JEE Main 2026 – Cut Offs

The JEE Main 2026 cut offs represent the minimum qualifying percentile scores and marks candidates must achieve to be eligible for admissions into various engineering institutes like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, and also to qualify for the next stage, JEE Advanced. The JEE Main cut off levels vary each year based on exam difficulty, number of candidates, seat availability, and category-wise reservation.

Quick Glance on JEE Main 2026 Cut Offs

Qualifying Cut Off Percentiles (Expected)

These expected cut offs are based on the analysis of previous years' trends and the increasing competition observed in JEE Main exams.

Admission Cut Offs for Top Institutes

The JEE Main cut offs to secure admission in top NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs are notably higher than the qualifying cut off. For example:

• For competitive branches like Computer Science and Electronics at top NITs, a candidate generally needs a percentile of 95+ and a mark in the range of 160–166+ to secure a seat.
• General category candidates with ranks under 30,000 have a strong chance of admission in top branches.
• OBC-NCL and EWS category candidates typically see slightly lower cut offs, around 160–164 marks with percentiles between 95 and 98.
• SC and ST candidates may get admission with comparatively lower scores, around 120+ and 100+ marks respectively.
• Higher scores correspond to better ranks and more choices during counselling.

Cut Off Influencing Factors

• Exam difficulty level: A tougher paper usually lowers the cut off
• Number of candidates appearing in each session.
• Seat availability in respective courses and institutes.
• Category reservation policies.
• Performance distribution across all candidates in the session.
• Importance of Percentile Scores and Ranks
• JEE Main results provide percentile scores normalized across shifts.
• The All India Rank (AIR) is generated from percentile scores.
• Candidates’ admissions depend heavily on these ranks derived from cut offs.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the expected qualifying cut-off percentile for General category candidates in JEE Main 2026?

Ans. The expected qualifying cut-off percentile for General category candidates is between 92 and 95, which corresponds to approximately 105 to 115 marks out of 300.

Q2. How do JEE Main cut-offs differ for various categories?

Ans. Cut-offs vary by category due to reservation policies and competition levels—the General category has the highest cut-off, followed by EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD categories, with progressively lower percentile and marks thresholds.

Q3. Are JEE Main qualifying cut-offs the same as admission cut-offs for NITs and IIITs?

Ans. No, qualifying cut-offs are the minimum marks to be eligible for JEE Advanced or counselling. Admission cut-offs for institutes like NITs and IIITs are typically higher, especially for popular branches like Computer Science and Electronics.

Q4. How do percentile scores impact admissions in JEE Main?

Ans. Percentile scores reflect relative performance and determine the All India Rank (AIR). Higher percentile scores improve the chances of admission to preferred courses and institutes by meeting or exceeding their cut-off ranks.

Q5. Can a candidate with marks below the cut-off still get admission?

Ans. No, candidates scoring below the prescribed cut-off percentile or marks are generally not eligible for admission into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, or to appear in JEE Advanced. Exceptions exist only under specific quota or special reservation criteria if applicable.