JEE Mains 2026 cutoff general: Expected 93.5-95 percentile
Article updated Mar 27, 2026 .
The JEE Mains 2026 cutoff general is expected around 93.5–95 percentile , meaning roughly 100–125 marks out of 300 should put you above the qualifying line for JEE Advanced. These are prediction figures cited by exam analysts and align with recent trends.
JEE Mains 2026 cutoff general: category-wise expected marks and percentiles
Here are the commonly quoted expected cutoffs for each category. Use them as a guide — actual NTA cutoffs will be official.
| Category | Expected Percentile | Expected Marks (out of 300) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 93.5–95 | 100–125 |
| EWS | 82–83 | 55–65 |
| OBC-NCL | 80–82 | 50–60 |
| SC | 62–63 | 30–40 |
| ST | 49–50 | 20–30 |
JEE Mains 2026 cutoff general — what this means for top branches
CSE remains highly competitive. To get core CSE at top NITs and IIITs you generally need percentiles in the 98.8–99.9 range. That translates to closing ranks from a few hundred up to several thousand depending on the institute and quota.
Mechanical and Civil are more forgiving. Expect mechanical/civil closing percentiles near 94+ for general candidates — often enough to secure seats in mid and some top NITs.
Expected closing ranks at major NITs / IIITs
| Institute / Branch | Expected Closing Percentile | Expected Closing Rank (general) |
|---|---|---|
| Top NITs (CSE) | 98.8–99.9 | 500–8,000 |
| NIT Trichy (CSE) | 98.8–99.9 | 1,000–4,000 (outsiders) |
| NIT Warangal (CSE) | 98.8–99.9 | top 1,500 |
| NIT Surathkal (ECE) | 97–98.8 | <3,500 |
| IIIT Lucknow (CSE) | — | ~8,500 |
Home-state quotas and seat pools change actual closing ranks. IIIT Delhi also keeps a large share of seats for Delhi residents which affects availability for outsiders.
Historic trend and what to watch
General cutoff rose from 88.41 (2022) to around 93+ (2024–25) . If test-taker performance stays high, expect the 2026 general cutoff to sit between 93.5 and 95 percentile .
Key numbers to note: 100–125 marks to clear general cutoff; 98.8–99.9 percentile for top CSE; 94+ percentile for Mechanical/Civil at many NITs.
FAQs
Q: How many marks to clear JEE Mains cutoff for JEE Advanced (general)? A: Roughly 100–125 marks can comfortably clear the expected general cutoff, depending on shift difficulty.
Q: Has the general cutoff percentile been increasing? A: Yes — it rose from 88.41 (2022) to about 93+ (2024–25) and is expected near 93.5–95 for 2026.
Q: Can I get NITs with 95 percentile general? A: Yes for many mid-tier NITs and branches like Mechanical/Civil; CSE at top NITs is unlikely at 95 percentile.
Q: Which NITs could a 3,000 rank get for CSE (general)? A: You may have chances at NITs like Rourkela, Calicut or Delhi; Surathkal could be possible via home-state quota.
Q: Does IIIT have home-state quota? A: Most IIITs do not follow NIT-style home-state quotas. IIIT Delhi reserves a large share of seats (around 85% ) for Delhi students.
Q: Are these numbers official? A: These are analyst expectations based on recent trends. Wait for the National Testing Agency (NTA) and JoSAA for official cutoffs and counselling details.
Q: Will marks-to-percentile vary by shift? A: Yes. Percentile depends on relative performance across shifts; predicted marks are an approximate guide.
Q: When will official cutoffs be released? A: The NTA publishes official cutoffs and qualifying criteria; follow the exam authority announcements for exact dates and figures.