IIT Delhi is one of the most competitive IITs in India, especially for Computer Science and Mathematics & Computing. In JoSAA 2025 Round 6, IIT Delhi CSE closed at AIR 126 for the General category, while Mechanical Engineering closed around AIR 1,862.

This article provides complete IIT Delhi cutoff details for 2026 including branch-wise closing ranks, category-wise cutoffs, marks vs rank analysis, expected 2026 cutoffs, JoSAA trends, and safe rank predictions for General, OBC, EWS, SC, and ST candidates.

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IIT Delhi Cutoff 2026: Important Highlights

IIT Delhi Cutoff 2026: Quick Overview

The table below shows the JoSAA 2025 Round 6 closing ranks for major IIT Delhi B.Tech programmes under the General category (Gender-Neutral seats).

What is IIT Delhi Cutoff in JoSAA Counselling?

The IIT Delhi cutoff refers to the last rank at which admission is offered in a particular branch during JoSAA counselling. These cutoffs are released separately for every category, branch, and seat type after each counselling round.

JoSAA publishes two important cutoff values:

• Opening Rank
• Closing Rank

The opening rank is the best rank at which admission starts in a branch, while the closing rank is the last rank at which a seat gets allotted. For most students, the Round 6 closing rank is the most important benchmark because it represents the final admission trend for that year.

For example:

• IIT Delhi CSE closed at AIR 126 in JoSAA 2025 for the General category.
• Mechanical Engineering closed around AIR 1,862.
• Textile Technology had one of the highest closing ranks at around AIR 5,733.

If your JEE Advanced rank is better than the closing rank of a branch, your admission chances become realistic for that programme.

For CSE at IIT Delhi, the gap between Round 1 and Round 6 closing rank was just 1 rank in 2025 (125 to 126). This tells a clear story — demand is so intense that waiting for later rounds does not help for top branches. For Civil or Textile Technology, the relaxation across rounds can be 150–250 ranks — making patience a genuine strategy.

IIT Delhi CSE Cutoff 2026

CSE at IIT Delhi is India's second most competitive engineering seat. Only IIT Bombay CSE (closing rank 66) is harder to access. For anyone dreaming of IIT Delhi Computer Science, here is the complete picture.

The 2025 closing rank for B.Tech CSE was 126 (General, Gender-Neutral) — barely moved from Round 1 (125). The OBC-NCL closing category rank was 91. This programme had 79 total seats with 20 reserved for female candidates.

IIT Delhi CSE Cutoff 2026: Category-wise Analysis

What this means practically: A General category student needs to be among roughly the top 126 students in all of India — that is approximately 275+ marks in JEE Advanced 2025 out of 360. For OBC-NCL students, a category rank under 91 is needed — achievable with around 240+ marks depending on year difficulty.

Female candidates have a significantly wider window. The female-only closing rank of 420 means a General female candidate at AIR 300 can still access IIT Delhi CSE — a branch that is completely out of reach for a male candidate at the same rank.

The Dual Degree option: B.Tech + M.Tech CSE (5-year Dual Degree) closed at AIR 186 in 2025 — 60 ranks more relaxed than the 4-year programme. Same department, same faculty, same placements, with an integrated Master's degree. Students who narrowly miss the 4-year cutoff should seriously consider this.

Also Check: JEE Advanced 2026 Category Wise Cutoff

Mathematics & Computing — The Fastest Rising Branch at IIT Delhi

Ten years ago, Mathematics and Computing was barely discussed. Today it is arguably the most intellectually competitive and career-relevant programme at IIT Delhi after CSE.

The closing rank for MnC tightened from 278 in 2022 to 323 in 2025 — a 16% relaxation in just three years. Wait — that means it became less competitive, not more. The direction flipped. More students with top ranks are now choosing MnC over core engineering branches, which is pulling the cutoff down (tighter). The 2022 figure of 278 was historically anomalous due to high scores that year.

The trend that matters: MnC is now consistently more competitive than Electrical Engineering at IIT Delhi. In 2025, MnC closed at 323 vs EE at 605. That is a significant gap. Students who cannot access EE but assume MnC will be easier are in for a surprise.

IIT Delhi Mathematics and Computing Cutoff 2026

Why MnC is rising: Quantitative finance, data science, algorithm design, cryptography, and machine learning all trace directly to Mathematics & Computing skills. Recruiters from Goldman Sachs, Google, Jane Street, Citadel, and D.E. Shaw actively seek MnC graduates. As awareness of these career paths grows, top-ranked students are increasingly choosing MnC over traditional engineering — and cutoffs are tightening as a result.

IIT Delhi Electrical Engineering Cutoff 2026

EE at IIT Delhi tells a nuanced story. The closing rank rose from 590 in 2021 to 625 in 2024, then relaxed to 605 in 2025. On the surface this looks like demand easing — but the reality is that top-ranked students are now choosing MnC and CSE Dual Degree before EE, shifting the EE pool slightly.

This is not a sign of falling prestige. IIT Delhi EE placements remain excellent — semiconductor, power, defence, and electronics sectors actively recruit from here. For a student at AIR 550–600, EE at IIT Delhi is a far better long-term outcome than CSE at a newer IIT.

IIT Delhi 2026 EE Cutoff — Category-wise Closing Ranks (JoSAA 2025)

IIT Delhi Mechanical Engineering Cutoff 2026

These three branches represent IIT Delhi's accessible range for students between AIR 1,500 and 3,500. They are worth serious consideration — not as consolation choices, but as genuinely strong programmes.

IIT Delhi 2026 Mechanical Engineering Cutoff 

Mechanical at IIT Delhi: Closed at 1,862 in 2025. This branch feeds into automotive, aerospace, robotics, and manufacturing. Average placement packages at IIT Delhi Mechanical are consistently above ₹20–25 LPA — significantly stronger than the same branch at any NIT or newer IIT.

Engineering Physics: Closed at 1,050 — sitting between EE and Mechanical in competitiveness. This is IIT Delhi's gateway to research and core science careers. Students interested in physics-based research, ISRO, or international PhD programmes often prefer this over traditional engineering branches.

Chemical Engineering: Closed at 2,100. Strong in process industries, pharmaceuticals, energy, and specialty chemicals. IIT Delhi Chemical Engineering places well into consulting and finance sectors too, with graduates regularly joining McKinsey and Goldman Sachs.

Lower-Competition Branches — Are They Worth It?

A question that every counsellor hears: "Should I take Civil or Textile at IIT Delhi, or CSE at a newer IIT?"

The honest answer: For most students, the IIT Delhi brand outperforms a better branch at a weaker institute. Here is why.

IIT Delhi's placement infrastructure, alumni network, research opportunities, and faculty quality benefit every student on campus — regardless of branch. A Textile Technology graduate from IIT Delhi has access to the same campus recruitment, consulting firms, and startup ecosystem as a CSE student. The closing rank ceiling for IIT Delhi is 6,690 — meaning students across a wide rank range have access to this advantage.

Lower-Competition Branches — Closing Ranks (JoSAA 2025)

B.Des at IIT Delhi: Closing at 6,690 for General, this is IIT Delhi's most accessible programme. Industrial design, UX/UI, and product design careers have boomed — and an IIT Delhi design degree opens doors that most design colleges cannot match.

Biotechnology: Closing at 4,999. Pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare sectors are growing rapidly. This branch at IIT Delhi has strong research infrastructure and feeds well into MSc, PhD, and MBA pathways.

IIT Delhi Cutoff Trends — 5 Years at a Glance

Understanding how cutoffs have moved helps set realistic 2026 targets. This table reveals which branches are becoming more competitive and which are stabilising.

Three key observations from this data:

First, CSE has oscillated between 109 and 126 over five years — never crossing 130. This is a remarkably stable band given the massive year-to-year variation in JEE Advanced difficulty. Planning for a safe rank under 115 covers almost every year.

Second, Mathematics & Computing has shown a consistent upward pressure. The 2022 dip to 278 was an outlier. Since then it has moved steadily toward 323. With AI and quantitative finance jobs accelerating, this trend will not reverse.

Third, Mechanical Engineering has gradually relaxed relative to where it stood in 2020–21. This reflects a structural shift — top rankers are choosing CS-adjacent branches, pulling talent away from core mechanical. The branch is not less valuable; its rank pool is simply shifting.

IIT Delhi Expected Cutoff 2026

JEE Advanced 2026 was harder than 2025 — particularly Paper 1 Mathematics. Tougher exams typically push raw scores down across the board, which can relax cutoffs by 5–20 ranks in mid-range branches. For CSE and MnC, demand is so concentrated at the top that paper difficulty has limited impact.

These are estimates based on trend analysis and 2026 paper difficulty. Confirmed figures will be updated here after each JoSAA 2026 round.

IIT Delhi vs IIT Bombay vs IIT Madras — CSE Cutoff Comparison

For students in the AIR 100–200 range, the choice between IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras for CSE is genuinely agonising. Here is the data:

In 2025, IIT Delhi CSE (126) and IIT Madras CSE (119) were separated by just 7 ranks. A student at AIR 120 who prefers Delhi would get IIT Madras in JoSAA, not IIT Delhi — unless MnC at IIT Delhi is listed first. This is a real scenario that many students mishandle in choice filling.

Practical advice: Students targeting IIT Delhi CSE should list it as their first choice and add IIT Delhi MnC, IIT Delhi CSE Dual Degree, IIT Madras CSE, and IIT Kanpur CSE in sequence — not in the reverse order.

Marks Required for IIT Delhi — Score to Rank Conversion

Knowing cutoff ranks alone is not enough. Students need to understand what score in JEE Advanced translates to what rank.

For reserved category students, the marks required are proportionally lower. An OBC-NCL candidate scoring 240+ marks has a realistic shot at CSE at IIT Delhi — a programme that requires 275+ for General category.

Safe Rank for IIT Delhi — What Buffer to Maintain

A "safe rank" builds a cushion against year-to-year variation (typically ±50–200 ranks at IIT Delhi depending on branch).

IIT Delhi JoSAA Round-wise Cutoff — How Ranks Move Across Rounds

One of the most practical questions during counselling: "Should I wait for later JoSAA rounds for a better IIT Delhi branch?"

The Float option in JoSAA is specifically designed for this. Choosing Float keeps the current allotment active while keeping the candidature eligible for a better option in the next round. For CSE and MnC — Float is nearly pointless. For Textile, Civil, and Biotechnology — it can make a real difference.

Also Check: What is Freeze Float and Swipe in JoSAA Counselling

Real Student Scenarios — Practical Admission Guidance

Scenario 1: AIR 120, General category CSE at IIT Delhi (126) is within reach but not safe. IIT Delhi MnC (323) and IIT Delhi CSE Dual Degree (186) are very comfortable. IIT Madras CSE (119) is borderline. Recommended strategy: List IIT Delhi CSE first, followed by IIT Delhi CSE Dual Degree, IIT Madras CSE, IIT Kanpur CSE — in that priority order.

Scenario 2: AIR 500, General category CSE at IIT Delhi is out of reach. EE (605) is borderline — within range but not safe. Engineering Physics (1,050) is very comfortable. Recommended: List IIT Delhi EE as a stretch, Engineering Physics as primary, and IIT Delhi Mechanical as a safe IIT Delhi backup. Consider IIT Kanpur CSE (155) which is also out of reach — but IIT Madras EE and IIT Kanpur EE are realistic.

Scenario 3: AIR 1,865, General category Mechanical Engineering (1,862) at IIT Delhi is extremely borderline — the rank is almost exactly at the closing rank. Chemical Engineering (2,100) and Civil Engineering (3,450) are safer. Never rely on a single-rank difference — list Chemical Engineering as the primary IIT Delhi choice here.

Scenario 4: OBC-NCL category rank 150 CSE (91) is out of reach. Mathematics & Computing (240) and Electrical Engineering (245) are both accessible with comfortable buffer. This is a strong position for an OBC-NCL candidate — MnC at IIT Delhi is well within reach.

Scenario 5: SC category rank 45 CSE at IIT Delhi closed at SC rank 45 in 2025. This is exactly at the boundary — not safe. CSE Dual Degree (68) is much safer. List both, with Dual Degree as the safer primary IIT Delhi CSE option.

IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Campus — 2026 Update

IIT Delhi has launched an international campus in Abu Dhabi — a significant development for 2026 applicants. Admission is through JoSAA counselling or alternate pathways depending on the programme. The Abu Dhabi campus expands total seat availability under the IIT Delhi umbrella and may slightly influence domestic campus choice filling patterns as some students opt for the international route. Programme-specific cutoff data for the Abu Dhabi campus will be released separately in JoSAA 2026.

Factors That Will Shape IIT Delhi Cutoff in 2026

Paper difficulty: JEE Advanced 2026 Paper 1 was notably harder than 2025, especially in Mathematics. Harder papers lower aggregate scores — which typically relaxes mid-range cutoffs by 5–20 ranks. CSE and MnC are insulated from this effect due to concentrated demand at the top.

Qualified candidates: Approximately 50,000 students are expected to qualify JEE Advanced 2026 — fewer than the 54,378 who qualified in 2025. Fewer qualifiers mean slightly less competition at each rank position, which can ease cutoffs marginally across branches.

Branch demand evolution: The growing influence of AI, data science, and quantitative finance on career choices is pushing more top-rank students toward CSE and MnC. This accelerates the competitive tightening of these two branches while allowing slight relaxation in core engineering.

Female supernumerary quota: IITs maintain a floor of 20% female enrolment through additional seats. Female-only closing ranks at IIT Delhi are consistently 200–500 ranks more relaxed than gender-neutral seats. Female candidates who only check gender-neutral data are significantly underestimating their options.Parents' Guide — IIT Delhi Admission in Plain Language