JoSAA round-wise opening and closing ranks: expected trends for 2026
JoSAA counselling is expected to start in June 2026 for 6 rounds , and the first public cutoffs will show opening and closing ranks for each institute and category. The phrase "JoSAA round-wise opening and closing ranks" describes how seats move across rounds and where rank relaxation happens.
What the JoSAA round-wise opening and closing ranks mean
Cutoffs at JoSAA reflect seat allotment based on JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks and category reservations. Opening ranks mark the highest-ranked student allocated a seat; closing ranks show the lowest-ranked student who got that seat in a round.
Rank relaxation is visible as closing ranks increase across rounds. Official allotments and PDFs are published on josaa.nic.in ; these show the step-by-step expansion caused by withdrawals, upgradations and vacant-seat reallocation.
Expected JoSAA round-wise opening and closing ranks by branch
Across rounds, top CSE/IT branches remain the tightest. Expect ranges below based on historical trends and official patterns.
| Branch group | Typical Round 1 closing rank (expected) | Typical Round 6 closing rank (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| CS/IT (top institutes) | 1,500 – 5,000 | 1,500 – 5,000 (slightly higher in later rounds) |
| ECE / Electrical | 5,000 – 28,000 | 5,000 – 28,000 |
| Civil / Mechanical | 15,000 – 70,000 | 15,000 – 70,000 |
Top NIT and IIT examples: NIT Trichy CSE Round 1 close can be around 1,262–1,500 while top IIT CSE (IIT Bombay) can close within 1–66 in Round 1. Expect maximum expansion in Round 5 and Round 6 .
Percentile bands and category notes
Round 1 percentiles are expected to be roughly 93.5–95 for General, 80–90 for EWS/OBC‑NCL and 48–64 for SC/ST. These are broad estimates; actual cutoffs depend on seat matrix and year-to-year scores.
Participating institutes include IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST and GFTIs . Seat allocation follows category reservation rules and online counselling procedures on josaa.nic.in .
Key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| JoSAA counselling expected start | June 2026 |
| Article updated | Apr 1, 2026 |
How this affects you
If your rank missed top rounds, don’t exit counselling early. Later rounds—especially Round 5 and Round 6 —often open seats due to upgradation and withdrawals. Keep your choices active and watch official PDFs each round.
FAQs
Q: What is rank relaxation in JoSAA counselling? A: Rank relaxation shows as an increase in closing ranks across rounds, allowing lower-ranked candidates to get seats.
Q: Does JoSAA cutoff decrease in every round? A: Cutoffs typically expand to higher ranks each round because of seat movements and withdrawals.
Q: Which JoSAA round has maximum rank relaxation? A: Round 5 and Round 6 usually show the biggest expansion in closing ranks.
Q: Do opening ranks change across rounds? A: Opening ranks may shift slightly but often remain stable for top branches like CSE in premier institutes.
Q: On what ranks are JoSAA cutoffs based? A: Cutoffs use JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks, depending on institute and course.
Q: Where are official cutoffs published? A: Official opening and closing rank PDFs are published on josaa.nic.in after each round.
Q: Should I withdraw if I get a lower preferred seat early? A: Withdrawal is a personal choice; understand that staying may let you upgrade in later rounds but check refund and seat acceptance rules on the official site.
Q: Do category reservations change cutoffs? A: Yes. Category-wise seat allocation and reservation norms significantly affect opening and closing ranks.