JoSAA Counselling Cutoff 2026 is one of the most searched topics among JEE aspirants and rightly so. The knowledge of the cutoff aids you in understanding which courses you can realistically hope to get and which courses you can target as reach-courses and helps you prioritize your choice list before finally locking it down on 11th June, 2026.
It is important to clarify what ‘cutoff’ means in the JoSAA. There are two kinds of cutoffs, first is the minimum qualifying marks for inclusion in rank lists (which determines if you are even eligible for a particular rank list), and the closing ranks after each round of seat allocation (which shows the last rank at which a seat was allotted in a given program-category combination).
This article explains both in detail, provides the JEE Advanced 2026 rank list qualifying marks, and gives you a previous year JoSAA cutoff data.
JoSAA Cutoff 2026 – Two Types You Must Know
Type 1: JEE Advanced 2026 Minimum Qualifying Marks for IITs/IISc Rank Lists
For IIT and IISc admissions, a candidate must have scored at least the following marks in JEE (Advanced) 2026 to appear in the respective rank list. Appearing in the rank list is the minimum eligibility, actual seat allocation depends on rank and availability.
| Rank List | Min % Marks in Each Subject (Physics/Chemistry/Maths) | Min % Aggregate Marks |
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 10.0% | 35.0% |
| GEN-EWS Rank List | 9.0% | 31.5% |
| OBC-NCL Rank List | 9.0% | 31.5% |
| SC Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| ST Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| CRL-PwD Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| GEN-EWS-PwD Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| OBC-NCL-PwD Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| SC-PwD Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| ST-PwD Rank List | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| Preparatory Course Rank Lists (IITs only) | 2.5% | 8.75% |
These are subject-wise and aggregate minimums — a candidate must satisfy both. The aggregate minimum percentage may be lowered at a later stage as per MoE directives, if required.
Type 2: Program-Wise Closing Ranks (Round-Wise Cutoffs)
Once seat allocation begins, JoSAA publishes the opening and closing ranks for each program-section combination after every round. The closing rank in a given round is the rank of the last candidate to receive a seat in that program under that category. This is what most people refer to as the ‘JoSAA cutoff.’
These closing ranks shift with each round, they typically tighten as more seats fill up. The Round 1 cutoff is the initial benchmark; by Round 5, the cutoffs reflect final allocation.
JoSAA 2026 Cutoff for NIT+ System
For NITs, IIEST, IIITs, and GFTIs, the rank lists are prepared by the JEE Apex Board based on JEE (Main) 2026 performance. There are three sets of rank lists:
| JEE Main Paper | Programs Covered |
| Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) | Engineering programs at NIT+ institutes |
| Paper IIA (B.Arch.) | B.Arch. programs at NIT+ institutes |
| Paper IIB (B.Plan.) | B.Plan. programs at NIT+ institutes |
Seat allocation for NIT+ System further depends on: category tag (GEN/EWS/OBC-NCL/SC/ST and PwD variants), Home State (HS) or Other State (OS) quota (based on state code of eligibility), and All India quota (AI) where applicable.
How to Use JoSAA Cutoff Data Effectively
- Compare your rank to previous year closing ranks to short-list probable programs. However remember that the cutoffs vary every year depending on the number of seats, the candidate pool and the difficulty of the exam.
- Check both Gender-Neutral and Female-Only pool cutoffs if applicable.
- Check Home State and Other State cutoffs separately for NIT+ programs.
- Do not just look at the last round cutoff, check Round 1 cutoffs too. If a program’s Round 1 cutoff is close to your rank, you may get it in later rounds through Float/Slide.
- Programs with very high demand (CSE, ECE at top IITs/NITs) tend to have tight cutoffs across all categories.
JoSAA Previous Year Cutoff PDFs – Download
JoSAA publishes official opening and closing rank data after each round. Below are links to access previous year JoSAA cutoff PDFs from the official website:
| Year | Round | Download Link |
| JoSAA 2026 | Round-wise (Released after each round) | Download PDF |
| JoSAA 2025 | All Rounds (Opening & Closing Ranks) | Download PDF |
| JoSAA 2024 | All Rounds (Opening & Closing Ranks) | Download PDF |
| JoSAA 2023 | All Rounds (Opening & Closing Ranks) | Download PDF |
| JoSAA 2022 | All Rounds (Opening & Closing Ranks) | Download PDF |
Note: JoSAA 2026 cutoff data will be published progressively after each round. Round 1 data will be available from June 13, 2026.
Category-Wise Cutoff Trends – What to Expect
While exact 2026 cutoffs are published post-allotment, here is how category-wise cutoffs generally trend:
| Category | Typical Rank Range (IIT CSE, indicative only) | Typical Rank Range (Top NIT CSE, indicative only) |
| GEN (CRL) | Top 100–500 | Top 2,000–8,000 (JEE Main) |
| GEN-EWS | Top 500–2,000 | Top 8,000–25,000 |
| OBC-NCL | Top 500–2,500 | Top 10,000–40,000 |
| SC | Top 500–5,000 | Top 15,000–80,000 |
| ST | Top 500–8,000 | Top 20,000–1,50,000 |
Disclaimer: These ranges are illustrative and based on broad historical trends. Actual cutoffs vary significantly by institute, branch, round, and year. Always refer to official JoSAA data for accurate cutoff information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where can I find the JoSAA 2026 cutoff?
A. JoSAA 2026 opening and closing ranks will be announced on josaa.nic.in after each round of seat allocation. Round 1 result is likely to be released on June 13, 2026. Cutoffs of the previous years are available in the Archives section of the JoSAA portal.
Q. What is the minimum JEE Advanced score to get into IIT?
A. To qualify for inclusion in the Common Rank List (CRL), the minimum marks required in each subject is 10% and in aggregate is 35%. For the reserved category rank lists, the minimum percentage marks required in each subject and in aggregate are 5%-9% and 17.5%-31.5% respectively. Meeting the above minimum eligibility conditions only makes you eligible to be in the rank lists, one may not always get a seat in the IITs if your rank is not good enough.
Q. Do JoSAA cutoffs change each year?
A. Cutoffs vary every year, based on the number of seats available, the total number of candidates, the difficulty level of JEE and preferences of candidates. You should consider previous years’ cutoff values as a benchmark but cannot take them as definite parameters.
Q. What is the difference between opening rank and closing rank?
A. The opening rank is the rank of the first candidate allotted a seat in a program-category combination in a round. The closing rank is the rank of the last candidate allotted that seat. The closing rank is what most people mean when they refer to ‘cutoff.’
Q. Are JoSAA cutoffs different for Home State and Other State candidates?
A. Yes, for NIT+ System institutes. Home State (HS) candidates generally have better (lower) closing ranks than Other State (OS) candidates for the same program due to separate seat pools. This does not apply to IITs and IISc, which have only All India quota.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.