The JEE Main qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile a candidate must score to be eligible for JEE Advanced and JoSAA counselling. Understanding how this cutoff has changed from 2019 to 2026 is essential for every JEE Main aspirant. This article provides a complete year-wise, category-wise analysis of JEE Main cutoff trends and what to expect in 2026.
What is JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff?
There are two types of JEE Main cutoffs:
- Qualifying Cutoff (for JEE Advanced) – The minimum percentile required to be among the top 2.5 lakh candidates eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. This is announced by NTA along with the result.
- Admission Cutoff (for NITs/IIITs/GFTIs) – The opening and closing ranks for each branch and institute through JoSAA counselling. These are much more competitive and vary by institute, branch, category, and quota.
JEE Main Category-wise Qualifying Cutoff: Year-wise Trend (2019–2026)
| Year | General | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | PwD (Gen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 89.75 | 78.22 | 74.32 | 54.02 | 44.33 | 0.11 |
| 2020 | 90.37 | 70.24 | 72.89 | 50.18 | 39.07 | 0.07 |
| 2021 | 87.90 | 66.22 | 68.02 | 46.89 | 34.67 | 0.00 |
| 2022 | 88.41 | 63.11 | 67.01 | 43.08 | 26.77 | 0.00 |
| 2023 | 90.79 | 75.62 | 73.61 | 51.98 | 37.23 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 93.23 | 81.32 | 79.56 | 60.09 | 46.97 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 93.21 | 83.41 | 80.73 | 62.11 | 48.29 | 0.00 |
| 2026 (Expected) | 93–95 | 83–86 | 80–83 | 62–65 | 48–52 | 0.00 |
Key Trends Observed in JEE Main Cutoffs
Analysing the data from 2019 to 2025, here are the most important trends:
- General category showed a steady rise from 88 in 2022 to 93+ in 2024 and 2025, indicating increasing competition.
- OBC-NCL cutoff has risen sharply, from 67 in 2022 to over 80 in 2025 — the sharpest rise across categories.
- SC category cutoff nearly doubled from 2021 (46.89) to 2025 (62.11).
- EWS category saw a dip in 2022 before recovering strongly from 2023 onwards.
- ST category had a major dip in 2022, then consistently rose.
- PwD cutoffs remain at or near 0.00 due to horizontal reservation provisions.
Why Do JEE Main Cutoffs Keep Rising?
Several factors drive the consistent upward trend in JEE Main cutoffs:
- Increasing number of registered candidates each year (currently over 12 lakh per session)
- Better coaching and preparation resources making students more competitive
- More students taking JEE Main seriously as a backup for JEE Advanced
- Fixed number of top 2.5 lakh seats for JEE Advanced, meaning as more students score high, the cutoff rises
JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff
Based on the consistent trend over the past three years, JEE Main 2026 cutoff for the General category is expected to remain in the range of 93–95 percentile. For reserved categories, a marginal increase from 2025 levels is likely.
Candidates who have appeared for JEE Main 2026 can track live updates and analysis on the JEE Main 2026 Answer Key and Live Updates page.
Percentage of Candidates Qualifying from Each Category
NTA pre-determines what percentage of candidates from each category will qualify for JEE Advanced out of the 2.5 lakh seats:
| Category | Percentage of 2.5 Lakh Seats | Approximate Seats |
|---|---|---|
| General | 40.5% | ~1,01,250 |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | ~67,500 |
| EWS | 10% | ~25,000 |
| SC | 15% | ~37,500 |
| ST | 7.5% | ~18,750 |
| PwD | 5% horizontal | Across categories |
What to Do After Qualifying JEE Main?
- If eligible for JEE Advanced: Immediately register and prepare for JEE Advanced. Check the JEE Advanced 2026 Registration details.
- For JoSAA counselling (NITs/IIITs/GFTIs): Keep track of JoSAA schedule and choice-filling process. Refer to the JoSAA Counselling 2026 guide.
- Practice more with free JEE Main and JEE Advanced mock tests.
Official Resources
- JEE Main Official Website – jeemain.nta.nic.in
- JEE Advanced Official Website – jeeadv.ac.in
- Engineering Entrance Exams – admission.aglasem.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the JEE Main cutoff for General category in 2025?
The JEE Main qualifying cutoff for General category in 2025 was 93.21 percentile, which is the minimum percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced 2025 and central counselling.
Is the JEE Main cutoff the same every year?
No, the cutoff changes every year based on the number of candidates, difficulty level, and performance distribution. However, from 2023 to 2025, the General category cutoff has been consistently around 93 percentile.
How many candidates qualify JEE Main each year?
A total of 2.5 lakh candidates qualify JEE Main each year to be eligible for JEE Advanced. This number is distributed across categories as per the reservation policy.
What happens if I qualify JEE Main but do not appear for JEE Advanced?
You can still participate in JoSAA counselling for seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. JEE Advanced qualification is required only for admission to IITs — not for NITs and IIITs.
Can OBC candidates use General category cutoff?
OBC-NCL candidates qualify under their own category cutoff. However, if an OBC-NCL candidate scores above the General cutoff, they are included in the General merit list and can compete for unreserved seats as well.
