JoSAA 2026 · SC/ST

JoSAA 2026 Choice Filling for SC/ST Candidates

Category Quota · Fee Benefits · Preparatory Course · Closing Ranks · Strategy

SC/ST Seat Reservation in JoSAA

All JoSAA participating institutes — IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs — reserve seats for SC and ST candidates as per the central government reservation policy:

SC (Scheduled Castes): 15% of all seats at every participating institute.
ST (Scheduled Tribes): 7.5% of all seats at every participating institute.

These reserved seats are filled using SC/ST category ranks, which are entirely separate from the general merit pool. SC and ST candidates also benefit from a reduced seat acceptance fee of ₹15,000 (compared to ₹35,000 for General and OBC-NCL candidates) when accepting an allotted seat.

In addition to regular programme seats, SC/ST candidates at IITs have access to IIT Preparatory Course seats — a unique option not available to other categories.

SC vs ST Closing Ranks 2025 (Reference)

Note that ST category has a smaller candidate pool, so in some branches the ST closing rank number may be lower (more restrictive) than the SC closing rank. Both are category ranks — not overall JEE ranks.

Institute	Branch	SC Closing Rank	ST Closing Rank
IIT Bombay	CSE	~200 (SC rank)	~120 (ST rank)
IIT Delhi	CSE	~280 (SC rank)	~160 (ST rank)
NIT Trichy	CSE (OS)	~3,500 (SC rank)	~2,100 (ST rank)
NIT Warangal	CSE (OS)	~4,200 (SC rank)	~2,800 (ST rank)

* Approximate figures from JoSAA 2025 Round 6. Always verify on josaa.nic.in for 2026 data.

Fee Benefits for SC/ST in JoSAA 2026

Seat Acceptance Fee

₹15,000

vs ₹35,000 for General/OBC-NCL

Tuition Fee (NITs/IITs)

Waived*

Via Post-Matric Scholarship

The Post-Matric Scholarship (central and state government) covers tuition fees for SC/ST students at NITs and IITs. You still pay for hostel, mess, and other institute charges, but the tuition fee — typically ₹1.25–2 lakh per year — is reimbursed through the scholarship.

Apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship through your state's social welfare portal soon after admission. Delays in application can delay fee reimbursement. Keep all admission documents ready.

IIT Preparatory Course for SC/ST

IITs offer a special 1-year Preparatory Course exclusively for SC/ST candidates who:

Have qualified JEE Advanced (cleared all cutoffs).
Did not receive allotment to any regular B.Tech programme in JoSAA.
Wish to join the IIT system despite not meeting the regular programme cutoff.

After successfully completing the preparatory year, candidates are admitted directly to the first year of B.Tech at that IIT. The preparatory course provides foundational academic support in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Preparatory course seats appear as a separate option in the JoSAA choice list. If you are an SC/ST candidate interested in joining a specific IIT even via this route, add those preparatory course seats towards the end of your choice list as additional options.

Choice Filling Strategy for SC/ST

1
Add aspirational OPEN choices first
If your general rank qualifies for OPEN seats at top institutes, add those at higher priority. You may receive them if general rank is competitive enough.
2
Follow with SC/ST category choices for realistic targets
For each institute-branch you want, add both OPEN (higher priority) and SC/ST (lower priority) versions. The algorithm uses whichever gives you a better allotment.
3
Include IIT Preparatory Course seats if interested
Add preparatory course seats at IITs you'd consider at the bottom of your list. It's a unique opportunity unavailable to other categories.
4
Add safety options: NITs, IIITs, GFTIs
Even with good SC/ST ranks, safety choices ensure you receive an allotment. Fill 40–60 choices covering multiple institutes and branches.
5
Verify your caste certificate before the window opens
Ensure your SC/ST certificate is in the correct format (DOPT-prescribed for central institutions) and is current. Upload promptly during registration.

JoSAA 2027: complete guide

Dates, eligibility, pattern, syllabus, result and counselling in one place.

Open guide

As an SC candidate, can I use general category rank if it's better?

Yes. JoSAA considers both your overall rank and SC category rank. If your overall rank qualifies for a seat in the OPEN category, you may receive that seat — often the same seat, just allocated from the unreserved pool. The system works in your favor: always add both OPEN and SC category choices for institutes you want.

What is the IIT Preparatory Course for SC/ST?

It is a 1-year bridge programme offered at IITs for SC/ST candidates who clear the JEE Advanced cutoff but do not receive allotment to a regular B.Tech programme. After successfully completing the preparatory year, candidates are admitted to B.Tech at the same IIT. You can add preparatory course seats in your JoSAA choice list as a separate option.

SC/ST candidates at NITs – is tuition fee really free?

Tuition fee at NITs is waived for SC/ST candidates through the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme (run by state and central governments). You still pay hostel, mess, and other institute fees. In practice, most SC/ST candidates pay only living costs at NITs, making it effectively very affordable. Verify current scholarship status with your state's social welfare department.

Is the SC/ST certificate format important?

Yes. The caste certificate must be issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar/SDO level or above). The Government of India (DOPT) prescribes specific formats for SC/ST certificates required at central institutions. State-specific formats that don't match the central format may not be accepted. Obtain the certificate in the format specified in the JoSAA 2026 Information Brochure.

My JEE Main SC rank is 500 but general rank is 45,000. Which rank is used?

For SC reserved seats, your SC category rank (500) is used. For OPEN category seats, your general rank (45,000) is used. You can potentially receive an OPEN seat if your general rank qualifies, OR an SC reserved seat if your SC rank qualifies. JoSAA evaluates both and allots whichever your choice list preference leads to first.

College Predictor

Know Your College
Before Counselling

Predict your college using JoSAA 2026 cutoff data across IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.

135+

Institutes

3000+

Programmes

2026

Cutoff Data

JEE MainNITs · IIITs · GFTIs

JEE AdvancedAll 23 IITs

DASA / NRIForeign nationals

Predict My College

SC/ST Quick Facts

SC: 15% seats · ST: 7.5% seats
Seat acceptance fee: ₹15,000
Tuition fee waivable via scholarship
IIT Preparatory Course available
Compete in both OPEN and SC/ST pools
Certificate must be DOPT-format