Understanding JEE Main cut-offs helps you set realistic targets and plan your preparation strategy. Cut-offs determine two things — qualifying for JEE Advanced and admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counseling. ExamHub provides comprehensive cut-off analysis for JEE Main 2026.
Types of JEE Main Cut Offs
| Cut Off Type | Purpose |
|---|
| Qualifying Cut Off | Minimum percentile to qualify for JEE Advanced |
| Admission Cut Off | Minimum rank/percentile for admission to specific colleges via JoSAA |
| Category Cut Off | Different cut-offs for General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD |
JEE Main 2026 Expected Qualifying Cut Off (for JEE Advanced)
| Category | Expected Cut Off Percentile | Expected Approximate Marks (out of 300) |
|---|
| General (CRL) | 90.0 | 85-95 |
| General-EWS | 78.0 | 65-75 |
| OBC-NCL | 75.0 | 60-70 |
| SC | 55.0 | 40-50 |
| ST | 45.0 | 30-40 |
| PwD | 0.05 | — |
Note: These are estimates based on previous year trends. Actual cut-offs depend on paper difficulty and number of applicants.
Previous Year Qualifying Cut Offs (for JEE Advanced)
| Category | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|
| General | 90.0 | 90.0 | 90.0 | 90.0 |
| General-EWS | 78.0 | 78.0 | 75.0 | 75.0 |
| OBC-NCL | 75.0 | 75.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 |
| SC | 55.0 | 55.0 | 52.0 | 52.0 |
| ST | 45.0 | 44.0 | 42.0 | 42.0 |
The qualifying percentile has remained largely stable, with minor adjustments based on difficulty and applicant pool.
NIT-wise Admission Cut Offs (Opening & Closing Ranks — General)
Top NITs — CSE (Computer Science)
| NIT | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|
| NIT Trichy | 1,200 | 3,500 |
| NIT Warangal | 1,800 | 5,000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 1,500 | 4,500 |
| NIT Calicut | 3,500 | 8,000 |
| NIT Rourkela | 4,000 | 9,500 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 3,000 | 7,500 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | 4,500 | 10,000 |
| NIT Kurukshetra | 7,000 | 14,000 |
| NIT Nagpur | 6,000 | 13,000 |
| NIT Durgapur | 8,000 | 16,000 |
Top NITs — ECE (Electronics & Communication)
| NIT | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|
| NIT Trichy | 3,000 | 7,000 |
| NIT Warangal | 4,000 | 9,000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 3,500 | 8,500 |
| NIT Calicut | 6,000 | 13,000 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 5,500 | 12,000 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | 7,000 | 15,000 |
Top NITs — Mechanical Engineering
| NIT | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|
| NIT Trichy | 6,000 | 14,000 |
| NIT Warangal | 8,000 | 18,000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 7,000 | 16,000 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 10,000 | 22,000 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | 12,000 | 25,000 |
IIITs — CSE
| IIIT | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad | 1,000 | 3,000 |
| IIIT Bangalore | 2,000 | 5,500 |
| IIIT Delhi | 2,500 | 6,000 |
| IIIT Allahabad | 4,000 | 9,000 |
| ABV-IIITM Gwalior | 5,000 | 11,000 |
Note: Ranks are approximate and vary by round (Round 1 through Round 6) and year.
JEE Main Percentile vs Rank Conversion
| Percentile | Approximate All-India Rank (12 lakh applicants) |
|---|
| 99.9 | ~1,200 |
| 99.5 | ~6,000 |
| 99.0 | ~12,000 |
| 98.0 | ~24,000 |
| 97.0 | ~36,000 |
| 95.0 | ~60,000 |
| 90.0 | ~1,20,000 |
| 85.0 | ~1,80,000 |
| 80.0 | ~2,40,000 |
How to Calculate Your Approximate Rank
Rank = (100 - Percentile) / 100 × Total Candidates
Example: 98 percentile with 12 lakh candidates = (2/100) × 12,00,000 = 24,000 rank
Use CalcHub for quick rank calculations.
Score vs Percentile (Approximate)
| Raw Score (out of 300) | Approximate Percentile |
|---|
| 250+ | 99.9+ |
| 200-240 | 99-99.5 |
| 170-200 | 97-99 |
| 140-170 | 93-97 |
| 110-140 | 85-93 |
| 85-110 | 75-85 |
| 60-85 | 60-75 |
Note: Score-percentile mapping varies significantly by session difficulty. An "easy" session requires higher marks for the same percentile.
Category-wise College Options
| Your Rank Range (General) | Best College Options |
|---|
| Under 5,000 | Top NITs (CSE, ECE), Top IIITs |
| 5,000-15,000 | NITs (CSE, ECE, EE), IIITs |
| 15,000-30,000 | NITs (Mech, Civil, Chemical), lower IIITs |
| 30,000-60,000 | Lower NITs, GFTIs |
| 60,000-1,20,000 | GFTIs, state-level colleges |
| Above 1,20,000 | Private colleges, state counseling |
For OBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories, ranks for the same colleges are proportionally higher (better chance at lower ranks).
JoSAA Counseling Strategy
| Round | Strategy |
|---|
| Round 1 | Apply to all preferred colleges — no commitment required |
| Round 2-4 | Accept best available seat, keep options open for upgradation |
| Round 5-6 | Final rounds — limited seats, fewer options |
| Spot Round | Last chance — only unfilled seats, limited colleges |
Tips:
- Fill all choices — There is no penalty for filling more options
- Understand "Freeze" vs "Float" vs "Slide" — Float allows upgradation, Freeze locks your seat
- Research colleges thoroughly — Placement data matters more than college ranking
- Branch matters — CSE/IT at a lower NIT may be better than Civil at a top NIT for many career paths
- Check SarkariNaukri Blog for government engineering positions after graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentile is needed for NIT Trichy CSE?
For NIT Trichy CSE (General category), you typically need 99.7+ percentile (rank under 3,500). This translates to approximately 220+ marks out of 300, depending on session difficulty. OBC-NCL candidates need approximately 99+ percentile.
Does the January or April session have an easier cut-off?
NTA normalizes scores across both sessions, so theoretically the cut-off is equivalent. However, many students feel the January paper is slightly different in difficulty. The best strategy is to attempt both sessions seriously and let NTA take the better score.
Can I get a good NIT with 95 percentile?
At 95 percentile (approximately rank 60,000), you can get admission to lower-ranked NITs in branches like Civil, Chemical, Metallurgical, or Mining. For CSE or ECE, you would need to target state-level engineering colleges or private institutions. Consider how to improve your score for the next attempt.
How accurate are expected cut-off predictions?
Expected cut-offs are based on historical trends and are generally accurate within 2-3 percentile points for qualifying cut-offs. Admission cut-offs (NIT closing ranks) can vary by 10-20% depending on the number of seats, new IIITs added, and supernumerary quotas. Use expected cut-offs as guidelines, not guarantees.
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