For aspiring engineers, JEE Main Cutoff 2026 is extremely essential. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases two types of cutoffs — the qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced and the admission cutoff for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling.
Understanding the previous years and anticipated JEE Main Cutoff provides students with insight on the probability of qualifying for JEE Advanced and securing admission into elite institutes.
JEE Main Cutoff 2026 – Expected Qualifying Cutoff
| Category | Expected Qualifying Percentile (2026) |
|---|---|
| General | 90.00 – 92.00 |
| EWS | 82.00 – 85.00 |
| OBC-NCL | 75.00 – 78.00 |
| SC | 50.00 – 55.00 |
| ST | 35.00 – 40.00 |
| PwD | 0.001 – 5.00 |
Note: Expected JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoffs are subject to slight deviations in actual cutoffs.
JEE Main Previous Year Cutoff Trends (Qualifying Percentile)
| Year | General | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93.23 | 81.32 | 79.67 | 60.09 | 46.69 |
| 2024 | 93.23 | 81.33 | 79.67 | 60.09 | 46.69 |
| 2023 | 90.77 | 75.62 | 73.61 | 51.97 | 37.23 |
| 2022 | 88.41 | 63.11 | 67.00 | 43.08 | 26.77 |
Category-wise Expected JEE Main Cutoff 2026 for NIT Admission
The cutoff for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA is significantly higher than the qualifying cutoff. Approximate expected closing ranks (CRL) for popular branches like CSE are as follows:
- General Category: 15,000 – 25,000 rank
- OBC Category: 8,000 – 12,000 rank
- SC/ST Category: 3,000 – 6,000 rank
Factors Affecting JEE Main Cutoff 2026
- Number of candidates appearing
- Difficulty level of the exam
- Number of seats available
- Previous year trends
Steps to Check JEE Main Cutoff 2026
- Visit the official website → jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Go to the Result / Cutoff section
- Download the official cutoff PDF
- Check category-wise and institute-wise cutoffs
Note: The qualifying cutoff is for JEE Advanced eligibility. The admission cutoff (JoSAA) is released separately and is significantly higher.
Important Links
- Official JEE Main Website
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates
- JEE Main 2026 Syllabus
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern
- JEE Main 2026 Result
FAQs
Q1: When will JEE Main Cutoff 2026 be released?
A: The qualifying cutoff will be available with the results. The JoSAA admission cutoff will be available during the counselling session.
Q2: What is the difference between qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
A: The cutoff that allows a candidate to take the JEE Advanced exam is termed as qualifying cutoff. The admission cutoff indicates the rank that is necessary to secure a place in the NITs/IIITs via JoSAA.
Q3: Are JEE Main Cutoffs different for different categories?
A: Yes, there are different cutoffs for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories.
Q4: Will I get an NIT with 95 percentile in JEE Main 2026?
A: Yes, 95+ percentile has good possibilities in many NITs for core branches. It also depends on category and branch preference.
Q5: Where to see JEE Main Cutoff for previous years?
A: Previous year cutoffs are displayed on the official website of JoSAA and NTA.
Conclusion
Realistic goals can be set by looking at JEE Main Cutoff 2026 (expected and previous year). In order to get a good NIT or clear JEE Advanced, a high percentile score is needed.
