The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is among the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India. Lakhs of students take the exam every year with the hope of getting a seat in the best engineering colleges such as NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). As the JEE Main 2026 is approaching, it is important that the aspirants should know the cut-off trends and how they have changed over the years, and what score is actually needed to pass the exam.
This blog goes in-depth, discussing the JEE Main 2026 cut-off trends and analysis, the different types of cut-offs, determinants of cut-offs, category-wise cut-offs, expected marks vs percentile analysis, and much more. When you are using a JEE Main chapterwise book or you are consulting a JEE Main PYQ chapterwise book, this analysis will enable you to adjust your preparation to the real target scores.
What is JEE Main Cut-Off and its Types and Importance?
In the case of JEE Main, there are two kinds of cut-offs:
1. Qualifying Cut-Off (NTA Cut-Off):
This is the least percentile mark to pass JEE Advanced. The National Testing Agency (NTA) declares it after the results of the exam.
2. Admission Cut-Off (JoSAA Cut-Off):
This is the lowest rank/score to be selected in different institutes such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). These are institute-specific, branch-specific, and category-specific.
Aspirants need to understand both kinds of cut-offs. The qualifying cut-off is normally confused with the admission cut-off, but they are used differently.
JEE Main Cut-Off Trends (2020-2025)
To discuss the future trends in 2026, it is necessary to see the movement of the cut-offs during the past few years.
JEE Main Qualifying Percentile Cut-Off (2020–2025)
|
Year |
General |
EWS |
OBC-NCL |
SC |
ST |
PwD |
|
2020 |
90.37 |
70.24 |
72.88 |
50.18 |
39.06 |
0.06 |
|
2021 |
87.89 |
66.22 |
68.02 |
46.88 |
34.67 |
0.06 |
|
2022 |
88.41 |
63.11 |
67.00 |
43.08 |
26.77 |
0.003 |
|
2023 |
90.77 |
75.62 |
73.61 |
51.98 |
37.45 |
0.001 |
|
2024 |
91.31 |
76.32 |
74.58 |
52.45 |
39.12 |
0.001 |
|
2025 |
91.78* |
77.14* |
75.02* |
53.01* |
40.10* |
0.001* |
*Expected based on early analysis and percentile trends.
As seen in the above table, the qualifying percentile has been slightly increasing, especially for the General category. This reflects the rising competition and improved performances over the years.
What Will Be the JEE Main 2026 Cut-Off?
While the actual cut-off will be known only after the exam, based on current trends and analysis, the expected qualifying cut-off percentile for 2026 is:
-
General: 92+ percentile
-
EWS: 78+ percentile
-
OBC-NCL: 76+ percentile
-
SC: 54+ percentile
-
ST: 42+ percentile
-
PwD: ~0.01 percentile
However, this qualifying cut-off is not enough if you're aiming for a seat in an NIT or IIIT. For that, your rank and score must be considerably higher. That’s where the JEE Main previous year question paper book becomes useful, as it helps you simulate actual exam conditions and identify scoring patterns.
What is a safe score in JEE Main 2026 for NIT admission?
A “safe score” varies based on your category, course, and institute. For General category candidates aiming for core branches (like CSE, ECE) in top NITs (such as NIT Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal), a score of 210–250+ out of 300 is typically required.
However, for other branches like Civil, Production, or Biotechnology in newer NITs, a score of 150–180 may suffice. Use your JEE Main PYQ book to gauge your consistency in scoring within such ranges.
Score vs Percentile vs Rank Analysis (JEE Main 2026 Expected)
Let’s understand how raw marks correlate to percentiles and approximate ranks in JEE Main.
JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank (Expected)
|
Marks (Out of 300) |
Percentile (Approx.) |
Expected Rank |
|
280–300 |
99.99+ |
1 – 200 |
|
250–279 |
99.90 – 99.98 |
201 – 1000 |
|
220–249 |
99.80 – 99.89 |
1001 – 2500 |
|
180–219 |
99.50 – 99.79 |
2501 – 8000 |
|
150–179 |
98.00 – 99.49 |
8001 – 18000 |
|
120–149 |
95.00 – 97.99 |
18001 – 35000 |
|
90–119 |
85.00 – 94.99 |
35001 – 70000 |
|
60–89 |
70.00 – 84.99 |
70001 – 120000 |
|
Below 60 |
<70.00 |
120000+ |
These figures are approximations based on past year data and can vary depending on the difficulty level of the paper, the number of candidates, and the normalization process.
What Factors Affect the Cut-Off in JEE Main?
Several elements influence the cut-off scores each year:
-
Number of candidates appearing: Higher participation often leads to higher competition.
-
Difficulty level of the exam: Tougher papers may result in slightly lower cut-offs.
-
Seat availability: More seats could ease the admission cut-offs marginally.
-
Category of the student: Each category has its own quota and therefore its own cut-off.
-
Performance of top scorers: If top scorers do exceptionally well, the percentile system shifts, impacting cut-offs.
Read More: JEE Main 2026 Preparation Guide for Droppers: Mistakes to Avoid This Time
Is scoring 150 in JEE Main enough for NIT?
Scoring 150 marks may be enough for lower branches or home state quotas in newer NITs or north-east NITs under reserved categories. But for a seat in core branches (CSE, ECE) in top-tier NITs under the General category, it may fall short.
To fine-tune your preparation, rely on a JEE Main chapterwise book to strengthen weak areas and maximize your score.
Category-Wise Rank Cut-Offs for NITs (Past Data)
Let’s look at the closing ranks for popular branches at the top NITs. This gives an idea of what percentiles and ranks are required.
Closing Ranks for CSE Branch (General Category)
|
Institute |
Opening Rank |
Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
NIT Trichy |
122 |
5664 |
|
NIT Warangal |
211 |
5303 |
|
NIT Surathkal |
182 |
5630 |
|
NIT Rourkela |
722 |
9800 |
|
NIT Allahabad |
613 |
7150 |
For SC/ST and OBC categories, the closing ranks are usually more relaxed, but you still need a competitive rank to secure top branches.
Can I get NIT with 95 percentile in JEE Main?
A 95 percentile roughly translates to a rank between 40,000 and 50,000. Admission at this rank is possible, but primarily into non-core branches and in lower-tier NITs, especially under the Home State quota or reserved categories.
The key to crossing this percentile lies in mastering key topics, practicing through a JEE Main PYQ chapterwise book, and maintaining accuracy under timed conditions.
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Final Tips: How to Reach the Target Score?
Scoring high in JEE Main requires a mix of consistent practice, smart strategy, and clarity of concepts. Here are a few strategic insights:
-
Focus more on high-weightage chapters. The use of a JEE Main chapterwise book allows you to target topics that are frequently asked.
-
Solve questions from previous year papers available in a JEE Main previous year question paper book. This will help in understanding question patterns and improve speed.
-
Analyze your mistakes and strengthen weaker chapters using the JEE Main PYQ book, ensuring you don’t repeat errors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding JEE Main 2026 cut-off trends and score analysis is essential to devise an effective strategy. With growing competition and rising cut-offs, aspirants must aim for higher scores and percentile brackets to increase their chances of admission into premier institutes.
Keep tracking trends, simulate real exams using actual papers, and maintain discipline in your preparation. A strategic approach, powered by tools like a JEE Main chapterwise book, JEE Main PYQ chapterwise book, and a JEE Main previous year question paper book, can be the differentiator in achieving your dream score and institute.
