The JEE Main Cutoff 2026 for OBC-NCL category has been officially released by the National Testing Agency along with the Session 2 result.
As per the official NTA data, the cutoff for OBC candidates has seen a slight increase compared to last year, reflecting stable competition levels.
Official JEE Main 2026 OBC-NCL Cutoff:
80.9232583 percentile
This is the minimum qualifying percentile required for OBC candidates to become eligible for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Main 2026 Official Category-Wise Cutoff
| Category | Cutoff Percentile | Candidates Qualified |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 93.4123549 | 96,873 |
| UR-PwD | 0.0023186 | 4,391 |
| EWS | 82.4164528 | 25,009 |
| OBC-NCL | 80.9232583 | 67,597 |
| SC | 63.9172792 | 37,522 |
| ST | 52.0174712 | 18,790 |
JEE Main OBC Cutoff Trend (2021–2026)
The OBC cutoff has shown consistent growth with slight stabilization in recent years:
| Year | OBC-NCL Cutoff |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 68.02 |
| 2022 | 67.99 |
| 2023 | 73.61 |
| 2024 | 79.68 |
| 2025 | 79.43 |
| 2026 | 80.92 (Official) |
Insight:
After a sharp jump in 2024, the cutoff has now stabilized around 80 percentile, indicating balanced competition.
What Does This OBC Cutoff Mean?
Understanding cutoff types is crucial:
| Parameter | Qualifying Cutoff | Admission Cutoff (JoSAA) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Eligibility for JEE Advanced | Admission to NITs/IIITs |
| Released By | NTA | JoSAA |
| Format | Percentile | AIR Rank |
| Importance | Eligibility only | Final seat allotment |
Important:
Clearing 80.92 percentile does NOT guarantee a college — it only qualifies you for JEE Advanced.
Marks vs Percentile (OBC Category 2026)
| Marks (out of 300) | Percentile | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 200–300 | 99–100 | Top IIT chances |
| 160–200 | 97–99 | Top NITs (CSE/ECE) |
| 130–160 | 94–97 | Good NITs/IIITs |
| 100–130 | 80–94 | Qualifying + average colleges |
| Below 100 | <80 | May not qualify |
Factors Behind 2026 OBC Cutoff
- ~16 lakh candidates appeared (record high)
- Moderate difficulty level across sessions
- Normalisation across multiple shifts
- Reservation seat distribution
- Clustered scores in 90–130 marks range
JoSAA Admission Cutoff (OBC Reference)
Based on previous year JoSAA data:
| Institute | Branch | Closing Rank (OBC) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | CSE | ~3,000–4,000 |
| NIT Rourkela | CSE | ~5,000–6,500 |
| NIT Calicut | CSE | ~7,000–9,000 |
Admission depends on category rank + JoSAA counselling, not just percentile.
What to Do After Clearing OBC Cutoff?
If Qualified:
- Register for JEE Advanced 2026
- Start focused preparation immediately
- Use rank predictor tools
- Prepare JoSAA choice filling strategy
If Not Qualified:
- Apply for NIT/IIIT counselling (if eligible)
- Explore exams:
- MHT CET
- AP EAMCET
- State counselling
- Consider drop for JEE 2027
FAQs
Q1. What is the official OBC cutoff for JEE Main 2026?
The official cutoff is 80.9232583 percentile.
Q2. How many OBC candidates qualified?
A total of 67,597 candidates qualified under OBC category.
Q3. Is 80 percentile enough for NIT?
No. For good NITs, aim for 90–97+ percentile.
Q4. Does clearing cutoff guarantee admission?
No. It only ensures eligibility for JEE Advanced.
Q5. Is cutoff same for both sessions?
Yes, NTA releases one final cutoff after Session 2.
