Category-wise Cutoff 2026
Updated for 2026Complete category-wise cutoff ranks for JEE Main & Advanced - GEN, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD with reservation details.
Reservation Distribution
General (Open)
Open to all, includes unreserved seats
50.5%
OBC-NCL
Other Backward Classes (Creamy Layer excluded)
27%
SC
Scheduled Castes
15%
ST
Scheduled Tribes
7.5%
EWS
Economically Weaker Sections (from GEN)
10%
PwD
Horizontal reservation in all categories
5%
Important Notes
- Cutoff ranks vary significantly between categories - GEN has the highest competition
- Category certificate must be valid at the time of admission (check expiry dates)
- OBC-NCL requires Non-Creamy Layer certificate with income < Rs 8 lakh
- EWS category requires family income < Rs 3 lakh + asset verification
JEE Main Category-wise Cutoff 2025 (Qualifying)
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Candidates Qualified | For JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR / General (UR-ALL) | 93.1023262 | 97,321 | Eligible |
| EWS (EWS-ALL) | 80.3830119 | 25,009 | Eligible if in top 2.5L |
| OBC-NCL (OBC-ALL) | 79.4313582 | 67,614 | Eligible if in top 2.5L |
| SC (SC-ALL) | 61.1526933 | 37,519 | Eligible if in top 2.5L |
| ST (ST-ALL) | 47.9026465 | 18,823 | Eligible if in top 2.5L |
| UR-PwD (UR-PwBD) | 0.0079349 | 3,950 | Separate cutoff |
Source: JEE Main 2025 Result Data. Qualifying percentile is used for JEE Advanced eligibility. Category ranks are separate from percentile.
IIT Category-wise Closing Ranks (Top Branches)
Approximate closing ranks for IIT Bombay Computer Science (2024)
🎯General (CRL)
Rank #90
Closing Rank 2024
💎EWS
Rank #550
Closing Rank 2024
🏅OBC-NCL
Rank #285
Closing Rank 2024
🌟SC
Rank #650
Closing Rank 2024
⭐ST
Rank #800
Closing Rank 2024
♿PwD
Rank #1200
Closing Rank 2024
NIT Category-wise Closing Ranks (Top Branches)
Approximate closing ranks for NIT Trichy Computer Science (Home State) 2024
| Category | Home State (HS) Rank | Other State (OS) Rank | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (HS) | 850 | 1500 | Moderate |
| General (OS) | 850 | 1500 | High |
| OBC-NCL (HS) | 3500 | 6500 | Moderate |
| OBC-NCL (OS) | 3500 | 6500 | High |
| SC (HS) | 7000 | 12000 | Low |
| SC (OS) | 7000 | 12000 | Moderate |
| ST (HS) | 12000 | 18000 | Low |
| ST (OS) | 12000 | 18000 | Moderate |
| EWS (HS) | 2000 | 4000 | Moderate |
| EWS (OS) | 2000 | 4000 | High |
Category-wise Choice Filling Tips
General Category
- • Focus on top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur) - ranks 1-2000
- • Target top NITs (Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal) - ranks 2000-5000
- • Consider IIIT Hyderabad for CSE (high competition)
- • Use opening rank to understand competition level
OBC-NCL Category
- • IITs accessible with ranks 2000-8000
- • NITs available with ranks 5000-15000
- • Apply for OBC-NCL certificate well in advance
- • Many IITs have lower cutoffs for OBC-NCL
SC / ST Categories
- • IITs possible with ranks 10000-30000
- • NITs easily accessible with ranks 15000-40000
- • Consider new IITs (Dharwad, Tirupati, Palakkad)
- • GFTIs have good SC/ST cutoffs
EWS Category
- • Created for GEN with income < Rs 3L
- • 10% reservation in all institutes
- • Cutoffs are 3-5x higher than GEN category
- • Asset verification may be conducted
Category Certificate Requirements
| Category | Required Documents | Issuing Authority | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | OBC-NCL Certificate, Non-Creamy Layer Certificate | State Government Authority | Valid for 3 years |
| SC | Caste Certificate, SC Certificate | Tehsildar / SDM / Revenue Officer | Generally no expiry |
| ST | Tribe Certificate, ST Certificate | SDM / Revenue Officer / DC | Generally no expiry |
| EWS | Income Certificate, Asset Declaration | Tehsildar / Revenue Officer | Valid for 1 year |
| PwD | Disability Certificate (40%+), Medical Board Certificate | Government Medical Board | Permanent certificate preferred |
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about category-wise cutoffs, reservation, and qualifying criteria
1What is category-wise cutoff in JEE?
Category-wise cutoff refers to the opening and closing ranks for JEE Main and Advanced counselling separately for each category - General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD. Each category has different reservation percentages and therefore different cutoff ranks.
2Which category has the highest cutoff?
General category (GEN) typically has the highest cutoff (lowest ranks) because it's open to all candidates without reservation. This is followed by EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST in that order.
3What is the reservation percentage for each category?
OBC-NCL: 27%, SC: 15%, ST: 7.5%, EWS: 10% (within GEN), PwD: 5% horizontal reservation across all categories. General (Open) category is 50.5% which includes UR seats from all categories.
4Can I change my category after admission?
Category change is generally not permitted after admission. You must apply with your correct category and produce valid certificates during document verification. False category claims lead to cancellation of admission.
5How does EWS category cutoff compare to General?
EWS cutoff ranks are typically 2-4 times higher (worse) than General category cutoff ranks. For example, if IIT Bombay CSE closes at rank 100 in GEN, EWS cutoff might be around rank 500-1000.
Check Category-wise College Predictions
Get personalized college predictions based on your rank and category for JEE Main & Advanced 2026