JEE Main 2026 Cutoff (Expected): Branch-Wise Opening & Closing Ranks for IITs, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs – Category, State Quota & College-Wise Analysis
The JEE Main 2026 Cutoff is one of the most crucial factors determining admission into top engineering institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Every year, lakhs of aspirants compete for limited seats across branches such as Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Information Technology (IT), Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Architecture (B.Arch).
About JEE Main 2026
Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to:
- National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
- Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
- Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
It also serves as the qualifying exam for Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced, required for admission to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
JEE Main 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff (Percentile)
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required to appear for JEE Advanced.
| Category | Expected Percentile 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 91 – 94 |
| EWS | 76 – 80 |
| OBC-NCL | 74 – 79 |
| SC | 54 – 60 |
| ST | 40 – 46 |
These percentiles are estimates based on previous year trends and expected competition growth.
JEE Main 2026 Branch-Wise Expected Opening & Closing Ranks
Below are expected closing ranks (CRL) for top branches across IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
IIT Branch-Wise Expected Closing Ranks 2026 (JEE Advanced Based)
Admission to IITs is through JEE Advanced and conducted via JoSAA.
Computer Science Engineering (CSE)
| Institute | Expected Closing Rank (General) |
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | 60 – 70 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | 90 – 110 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras | 150 – 180 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur | 230 – 270 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | 250 – 320 |
Category-Wise (CSE at IIT Bombay – Expected)
| Category | Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| General | ~65 |
| EWS | ~15 |
| OBC-NCL | ~35 |
| SC | ~20 |
| ST | ~10 |
Electrical Engineering (EE)
| IIT | Expected Closing Rank (General) |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 450 – 550 |
| IIT Delhi | 550 – 650 |
| IIT Madras | 850 – 1000 |
Mechanical Engineering
| IIT | Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 1500 – 1800 |
| IIT Delhi | 1800 – 2100 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 2500 – 3000 |
Civil Engineering
| IIT | Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 3500 – 4200 |
| IIT Delhi | 4200 – 5000 |
NIT Branch-Wise Expected Cutoff 2026 (JEE Main Based)
Admission via JoSAA Counselling.
Top NITs (CSE – General Category)
| Institute | Home State | Other State |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Technology Trichy | 800 – 1200 | 500 – 800 |
| National Institute of Technology Surathkal | 1000 – 1500 | 700 – 1000 |
| National Institute of Technology Warangal | 1200 – 1700 | 900 – 1300 |
NIT CSE – Category Wise (Other State)
| Category | Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| General | 800 – 1500 |
| EWS | 200 – 350 |
| OBC | 400 – 800 |
| SC | 2000 – 4000 |
| ST | 6000 – 9000 |
NIT Mechanical Engineering
| NIT | General (OS) |
|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 6000 – 8000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 7000 – 9000 |
| NIT Warangal | 7500 – 9500 |
NIT Civil Engineering
| NIT | General (OS) |
|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 10000 – 14000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 11000 – 15000 |
IIIT CSE Expected Cutoff 2026
| Institute | Expected Closing Rank (General) |
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad | 100 – 500 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad | 1500 – 2500 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Gwalior | 2500 – 4000 |
GFTI Expected Cutoff 2026
GFTIs have relatively relaxed closing ranks.
| Institute | CSE Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| Assam University Silchar | 25000 – 35000 |
| Birla Institute of Technology Mesra | 15000 – 25000 |
B.Arch (Architecture) Cutoff 2026
B.Arch admissions are based on JEE Main Paper 2.
| Institute | Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| IIT Roorkee | 120 – 200 |
| NIT Trichy | 400 – 800 |
| NIT Calicut | 700 – 1200 |
Home State vs Other State Quota (NITs)
- 50% seats reserved for Home State candidates
- 50% seats for Other State
Key Observations:
- Home State cutoff is generally higher (rank more relaxed).
- Other State cutoff is more competitive.
- In southern NITs (Trichy, Surathkal), competition is intense for CSE.
State-Wise Advantage Example
| State | Best NIT (Home Advantage) |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | NIT Trichy |
| Karnataka | NIT Surathkal |
| Telangana | NIT Warangal |
Students from these states may get CSE at slightly higher ranks compared to Other State quota.
Category-Wise Reservation (As per Government Norms)
- General – Open competition
- EWS – 10%
- OBC-NCL – 27%
- SC – 15%
- ST – 7.5%
Each category has separate opening & closing ranks.
Safe Rank Analysis for 2026
| Rank Range | Expected College Type |
|---|---|
| 1 – 500 | Top IIT CSE/EE |
| 500 – 2000 | IIT Core branches / Top NIT CSE |
| 2000 – 5000 | Top NIT EE/Mech / IIIT CSE |
| 5000 – 15000 | NIT Core branches |
| 15000 – 30000 | IIITs & GFTIs |
| 30000+ | Lower NITs & GFTIs |
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Overview
Joint Seat Allocation Authority conducts centralized counselling for:
- IITs
- NITs
- IIITs
- GFTIs
Rounds:
- 6 Regular Rounds
- 2 Special Rounds (CSAB for NIT+ system)
Factors Affecting JEE Main 2026 Cutoff
- Number of candidates
- Difficulty level
- Seat matrix
- Category reservations
- Home State quota
- Popularity of branches (CSE demand highest)
Why CSE Cutoffs Are Sky High?
- AI, ML, Data Science boom
- Placement packages
- Startup ecosystem growth
As discussed by USStartupFounders, the rise of tech startups, SaaS companies, and AI-driven ventures is directly increasing demand for Computer Science seats across IITs, NITs, and IIITs.
Final Thoughts
The JEE Main 2026 Cutoff will likely increase slightly due to rising competition and aspirant numbers. Students targeting CSE at IITs/NITs should aim for:
- 99.7+ percentile for top NIT CSE
- 99.9+ percentile for IIT eligibility
FAQs
What is safe percentile for NIT CSE?
Above 99.5 percentile (General Category).
Is Home State quota beneficial?
Yes, especially for mid-tier branches.
Can I get IIT with JEE Main?
No. You must qualify and clear JEE Advanced.
