JoSAA 2026 SC/ST Cutoff Trends Within NITs

The 31 NITs together form the largest single category of institutes participating in JoSAA counselling by total seat count, offering tens of thousands of seats across a wide range of engineering, architecture, and planning programmes. Within this large seat base, SC (Scheduled Caste) candidates receive a 15% vertical reservation and ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates receive a 7.5% vertical reservation in every eligible programme at every NIT — reservation percentages mandated nationally and applied consistently regardless of institute size or age.

Because NIT seat pools are so much larger than IIIT or even most GFTI seat pools, SC and ST closing ranks at NITs tend to be comparatively more stable and predictable year over year than the sharper swings seen at smaller IIITs, though they still vary meaningfully depending on institute reputation, branch popularity, and the home-state/other-state quota split that governs each NIT's seat matrix.

Home-State Quota Interacts Directly With SC/ST Cutoffs

Every NIT reserves roughly half its seats for candidates domiciled in its home state, with the remaining seats open to candidates from all other states (Other State quota). SC and ST reservation percentages apply within both the home-state and other-state pools separately for each NIT. This creates a layered effect: an SC or ST candidate applying under their home state's quota at a particular NIT often faces a smaller, more localized competition pool — especially in NITs located in smaller or less populous states — resulting in comparatively more accessible closing ranks than the same candidate would face applying as an other-state candidate at a high-demand NIT elsewhere in the country.

Older, Established NITs vs Newer NITs

Branch-Wise SC/ST Cutoff Behaviour

Just as in the General category, CSE consistently records the tightest SC/ST closing ranks at nearly every NIT, followed closely by ECE and Electrical Engineering. Core branches such as Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, and Metallurgical Engineering see comparatively more relaxed SC/ST cutoffs, mirroring the overall demand pattern across all categories but shifted to the SC/ST rank scale. Candidates should note that this demand ordering is highly consistent across institutes, making it a reliable heuristic when comparing branch options within the SC/ST category.

Practical Guidance for SC/ST Candidates

When building your JoSAA choice list, cross-reference the specific NIT and branch's SC/ST closing rank trend from the previous cycle's final round (Round 5), not just Round 1, since SC/ST seats — like all categories — can see meaningful movement as rounds progress and higher-ranked candidates upgrade elsewhere. Also account for whether you are applying under home-state or other-state quota at each NIT in your list, since this single factor can shift your realistic closing rank expectation substantially at the same institute and branch.