JEE Main cutoff is one of the most searched topics around results time — and also one of the most confused. “Cutoff” means two very different things depending on context: a qualifying percentile threshold for JEE Advanced eligibility, versus institute-branch closing ranks in JoSAA counselling. This guide unpacks both, shows year-wise trends from 2019 to 2025, and builds a reasonable 2026 prediction methodology.
Two Types of JEE Main Cutoff
- Qualifying Cutoff (NTA Percentile): NTA's percentile threshold for JEE Advanced eligibility. Typically ~93 percentile for General category, lower for reserved categories.
- JoSAA Counselling Cutoff (Opening/Closing Ranks): Institute- and branch-specific ranks. For example, CS at NIT Trichy might have a closing rank of 2500 for General (2024 trends). These are absolute ranks, not percentiles.
JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff Trends (2019–2025)
NTA-announced percentile cutoffs for JEE Advanced eligibility:
| Year | General | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93.10 | 80.38 | 79.43 | 61.15 | 47.90 | 0.01 |
| 2024 | 93.23 | 81.32 | 79.67 | 60.09 | 46.70 | 0.00 |
| 2023 | 90.77 | 75.62 | 73.61 | 51.98 | 37.23 | 0.00 |
| 2022 | 88.41 | 63.11 | 67.01 | 43.08 | 26.78 | 0.00 |
| 2021 | 87.90 | 66.22 | 68.02 | 46.89 | 34.67 | 0.00 |
| 2020 | 90.37 | 70.24 | 72.89 | 50.17 | 39.07 | 0.00 |
| 2019 | 89.75 | 78.21 | 74.31 | 54.01 | 44.33 | 0.11 |
Key observations: General cutoff has gradually risen from ~88 percentile (2021-22) to ~93 percentile (2024-25), reflecting increased competition. Reserved category cutoffs follow the same trend but with larger year-on-year swings.
JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks — Top NITs
Sample closing ranks for Computer Science (CS) branch, General category, Home State quota (2024 Round 6 numbers). These shift year-on-year and by round:
| NIT | CS Closing Rank (Gen-HS, 2024) | CS Closing Rank (Gen-OS, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | ~2,000 | ~2,500 |
| NIT Warangal | ~3,000 | ~3,500 |
| NIT Surathkal | ~4,500 | ~3,000 |
| NIT Allahabad | ~5,000 | ~5,000 |
| NIT Nagpur | ~8,000 | ~9,000 |
| NIT Rourkela | ~8,500 | ~9,500 |
Note: Home State (HS) has stricter domicile-based ranks; Other State (OS) has wider ranks. Both differ by category. Use official JoSAA portal for exact year- and round-wise data.
Factors Affecting Year-on-Year Cutoff Changes
- Paper difficulty: Easier paper → higher percentile needed to qualify
- Number of candidates: Rising registrations tighten the top-2.5-lakh cutoff
- Seat matrix changes: New NITs/IIITs or expanded seats shift JoSAA closing ranks
- Category reservation updates: Revisions to EWS/OBC quotas shift all ranks
- Session difficulty variance: Session 1 vs Session 2 difficulty affects normalisation
JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Prediction
Based on 2023–2025 trends, reasonable 2026 predictions:
- General: 92–94 percentile qualifying cutoff
- OBC-NCL: 79–82 percentile
- SC: 58–62 percentile
- ST: 45–50 percentile
- EWS: 80–82 percentile
These are statistical projections with ~2 percentile uncertainty. Use our JEE Main Rank Predictor to convert your expected marks into a percentile estimate, then compare against these prediction ranges.
How to Use Cutoff Data in Your Prep
- Set a target percentile. Identify the cutoff percentile for your desired category plus a safety buffer of 2 points.
- Reverse-calculate target marks. Use a rank predictor to see what raw marks correspond to your target percentile.
- Calibrate mock performance. If your mock scores are consistently below the target, focus on weak chapters via chapter-wise PYQ practice.
- Plan JoSAA choice list with multiple tiers. Don't put all 10 top choices as dream NITs. Include safety and reach options.
Frequently asked questions
What is JEE Main cutoff?
There are two distinct cutoffs: (1) the qualifying cutoff set by NTA — a percentile threshold below which you can't appear for JEE Advanced; (2) JoSAA counselling cutoffs — opening/closing ranks for specific institutes and branches. Both vary year-to-year.
What was the JEE Main General category qualifying cutoff in 2025?
General category qualifying cutoff for JEE Main 2025 was around 93.10 percentile. This corresponds to approximately the top 2.5 lakh rankers being eligible for JEE Advanced. Category-wise cutoffs are significantly lower.
How is JEE Main cutoff decided?
NTA computes percentile-based qualifying cutoffs to select approximately top 2.5 lakh candidates for JEE Advanced. The cutoff is a fraction of the best session score and uses normalised percentiles across both sessions.
What's the difference between JEE Main qualifying cutoff and JoSAA cutoffs?
Qualifying cutoff (percentile) determines JEE Advanced eligibility. JoSAA cutoffs are opening/closing RANKS for specific institutes and branches during counselling. Qualifying at JEE Main does NOT guarantee admission — you need rank within a specific institute's JoSAA closing rank.
Why do cutoffs vary year-to-year?
Paper difficulty, number of candidates, seat capacity changes, and category-wise representation all influence year-on-year cutoff variation. Easier papers → higher marks needed to qualify. More candidates → slightly higher competition.
Can I predict JEE Main 2026 cutoff from past trends?
Approximate prediction is possible within ±2 percentile points for qualifying cutoff. JoSAA cutoffs are trickier — new NITs, changes in seat matrix, and category reservation tweaks cause larger swings. Treat predictions as guidance, not certainty.