Admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs is primarily determined by a candidate’s JEE Main rank and percentile score, which are based on their performance in the exam. JoSAA counselling uses these ranks to allocate seats according to merit, category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS), home-state quota, gender, and institute-specific cutoffs.
You must also meet the eligibility criteria, such as passing Class 12 with the required subjects and minimum marks. Higher ranks secure admission to top branches, such as CSE, while lower ranks may be admitted to other core or emerging branches.
JEE Main Marks vs Rank 2026 (Estimated Range)
The JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Rank relationship helps students estimate their All India Rank (AIR) based on exam performance. Though it varies yearly with difficulty and normalisation, the following table shows the expected range for 2026 (for the General category) based on recent trends.
| Marks Range | Estimated Percentile | Expected Rank Range |
| 285 – 300 | 99.9 – 100 | 1 – 100 |
| 250 – 280 | 99.7 – 99.9 | 100 – 1,000 |
| 200 – 249 | 98 – 99.7 | 1,000 – 5,000 |
| 150 – 199 | 96 – 98 | 5,000 – 20,000 |
| 120 – 149 | 90 – 96 | 20,000 – 50,000 |
| 90 – 119 | 80 – 90 | 50,000 – 1,00,000 |
| 60 – 89 | 60 – 80 | 1,00,000 – 2,00,000 |
Top 20 NITs, IIITs & GFTIs — Category-Wise Cutoff Trends (2023–2025)
The following table presents the combined category-wise and year-wise cutoff trends (2023–2025) for admissions to top NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process.
- It highlights the closing ranks for major categories — General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, and ST — based on Round 6 data from 2023 and 2024, along with expected estimates for 2025.
- These ranks correspond to the B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) program, which consistently records the highest competition across institutes.
The table helps you understand how admission cutoffs have evolved, reflecting rising competition, changing seat matrices, and candidate preferences for top engineering institutes in India.
- Over the past three years, cutoffs for leading institutes such as NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, NIT Surathkal, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Delhi have shown a gradual tightening, indicating increased competition and rising student preferences for top-tier engineering colleges.
- While General and OBC-NCL categories have seen the steepest rise in cutoff ranks, EWS, SC, and ST categories have maintained relatively stable trends due to reservation policies and fixed seat allocations.
| Institute | Category | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| NIT Trichy | General | 1,500 | 1,700 | 1,900 |
| SC | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,400 | |
| ST | 1600 | 1700 | 1800 | |
| NIT Surathkal | General | 1800 | 1900 | 2100 |
| SC | 1200 | 1300 | 1500 | |
| ST | 1750 | 1850 | 1950 | |
| IIIT Hyderabad | General | 350 | 400 | 500 |
| SC | 400 | 450 | 500 | |
| ST | 800 | 620 | 750 | |
| IIIT Delhi | General | 500 | 500 | 700 |
| SC | 800 | 900 | 1000 | |
| ST | 600 | 650 | 1700 | |
| BIT Mesra (GFTI) | General | 2400 | 2600 | 2800 |
| SC | 3200 | 3500 | 4000 | |
| ST | 7800 | 8200 | 9200 |
Category-Wise Expected 2026 Ranks for Top 10 NITs (General, OBC, SC, ST)
The table below shows the expected 2026 category-wise closing ranks for admission to B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the Top 10 NITs. These projections are based on recent JoSAA cutoff trends (2023–2025) and indicate rising competition across all categories — General, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST.
| NIT | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
| NIT Trichy | 600 | 800 | 1000 | 3000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 700 | 900 | 1100 | 3200 |
| NIT Warangal | 750 | 950 | 1200 | 3500 |
| NIT Rourkela | 900 | 1200 | 1600 | 4800 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | 1000 | 1500 | 1800 | 5000 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 1100 | 1750 | 1900 | 5200 |
| NIT Calicut | 1200 | 1600 | 2000 | 5500 |
| NIT Durgapur | 1500 | 2300 | 2800 | 8000 |
| NIT Silchar | 1600 | 1800 | 2000 | 8500 |
| NIT Hamirpur | 1800 | 2000 | 2500 | 9500 |
Expert Insights — Safe Rank for Top Branches in 2026
The 2026 cutoff outlook suggests increasing competition across top NITs and IIITs, especially for CSE and ECE, which demand top AIRs below 7,000.
- Computer Science and ECE remain the most competitive branches, requiring ranks within 3,000 and 7,000, respectively.
- Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering remain comparatively accessible, with higher rank flexibility.
- A strong performance in both January and April JEE Main sessions can improve your percentile and ranking range.
| Branch | Safe Rank Range (2026) | Level of Competition |
| Computer Science (CSE) | Below 3,000 | Very High |
| Electronics & Communication (ECE) | Below 7,000 | High |
| Mechanical Engineering | Below 20,000 | Moderate |
| Civil Engineering | Below 40,000 | Moderate to Low |
| Electrical Engineering | Below 10,000 | High |
Factors Affecting JEE Main 2026 Cutoff
The JEE Main 2026 cutoff for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs is shaped by multiple factors that influence admission trends and competition levels. Category-wise reservations and branch popularity (especially CSE and ECE) also influence rank cutoffs.
- Exam Difficulty Level – Tough papers have lower cutoffs.
- Number of Candidates – More aspirants raise competition.
- Seat Availability – Fewer seats increase cutoffs.
- Category Reservation – Separate cutoffs for each category.
- Branch Popularity – CSE, ECE, and AI/ML have higher cutoffs.
- Institute Reputation – Top NITs and IIITs attract top ranks.
- Previous Year Trends – Reflect expected 2026 patterns.
- JoSAA Counselling – Later rounds may slightly relax cutoffs.
In conclusion, securing admission to top NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs in 2026 will require strategic preparation and a strong JEE Main rank. With increasing competition and varying cutoffs across categories and branches, understanding cutoff trends, safe ranks, and influencing factors is essential for achieving success in the upcoming counselling process.
