Difference between AIEEE and JEE Main

Many students wonder what is the difference between AIEEE and JEE Main 2025. However, there is no difference because JEE Main was formerly known as AIEEE.

AIEEE full form is the All India Engineering Entrance Examination, which was an entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency and was first introduced around 2002. To optimise the candidate's academic and professional experiences, they restructured the entire exam and reworked it into a Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE-Main). This resulted in less pressure, increased inclusivity and the elimination of multiple examinations favouring a single, central examination.

AIEEE vs JEE Main: Overview

The student aspirants can check the AIEEE vs JEE Main overview from the table mentioned below. 

AIEEE vs JEE Main: Overview

Distinction	AIEEE	JEE Main
Full Form	All India Engineering Entrance Examination	Joint Entrance Examination - Main
Registration	Nov 1, 2023	Nov 1 to 30, 2023
Exam Date	Jan 19 to 22, 2025	Jan 24 to Feb 1, 2025
Colleges to apply	Amirta University	All Tier 1 Engineering Colleges
Conducting Body	Amirta University	National Testing Agency (NTA)

What is the Difference Between AIEEE and JEE Main?

A popular question we see is ‘Is AIEEE and JEE Main same?’. Short answer: yes, AIEEE and JEE Main are the same. Having said that, we think it’s important to relay to you some important information on AIEEE’s history.

AIEEE exam full form is All India Engineering Entrance Examination, it was a primary entrance examination through which engineering students were evaluated on their skills and knowledge of engineering. It was first conceptualized in 2002. Before 2013, the Joint Entrance Examinations (collectively JEE Main and JEE Advanced examinations) existed as AIEEE and IIT-JEE, respectively.

Read More: What Are The Benefits of Taking-up JEE Main 2025?

AIEEE vs JEE Main: Key Points

The difference between AIEEE vs JEE Main, as well as IIT-JEE and JEE Advanced, are structurally the same. We’ve also understood the differences between IT, IIT, and IIIT.

Looking at the mechanical aspects, what were the differences between AIEEE vs JEE Main?

• Cutting down the number of examination papers to just a single, central and common examination took away a lot of academic, financial, mental as well as motivational burden on the students who had to write them.
• Recent graduates barely had time to prepare themselves for IIT-JEE (now called JEE Advanced, don’t forget!). With the new system in place, the students must not only first finish JEE Main (which is comparatively easier), but they are also given ample time to prepare for their JEE Advanced assessments once they succeed in their JEE Main.
• Pooling the top performers in the top 20th percentile together provided an equal and fair opportunity to many candidates who came from diverse backgrounds to write JEE Advanced.

It’s understandable that many students feel confused as to what the differences and similarities are when they first hear of engineering examinations. The examinations alone are daunting, let alone the nomenclature and policy changes occurring behind it all.

Read More: Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced? 

The Purpose of AIEEE

Previously, AIEEE was introduced as an entrance exam by the CBSE as a national platform through which candidates may obtain admission to many undergraduate architecture and engineering courses in institutes that mainly considered the AIEEE score; a total of 30 NITs and 5 IIITs did so.

In 2010, the MHRD had drafted plans to replace AIEEE with the JEE name. By April 2013, AIEEE was effectively renamed JEE Main, and IIT-JEE was renamed to JEE Advanced so as to maintain a better, simpler consistency between them.

Today, any candidate who is interested in joining NITs and IIITs must take up JEE Main, and anyone who wishes to join IITs must complete their JEE Advanced. JEE Main acts as a preliminary examination to JEE Advanced, without/failing which the candidate will not be permitted to write for JEE Advanced.

Also Check: Engineering Colleges Without JEE Main 2025 

What is IT, IIT, and IIIT?

IT is a short form that means ‘Information Technology’; a field of study taught in prestigious institutions such as IIT and IIIT.

Between those institutions, there are some significant differences. IIT stands for the Indian Institute of Technology, a public technical university funded by the Government of India; specifically, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

IIIT, however, stands for the Indian Institute of Information Technology, another institute that provides numerous disciplines related to science and technology. About 18 campuses in India are funded through a public-private partnership, whereas 5 campuses were solely established and funded by the MHRD themselves.

Read More: IIIT vs IIT