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JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Category Wise Qualifying Marks & Percentile

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JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Overview and Key Highlights

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff marks and qualifying percentile help students estimate their chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced and securing admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Understanding the expected cutoff helps students 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 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 percentile, expected marks range, and chances of admission to top engineering colleges.

Based on analysis from recent years, the General category cutoff is expected to remain above 93 percentile, while reserved categories such as OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, and ST will see proportionate relaxation. This page provides a complete, structured breakdown of the expected JEE Main Cutoff 2026, 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 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)	93.5 – 95.0	250 – 270

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	79.0 – 81.0	230 – 250

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	80.0 – 82.0	240 – 260

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	61.0 – 63.0	190 – 210
ST	47.5 – 50.0	160 – 180

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

Approx. Marks (Out of 300)	Expected Percentile Range
270 – 300	95 – 100
240 – 269	90 – 94
210 – 239	85 – 89
180 – 209	80 – 84
150 – 179	75 – 79
120 – 149	70 – 74

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, 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.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Safe Cutoff Marks (Out of 300)

Category	Expected Qualifying Percentile	Expected Safe Cutoff Marks	Interpretation
General (UR)	93.5 – 95.0	250 – 270	Safe range to clear cutoff comfortably despite high competition
EWS	80.0 – 82.0	240 – 260	Rising participation makes buffer marks important
OBC-NCL	79.0 – 81.0	230 – 250	Cutoff close to EWS; safe score avoids normalization risk
SC	61.0 – 63.0	190 – 210	Scoring above minimum improves counselling chances
ST	47.5 – 50.0	160 – 180	Higher marks increase seat options in JoSAA
UR-PwD	0.001 – 0.02	10 – 30	Percentile-based qualification; marks are indicative

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.

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.

FAQs on JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Category Wise Qualifying Marks & Percentile

1. What is the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff?

The expected cutoff for JEE Main 2026 is likely to remain similar to recent years, with the General category cutoff projected around 93.5 to 95 percentile. Reserved categories such as OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, and ST are expected to have proportionate relaxation based on past trends and competition levels.

2. What percentile is required for General category in JEE Main 2026?

For the General (UR) category, candidates are expected to require around 93.5–95 percentile to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. Due to high competition and close percentile clustering, aiming above this range is considered safer.

3. What are safe marks for JEE Main 2026?

Safe marks are scores that lie comfortably above the expected cutoff to reduce risks from normalization and shift difficulty.
For JEE Main 2026, the expected safe score range for General category is around 250–270 marks out of 300.
Safe marks vary by category, with lower ranges for EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD candidates.

4. Is JEE Main cutoff based on marks or percentile?

The official JEE Main cutoff is based on percentile, not raw marks. NTA uses a normalization process across multiple shifts, so percentiles reflect a candidate’s relative performance. Marks are only indicative and are used by students to estimate their expected percentile.

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

The JEE Main cutoff 2026 for General category is expected to be above 93 percentile. Due to high competition and close score clustering, General category candidates are advised to target a percentile well above the minimum cutoff.

6. What are the expected cutoff marks for JEE Main 2026?

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff marks are indicative values used to estimate whether a candidate is likely to clear the cutoff after normalisation. For the General category, safe cutoff marks are expected to be around 250–270 out of 300, while other categories have proportionately lower safe score ranges.

7. What is the expected cutoff percentile for JEE Main 2026?

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff percentile varies by category.

General: 93.5–95 percentile
EWS: 80–82 percentile
OBC-NCL: 79–81 percentile
SC/ST: Lower ranges as per reservation norms

These percentiles determine eligibility for JEE Advanced.

8. What is the JEE Main 2026 cutoff percentile for General category?

The JEE Main 2026 cutoff percentile for General category is expected to fall in the 93.5 to 95 range, based on recent year trends, number of candidates, and normalization effects.

9. What is the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff for OBC category?

The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff for OBC-NCL category is projected to be around 79–81 percentile. OBC candidates are advised to aim above this range to stay safe against shift-wise variations.

10. What is the EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026?

The EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 is expected to be close to the OBC-NCL cutoff, around 80–82 percentile, as competition in the EWS category has increased in recent years.

11. Is JEE Main 2026 cutoff based on marks or percentile?

The JEE Main 2026 cutoff is officially based on percentile, not raw marks. Marks are used only as a reference to estimate the expected percentile after normalization across multiple shifts.

12. Does clearing the JEE Main cutoff 2026 guarantee admission?

No. Clearing the JEE Main cutoff 2026 only makes a candidate eligible for JEE Advanced or counselling. Admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs depends on rank, category, branch preference, and counselling cutoffs, which are much higher than the qualifying cutoff.

13. Can the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff change?

Yes. The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff may change depending on exam difficulty, number of candidates, overall performance, and normalization. Final cutoffs are released only by NTA after result declaration.

14. Why is it important to know the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff marks?

Knowing the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff marks helps aspirants set safe score targets, avoid last-minute surprises due to normalization, and plan their preparation and counselling strategy more effectively.