JEE Main Passing Marks 2026 are expected to vary by category, with the General cutoff likely around 90–93 percentile, while OBC/EWS may fall near 78–82, SC around 60–65, and ST near 45–50 percentile. Final cutoffs will depend on exam difficulty, candidate count, and NTA normalization.
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Passing Marks: Expected Category-Wise Cutoff, Qualifying Percentile & Trends
JEE Main Passing Marks 2026 are one of the most searched topics as the exam season approaches. Every year, lakhs of aspirants look for the minimum marks required out of 300 to qualify for JEE Main 2026 and to stay eligible for admissions into NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.
As per previous year trends, the JEE Main qualifying cutoff is expressed in percentile, not raw marks, and it varies annually based on exam difficulty, number of candidates, and overall performance.
JEE Main Passing Marks 2026: What Aspirants Should Know
The JEE Main 2026 passing marks are not fixed and are released only after the declaration of results by NTA. However, based on historical data, experts expect the cutoff to remain close to 2025 levels, especially for the General category.
Students appearing in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 and Session 2 must score above the category-wise cutoff percentile to:
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Qualify for JEE Main 2026
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Participate in JoSAA counselling
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Be considered for NIT, IIIT and GFTI admissions
JEE Main Passing Marks Out of 300 (Expected)
Although NTA does not officially release “passing marks out of 300,” candidates often estimate their chances using marks vs percentile analysis. A higher score increases the probability of crossing the cutoff after NTA normalisation.
In most years, General category students need around 90+ percentile, which roughly translates to 85–95 marks, depending on shift difficulty.
JEE Main Category-Wise Cutoff: Previous Year Trend
JEE Main Cutoff 2025
| JEE Main Cutoff 2025 | |
| Category | Qualifying Percentile |
| General | 93.10 |
| EWS | 80.38 |
| OBC-NCL | 79.43 |
| SC | 61.15 |
| ST | 47.90 |
| PwD | 0.00 |
These figures act as the strongest indicator for JEE Main Passing Marks 2026.
Expected JEE Main Passing Marks 2026 for the General Category
For General category aspirants, the cutoff has consistently remained above 90 percentile over the last few years. Based on trend analysis:
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Expected cutoff percentile (General): 90–93
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Safe target score (out of 300): 100+ marks
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For NIT/IIIT chances: 150+ marks recommended
Merely clearing the cutoff does not guarantee admission—higher scores significantly improve college options.
JEE Main Passing Marks Category-Wise: Year-Wise Comparison
General Category Cutoff Trend
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2025: 93.10
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2024: 93.24
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2023: 90.78
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2022: 88.41
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2021: 87.90
EWS & OBC-NCL Trend Highlights
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EWS cutoff ranges between 63 and 81 percentiles
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OBC-NCL cutoff generally stays around the 67–80th percentile
Factors Affecting JEE Main Passing Marks 2026
Several dynamic factors influence the final cutoff:
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Difficulty level of JEE Main 2026
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Number of candidates appearing
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Shift-wise performance & normalisation
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Seat availability in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs
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Overall topper score trends
If the paper is tougher, cutoffs may drop slightly—and vice versa.
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