Check the JEE Main 2026 cutoff details including expected cutoffs, category-wise and institute-wise cutoffs, and key factors affecting admission chances in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
Table of Contents
- Difference between JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff and Admission Cutoff
- Will the Cutoff for JEE Main 2026 be Higher or Lower than the Previous Year?
- JEE Main 2026 Cut-Off (Expected) Category and Institute-wise
- The JEE Main 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff is as follows
- What is the JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for IITs?
- What is the JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for IIITs?
- What Is the JEE Main Cutoff 2026 for GFTIs?
- Factors Affecting the JEE Main Cutoff 2026
The JEE Main result 2026 has been released on Feb 16, 2026, on the official website. The final JEE Main Answer key is made available on the official website and can be downloaded by logging in using your credentials. The JEE Main cutoff will be released after the announcement of JEE Main session 2 results 2026
JEE Main cutoff 2026 is an important release for aspirants aiming to qualify for JEE Main Session 1 and Session 2 exams. Both the JEE Main session 1 cutoff and the JEE Main session 2 cutoff have their own criteria. The cutoff is the minimum percentile or score required to proceed for JEE Advanced or to secure admission into institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs.
Over the past years, the JEE Main 2026 cutoff has increased, depicting the increase in the competition. The JEE Main cutoff is released along with the release of thesession 2 JEE Main result.
Read More: JEE Main Exam Analysis 2026
Difference between JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff and Admission Cutoff
There are two types of cutoffs, i.e., the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff. The JEE Main qualifying cutoff is released by NTA, whereas the admission cutoff is released by JoSAA.
The difference between the JEE Main qualifying cutoff and the admission Cutoff is as follows:
|
Aspect |
Qualifying Cutoff |
Admission Cutoff |
|
Defined By |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) |
|
Purpose |
To determine eligibility for JEE Advanced or the minimum requirement for merit lists |
To determine actual admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs |
|
Format |
Percentile-based |
Rank-based (Opening & Closing Ranks) |
|
Scope |
Category-specific (e.g., General, OBC, SC, ST) |
Institute-specific and Branch-specific |
|
Applicable For |
Shortlisting candidates for JEE Advanced |
Allocating seats through JoSAA counselling |
|
Relevance |
Required to clear JEE Main, but not enough for admission |
Required to secure a seat in a college or program |
Will the Cutoff for JEE Main 2026 be Higher or Lower than the Previous Year?
As per the previous year's trends, the JEE Main 2026, the JEE Main session 1 cutoff and JEE Main session 2 cutoff will be slightly higher than the JEE Main 2025 cutoff for session 1 and 2, respectively. The qualifying cutoff percentile for 2026, the General category will be around 93.5%, showing a marginal increase from 2025, which was 93.10%.
The admission cutoffs will depend on factors such as exam difficulty, number of takers, and seat availability.
If JEE Main is tougher or fewer students score high marks, admission cutoffs for top branches may go down. But if the exam is easier and more students perform well, the cutoffs can go up. Overall, cutoffs have been rising steadily over the years.
Read More: JEE Main Answer Key 2026
JEE Main 2026 Cut-Off (Expected) Category and Institute-wise
The expected JEE Main cutoff will be based on the previous year's cutoff. The expected qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff for 2026 will be as follows:
The JEE Main 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff is as follows
|
Category |
Estimated Percentile |
|
General (UR) |
93.50% |
|
EWS |
81.00% |
|
OBC‑NCL |
80.20% |
|
SC |
62.20% |
|
ST |
49.00% |
The JEE Main 2026 expected qualifying cutoff is as follows
|
Institute Type |
Top Branches |
Expected Percentile (General Category) |
Approx. Marks |
|
NITs |
CSE, ECE |
99+ percentile |
200+ marks |
|
IIITs |
CSE, ECE |
99+ percentile |
200+ marks |
|
GFTIs |
CSE, ECE |
~98–99 percentile |
180–200 marks |
Check This: JEE Main College Predictor
What is the JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for IITs?
The competitive branches like CSE/ECE at top IITs typically require top ranks. Therefore, the cutoff required is higher for these branches. The expected JEE Main session 1 and JEE Main session 2 Cutoff 2026 for IITs is as follows:
|
Category |
Purpose |
Approx. Percentile (2026) |
|
General (UR) |
Eligible for JEE Advanced |
~87–90% |
|
OBC-NCL |
Eligible for JEE Advanced |
~72–75% |
|
SC |
Eligible for JEE Advanced |
~50–55% |
|
ST |
Eligible for JEE Advanced |
~45–50% |
|
PwD |
Eligible for JEE Advanced |
~45% or lower |
Read More: JEE Main Marks vs Percentile
What is the JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for IITs?
For NIT admissions in the 2026 general category, Top branches like CSE and ECE at top NITs need around a 90–95 percentile score. The JEE Main session 1 Cutoff and JEE Main session 2 cut off 2026 for NITs is as follows
|
Category |
Purpose |
Approx. Percentile (2026) |
|
General (UR) |
Admission to CSE/ECE |
90–92% |
|
OBC-NCL |
Admission to CSE/ECE |
75–80% |
|
SC |
Admission to CSE/ECE |
50–55% |
|
ST |
Admission to CSE/ECE |
45–50% |
|
PwD |
Admission to CSE/ECE |
40–45% |
What is the JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for IIITs?
JEE Main Cutoff 2026, expected closing rank for IIITs is as follows:
|
IIIT |
Branch |
Expected Closing Rank |
Approx. Percentile (2026) |
|
IIIT Hyderabad |
CSE |
1,000 – 1,200 |
99.90 – 99.87 |
|
IIIT Allahabad |
CSE |
4,500 – 6,000 |
99.70 – 99.50 |
|
IIIT Bangalore |
CSE |
5,500 – 7,000 |
99.60 – 99.40 |
|
IIIT Delhi |
CSE |
6,500 – 8,500 |
99.50 – 99.20 |
What Is the JEE Main Cutoff 2026 for GFTIs?
The JEE Main Cutoff 2026 may vary depending on the institute, branch, seat matrix, and whether the quota is for home or other states. The JEE Main 2026 closing ranks for the General category are as follows:
|
GFTI |
Branch |
Expected Closing Rank |
|
BIT Mesra |
CSE |
18,000 – 22,000 |
|
Assam University, Silchar |
CSE |
50,000 – 55,000 |
|
IIEST Shibpur |
CSE |
22,000 – 28,000 |
|
JNU Delhi |
CSE/ECE |
30,000 – 45,000 (varies) |
|
Sant Longowal Institute of Engg. |
CSE/ECE |
60,000 – 100,000+ |
|
Other GFTIs |
Various |
30,000 – 100,000+ |
Read More: JEE Main Previous Year's Question papers
Factors Affecting the JEE Main Cutoff 2026
The Factors Affecting the JEE Main cutoff 2026 are as follows:
- Number of candidates taking the exam: The more the number of candidates, the higher the cutoff.
- Difficulty Level of exam: The tougher the exam, the lower the cutoff where whereas the easier the exam, the higher the cutoff.
- Seat Availability: More seats can make it easier to get admission, while fewer seats make it harder.
- Performance of Top Candidates: If the candidates perform extraordinarily, the percentile goes up, and vice versa.
As the competition is increasing, the cutoff is expected to remain highly competitive, mainly for top branches like CSE. With increased competition, you should prepare exceptionally well to score higher percentile to secure the desired seat in the best institutes. Factors like exam difficulty, number of applicants, and seat availability will affect the final cutoffs. So stay focused and prepare well for the exam.
POST YOUR COMMENT