JEE Main Cutoff 2026: Expected Percentile, Qualifying vs Admission Cutoff (Category-Wise)

JEE Main Cutoff 2026 is the minimum percentile released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) that determines eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026 and admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling. The official category-wise cutoff will be published on jeemain.nta.nic.in after the declaration of JEE Main 2026 results.

Based strictly on cutoff trends from 2023, 2024, and 2025, the expected qualifying percentile for JEE Main 2026 is around 93–95 for General, 80–82 for OBC-NCL/EWS, and 49–62 for SC/ST candidates. Candidates must clearly understand that the JEE Main qualifying cutoff (for JEE Advanced) and the admission cutoff (for institutes) are different, and qualifying does not guarantee admission to government engineering colleges.

This article presents a data-driven analysis of the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff, based strictly on trends from 2023, 2024, and 2025, covering category-wise qualifying percentiles and college-wise safe ranks to help students set realistic admission targets.

If you are targeting JEE Main-2026, then to update you that this time landscape is undergoing a massive shift. Every year, students ask the same question: “What marks or percentile do I need to qualify?’’ However, for the 2026 session, the answer is more complex than usual. With the total number of unique candidates expected to touch the 15.5 lakh mark, the competition is no longer just about your knowledge; it is about where you stand in an ever-growing crowd. This blog breaks down the expected cutoffs for JEE Main 2026. By analysing the trends from 2023, 2024, and 2025 we can set the realistic target. We will look at the “Qualifying Cutoff” needed to sit for JEE Advanced and the “Admission Cutoff” required to actually secure a seat in a government college

JEE Main Cutoff 2026: Expected Percentile, Qualifying vs Admission Cutoff (Category-Wise)

The primary reason for the rising cutoffs is simple math. In 2023, there were roughly 11.1 lakh unique candidates. In 2024, that number jumped to over 14.1 lakh. For 2026, projections suggest a pool of 15.5 lakh students. When the count of aspirants increases in the exam, the number of students scoring high marks also increases. This leads to Rank Inflation, where a 93 percentile which used to be a safe rank might now place you much further back in the line. While the government has added nearly 3,000 seats across the NIT+ system to help, the sheer volume of applicants keeps the pressure high. This effectively means you are fighting against 1.5 lakh extra competitors compared to just two years ago, diluting the impact of any seat increases.

1. Expected Qualifying Cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026

This is the minimum percentile you need to be among the top 2,50,000 candidates eligible for JEE Advanced. Based on the jump we saw between 2024 and 2025, here is our projection for 2026:

Category	2024 Official Cutoff	2025 Official Cutoff	2026 Expected Range
General (UR)	93.236	93.102	93.8 – 94.2
Gen-EWS	81.326	80.383	82.5 – 83.5
OBC-NCL	79.675	79.431	80.5 – 81.5
SC	60.092	61.152	61.5 – 63.0
ST	46.697	47.902	48.0 – 50.0

Data Note: These figures are for the Open Category. For reserved categories, the competition reduces, but the overall trend of rising percentiles remains consistent across all groups.

It is important to understand the difference between the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff. While the qualifying cutoff allows candidates to appear for JEE Advanced, the admission cutoff determines the college and branch they may get.

📄 Download Category-Wise Cutoff Marks 2025 for Top 20 Percentile (PDF)

According to a Reddit user, consistently solving previous-year questions from the last 4–5 years, along with regular revision, can help candidates aim for a 96+ percentile.

2. College-Wise “Safe Zone” (Admission Cutoff)

Simply “qualifying” for Advanced does not guarantee a seat in an NIT, IIIT, or GFTI. Admission depends on your All India Rank (AIR). Below is the expected percentile required to secure a seat in different tiers of institutes for a general category student (Gender-Neutral).

Institute Tier	Target Branch	Safe Percentile (2026)	Safe Rank (AIR)
Top 5 NITs	CSE / ECE	99.6+	Under 6,000
Mid-Tier NITs	CSE / IT	98.8+	Under 18,000
Top IIITs	CSE / AI	99.2+	Under 12,000
Premier GFTIs	CSE / ECE	98.0+	Under 30,000
Lower NITs / GFTIs	Core Branches	96.5+	Under 55,000

Note: If you are aiming for core branches like Mechanical or Civil, these ranks can extend much further, providing a safety net up to the 70,000 to 90,000 rank range in newer or regional institutes.

Key Strategic Correlation (KSC Insight)

“The biggest mistake a 2026 aspirant can make is confusing ‘Eligibility’ with ‘Admission.’ In the 15-lakh candidate era, there is a massive gap between the 94-percentile needed to qualify for Advanced and the 97 percentiles usually needed to enter a decent NIT. It’s advisable to ignore the qualifying line. Instead, look at the rank gaps between branches. For example, if you miss CSE by 5,000 ranks, you can often find an ECE seat in a better institute. Aim for a ‘Percentile Buffer’ of at least 2 points above your dream college’s previous cutoff to stay safe from rank inflation.”

Conclusion: From Data to Strategy

The 2026 session will be a test of precision. While the numbers look intimidating, the expansion of the seat matrix and the variety of specialized branches in IIITs and GFTIs mean there are more paths to success than ever before. Your goal should be to build a choice list of at least 30 options during JoSAA rounds, keeping the Round 6 and CSAB trends in mind.