JEE Main 2026: Anticipated Category-Wise Cutoffs and Selection Projections

As of January 2026, the JEE Main Session 1 has concluded, and early projections for the 2026 qualifying cutoffs indicate a slight upward trend due to record-breaking participation from over 15 lakh aspirants. The official qualifying percentile, which determines eligibility for JEE Advanced, will be finalized by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after the April session.

Expected Qualifying Cutoff (2026)

Category	Expected Percentile Range	Approx. Marks Range (Out of 300)
General (UR)	93.3 – 95.0	90 – 110
Gen-EWS	80.5 – 83.5	75 – 85
OBC-NCL	79.5 – 81.5	75 – 82
SC	61.5 – 64.0	50 – 58
ST	48.0 – 51.0	40 – 48
PwD	0.001 – 1.0	Very low (<10 marks)

Note: Percentile ranges are more reliable than marks, as marks vary significantly based on shift difficulty.

JEE Main 2026: Shift-Wise Marks vs. Percentile Projections (Session 1)

The January Session of JEE Main 2026 has concluded, and early projections for the “Marks vs. Percentile” dynamic show a significant impact from record-breaking student participation and varying shift difficulties.

Estimated Marks vs. Percentile Trends

Based on initial shift analysis, the raw marks required to hit top percentile brackets depend heavily on whether a candidate’s shift was categorized as easy, moderate, or tough.

Target Percentile	Tough Shift (Marks)	Moderate Shift (Marks)	Easy Shift (Marks)
99.9%ile	245 – 255	265 – 275	280 – 290
99.5%ile	215 – 225	235 – 245	250 – 260
99.0%ile	170 – 180	190 – 200	210 – 220
97.0%ile	140 – 150	155 – 165	170 – 180
95.0%ile	115 – 125	130 – 140	145 – 155

Session 1 Performance Analysis

● The 99th Percentile Benchmark : Experts suggest that to be among the top 1% of scorers in 2026, a safe target score is approximately 195+ marks. In more challenging shifts, such as those on January 23, the requirement for a 99th percentile was estimated as low as 158–166 marks.

● Normalization Impact : Because the NTA uses a normalization process to equate scores across multiple shifts, a student in a “Tough” shift can achieve the same percentile with significantly lower raw marks than a student in an “Easy” shift.

● Admission vs. Qualification : While a score of 105–115 marks may qualify General category candidates for JEE Advanced, top-tier institutes like NIT Trichy or Warangal generally require a 99.5+ percentile, typically corresponding to 210–240+ marks depending on the paper difficulty.

JEE Main 2026: Key Drivers of Shifting Cutoff Thresholds and Competition Dynamics

The 2026 JEE Main cutoff is being shaped by a unique convergence of record-breaking student participation, evolving paper difficulty, and the inherent mechanics of a multi-shift normalization system. As of late January 2026, the most prominent factor driving qualifying percentiles upward is the unprecedented volume of applicants, with over 14.5 lakh candidates registered for Session 1 alone. Projections suggest the final unique candidate count could reach 15 to 17 lakh, significantly expanding the base for percentile calculations and intensifying the race for the top 2,50,000 ranks required to qualify for JEE Advanced. This sheer scale of participation naturally pushes the General category qualifying threshold higher, likely settling between the 93.5 and 95.5 percentile range, as more students cluster at higher raw score levels due to improved access to digital learning resources and standard preparation modules.Exam difficulty continues to act as a critical balancing force in these trends, with the 2026 sessions showing a notable lean toward a “moderate to difficult” level. Early shifts in January 2026 have highlighted a pattern where Mathematics remains notoriously lengthy and time-consuming, while Physics and Chemistry have occasionally introduced unexpected JEE Advanced-level conceptual questions.

Historically, when individual papers are more challenging, the raw marks required to achieve a high percentile tend to drop; however, the overall qualifying percentile often remains high or even increases because it is a relative measure determined by the top-performing students. In 2026, the rise in average student performance is effectively offsetting the impact of tougher questions, meaning that even in difficult shifts, candidates cannot afford to drop below high raw score benchmarks to stay competitive.

Furthermore, the National Testing Agency’s normalization process remains the definitive mechanism for ensuring fairness across these varied shifts. Because difficulty levels fluctuate daily—for instance, January 22 was reported as easier than January 23—normalization adjusts raw scores to prevent students in tougher shifts from being disadvantaged. This process ensures that percentiles are comparable across all sessions, but it also means that the “safe score” in marks remains a moving target, varying by as much as 20–30 raw marks depending on the shift’s toughness. When combined with fixed reservation policies and the stable seat matrix of 2.5 lakh for JEE Advanced, these factors create a highly competitive environment where small margins in accuracy and speed can lead to significant shifts in a candidate’s final standing.

The Critical Distinction: Qualifying Cutoff for JEE Advanced vs. Admission Cutoff for NITs and IIITs

Understanding the difference between Qualifying Cutoffs and Admission Cutoffs is essential for every 2026 aspirant to set realistic goals and plan their counseling strategy effectively. These two metrics serve entirely different purposes in the engineering entrance ecosystem.

The Qualifying Cutoff (The Eligibility Gate)

The Qualifying Cutoff is the minimum percentile required to appear for JEE Advanced 2026. This cutoff is determined by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is based on the performance of all candidates across both the January and April sessions. For 2026, with over 15 lakh aspirants, the qualifying percentile for the General category is projected to be between 93.2 and 94.8.It is important to note that clearing this cutoff does not guarantee a seat in any institute; it merely grants the candidate the right to compete for a seat in the IITs. If you score a 94 percentile as a General category student, you are eligible to sit for the JEE Advanced exam, but your JEE Main rank will likely be too low for admission into a top-tier NIT.

The Admission Cutoff (The Seat Gate)

Admission Cutoffs, often referred to as “Closing Ranks,” are the actual ranks at which various institutes stop taking students for specific branches. These are managed by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) and the CSAB. Unlike the qualifying cutoff, admission cutoffs vary drastically by college and branch.

For example, while the qualifying cutoff for a General student might be the 94th percentile, the Admission Cutoff for Computer Science at NIT Trichy might close at the 99.9th percentile. Conversely, a lower-tier NIT in a less popular branch might have an admission cutoff closer to the 96th or 97th percentile.

JEE Main 2026: Safety Benchmarks and Target Scores for Premier Institutes

Securing a seat in India’s top-tier engineering institutions in 2026 requires more than just qualifying for JEE Advanced; it demands a strategic target score that accounts for the massive surge in competition. With over 15 lakh students appearing for the exam this year, the “safe” percentile for admission into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) has shifted upward

The Gold Standard : Top 5 NITs and IIITs

For aspirants eyeing Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) or Electronics at top-tier colleges like NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, or IIIT Hyderabad, the benchmark remains exceptionally high. As of January 2026, a safe percentile for these elite seats is generally 99.7 or higher. In terms of raw marks, this translates to a consistent score of 240–260+, depending on the shift’s difficulty. Even for non-core branches in these top institutes, a percentile below 99.0 (roughly 190–210 marks) carries a significant risk of missing out during the JoSAA Counseling rounds

Mid-Tier Institutes and Branch Flexibility

To guarantee a seat in any branch at a respectable mid-tier NIT or IIIT, a General category candidate should target a minimum safety benchmark of the 97.5 to 98.0 percentile. While the “qualifying” mark for JEE Advanced might be much lower (around 94 percentile), the admission reality is that seats in popular branches often close long before the lower ranks are reached. For Reserved categories (OBC-NCL/EWS), a safe admission threshold is typically the 95.5+ percentile, while for SC/ST candidates, a percentile above 88–90 provides a strong safety net for core engineering branches.Ultimately, 2026 aspirants should use the January Session results to calibrate their April targets. Aiming for a “buffer zone” of 15–20 marks above the previous year’s closing ranks is the most reliable way to mitigate the impact of percentile inflation.

FREQUENLTY ASKED FAQS

Ques 1. What is the expected qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 ?

Ans : Based on the high participation rate in 2026, the expected qualifying percentile for General (UR) candidates is projected to be between 93.2 and 94.8. For OBC-NCL and EWS, it is likely to range between 79–83 percentile.

Ques 2. How many marks are needed to get a 99 percentile in 2026 ?

Ans : Due to varying shift difficulties, a 99 percentile typically requires 175–185 marks in a tough shift and 210–225 marks in an easy shift. To track live updates, check the NTA Official Website.

Ques 3. Is qualifying for JEE Advanced enough to get into an NIT ?

Ans : No. Qualifying only makes you eligible for the IIT entrance exam. Admission to a top NIT generally requires a much higher percentile (usually 97+) than the base qualifying cutoff.

Ques 4. Will the cutoff for the April session be higher than January ?

Ans : While the qualifying percentile remains the same for both sessions, the raw marks required to reach that percentile often increase in April as students have more time to prepare, leading to higher average scores.

Ques 5. How does the increased number of candidates in 2026 affect my rank ?

Ans : With over 15 lakh aspirants in 2026, competition is denser. This means that for the same percentile, your All India Rank (AIR) will be numerically higher (lower in standing) compared to previous years with fewer candidates.