The JEE Main Cut Off 2026 plays a crucial role for candidates aspiring to secure admission to NITs, IIITs, and other leading engineering institutes in India. Being aware of the expected category-wise qualifying marks and percentiles helps students set practical goals and plan their preparation strategy more effectively. Although the official cutoffs will be announced after the examination, analysing previous years’ trends provides a reliable indication of the scores required.
According to JEE Main 2026 cutoff predictions, the expected cutoff for the General category is likely to range between 93.5 and 95 percentile, with a safe score estimated at around 280–300 marks. The anticipated cutoffs for other categories may vary, with SC candidates expected to fall between 61–63 percentile and ST candidates between 47.5–50 percentile. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the official JEE Main 2026 cutoff after the declaration of results on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Candidates can also explore the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoffs, category-wise qualifying percentiles, marks vs percentile predictions, and city-wise factors influencing cutoffs. This information assists aspirants in refining their preparation plans and improving their chances of gaining admission to top engineering colleges.
JEE Main 2026 Important Dates
Below is the expected timetable for JEE Main 2026 in an easy table:
| Events / Activities | Session 2 (April 2026) | Session 1 (January 2026) |
| Availability of Online Application Form | Last week of January 2026 Onwards | 31 October 2025 to 27 November 2025 |
| Correction Window for Application Form | February 2026 | 01 December to 02 December 2025 |
| Admit Card Release Date | 3 days before the exam | 17 January 2026 |
| Examination Schedule | Between 02 April 2026 to 09 April 2026 (Tentative) | 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29 January 2026 |
| Publication of Provisional Answer Key, OMR & Response Sheet | April 2026 | February 2026 |
| Announcement of Final Answer Key | April 2026 | February 2026 |
| Result and Cut-off Declaration | By 20 April, 2026 (Tentative) | By 12 February 2026 (Tentative) |
| Counselling & Admission Procedure | July–August 2026 | July–August 2026 |
What is JEE Main Cut-Off?
The JEE Main 2026 Cutoff is the minimum marks or percentile that a candidate requires to qualify the examination and leads them to be eligible for the next stage pursuit, like JEE Advanced or admission into an engineering institution through JoSAA counselling. The expected category-wise qualifying marks vary every year depending on the level of examination, vacancies and the numerical strength of participation.
JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Prediction Overview
The JEE Main 2026 Cutoff refers to the minimum percentile prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) that candidates must achieve to be eligible for admission to NITs, IIITs, and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). Final admissions are determined through JoSAA counselling, which considers opening and closing ranks based on candidates’ scores, seat availability, and category-wise reservations.
The expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff scores are influenced by several factors, including the total number of candidates appearing for the exam, the overall difficulty level of the paper, and the number of seats available across participating institutes.
Candidates scoring above the predicted JEE Main 2026 cutoffs have a higher likelihood of securing admission to top engineering colleges. Strong performance across all subjects and achieving safe scores can significantly enhance admission prospects.
The following is the pattern of the JEE Main Exam over the past years:
| JEE Main Previous Year Paper Review | |
| Aspect | Details |
| Paper Difficulty | The overall paper was of a moderate level. Mathematics was found to be lengthy, Physics had more concept-based questions, while Chemistry was considered the most scoring section. |
| Variation Between Shifts | The level of questions varied slightly in each shift. A few shifts had tougher Maths sections or numerical-heavy Physics papers. |
| Category-Wise Qualifying Marks (2025) | General: 93 EWS: 80 OBC-NCL: 79 SC: 61ST: 48 PwD: Below 1 |
Note: Candidates should check the official NTA website for the latest updates on JEE Main Cut-Off 2026 trends.
Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Scores
Knowing the JEE Main 2026 expected Cutoff and comparing it with previous results helps students plan better for the exam. Based on earlier years’ trends, the expected cutoffs for JEE Main 2026 are as follows:
| JEE Main 2026 – Tentative Category-wise Cutoff Percentile | |
| Category Type | Approx. Percentile Range (Expected) |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 47.5 – 50.0 |
| OBC–NCL | 79.0 – 81.0 |
| UR – PwD | 0.001 – 0.02 |
| General (Unreserved) | 93.5 – 95.0 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 61.0 – 63.0 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 80.0 – 82.0 |
Note: These are merely estimates of the past trends. The official JEE Main 2026 Cutoff will be announced by NTA after the results are declared.
JEE Main 2025 Cutoff Scores
Researching on the JEE Main 2025 Cutoff Scores enables the students to have a fair idea of how 2026 will be like. Comparison of past results also allows the candidates to know the marks and the percentile ranges required in various classes. Each category has different cutoffs with regard to the number of seats and competition.
| NEET Cutoff Percentile Category-wise | |
| Category Type | Qualifying Percentile |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 47.9026465 |
| OBC-NCL (Other Backward Class) | 79.4313582 |
| PwD (Persons with Disabilities) | 0.0079349 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 80.3830119 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 61.1526933 |
| UR / General | 93.1023262 |
Note: These percentiles demonstrate the lowest mark to be reached in order to participate in the JEE Advanced 2025 test. Applicants with a score above these levels will proceed to the second step of the selection process.
JEE 2026 Cutoff for NIT Admission
Admission to NITs is determined by the opening and closing ranks released during JoSAA counselling. These ranks vary each year depending on factors such as seat availability, the number of applicants, and the overall difficulty level of the examination. For accurate and detailed information regarding the changes in opening and closing ranks for admission to NITs in 2025, candidates are advised to refer to official sources and JoSAA updates.
JEE Main 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff Scores
Knowing the JEE Main 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff Scores helps students set their targets for each category. Learning the expected category-wise qualifying marks for 2026 can guide preparation. Below are the expected cutoffs for JEE Main 2026 for reference:
| JEE Main 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff Scores (expected) | |
| Category Type | Range of Expected Percentile |
| OBC–NCL | 79.0 – 81.0 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 47.5 – 50.0 |
| Unreserved – PwD | 0.001 – 0.02 |
| General Category | 93.5 – 95.0 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 80.0 – 82.0 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 61.0 – 63.0 |
Note: These are estimated percentiles ranges. The category-wise cutoffs are based on trends from previous years.
JEE 2026 Percentile vs Marks Prediction
Percentiles demonstrate the compared performance of a student with the rest. The marks can be different based on the difficulty of the test and general performance of all the candidates. Understanding this link helps students estimate which scores are likely to meet the JEE 2026 Cutoff.
| JEE 2026 Percentile vs Marks Prediction (Approx.) | |
| Expected Marks (Approx.) | Likely Percentile Bracket |
| 270 – 300 | 95 – 100 Percentile |
| 240 – 269 | 90 – 94 Percentile |
| 210 – 239 | 85 – 89 Percentile |
| 180 – 209 | 80 – 84 Percentile |
| 150 – 179 | 75 – 79 Percentile |
Note: These are marks that are forward-looking and past years. They may slightly change in 2026.
Check Out: JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Rank vs Percentile
Expected Safe Marks for JEE Main 2026 Cutoff
To improve chances of getting admission in top colleges, students should aim to score above the cutoff scores for JEE Main 2026. These better marks offer an improved opportunity despite the possibility that there might be a slight increase in the real cutoffs.
| JEE Main 2026 – Expected Safe Score Range (Category-wise) | |
| Candidate Category | Approx. Safe Score Range (Out of 300) |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 160 – 180 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 240 – 260 |
| General / Unreserved | 280 – 300 |
| PwD (Unreserved) | 10 – 30 |
| OBC – NCL | 230 – 250 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 190 – 210 |
Note: These are the proposed safe marks to maximize the chances of an admission.
Factors Affecting JEE Main 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff Scores
Candidates must understand that several factors influence JEE Main Cut-Off 2026. In some instances, cutoff may be influenced by the number of students that attend the exam. Other important factors that impact JEE Main 2026 Cutoff are:
- Level of Difficulty of the Exam: If the paper is tougher, the cutoff scores for JEE Main 2026 may be lower, while an easier paper can push the cutoffs higher.
- Number of Test-Takers: More students appearing for the exam makes it more competitive, which can increase the JEE 2026 Cutoff.
- Seat Availability: In participating institutions, low number of seats may result into an increase in qualifying marks.
- Performance of Candidates: The general performance during a given year is significant. When a majority of the candidates perform well with high marks, the qualifying marks with respect to categories also increase.
- Government Reservation Policies: Reservation rules for various categories directly affect the JEE Main 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff Scores. The general rules of category include higher qualification marks so that the categories are not overrepresented.
- Historical Trends: Previous years’ cutoff data, like JEE Main 2025 Cutoff Scores, can provide an idea of trends, but they don’t guarantee exact future expected cutoffs for JEE Main 2026.
JEE Mains Difficulty Level – Past Year’s Analysis (2023–2025)
Between 2023 and 2025, JEE Main papers were generally of moderate level. Maths questions can be very time-consuming because of their length. Physics is conceptual and can be tested fairly well with practice. Chemistry is predominantly simpler to score; most of the questions are from NCERT. This trend was clearly observed in session 1 of the recent JEE Mains.
Here’s a quick glance at the year-wise difficulty level trend for reference:
| JEE Main Paper Analysis (2021–2025) | ||
| Year | Key Highlights | Overall Difficulty |
| 2025 | Compared to the 2024 session, the second session was found to be a bit more difficult. | Moderate |
| 2024 | Concept-based Physics and lengthy questions made the exam slightly tougher than usual. | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2023 | Chemistry offered good scoring chances, while Maths had time-consuming questions. | Moderate |
| 2022 | Physics section turned out to be lengthy and quite challenging for many students. | Tough |
| 2021 | Paper was well-balanced with most questions picked directly from NCERT concepts. | Moderate |
JEE Main 2026 Exam Predictions
Many students wonder whether JEE Main 2026 will be tougher than the previous year. It is hard to give a definite answer because the exam’s difficulty depends on several factors, including:
- Changes in JEE Main exam pattern or syllabus
- Differences in difficulty across shifts
- Questions being more conceptual or formula-based
- The number of aspirants taking the exam
Based on JEE Main 2024–2025 analysis and JEE Main 2026 cutoff prediction, the paper is likely to remain balanced between Maths, Physics, and Chemistry. Maths should be not long, Physics will be concept-based questions, some numerical and Chemistry will be NCERT based and scoring. Aspirants can use this insight to anticipate Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Scores and expected category-wise qualifying marks.
FAQs on Expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff
The JEE Main 2026 cutoff is the minimum percentile score that candidates must secure to qualify for JEE Advanced and to be eligible for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the official JEE Main 2026 cutoff after the declaration of results on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Based on previous years’ trends, the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff for the General category is likely to be around 93.5–95 percentile. Cutoffs for reserved categories are expected to be lower.
The tentative expected cutoffs are:
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General: 93.5–95 percentile
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EWS: 88–90 percentile
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OBC-NCL: 89–91 percentile
-
SC: 61–63 percentile
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ST: 47.5–50 percentile
These are indicative values and may vary.
The JEE Main cutoff is influenced by:
-
Number of candidates appearing for the exam
-
Difficulty level of the paper
-
Total seats available in participating institutes
-
Category-wise reservation norms
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Overall performance of candidates
No. The qualifying cutoff released by NTA is different from the admission cutoffs of individual institutes. Admission cutoffs vary based on college, branch, category, and JoSAA opening and closing ranks.
