The Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2026 is the gateway for students seeking admission into undergraduate (B.E./B.Tech) courses across approximately 440+ engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu.
Unlike most professional courses, TNEA does not involve an entrance exam. Instead, it is a single-window counseling process based strictly on Class 12 Board Exam marks.
1. Important Dates (Tentative)
As of January 2026, the official notification is expected in late April.4 Based on current academic trends, the following schedule is highly likely:
| Event | Tentative Date |
| Official Notification Release | 4th Week of April 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 1st Week of May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply & Upload Documents | 1st Week of June 2026 |
| Assignment of Random Number | 2nd Week of June 2026 |
| Rank List Publication | 4th Week of June 2026 |
| Grievance Redressal Window | Late June 2026 |
| General Counseling Starts | July 2026 |
| Supplementary Counseling | August 2026 |
2. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for TNEA 2026, candidates must satisfy the following requirements:
A. Academic Qualification
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Mandatory Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM).
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Minimum Marks: * General Category: 45% aggregate in PCM.
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BC/BCM/MBC/DNC/SC/SCA/ST: 40% aggregate in PCM.
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Vocational Stream: Candidates who studied vocational subjects along with Mathematics, Physics, or Chemistry are also eligible.
B. Nativity & Domicile
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Tamil Nadu Candidates: Students who studied from Class 8 to Class 12 in Tamil Nadu are eligible without a nativity certificate.
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Other State Candidates: Those who studied outside the state but are natives of Tamil Nadu must produce a digitally signed e-Nativity Certificate.
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SGC/Govt School Students: There is a 7.5% horizontal reservation for students who studied in Government Schools from Class 6 to 12.
3. The Selection Process (Ranking)
The merit list is prepared based on a normalized score out of 200
Tie-Breaking Rule: If two students have the same score, the rank is determined by:
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Higher marks in Mathematics.
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Higher marks in Physics.
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Higher marks in the fourth optional subject.
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Date of Birth (Older candidate gets preference).
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Random Number assigned by the TNEA portal.
4. Step-by-Step Application Guide
The entire process is online via the official portal: tneaonline.org.
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Registration: Enter your name, mobile number, and email. A User ID and Password will be generated.
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Personal Information: Fill in details regarding community, religion, and nativity.
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Special Reservation: If you are a sportsperson, child of an ex-serviceman, or differently-abled, you must specify here.
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Scholarship Information: Indicate if you are a “First Graduate” to claim fee concessions.
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Academic Details: Enter Class 10 and Class 12 marks and school EMIS number.
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Payment: Pay the application fee (General: ₹500 | SC/SCA/ST: ₹250).
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Document Upload: Scanned copies of marks sheets, community certificates, and nativity proof (if applicable) must be uploaded.
5. Counseling Rounds
After the rank list is published, students are called for online counseling in 4 rounds based on their rank.
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Initial Deposit: To participate in choice filling, you must pay a deposit (General: ₹5000 | SC/ST: ₹1000).
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Choice Filling: You list your preferred colleges and branches. There is no limit to the number of choices.
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Seat Allotment: Based on rank and availability, a seat is tentatively allotted.
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Confirmation: You must choose “Accept and Join,” “Accept and Upward,” or “Decline.”
Checklist for Students
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Ensure your e-Community Certificate is updated.
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Keep your EMIS ID (Educational Management Information System) ready from your school.
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Prepare a list of at least 30–50 college/branch combinations before the choice-filling window opens.