JEE Main Cutoff 2026 Expected: Category Wise Cutoff, Previous Year Comparison

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Engineering continues to be one of the most popular career options in India. Millions of students across the country vie to get admitted to premier engineering institutes every year. The gateway to this aspiration is the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main.

This exam can take aspirants to esteemed institutions, including Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). Moreover, JEE Main also functions as the qualifier for JEE Advanced, which makes candidates eligible for IITs.

With the exam around the corner, aspirants are already searching for the expected JEE Main cutoff 2026. In this blog, we will discuss the expected category-wise cut-off for JEE Main 2026 to help students prepare for the upcoming exam and admissions.

JEE Main Cutoff 2026: The Basics

Before we talk about the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff, let us first understand what the cutoff is. It is the minimum score a candidate needs for admission to engineering institutes and to qualify for JEE Advanced. The cutoff is divided into 2 types-

• Qualifying Cutoff- Minimum percentile required to appear for JEE Advanced.
• Admission Cutoff- Minimum percentile required to get admitted to an engineering college/program. The admission cutoff varies between institutes and engineering courses.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the qualifying cutoff, while the respective institutes determine the admission cutoff during the counselling process of the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA).

JEE Main Cutoff 2026 Percentile for Various Categories

Based on the past trends, here is the expected qualifying JEE Main cutoff for 2026-

Category	Percentile (Expected)
General	91-95
EWS	88-90
OBC-NCL	77-81
SC	58-62
ST	44-48
Gen-PwD	0.00130- 0.00230

These are the percentiles or minimum marks a candidate will need to qualify for JEE Advanced. Note that due to the normalization process, the scores corresponding to the above-mentioned percentiles can fluctuate.

Cutoff of JEE Main 2026: Detailed Insights

Let us have a detailed look at the cutoff of JEE Main 2026 across categories to ensure clarity-

1. General/EWS Category

• The JEE Main cutoff 2026 for General category and EWS category are the highest compared to other categories due to high competition.
• For JEE Main 2026, the expected percentile can be in the range of 88-95.
• For premier institutes like NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, and NIT Surathkal, the admission cutoffs can be as high as 98 percentile.

2. OBC-NCL Category

• Thanks to reserved seats and a lower qualifying threshold, there is a considerable difference between the cutoff for the General and Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) category.
• The JEE Main cutoff 2026 percentile for the OBC-NCL category is expected to be in the range of 77-81.
• But even for this category, the cutoff percentile in top NITs, especially for sought-after branches like Electrical and Mechanical Engineering is expected to be in the range of 93-96 percentiles.

3. SC and ST Category

• The inclusive policies of the Indian education system make the JEE Main cutoff for the SC and ST categories significantly lower than other categories.
• For SC candidates, the expected cutoff is in the range of 58-62, while for ST candidates, it can be between 44 and 48.
• For premier NITs, the JEE Main cutoff marks for SC and ST categories can range between 80 and 85.

4. PwD

• The Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category has the lowest qualifying threshold, generally under the 2^nd percentile.
• This allows such candidates to qualify for admission to some of the best engineering institutes in the country.

JEE Main Passing Marks 2026: Comparison with Previous Years

 Let’s take a quick look at the JEE Main cutoff for the past 4 years to better understand the trends-

Year	General	EWS	OBC/NCL	SC	ST	PwD
2024	93.23	81.32	79.67	60.09	46.69	0.0018
2023	90.77	75.62	73.61	51.97	37.23	0.0013
2022	88.41	63.11	67	43	36.77	0.003
2021	87.89	66.22	68	46.88	34.67	0.009

JEE Main Qualifying Marks for NIT, IIIT, and GFTI

The cutoffs for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs vary considerably based on the institute, program, and student category.

NITs

NITs, known for their competitive programs, have high cutoffs, especially for branches like Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). For instance, in 2024, the closing rank for NIT Trichy’s CSE program (General) was 4,130, while NIT Surat’s Electrical Engineering program had a cutoff of 17,890.

IIITs

IIITs, specializing in Information Technology and Computer Science, also maintain competitive cutoffs. In 2024, IIIT Allahabad’s CSE program closed at 7,905, and IIIT Surat’s CSE program had a cutoff of 23,458.

GFTIs

In contrast, GFTIs generally have more relaxed cutoffs, making them a good option for students with moderate ranks. For example, in 2024, Assam University’s CSE program had a closing rank of 149,000, while Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology had cutoffs exceeding 75,000 for branches like CSE and Chemical Engineering.

The range in cutoffs reflects the diverse opportunities available to engineering aspirants across these institutes.

Factors that Influence the JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Percentile –

Several key parameters determine the JEE Main 2026 cutoff percentile. Understanding these factors can help aspirants to set realistic expectations and have a proper plan for their preparation.

1. Number of Applicants: The higher the number of candidates appearing for the exam, the more competitive it becomes, which usually leads to higher cutoff marks.
2. Exam Difficulty: If the exam is more challenging, the cutoffs may be lower. Conversely, an easier exam could push the cutoffs higher.
3. Overall Performance: The collective performance of all candidates also plays a role. If most candidates perform well, it may increase the cutoff marks.
4. Normalization: JEE Main is conducted in multiple sessions. As the difficulty of questions can vary between sessions, a normalization process is used to ensure fairness. It involves converting raw scores into a percentile score based on the performance of candidates in each session.
5. Previous Year Trends: Historical data from past years provides a baseline for predicting the cutoff. While it may fluctuate, these trends are useful for setting expectations.

The Takeaway

The key for aspirants looking towards engineering programs through top Indian institutions has always been determined by the cutoff of JEE Main 2026. The cutoff changes every year and factors like the complexity of the entrance exam, the number of applicants applying, normalization, and other performance trends are the biggest influencers.

While the exact cutoffs will only be released by the NTA after the exams, knowing the trends and preparing strategically can significantly improve your chances of success. So, stay informed, practice diligently, and leverage available resources to confidently navigate your path to a bright future in engineering. 

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