What Percentile Is Needed for Top NITs vs Mid NITs in 2026?

With the JEE Main 2026 results now declared, you may be wondering what percentile is required for higher-ranked NITs compared to mid-tier NITs. Since admission depends on your percentile, All India Rank, category, and branch preference, it can be difficult to assess your position clearly. Understanding the expected percentile levels and closing rank trends will help you evaluate your admission chances more accurately.

What Does Percentile Mean in JEE Main?

Before analysing your admission chances, you must clearly understand what your percentile represents. A percentile is not the same as marks, as it reflects your relative performance compared to others. A 99th percentile indicates that you have scored equal to or better than 99% of candidates who appeared for the exam. It is calculated after normalisation across different exam sessions to ensure fairness.

It changes every year depending on:

• Number of candidates

• Paper difficulty

• Overall performance trends

This means while evaluating your result, you should compare it slightly above previous closing percentiles rather than relying only on the minimum trends.

Also Read: NIT JEE Main Cutoff 2026

Expected NIT Cutoff 2026 For Higher-Ranked NITs 

The percentile of above 99 is considered safe for top NITs. These expected closing ranks give you an idea of how competitive different NITs may be. Lower ranks indicate higher competition. 

These institutes are usually highly competitive. If your All India Rank falls within these ranges, you may have realistic admission chances depending on branch preference and quota.

Expected Percentile for Mid-Tier NITs in 2026

A percentile of 97 to 98 may secure admission in mid-tier NITs depending on category and branch. The percentile requirement may be slightly lower but still competitive. The table below shows the expected closing ranks for NIT Cutoff 2026.

These NITs may have comparatively broader rank ranges, but admission still depends on branch selection and counselling rounds.

Why Do Percentiles Change Every Year?

You should understand that percentile cut-offs are not fixed numbers. They vary because of:

• Total number of students appearing

• Difficulty level of the exam

• Seat matrix changes

• Category-wise reservation policies

• Performance distribution in different sessions

So while reviewing your result, avoid assuming assured admission based only on previous year data.

Also Read: OBC Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026

What Percentile Should You Target for Session 2 JEE Main 2026?

With Session 2 of JEE Main 2026 scheduled from 2 to 9 April, you still have an opportunity to improve your percentile. To keep your admission options flexible, you may consider the following practical targets:

• 99.5+ percentile: Competitive for CSE and ECE in higher-ranked NITs

• 98+ percentile: Strong chances across many branches

• 95+ percentile: Possible in mid-tier NITs

• Below 95th percentile: Limited NIT options, depending on category and branch

If you are planning to appear again or aiming for improvement in a future session, these benchmarks can help you set a clearer target. Physics Wallah provides structured JEE Main courses, mock tests, and performance tracking tools that help you measure your progress against your percentile target and improve systematically.