JEE Main 2026 Cutoff: Key Insights & What It Means for Aspirants
The JEE Main 2026 cutoff, released by NTA on April 20, 2026, has reached record-high levels across all categories, reflecting the increasing competition among engineering aspirants in India .
For the General category, the cutoff stands at 93.41 percentile, while OBC-NCL crossed 80 percentile for the first time, and SC/ST categories also saw significant increases . This upward trend clearly indicates a steady rise in preparation standards and candidate volume.
It is important to understand that the JEE Main cutoff is only a qualifying benchmark. Clearing it makes you eligible for:
JEE Advanced (gateway to IITs)
JoSAA counselling for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIsÂ
However, admission depends on JoSAA closing ranks, which vary by institute, branch, category, and quota. Simply clearing the cutoff does not guarantee admission to top colleges.
Another critical factor is the Home State (HS) vs Other State (OS) quota system, where HS candidates often benefit from relatively relaxed closing ranks compared to OS candidates.
With approximately 2.5 lakh students qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026, competition remains intense, and trends suggest that cutoffs will likely continue rising in future years .
Conclusion:
JEE Main 2026 marks a new level of competitiveness. Aspirants must go beyond just clearing the cutoff and focus on strategic college selection, rank analysis, and counselling decisions to secure the best possible outcome.
JEE Main Cutoff 2026: Check JEE Main cutoff 2026 including expected qualifying percentile, category-wise cutoffs, NIT/IIIT cutoffs and JEE A