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2026

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JEE Main ST Rank 2026 – Colleges & Cutoffs

7.5% reservation at all NITs, IITs, IIITs & GFTIs · ST category rank to college mapping

ST Reservation in Engineering Admissions 2026

Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates receive 7.5% reservation in all centrally funded technical institutions participating in JoSAA 2026. Out of 100 seats in any branch, 7–8 seats are reserved for ST category candidates.

ST Category Rank: JEE Main generates a separate ST rank for all candidates who registered under ST category. ST ranks tend to have a smaller pool (ST candidates are a smaller fraction of JEE Main test-takers), so competition within the ST pool is less intense than SC or OBC pools.

ST Cutoffs at NITs: ST closing ranks at premier NITs are significantly relaxed compared to general cutoffs. NIT Trichy CSE (other state, ST) typically closes around ST rank 250–500. This means an ST candidate with a moderate rank can access excellent institutions.

Additional Seats (Supernumerary): In some years, if ST seats go unfilled after all rounds, institutions may add supernumerary seats rather than leaving them vacant. This can provide additional opportunities for ST candidates in late rounds.

Preparatory Courses: IITs run a one-year Preparatory Course for SC/ST candidates who narrowly miss the JEE Advanced cutoff. Candidates completing the course successfully get direct admission to IITs the following year. This is an important alternative pathway for ST students.

ST Category Rank vs College Guide (2026)

Approximate ST category rank to college mapping based on JoSAA 2024–25 data:

  • ST rank 1–150: NIT Trichy CSE, NIT Warangal CSE, IIIT Hyderabad programs, NIT Surathkal CSE
  • ST rank 150–400: NIT Trichy ECE, NIT Calicut CSE, NIT Rourkela CSE, top IIITs IT
  • ST rank 400–900: NIT Jaipur/Bhopal/Hamirpur CSE, NIT Calicut ECE, IIIT Allahabad
  • ST rank 900–2500: Mid-tier NITs CSE/ECE, NIT Silchar, government IIITs
  • ST rank 2500–6000: Newer NITs CSE, GFTIs CSE, NIT non-CSE branches
  • ST rank 6000+: GFTIs various branches, CSAB special rounds

Northeast Region Advantage: For NITs located in Northeast India (NIT Meghalaya, NIT Mizoram, NIT Nagaland, NIT Arunachal Pradesh, NIT Manipur, NIT Silchar, NIT Agartala), ST candidates from these states have home state + ST dual advantage, making even moderate ST ranks sufficient for CSE.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about JEE Main ST rank and college options

1
What is the ST reservation percentage in central engineering institutions?
Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates receive 7.5% reservation in all centrally funded institutions including NITs, IITs, IIITs, and GFTIs under JoSAA. While this percentage is lower than SC (15%) and OBC (27%), the ST population appearing in JEE Main is also proportionally smaller, making category rank competition manageable.
2
What is the qualifying percentile for ST candidates in JEE Main 2026?
The ST category qualifying cutoff for JEE Main is the lowest among all categories, typically around 35–45 percentile. This ensures that tribally diverse communities across the country can access higher engineering education. The exact 2026 ST qualifying cutoff will be announced with the result.
3
What colleges can ST candidates get with ST rank 1000?
An ST rank of 1000 is very strong and typically corresponds to a general AIR of 40000–60000. With ST rank 1000, you can access NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, and NIT Surathkal for CSE/ECE through ST quota. NIT Trichy CSE (other state, ST) historically closes around ST rank 400–700; ECE around 800–1200.
4
Are there special provisions for ST candidates from tribal regions?
Yes. Candidates from Scheduled Areas and tribal-dominated districts may receive special support from state governments (tribal scholarships, hostel facilities). Additionally, some NITs in the Northeast (NIT Meghalaya, NIT Arunachal Pradesh) have higher ST representation and may have specific provisions for candidates from their states.
5
Can ST candidates get tuition fee waiver at NITs?
Yes. Like SC candidates, ST students at NITs and IITs are exempt from tuition fees by central government policy. Only hostel, mess, and other charges apply. ST students should also explore the Tribal Scholarship schemes from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which provide financial support for living expenses.

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Disclaimer

Information based on official announcements and previous year data. Always verify at josaa.nic.in and jeemain.nta.nic.in.