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By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 20 May 2026, 13:57 IST
The JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to get a place in the All India Rank (AIR) list and become eligible for JoSAA counselling. IIT Roorkee will officially release the cutoff along with the JEE Advanced 2026 result on June 1, 2026. Based on expert analysis and previous year trends, the expected cutoff for the General (CRL) category is likely to be between 90 and 100 marks out of 360. For OBC-NCL and EWS categories, the expected cutoff may range from 80 to 90 marks, while SC, ST, and PwD categories may require around 45 to 55 marks.
This page provides a detailed category-wise expected cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 along with marks vs rank analysis, previous year cutoff trends, subject-wise qualifying marks, and safe scores for top IIT branches such as IIT Bombay CSE. At Infinity Learn, this guide includes realistic IIT college predictions, detailed comparison tables, and expert analysis to help students understand their admission chances and plan their next steps confidently.
JEE Advanced cutoff refers to two distinct things — and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes students make:
This is the minimum marks a candidate must score to be included in the JEE Advanced rank list (CRL and category-wise lists). Candidates who score below this threshold do not receive any rank — regardless of how well they performed in JEE Main.
The qualifying cutoff has two components that must both be satisfied:
These are the AIR ranks at which seats in a specific branch at a specific IIT open and close during JoSAA 2026 counselling rounds. These vary by:
In simple terms: Qualifying cutoff = enter the race. Admission cutoff = win a seat.
The expected qualifying cutoffs below are based on post-exam analysis of the May 17, 2026 paper, peer responses, and comparison with 2022–2025 official cutoffs.
| Category | Expected Min. Marks | Expected % | Subject-wise Min. (Each) |
| General – CRL | 93 – 100 | 25.8% – 27.8% | 10 – 12 marks |
| OBC-NCL | 83 – 90 | 23.1% – 25.0% | 9 – 11 marks |
| GEN-EWS | 83 – 90 | 23.1% – 25.0% | 9 – 11 marks |
| SC | 46 – 51 | 12.8% – 14.2% | 5 – 6 marks |
| ST | 46 – 51 | 12.8% – 14.2% | 5 – 6 marks |
| Common-PwD | 46 – 51 | 12.8% – 14.2% | 5 – 6 marks |
| OBC-NCL-PwD | 46 – 51 | 12.8% – 14.2% | 5 – 6 marks |
| SC-PwD | 23 – 27 | 6.4% – 7.5% | 2 – 3 marks |
| ST-PwD | 23 – 27 | 6.4% – 7.5% | 2 – 3 marks |
| Preparatory Course | 23 – 27 | 6.4% – 7.5% | 2 – 3 marks |
To qualify for the rank list, a candidate must meet BOTH the aggregate cutoff AND the subject-wise minimum in each of the three subjects. Failing even one subject-minimum disqualifies a candidate from the rank list — even if the aggregate is met.
| Subject | General Expected Min. | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC / ST / PwD |
| Physics (P1 + P2) | 10 – 12 marks | 9 – 11 marks | 5 – 6 marks |
| Chemistry (P1 + P2) | 10 – 12 marks | 9 – 11 marks | 5 – 6 marks |
| Mathematics (P1 + P2) | 10 – 12 marks | 9 – 11 marks | 5 – 6 marks |
| Total Aggregate | 93 – 100 marks | 83 – 90 marks | 46 – 51 marks |
Important: Subject-wise minimums apply to the combined marks of Paper 1 + Paper 2 for each subject — not per paper separately.
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This is the most searched table in the post-exam window. The expected ranks below are for General category (CRL) and assume a difficulty level comparable to 2025.
| Marks Scored (out of 360) | Expected AIR (General-CRL) | Admission Possibility |
| 310 – 360 | 1 – 50 | Top 5 IITs, CS/EE top branches |
| 280 – 309 | 51 – 200 | IIT B/D/M/KGP — CS, EE, Engineering Physics |
| 250 – 279 | 201 – 500 | IIT B/D/M/K — core branches; IIT KGP/R CS |
| 220 – 249 | 501 – 1,500 | Good branches across top 7 IITs |
| 190 – 219 | 1,501 – 3,500 | Most branches at top IITs, CS at newer IITs |
| 160 – 189 | 3,501 – 7,000 | Core/niche branches across all IITs |
| 140 – 159 | 7,001 – 12,000 | Mid/newer IITs — selective branches |
| 120 – 139 | 12,001 – 20,000 | Newer IITs — most branches |
| 100 – 119 | 20,001 – 35,000 | Limited options; newer IITs specific branches |
| 93 – 99 | 35,001 – 50,000 | Borderline rank list entry |
For OBC-NCL: Add ~5,000–8,000 to CRL rank to get approximate category rank. For SC/ST: Add ~25,000–40,000 to CRL rank to estimate category rank.
Want exact rank for your specific score? Use Infinity Learn's JEE Advanced 2026 Rank Predictor
To qualify for the rank list, you must meet both aggregate AND subject-wise minimums simultaneously:
| Subject | General (Expected) | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
| Physics (Paper 1 + 2 combined) | 10 – 12 marks | 9 – 11 marks | 5 – 6 marks |
| Chemistry (Paper 1 + 2 combined) | 10 – 12 marks | 9 – 11 marks | 5 – 6 marks |
| Mathematics (Paper 1 + 2 combined) | 10 – 12 marks | 9 – 11 marks | 5 – 6 marks |
| Aggregate (All Subjects) | 93 – 100 marks | 83 – 90 marks | 46 – 51 marks |
"Safe score" means the marks that would comfortably secure admission in at least some IIT branch (not necessarily CSE at IIT Bombay). Here's a tiered guide:
| Score Range | Safety Level | What You Can Expect |
| 280+ marks | Very Safe | Top branches (CSE, EE) at IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras |
| 220 – 279 marks | Safe | Good branches at IIT B/D/KGP/M; CS at newer IITs |
| 160 – 219 marks | Moderate | Engineering/Sciences at mid-tier IITs |
| 120 – 159 marks | Low | Niche branches at newer IITs |
| 93 – 119 marks | Borderline | Rank list entry; IIT admission depends on JoSAA rounds |
Safe score for IIT Bombay CSE JEE Advanced 2026: You need approximately AIR 50–80 (General), which typically requires 280+ marks.
Based on JEE Advanced 2025 data with ±5–10% adjustment. Official ranks release post JoSAA 2026 counselling.
| Branch | Opening Rank (Gen) | Closing Rank (Gen) |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 1 | 64 |
| Electrical Engineering | 65 | 310 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 311 | 720 |
| Chemical Engineering | 720 | 1,200 |
| Civil Engineering | 1,100 | 2,400 |
| Branch | Opening Rank (Gen) | Closing Rank (Gen) |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 2 | 112 |
| Electrical Engineering (Power) | 113 | 480 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 481 | 990 |
| Production & Industrial Engg | 990 | 2,100 |
| Branch | Opening Rank (Gen) | Closing Rank (Gen) |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 3 | 138 |
| Electrical Engineering | 139 | 560 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 561 | 1,100 |
| Aerospace Engineering | 400 | 1,800 |
| Branch | Opening Rank (Gen) | Closing Rank (Gen) |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 30 | 178 |
| Electrical Engineering | 179 | 620 |
| Physics (BS) | 320 | 1,200 |
| Branch | Opening Rank (Gen) | Closing Rank (Gen) |
| Computer Science & Engineering | 25 | 210 |
| Electrical Engineering | 211 | 780 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 781 | 1,500 |
Also Check: IIT Roorkee Cutoff 2026 — All Branches
| Category | 2022 Cutoff | 2023 Cutoff | 2024 Cutoff | 2025 Cutoff | 2026 Expected |
| General (CRL) | 88 | 90 | 95 | 97 | 93–100 |
| OBC-NCL | 80 | 81 | 85.5 | 87.3 | 83–90 |
| EWS | 80 | 81 | 85.5 | 87.3 | 83–90 |
| SC | 44 | 45 | 47.5 | 48.6 | 46–51 |
| ST | 44 | 45 | 47.5 | 48.6 | 46–51 |
| PwD | 44 | 45 | 47.5 | 48.6 | 46–51 |
Based on immediate post-exam student and expert analysis of the May 17, 2026 paper:
Net assessment: Paper difficulty is broadly similar to 2025. The cutoff for General category is expected to be in the 93–100 range — possibly stable or a marginal 2–4 mark shift either way.
The official cutoff will be calibrated by IIT Kanpur to ensure approximately the top 17,000–18,000 candidates receive ranks (roughly the number of available IIT seats × 2.5).
| Date | Event |
| May 17, 2026 | JEE Advanced 2026 exam held |
| June 1, 2026 | JEE Advanced result + official cutoff announcement |
| June 2026 (TBD) | JoSAA 2026 counselling registration begins |
| June–July 2026 | JoSAA rounds 1–6 seat allotment |
| July 2026 | Reporting at allotted IIT |
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The expected qualifying cutoff for General (CRL) category in JEE Advanced 2026 is 93–100 marks out of 360 (approximately 26–28%). This requires meeting both the aggregate minimum AND a subject-wise minimum of 10–12 marks in each of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Official figures will be confirmed on June 1, 2026.
OBC-NCL candidates are expected to need 83–90 marks in aggregate, with approximately 9–11 marks per subject. This is roughly 23–25% of the total 360 marks.
SC and ST candidates are expected to qualify with 46–51 marks (approximately 13–14% of 360), with approximately 5–6 marks minimum in each subject. PwD candidates under General category follow the same threshold.
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score needed to appear in the rank list — below this, no rank is awarded. The admission cutoff is the opening/closing rank for each IIT branch during JoSAA counselling. A candidate must first clear the qualifying cutoff, then secure a rank within the admission cutoff of their desired branch/IIT.
A score of 200 marks out of 360 in the General category is expected to fetch an AIR of approximately 1,500–2,500. This is a competitive rank that can secure admission in core branches at IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, and IIT KGP, and CSE at some newer IITs.
150 marks is expected to correspond to an AIR of approximately 8,000–14,000 (General category). This gives realistic options at mid-tier and newer IITs in selective branches.
For any IIT seat (General category): 120+ marks gives realistic options at newer IITs. For top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras): 220+ marks is considered safe. For premium branches like CSE at top IITs: 270+ marks is required.
IIT Kanpur (the 2026 organizer) sets the cutoff post-paper by establishing a minimum aggregate score and a minimum per-subject score. Both must be met simultaneously. The threshold is calibrated so that approximately 2–2.5x the number of available IIT seats are ranked, ensuring enough competition in JoSAA counselling.
Expert analysis of the May 17 paper suggests overall difficulty is comparable to 2025, with Chemistry slightly harder. This may keep the cutoff at 93–97 for General — similar to or marginally below 2025's 97 marks. A significant drop is unlikely unless normalization reveals widespread difficulty.
IIT Bombay CSE is expected to close around AIR 60–80 for General category in JoSAA 2026. This is an admission cutoff, not a qualifying cutoff — you need both to clear the qualifying threshold and achieve this rank. Based on 2025's closing rank of 66, the 2026 closing rank may range between 58–80.
CSE admission cutoffs vary by IIT: IIT Bombay (AIR 64), IIT Delhi (AIR 112), IIT Madras (AIR 138), IIT Kanpur (AIR 178), IIT Roorkee (AIR 210), IIT KGP (AIR 248). These are General category expected closing ranks for JoSAA Round 6.
If your score is below the qualifying cutoff, you will not receive a JEE Advanced rank and cannot participate in JoSAA IIT counselling. However, your JEE Main score remains valid for NIT+/CSAB counselling. Many students in this situation also consider BITS Pilani, state engineering colleges, or preparing for JEE Advanced 2027.