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For ST Category Candidates · 2027 Preview

JoSAA 2027 ST Category — Complete Guide

Reservation percentage, eligibility, certificates, and the counselling process explained.

Disclaimer: JoSAA 2027 has not begun and no official brochure, cutoffs, or dates exist as of October 2026. This guide explains the stable ST reservation mechanism and document process used in recent cycles. Exact 2027 cutoffs, dates, and any policy updates will only be confirmed once JoSAA releases its official brochure — verify at josaa.nic.in.

ST Reservation in JoSAA — How It Works

JoSAA follows central government reservation policy, under which Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates have been allotted 7.5% of seats across participating institutes — IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. This reservation applies at the seat-matrix level: a defined share of seats in every branch at every institute is earmarked for ST candidates.

ST candidates are ranked and allotted within their own category pool, which generally results in a more accessible (numerically higher) closing rank than the General/OPEN category for the same combination, since the competing pool is different.

Documents Typically Required

  1. 1ST caste/tribe certificate issued by a competent authority, in the prescribed government format.
  2. 2Certificate should reflect the candidate's tribe as recognized in the Central List of Scheduled Tribes for that state.
  3. 3Certificate should ideally be recent / within the validity period specified by that year's brochure.
  4. 4Supporting identity and residence documents as required during document verification.

Key Points for ST Candidates

  • You can be allotted either a reserved ST seat or an OPEN/General seat, whichever your rank qualifies for and is ranked higher on your choice list.
  • Always verify your tribe certificate matches the Central List for your specific state.
  • Relaxed qualifying-marks criteria have historically applied to ST candidates — confirm exact 2027 thresholds in the brochure.
  • The Freeze/Float/Slide mechanism works identically for ST candidates as for any other category.

JoSAA 2027: complete guide

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

Open guide
1
What is the ST reservation percentage in JoSAA?
Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates have historically been reserved 7.5% of seats across IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, in line with central government reservation policy. This percentage has remained consistent for years and is expected to continue for JoSAA 2027, though it should be verified against the official 2027 brochure once released.
2
What certificate do I need for ST category in JoSAA 2027?
You will typically need a valid ST caste/tribe certificate issued by a competent authority, in the prescribed government format for your state/union territory. Based on past cycles, your tribe must be listed in the Central List of Scheduled Tribes for the relevant state — JoSAA follows the central list, not state-only lists, for reservation purposes.
3
Does ST category get a relaxed cutoff?
Yes. ST candidates compete within the ST-reserved pool for seats, which typically results in a more accessible (numerically higher) closing rank compared to the General category for the same institute-branch combination. This relaxation mechanism has been stable across years.
4
Can ST candidates also be allotted an OPEN/General seat?
Yes. If an ST candidate's rank qualifies for a higher-ranked OPEN/General seat on their choice list, they can be allotted that instead of a reserved ST seat. This dual-eligibility is a consistent, stable feature of JoSAA's allotment logic.
5
Are there relaxed eligibility criteria (board marks) for ST candidates?
Historically, yes — JEE Advanced and NIT/IIIT/GFTI eligibility criteria (such as minimum qualifying marks in Class 12 boards) have included a relaxed threshold for SC/ST/PwD candidates compared to the General category. Exact 2027 thresholds will be confirmed in the official brochure, but this relaxed-criteria structure is expected to continue.
6
Are JoSAA 2027 ST category cutoffs available yet?
No. As of October 2026, JoSAA 2027 has not begun, so no 2027 cutoff or rank data exists. This guide explains the stable reservation mechanism and process for ST candidates — refer to 2026 ST category cutoff data only as historical reference, not a 2027 prediction.
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