.
When is AICTE expected to announce eligibility norms for 2027-28 admissions?
Based on previous-year patterns, AICTE typically releases revised model eligibility norms between July and November of the preceding year. For 2027-28, an announcement could be expected by October–November 2026, but this is tentative.
