The percentage needed has stayed around 93 in the last two cycles. With JEE exam 2026 session 1 results already declared and session 2 yet to be conducted, students are closely watching the expected trend. A clear understanding of the previous cut-offs and current projections can help you decide how much more you need to aim for in the upcoming attempt.
JEE Main 2026 Session Update
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result has already been declared. Session 2 will be conducted from April 2 to April 9. The final cutoff for JEE Advanced eligibility will be released after Session 2 results, expected by April 20.
This means:
- The final JEE Main general cut off 2026 is not locked yet.
- Session 2’s difficulty level can change the numbers.
- The total number of candidates appearing also affects the percentile.
So predictions are based on Session 1 trends for now.
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Expected JEE Main Cut Off 2026 Percentile for General
Based on competition levels and recent trends, experts expect the cutoff to stay strong.
Expected range for 2026 (General/UR): 93.0 to 93.5 percentile
Some projections even say it could move closer to 95 if Session 2 competition remains similar. Why is it expected to remain high?
- Competition has consistently increased.
- The cutoff has stayed above 93 for two years.
- Candidate participation remains strong.
- No major dip in difficulty observed.
If you are targeting a safe qualification for JEE Advanced 2026, aiming above 93.5 percentile is advisable.
Past Year JEE Main General Cutoff Trend
Here is how the general cut off JEE Main 2026 compares with previous years:
| Year | General (UR) Percentile | Trend |
| 2025 | 93.1023262 | Stable high |
| 2024 | 93.2362181 | Record high |
| 2023 | 90.7788642 | Crossed 90 mark |
| 2022 | 88.4121383 | Recovery phase |
| 2021 | 87.8992241 | Lowest phase |
| 2020 | 90.3765335 | Consistent |
| 2019 | 89.7548849 | First NTA year |
You can clearly see:
- 2024 saw the highest cutoff in recent years.
- 2025 stayed almost the same.
- Post-pandemic years show a steady rise.
- The 90+ percentile mark has become standard now.
The jump from 2023 to 2024 was the biggest increase. That shows how competitive JEE Exam 2026 preparation has become.
What Does the JEE Main Cutoff Actually Mean?
Many students confuse cutoff with admission rank. The JEE Main cutoff is:
The minimum percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced. It does not guarantee IIT admission. It only makes you eligible to appear for JEE Advanced 2026. To get into IITs:
- You must clear the JEE Main cutoff.
- Then appear in JEE Advanced.
- Then qualify for Advanced as well.
Cutoff percentiles are different for each category. Categories include:
- General (UR)
- General EWS
- OBC NCL
- SC
- ST
- PwD
Category-Wise Expected Cutoff for 2026
Based on Session 1 trends, here is the expected percentile range:
JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff: Category-Wise Qualifying Marks, Trends & Expert Analysis
| Category | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 Expected |
| General (UR) | 89.75 | 87.9 | 90.78 | 93.24 | 93.1 | 93.5 – 95.0 |
| Gen-EWS | 78.22 | 66.22 | 75.62 | 81.33 | 80.38 | 80.5 – 82.5 |
| OBC-NCL | 74.32 | 68.02 | 73.61 | 79.68 | 79.43 | 79.5 – 81.5 |
| SC | 54.01 | 46.88 | 51.98 | 60.09 | 61.15 | 61.5 – 64.0 |
| ST | 44.33 | 34.67 | 37.23 | 46.7 | 47.9 | 48.0 – 50.5 |
| PwD | 0.11 | 0.01 | 0.001 | 0.002 | 0.008 | 0.001 – 1.0 |
Overall observation:
- All categories have seen an upward shift.
- 2024 and 2025 were peak years.
- 2026 is expected to stay at similar high levels.
This reflects increasing competition in the JEE Exam 2026.
Key Trends You Should Notice
Here are the main patterns:
- The general category cutoff has steadily increased since 2019.
- 2024 recorded the highest percentile so far.
- 2025 remained almost identical to 2024.
- Reserved categories also saw jumps after 2023.
- Competition is not reducing.
This means students preparing for the JEE Exam 2026 syllabus must plan for a high benchmark.
Admission Cutoff for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs
Clearing the JEE Main cut off 2026 for general category only makes you eligible for Advanced. Admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs depends on All India Rank. Here are expected percentile ranges:
| Institute Type | Popular Branch (CSE/IT) | Core Branch (Mech/Civil/EE) |
| Top 5 NITs | 99.5 – 99.9+ (AIR < 2,000) | 98.5 – 99.2 (AIR < 12,000) |
| Mid-Tier NITs | 98.5 – 99.4 | 96.5 – 98.0 |
| Top IIITs | 99.4 – 99.9+ | Mostly Tech branches |
| Newer IIITs | 96.0 – 98.0 | 94.0 – 96.0 |
| Top GFTIs | 97.0 – 98.5 | 93.5 – 95.5 |
Admission cutoffs are much higher than the qualifying cutoff. So even if you clear 93 percentile, top branches require much higher percentiles.
What Should General Category Students Target?
If you are serious about JEE Advanced 2026:
- Target at least 93.5 percentile.
- For a safe margin, aim for 94+.
- For top NIT CSE, aim for 99+.
- Keep Session 2 in mind.
Also track:
- ZeJEE exam dates
- JEE exam 2026 notifications
- JEE exam 2026 syllabus updates
- Shift difficulty trends
Staying updated helps in final strategy planning.
Conclusion
The JEE Main cutoff 2026 percentile for general is expected to remain high. Trends show stability above 93 percentile. Session 2 will confirm final numbers, but students should prepare assuming strong competition. The margin for error is small.
If you are targeting IITs through JEE Advanced 2026, qualifying for JEE Main is just the first step. Plan preparation accordingly.
FAQs
1. What is the expected jee main cut off 2026 for general category?
It is expected to remain between the 93.0 and 93.5 percentile, possibly going up to 95, depending on the Session 2 competition.
2. Does clearing the cutoff guarantee IIT admission?
No. It only qualifies you for JEE Advanced. Final IIT admission depends on JEE Advanced performance.
3. Will Session 2 change the general cut off JEE Main 2026?
Yes. The final cutoff is declared after Session 2. Difficulty level and candidate turnout can influence it.
4. Is the cutoff different from the admission rank?
Yes. The cutoff percentile is for JEE Advanced eligibility. Admission rank determines NIT, IIIT, and GFTI seat allotment.
