JEE Main Cutoff 2026 (Expected): Category-Wise Percentile, Marks & Previous Year Trends

JEE Main Cutoff 2026 is a crucial benchmark for engineering aspirants aiming for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs or for qualifying for JEE Advanced. The cutoff represents the minimum percentile or rank a candidate must secure, and it varies by category and purpose.

There are two types of cutoffs in JEE Main - the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff. The qualifying cutoff decides eligibility for JEE Advanced, while admission cutoffs determine entry into institutes and branches through JoSAA counselling.

The JEE Main Cutoff 2026 is expected to remain close to recent years, as the exam pattern and difficulty level are likely to stay similar. However, JEE cutoff 2026 category-wise variations will continue due to reservation policies. Knowing the expected cutoff helps students set a realistic target percentile, plan preparation effectively, and build a practical admission strategy for 2026.

JEE Main Cutoff 2026 Percentile (Expected)

The JEE Main Cutoff 2026 percentile indicates the minimum percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. Percentile scores are relative and depend on overall candidate performance, exam difficulty, and normalization across multiple shifts.

This cutoff changes every year and differs across categories. While the qualifying percentile does not guarantee admission to NITs or IIITs, it is mandatory to appear in JEE Advanced. The values below are expected cutoff marks for JEE Mains 2026, estimated using recent year trends.

Category-Wise JEE Main Cutoff 2026 (General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST)

Category-wise JEE Mains cutoff 2026 differs due to reservation policies and seat allocation norms. Reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and EWS have lower qualifying percentiles compared to the General category to ensure equitable access to higher education.

The General cutoff for JEE Main 2026 is expected to remain above 93 percentile, reflecting high competition. OBC-NCL and EWS cutoffs usually stay close to each other, while SC and ST cutoffs offer higher relaxation. These differences apply to both qualifying and admission cutoffs and play a significant role during counselling.

Expected Cutoff of JEE Mains 2026 for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs

The admission cutoff of JEE Main 2026 refers to the opening and closing ranks required for admission to engineering institutes. These cutoffs vary widely based on institute reputation, branch demand, seat availability, and category.

NIT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

Competition for top NITs and popular branches like CSE remains extremely high. The closing ranks are expected to stay tight for older NITs.

IIIT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

The expected IIIT cutoff for 2026 highlights the rising demand for CSE and IT programs. Rankings depend on institute popularity and national competition. These predicted ranges help students understand what percentile they may need for preferred branches.

GFTI Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

The expected GFTI cutoff for 2026 presents a wide range of admission possibilities across different institutes. Closing ranks vary significantly due to location, demand, and branch options. These estimates help students with mid-range ranks find suitable colleges.

JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Marks vs Percentile (Expected)

JEE Main scores are normalized and reported as percentiles, not raw marks. The same marks can result in different percentiles each year due to changes in difficulty level and candidate performance.

For 2026, higher marks will be required to achieve the same percentile if competition increases. The cutoff marks listed are approximate ranges, not guarantees, and should be used only for reference while setting preparation goals.

JEE Main 2026 Opening & Closing Ranks (Expected)

Opening and closing ranks represent the first and last admitted ranks for a particular institute or category. These ranks differ based on All India Quota and Home State quota, category, and branch preference.

Previous Year JEE Main Cutoff Trends (2025–2021)

An analysis of previous years shows a steady rise in competition, especially after 2023. The General category cutoff increased sharply due to higher participation and normalization effects. While OBC and EWS cutoffs rose in JEE Mains cut off 2024, slight corrections were observed in 2025.

Normalization across multiple shifts continues to influence percentiles, making year-on-year comparisons important for predicting trends.

Reviewing past cutoffs helps in predicting the JEE Mains 2024 cutoff marks and overall trends. The qualifying percentiles for JEE Mains have shown changes over the last few years. The general category cutoff increased from 90.78 in 2023 to 93.24 in 2024. It slightly adjusted to 93.10 in 2025. This shows increasing competition. OBC and EWS categories saw increases in 2024, followed by slight drops in 2025. SC and ST categories generally experience higher relaxation.

Previous Years JEE Mains Cutoff 

Previous year cutoff trends show how qualifying percentiles have shifted over time. These patterns reflect exam difficulty, JEE Mains total marks cut off, total registrations, and overall performance. Analysing them helps students predict the likely JEE Mains cutoff for 2026 more accurately.

JEE Mains 2025 Cutoff Marks

Check the table below for JEE Mains 2025 Cutoff Marks: 

JEE Mains 2024 Cutoff Marks

Here is the table carrying the JEE Mains 2024 Cutoff Marks: 

JEE Mains 2023 Cutoff Marks

Mentioned below is the table carrying the JEE Mains 2023 Cutoff Marks: 

JEE Mains 2022 Cutoff Marks

Table below contains the JEE Mains 2022 Cutoff Marks: 

JEE Mains 2021 Cutoff Marks

Here is the table carrying the JEE Mains 2021 Cutoff Marks: