JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Cutoff Expected: The National Testing Agency will release the JEE Main qualifying cutoff on the official website, jeemain.nta. The qualifying cutoffs for JEE Main 2026 will be released after session 2 results by April 20. Based on the previous year’s JEE Mains cut off, here we have provided the expected JEE Main 2026 qualifying cutoff, which is likely to be around the 93.5 to 95 percentile. Candidates must score between 185 to 200 to secure an expected percentile of 99.50+ for the JEE Main exam.
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Further, the JEE Main qualifying cutoff varies across the different categories. In 2025, the qualifying cut off for General category was 93.1023262 while the JEE Main qualifying cut off for OBC was 79.4313582. NTA uses a normalisation formula to derive the JEE Main qualifying cutoff score from raw marks. Find more details on the JEE Main 2026 qualifying cutoff expected in the article.
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 Dates
The JEE Main qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile score set by NTA after each session, which serves as an eligibility criterion for the JEE Advanced exams and also for admission to the different engineering institutes, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs via JoSAA counselling. Candidates must keep in mind that the JEE Main qualifying cutoff and JoSAA admission cutoff are not similar and serve different purposes. The cutoff is based on the difficulty level of the exam, number of students participating in the exam, and other factors set by NTA.
NTA releases the qualifying cutoff for JEE Main every year after completion of both JEE Main sessions 1 and 2 exams. As per the previous year’s cutoff trends, the JEE Main qualifying cutoff for 2026 is expected to be around 87% to 96%. Find below the expected qualifying cutoff for JEE Main 2026.
| Category | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
General (UR) | 93-25 |
OBC-NCL | 80-82 |
EWS | 80-82 |
SC | 60-62 |
ST | 47-49 |
Since the JEE Main 2026 cutoff is yet to be released, candidates can check out the previous year’s cutoff trends to have an overall idea of what to expect this year. As per the previous year’s JEE Main qualifying cutoff, the cutoff for the General category is 93.1023262, OBC is 79.4313582, EWS, SC and ST are 80.3830119, 61.1526933, and 47.9026465, respectively.
Candidates must note that the JEE Mains cutoff varies for each category. Candidates can check the cutoff of JEE Main 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and other years.
| Category | JEE Mains Cutoff 2025 |
|---|---|
General | 93.1023262 |
Persons with Disability | 0.0079349 |
EWS | 80.3830119 |
OBC-NCL | 79.4313582 |
SC | 61.1526933 |
ST | 47.9026465 |
Candidates can also refer to the JEE Main 2025 cutoff for popular courses below. The table is presenting the JEE Main 2025 cutoff rank for the open category: Gender-Neutral and Female-only (including Supernumerary.
| Academic Programme Name | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
Computer Science and Engineering | 559 | 4463 |
2040 | 7644 | |
Electronics and Communication Engineering | 2232 | 6947 |
7785 | 10277 | |
Mechanical Engineering | 9004 | 13628 |
18294 | 25413 | |
Civil Engineering | 10131 | 27257 |
22905 | 33141 | |
Chemical Engineering | 5865 | 17196 |
19506 |
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| Category | JEE Main Cutoff 2024 |
|---|---|
General | 93.2362181 |
Gen-PwD | 0.0018700 |
EWS | 81.3266412 |
OBC-NCL | 79.6757881 |
SC | 60.0923182 |
ST | 46.6975840 |
| Category | JEE Cutoff |
|---|---|
General | 90.7788642 |
EWS | 75.6229025 |
OBC | 73.6114227 |
SC | 51.9776027 |
ST | 37.2348772 |
PwD | 0.0013527 |
| Category | MIN_PS_TOT | MAX_PS_TOT |
|---|---|---|
General | 88.4121383 | 100 |
Gen-PwD | 0.0031029 | 88.3784882 |
EWS | 63.1114141 | 88.4037478 |
OBC-NCL | 67.0090297 | 88.4081747 |
SC | 43.0820954 | 88.4037478 |
ST | 26.7771328 | 88.4072779 |
| EWS | MIN_PS_TO | MAX_PS_TOT |
|---|---|---|
EWS | 66.2214845 | 87.8950071 |
OBC-NCL | 68.0234447 | 87.8950071 |
SC | 46.8825338 | 87.8950071 |
ST | 34.6728999 | 87.8474721 |
UR | 87.8992241 | 100.0000000 |
UR-PH | 0.0096375 | 87.8273359 |
| Common Rank List | JEE Main Cutoff |
|---|---|
Common Rank List (CRL) | 90.3765335 |
GEN-EWS | 70.2435518 |
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 72.8887969 |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 50.1760245 |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 39.0696101 |
PwD | 0.0618524 |
| Category | Total NTA score cutoff based on paper 1 |
|---|---|
Common Rank List (CRL) | 89.7548849 |
GEN-EWS | 78.2174869 |
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 74.3166557 |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 54.0128155 |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 44.3345172 |
PwD | 0.11371730 |
Year | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | Gen-EWS | PwD |
2021 | 87.8992241 | 68.0234447 | 46.8825338 | 34.6728999 | 66.2214845 | 0.0096375 |
2020 | 90.3765335 | 72.8887969 | 50.1760245 | 39.0696101 | 70.2435518 | 0.0618524 |
2019 | 89.7548849 | 74.3166557 | 54.0128155 | 44.3345172 | 78.2174869 | 0.11371730 |
2018 | 74 | 45 | 29 | 24 | - | -35 |
2017 | 81 | 49 | 32 | 27 | - | - |
2016 | 100 | 70 | 52 | 48 | - | - |
2015 | 105 | 70 | 50 | 44 | - | - |
2014 | 115 | 74 | 53 | 47 | - | - |
2013 | 113 | 70 | 50 | 45 | - | - |
There are several key factors that influence the JEE Main cutoff. The cutoff varies every year because of the factors in place. The JEE Main 2026 cutoff is based on the given factors below.
Number of applicants
Performance in the entrance examination
Difficulty level of the JEE Main 2025
Difficulty level of the JEE Main 2025
JEE Cutoff trends of the previous years’ examination
JEE Main percentile is the performance of a student in the exam compared to other exam participants. Whereas, JEE Main marks are the raw score obtained in the exam out of 300, which is later converted into a percentage for the running system. Further, to score an expected percentile of 99.50,+ candidates must at least secure a score of 185 to 200 marks in the JEE Main exam. The JEE Main marks vs percentile is mainly affected by the difficulty level of the exam and the overall competition in JEE Main. Candidates can check the expected marks vs percentile of JEE Main 2026.
| JEE Main Marks | JEE Main Percentile |
|---|---|
300-280 | 100-99.99745 |
279-260 | 99.99417-99.98881 |
259-240 | 99.97720-99.94664 |
239-220 | 99.91595-99.90111 |
219-200 | 99.80777 – 99.79506 |
199-170 | 99.62402-99.45693 |
169-140 | 99.06985-98.73238 |
139-110 | 97.94047-97.14293 |
109-80 | 95.64338-93.47123 |
79-50 | 90.41098-82.01606 |
49-20 | 73.08140-37.69452 |
19-0 | 20.95045-0.84351 |
Also, check how to calculate your JEE Main rank using your percentile scores
To check the JEE Main 2026 qualifying cutoff, candidates must visit the official website of NTA. Also, to check the cutoff for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admissions, candidates must check the JoSAA website josaa.admissions.nic.in. Follow the steps below to check the JEE Main 2026 qualifying cutoff.
Candidates must first visit the official website of NTA, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Now on the home page, candidates must navigate to the JEE Main cutoff link under the Latest News" or "Archives".
Candidates will be directed to the cutoff page.
There will be an option to download the JEE Main cutoff category-wise.
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Here is the list of top NITs along with their previous years' cutoff closing ranks. Closing rank indicates the lowest rank based on which candidates were offered admission. Based on last year's closing, an expected closing rank has been calculated in the table below.
| NIT Names | 2025 R6 Closing Rank (CSE Open) | Expected 2026 Cutoff Ranks |
|---|---|---|
4569 | 4200-5000 | |
2800 | 2500-3500 | |
3530 | 3000-4500 | |
8428 | 7000-9000 | |
7853 | 7000-8000 | |
6013 | 6200-6800 | |
10165 | 9000-10500 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The JEE Main qualifying cutoff is calculated by NTA by the normalisation formula by selecting students from top top 2.5 lakh.
No, candidates will require a high cutoff for NIT admission. Candidates will likely need to secure 95 percentile to be eligible for the top NITs.
Yes, attempting JEE Main session 2 will definitely improve the cutoff chances if candidates score better compared to their session 1 score.
If two candidates secure the same percentile, the authority applies the tie-breaker rules to assign ranks. For example, among the two candidates, whoever has secured a higher percentile in Mathematics or Physics, or Chemistry will be given priority.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
The link to the question paper is attached here. Careers360 help students in their exam preparation. students can find all the required study materials and exam materials, exam materials, results and cutoffs on the website.
Thank you.
Hello,
Despite of the prior backlogs, you can appear for JEE Mains in 2026 because you passed class 12; that marks the basic eligibility.
Anyways, this would be regarded as the third JEE Mains attempt, because there's a limit that a candidate can attempt only a limited number of times;
You can get free mock tests for JEE 2026 on the Careers360 website. The mock tests are based on the latest exam pattern and help in understanding the level of questions and time management. You just need to register and start attempting the tests online.
Direct link for JEE mock
Hello,
If you passed 12th in 2025 and did not appear in JEE till now, then this is your eligibility:
JEE Main can be given for 3 consecutive years after 12th.
Each year has 2 sessions .
You are eligible in 2025, 2026 and 2027 .
Since you
Hello,
For JEE (for IT / engineering) :
10th percentage
There is no fixed minimum percentage needed in Class 10 to prepare for JEE.
You just need to pass Class 10 .
Important part is Class 12
You must study Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class 11 and 12 .
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