Courses

Courses for Kids

Free study material

Store

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

JEE Main

Cut Off

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff: Category-wise Qualifying Marks for General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST

Q: 6. How many marks are required to clear JEE Main 2026?

There is no fixed mark cutoff, but based on trends:General: ~90–110+ marksOBC/EWS: ~75–95 marksSC: ~50–70 marksST: ~35–50 marksThese values vary depending on paper difficulty and normalisation.

Q: 8. What percentile is safe for JEE Main 2026?

A safe percentile depends on the category:General: 95+ percentileOBC/EWS: 85+ percentileSC/ST: above the minimum cutoff rangeAiming above the cutoff reduces risk from normalisation.

Latest Updates

👉 :

JEE Main April 2 Shift 1 Question Paper

👉 :

JEE Main April 2 Shift 2 Question Paper

👉 :

JEE Main Rank Predictor

👉 :

JEE Main Sample Paper

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Overview and Key Highlights

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff marks and qualifying percentiles help students estimate their chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced and securing seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Knowing the expected cutoff allows aspirants to set realistic score targets and plan their preparation more strategically.

Since the official JEE Main 2026 cutoff will be released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) only after the declaration of results, candidates currently rely on previous year trends, exam difficulty levels, and competition analysis to estimate safe scores. These predictions provide a clear idea of the category-wise qualifying percentiles, expected marks range, and admission chances in top engineering colleges.

Based on recent trends, the General category cutoff is expected to remain above the 93rd percentile mark, while reserved categories such as OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, and ST are likely to have proportionate relaxation. This page offers a complete, structured breakdown of the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff, including category-wise predictions, marks vs percentile analysis, safe scores, and admission insights to help aspirants make informed decisions.

What is the JEE Main Cutoff? (Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff)

The JEE Main Cutoff refers to the minimum percentile set by the exam authority that determines a candidate’s eligibility for the next stages of the admission process. It is released by the National Testing Agency along with the JEE Main results and varies every year based on competition and exam difficulty.

There are two different types of cutoffs that aspirants must clearly understand:

JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
Only candidates who score equal to or above this percentile can register for JEE Advanced.

Key points:

Released officially by NTA
Category-wise (General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD)
Does not guarantee admission to any college
Only determines eligibility for the next stage

JEE Main Admission Cutoff

The admission cutoff refers to the opening and closing ranks required for admission to engineering institutes such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling.

Key points:

Depends on rank, category, branch preference, institute, and seat availability
Varies significantly across colleges and courses
Released during counselling rounds
Much higher than the qualifying cutoff, especially for top branches like CSE

JEE Main Cut Off 2026: Expected Qualifying Marks and Percentile (Category Wise)

The cutoff varies every year based on factors like exam difficulty, number of candidates, and overall performance.

Based on previous year trends and analysis, the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff is as follows:

Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff (Category Wise)

Category	Expected Percentile Range
General (UR)	93–95
OBC-NCL	80–82
EWS	80–82
SC	60–62
ST	47–49

Key Highlights of JEE Main 2026 Cutoff

The cutoff is released in the form of a percentile, not marks
Only candidates who meet the cutoff are eligible for JEE Advanced 2026
Cutoff varies every year based on competition and difficulty level
The general category cutoff is usually the highest due to higher competition

Minimum JEE Main Marks Required to Qualify for JEE Advanced 2026

There is no officially fixed mark cutoff for JEE Advanced qualification because NTA releases only percentile-based qualifying cutoffs. However, based on recent trends:

General category students may need roughly 90 to 110+ marks
OBC-NCL and EWS may need around 75 to 95 marks
SC may need around 50 to 70 marks
ST may need around 35 to 50 marks

These are planning estimates only. Exact qualifying marks can shift depending on the difficulty level and normalisation.

Category-wise Reservation Criteria (As per Previous Trends)

Category	Reservation Percentage
GEN-EWS	10%
OPEN	40.50%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.50%
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
PwD	5% (Horizontal)
OBC-NCL	27%

Important Points About JEE Main Qualifying Marks

There is no fixed mark cutoff, as it depends on percentile normalisation
Approximate marks required for the 93–95th percentile are usually 90–110 marks (based on trends)
Easier papers may require higher marks for the same percentile
Candidates should focus on the percentile rather than the raw marks

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks vs Percentile Category Wise Analysis

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff marks vs percentile analysis explains how raw scores convert into qualifying percentiles across categories. Since the exam is held in multiple shifts, NTA applies normalisation, which means the same marks can result in different percentiles based on exam difficulty.

To avoid risk, aspirants should aim for a safe cutoff mark range rather than just the minimum qualifying percentile. A buffer score helps counter shift-wise variation, clustering of scores, and rising competition, especially in the General, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories.

The table below shows the category-wise expected safe cutoff marks for JEE Main 2026, based on recent trends and normalisation patterns. These are indicative values to help plan preparation, not official cutoffs.

Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Marks vs Percentile (Safe Score Range)

Category	Expected Percentile	Expected Cutoff Marks (Safe Range)
General (UR)	93–95	90–110 marks
OBC-NCL	80–82	75–90 marks
EWS	80–82	75–90 marks
SC	60–62	50–65 marks
ST	47–49	35–50 marks

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile (Expected Analysis)

In JEE Main 2026, scores are reported as percentiles rather than raw marks. The percentile reflects a candidate’s relative performance compared to all other test-takers and is calculated after normalisation across multiple shifts. This is why the same marks can result in different percentiles each year.

Understanding the expected marks vs percentile relationship helps aspirants estimate whether their score is likely to meet the JEE Main 2026 cutoff and how competitive their rank may be.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Marks vs Percentile Table

Marks (Out of 300)	Expected Percentile	Approximate Rank Range
290 – 300	99.99 – 100	Top ~1-100
250 – 289	99.9 – 99.99	~100 – ~1,000
220 – 249	99.5 – 99.9	~1,000 – ~5,000
200 – 219	99 – 99.5	~5,000 – ~15,000
180 – 199	98.5 – 99	~15,000 – ~30,000
150 – 179	96 – 98	~30,000 – ~60,000
120 – 149	93.5 – 96	~60,000 – ~1,00,000
100 – 119	90 – 93.5	~1,00,000 – ~1,50,000
80 – 99	85 – 90	~1,50,000 – 2,00,000
Below 80	Below 85	2,00,000+

Detailed JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks (Category Wise)

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff Marks represents the minimum qualifying percentile candidates must secure to become eligible for JEE Advanced and further admission processes. These values are trend-based estimates derived from recent years’ data, competition levels, and normalization patterns across shifts.

⚠️ Note: These are predictions, not official figures. The final cutoffs will be released by NTA along with the results.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff for General Category

Category	Expected Qualifying Percentile	Expected Safe Marks (Out of 300)
General (UR)	~93.0 – 95.0 percentile	~90 – 120 marks (approx.)

Summary: General category candidates should aim well above 93 percentile, as even small score gaps can cause major rank shifts due to high competition.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff for OBC-NCL

Category	Expected Qualifying Percentile	Expected Safe Marks (Out of 300)
OBC–NCL	~79 – 81.5 percentile	90 – 100 marks (approx.)

Summary: OBC-NCL cutoff is expected to remain close to EWS, making a buffer score essential to avoid missing qualification due to normalization.

EWS Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026

Category	Expected Qualifying Percentile	Expected Safe Marks (Out of 300)
EWS	≈ 80 – 82 percentile	≈ 80 – 82 percentile

Summary: EWS candidates should target above 80 percentile, as rising participation has steadily increased competition in this category.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff for SC and ST

Category	Expected Qualifying Percentile	Expected Safe Marks (Out of 300)
SC	~60 – 62 percentile	50-80
ST	~47 – 51 percentile	40–50

Summary: Although SC and ST cutoffs are lower, scoring above the minimum greatly improves chances during counselling and seat allotment.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff for UR-PwD

Category	Expected Qualifying Percentile	Expected Safe Marks (Out of 300)
UR-PwD	0.001 – 0.02	10 – 30

Summary: UR-PwD qualification is percentile-based, but aiming above the minimum ensures smoother eligibility and documentation verification.

Key Takeaways from JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff

The expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff percentile is 93.5–95 for General, 80–82 for EWS, 79–81 for OBC-NCL, 61–63 for SC, 47.5–50 for ST, and 0.001–0.02 for UR-PwD. These cutoffs determine eligibility for JEE Advanced, while actual college admission depends on rank and counselling.

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile (Expected Analysis)

In JEE Main 2026, scores are reported in the form of percentiles, not raw marks. The percentile reflects a candidate’s relative performance compared to all other test-takers and is calculated after normalization across multiple shifts. This is why the same marks can result in different percentiles each year.

Understanding the expected marks vs percentile relationship helps aspirants estimate whether their score is likely to meet the JEE Main 2026 cutoff and how competitive their rank may be.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Marks vs Percentile Table

Marks (Out of 300)	Expected Percentile	Approximate Rank Range
290 – 300	99.99 – 100	Top ~1-100
250 – 289	99.9 – 99.99	~100 – ~1,000
220 – 249	99.5 – 99.9	~1,000 – ~5,000
200 – 219	99 – 99.5	~5,000 – ~15,000
180 – 199	98.5 – 99	~15,000 – ~30,000
150 – 179	96 – 98	~30,000 – ~60,000
120 – 149	93.5 – 96	~60,000 – ~1,00,000
100 – 119	90 – 93.5	~1,00,000 – ~1,50,000
80 – 99	85 – 90	~1,50,000 – 2,00,000
Below 80	Below 85	2,00,000+

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks vs Percentile Category Wise Analysis

To avoid risk, aspirants should aim for a safe cutoff mark range rather than just the minimum qualifying percentile. A buffer score helps counter shift-wise variation, close score clustering, and rising competition, especially in the General, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories.

The table below shows the category-wise expected safe cutoff marks for JEE Main 2026, based on recent trends and normalization patterns. These are indicative values to help plan preparation, not official cutoffs.

Previous Year JEE Main Cutoff Trends (2021–2025)

Analysing previous year JEE Main cutoff trends helps aspirants understand how competition has evolved and how qualifying percentiles have shifted over time. The cutoff released by the National Testing Agency shows a clear upward trend, especially after 2023, due to increased registrations and tighter normalization.

JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff Percentile (2021–2025)

Year	General	EWS	OBC-NCL	SC	ST	PwD
2025	93.10	80.38	79.43	61.15	47.90	0.0079
2024	93.23	81.32	79.67	60.09	46.69	0.0018
2023	90.78	75.62	73.61	51.98	37.23	0.0013
2022	88.41	63.11	67.01	43.08	26.78	0.0031
2021	87.89	66.22	68.02	46.88	34.67	0.0096

Key Trend Insights

The General category cutoff increased sharply after 2023, crossing the 93 percentile mark and stabilising at a high level.
EWS and OBC-NCL categories saw significant growth between 2022 and 2024 due to increased participation.
SC and ST cutoffs also rose steadily but continue to receive higher relaxation.
The PwD cutoff remains extremely low, as qualification is percentile-based rather than marks-based.

JEE Main 2026 Cutoff for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs (Expected)

Qualifying JEE Main makes candidates eligible, but admission to institutes such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs depends on opening and closing ranks released during JoSAA counselling. These ranks vary every year based on category, branch preference, institute demand, seat availability, and overall competition.

⚠️ Important: Admission cutoffs are rank-based, not percentile-based, and are typically much higher than the qualifying cutoff.

Expected NIT Cutoff 2026 (General Category – Popular Branches)

Institute	Expected Closing Rank
NIT Trichy (CSE)	800 – 1,000
NIT Surathkal (CSE)	900 – 1,200
NIT Warangal (CSE)	1,000 – 1,400
NIT Rourkela (CSE)	2,000 – 2,500
NIT Jalandhar (CSE)	6,000 – 7,000

Older NITs and CSE/IT branches remain highly competitive.

Expected IIIT Cutoff 2026 (General Category – CSE/IT)

Institute	Expected Closing Rank
IIIT Hyderabad (CSE)	350 – 450
IIIT Allahabad (IT)	2,200 – 2,600
IIIT Gwalior (CSE)	3,000 – 3,500
IIIT Delhi (CSE)	5,000 – 5,500

Demand for CSE/IT continues to push cutoffs tighter at top IIITs.

Expected GFTI Cutoff 2026 (General Category – CSE)

Institute	Expected Closing Rank
PEC Chandigarh	6,000 – 7,000
Assam University	24,000 – 26,000
Mizoram University	22,000 – 25,000

GFTIs offer broader rank windows and are strong options for mid-range ranks.

Previous Year JEE Main Cutoff Trends (2021–2025)

JEE Main 2025 Qualifying Cutoff (Category-wise)

The table below shows the official JEE Main 2025 cutoff percentile for different categories:

Category	JEE Main Cutoff 2025
General	93.10
EWS	80.38
OBC-NCL	79.43
SC	61.15
ST	47.90
PwD	0.0079

Insight: The General category cutoff crossed 93 percentile, indicating increased competition in JEE Main 2025.

JEE Main 2025 Branch-Wise Admission Cutoff (Open Category)

The table below shows the opening and closing ranks for major engineering branches:

Academic Program	Seat Type	Gender	Opening Rank	Closing Rank
Computer Science Engineering	OPEN	Gender-Neutral	559	4463
Computer Science Engineering	OPEN	Female-only (including Supernumerary)	2040	7644
Electronics & Communication Engineering	OPEN	Gender-Neutral	2232	6947
Electronics & Communication Engineering	OPEN	Female-only (including Supernumerary)	7785	10277
Mechanical Engineering	OPEN	Gender-Neutral	9004	13628
Mechanical Engineering	OPEN	Female-only (including Supernumerary)	18294	25413
Civil Engineering	OPEN	Gender-Neutral	10131	27257
Civil Engineering	OPEN	Female-only (including Supernumerary)	22905	33141
Chemical Engineering	OPEN	Gender-Neutral	5865	17196
Chemical Engineering	OPEN	Female-only (including Supernumerary)	19506	—

JEE Main 2024 Cutoff (Category-wise)

Category	JEE Main Cutoff 2024
General	93.23
EWS	81.32
OBC-NCL	79.67
SC	60.09
ST	46.69
PwD	0.00187

Trend: Cutoff remained stable around 93 percentile for the General category, showing consistent competition levels.

JEE Main 2023 Cutoff (Category-wise)

Category	JEE Main Cutoff 2023
General	90.77
EWS	75.62
OBC-NCL	73.61
SC	51.97
ST	37.23
PwD	0.00135

Trend: 2023 had a slightly lower cutoff, likely due to variations in exam difficulty.

JEE Main 2022 Cutoff (Category-wise)

Category	Min Percentile	Max Percentile
General	88.41	100
EWS	63.11	88.40
OBC-NCL	67.00	88.40
SC	43.08	88.40
ST	26.77	88.40
PwD	0.0031	88.37

JEE Main 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise)

Category	Min Percentile	Max Percentile
General (UR)	87.89	100
EWS	66.22	87.89
OBC-NCL	68.02	87.89
SC	46.88	87.89
ST	34.67	87.89
PwD	0.0096	87.82

Key Trend Insights

The General category cutoff increased sharply after 2023, crossing the 93th percentile mark and stabilising at a high level.
EWS and OBC-NCL categories saw significant growth between 2022 and 2024 due to increased participation.
SC and ST cutoffs also rose steadily, but continue to receive higher relaxation.
The PwD cutoff remains extremely low, as qualification is percentile-based rather than marks-based.

How to Check JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Marks? Step-by-Step Guide

You can check the JEE Main 2026 cutoff (qualifying percentile / cutoff marks) once NTA publishes it along with the result.

Step 1: Visit the official website: Go to the official NTA JEE Main portal (jeemain.nta.nic.in) or NTA results website.
Step 2: Open the JEE Main 2026 result/cutoff link: On the homepage, look for the link like “JEE Main 2026 Result”, “Cutoff”, or “Information Bulletin / Public Notice”.
Step 3: Log in (if required): If the cutoff is shown inside the result portal, log in using:

Application Number
Password / DOB (as asked)

Step 4: Check the cutoff section: Look for “Category-wise qualifying percentile” (this is the qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced eligibility).
Step 5: Download/save the PDF or scorecard: If the cutoff is released as a notice/PDF, download it. If it’s in the scorecard, download the scorecard for reference.
Step 6: Compare with your percentile: Match your percentile with your category cutoff to confirm whether you’ve qualified.

Tip: The official cutoff is usually shared as “qualifying percentile” (not exact marks), because JEE Main uses normalization.

Factors Affecting JEE Main Cutoff 2026

The JEE Main Cutoff 2026 is determined by a combination of academic and competitive factors. The most important ones are outlined below in a concise, exam-focused format:

Difficulty Level of the Exam: A tougher paper usually results in a lower cutoff, while an easier or moderate paper can push qualifying percentiles higher, even after normalization.

Number of Candidates Appearing: An increase in total applicants intensifies competition, especially in the General, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories, leading to higher cutoffs.

Overall Performance of Candidates: If a large proportion of students score well, the cutoff rises due to score clustering near the qualifying range.

Seat Availability in Institutes: Limited seats in NITs, IIITs, and high-demand branches directly increase admission cutoffs and closing ranks.

Category-Wise Reservation Policies: Reservation norms result in different qualifying percentiles for each category, with higher relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.

Normalization & Past Year Trends: Normalization across multiple shifts and recent year cutoff trends (especially post-2023) significantly influence the final qualifying percentile.

Conclusion

JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff helps students understand the likely qualifying range, but the smartest approach is to treat it as a benchmark and not the final target. General category students should aim beyond the 93–95th percentile, while OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, and ST candidates should also maintain a safety buffer above their expected category cutoff. The official cutoff will be released only by NTA, but current trend analysis clearly shows one thing: aiming above the cutoff is always better than aiming exactly at it.

FAQs on JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff: Category-wise Qualifying Marks for General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST

1. What is the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff for the General category?

The expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff for the General category is around 93–95 percentile. Based on recent trends, students should aim above 95 percentile to stay in a safe zone due to high competition and normalisation.

2. What is the expected cutoff for OBC NCL in JEE Main 2026?

The expected cutoff for OBC-NCL in JEE Main 2026 is around 80–82 percentile. However, aiming above 85 percentile is recommended to avoid missing qualification due to shift variation.

3. What is the expected cutoff for EWS in JEE Main 2026?

The expected EWS cutoff for JEE Main 2026 is around the 80–82 percentile. Competition in this category has increased in recent years, so a higher target score is safer.

4. What is the expected cutoff for SC and ST in JEE Main 2026?

The expected cutoff is around 60–62 percentile for SC and 47–49 percentile for ST. Students should aim above these ranges for better admission opportunities during counselling.

5. Is the JEE Main cutoff released in marks or percentiles?

JEE Main cutoff is released in percentile, not marks. Marks are only used for estimation because the percentile depends on normalisation across multiple shifts.

6. How many marks are required to clear JEE Main 2026?

There is no fixed mark cutoff, but based on trends:

General: ~90–110+ marks
OBC/EWS: ~75–95 marks
SC: ~50–70 marks
ST: ~35–50 marks

These values vary depending on paper difficulty and normalisation.

7. Is 120 marks a good score in JEE Main 2026?

Yes, 120 marks is generally a good score, especially for reserved categories. For the General category, it may place you around or above the cutoff depending on the exam shift difficulty.

8. What percentile is safe for JEE Main 2026?

A safe percentile depends on the category:

General: 95+ percentile
OBC/EWS: 85+ percentile
SC/ST: above the minimum cutoff range

Aiming above the cutoff reduces risk from normalisation.

9. What is the difference between the qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required for JEE Advanced eligibility, while the admission cutoff is the rank required to get a seat in NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs through counselling.

10. Can I get NIT with just the JEE Main cutoff?

No, clearing the cutoff only makes you eligible for JEE Advanced. Admission to NITs depends on your rank, branch preference, and JoSAA counselling cutoffs.

11. Does the JEE Main cutoff increase every year?

JEE Main cutoff does not always increase, but in recent years, it has generally risen due to higher competition and more applicants. However, a tougher paper can lower the cutoff.

12. How is JEE Main cutoff calculated?

JEE Main cutoff is determined based on multiple factors, including exam difficulty, number of candidates, overall performance, seat availability, and normalisation across shifts.

13. What is a safe score for JEE Main 2026?

A safe score depends on the category, but students should aim above the expected cutoff range rather than just meeting it. This ensures better rank and admission chances.

14. Can the same marks give different percentiles in JEE Main?

Yes, due to normalization, the same marks can result in different percentiles depending on the difficulty level of your exam shift.

15. When will the JEE Main 2026 cutoff be released?

The official JEE Main 2026 cutoff will be released by NTA along with the Session 2 result, expected after the April exam.