OBC cutoff JEE Mains 2026 likely 80–82 percentile; 50–60 marks to qualify
The OBC cutoff JEE Mains 2026 is most likely to be in the 80–82 percentile range, based on trend analysis and the previous year’s figure of 79.43 . The National Testing Agency will publish the official qualifying cutoffs with the April session results in April 2026 .
Updated on: Mar 27, 2026
OBC cutoff JEE Mains 2026: qualifying marks and percentiles
You should aim for 50–60 marks in JEE Mains to comfortably clear the expected OBC qualifying cutoff. Percentile-to-marks vary by shift difficulty, so the marks above are an estimate across sessions.
| Category | Expected Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General | 93.5–95 | 100–125 |
| EWS | 82–83 | 55–65 |
| OBC | 80–82 | 50–60 |
| SC | 62–63 | 30–40 |
| ST | 49–50 | 20–30 |
OBC cutoff JEE Mains 2026 for NITs and IIITs (percentiles and ranks)
Clearing the qualifying cutoff only makes you eligible for JEE Advanced. For NIT/IIIT admissions, you need a much higher percentile and a competitive All India Category rank in OBC-NCL.
Branch-level percentiles (expected): CSE requires 97.5–99.3 percentile , ECE around 93.5–97.5 , and Civil near 88–92 .
| Institute | OBC closing rank (expected) |
|---|---|
| NIT Trichy CSE (Other state) | 300–1600 |
| NIT Trichy ECE | 1100–2000 |
| Popular NITs CSE (first round) | 500–1000 |
| IIIT Allahabad IT | ~2400 |
| IIIT Lucknow CSE | ~3400 |
Remember: home-state NIT cutoffs are generally lower because of the 50% home-state quota. JoSAA closing ranks vary by round and category.
How trends changed since 2022
OBC qualifying percentile rose from 67 in 2022 to 79.43 in 2025. That steady rise suggests the 2026 cutoff will likely sit around 80–82 , barring major shifts in candidate performance or exam difficulty.
What this means for your planning
If you are targeting top NITs or IIITs, plan for percentiles far above the qualifying mark. Use the expected marks as a rough target, but track shift-wise difficulty after each session and wait for the official NTA cutoff with April results.
FAQs
Q: What percentile do OBC students need to qualify for JEE Advanced? A: Around 80–82 percentile ; target 82+ to be safer.
Q: Is clearing the qualifying cutoff enough for college admissions? A: No. It only makes you eligible for JEE Advanced. Admissions need higher percentiles and a good All India Category rank.
Q: How many marks are needed to clear the OBC qualifying cutoff? A: Roughly 50–60 marks , depending on your exam shift.
Q: What percentile is needed for CSE in top NITs as OBC? A: Expect 97.5–99.3 percentile for top NIT CSE seats.
Q: Will NTA publish the official cutoff soon? A: Yes. NTA releases category cutoffs with the April 2026 session results.
Q: Do home-state quotas affect OBC cutoffs in NITs? A: Yes. Home-state OBC cutoffs are generally lower than other-state cutoffs.
Q: Can IIIT Allahabad IT be secured with a 3000 OBC rank? A: Unlikely — last year IT closed around 2409 for OBC. ECE might be possible around 3000 .
Q: Does shift difficulty affect percentiles? A: Yes. Percentiles and marks vary by shift, so final cutoffs depend on overall session performance.