JEE Main 2026 cutoffs for NITs released: JoSAA publishes opening and closing ranks

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have today, 11 October 2026, released the JEE Main 2026 cutoffs for admission to Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) courses across 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) in India. These cutoffs, available as opening and closing ranks, are crucial for engineering aspirants seeking to secure seats in various branches and institutes.

The cutoffs, which vary by category, institute, branch, and quota (Home State/Other State), determine the minimum JEE Main ranks required for admission. JoSAA previously released the Round 5 (final round) opening and closing ranks on July 16, 2026, covering all 138 participating institutes, including NITs.

Understanding JEE Main NIT Cutoffs 2026

The JEE Main 2026 cutoffs for NITs are based on scores obtained in the Joint Entrance Examination (Main), which is the entrance exam for admission to these institutes. JoSAA, the authority responsible for seat allocation, publishes these ranks round-wise for B.Tech branches. The opening rank marks the best (lowest) rank at which a seat was allotted in Round 1 of JoSAA counselling, while the closing rank indicates the last (highest) rank at which a seat was allotted in the final counselling round, typically Round 6.

Admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs depends on a candidate’s All India Rank (AIR) in JEE Main and the JoSAA closing ranks, rather than the qualifying percentile for JEE Advanced. Candidates must also meet academic eligibility criteria, which include a valid JEE Main rank and either 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or being in the top 20 percentile of their respective board.

Factors Influencing NIT Cutoffs

Several factors contribute to the determination of NIT cutoffs each year. These include the total number of candidates who applied for and appeared in JEE Main, the overall number of B.Tech seats available across the 31 NITs, the difficulty level of the entrance examination, and trends observed in previous years’ JEE Main cutoffs. These variables collectively shape the competitive landscape for admissions.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts JEE Main twice a year. For 2026, Session 1 was held from January 21 to 28, and Session 2 from April 2 to 9, 2026. The NTA declared the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result and later released the official JEE Main 2026 qualifying cut-off on April 20, 2026, along with the Session 2 result.

JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Percentiles for JEE Advanced

The JEE Main 2026 qualifying cut-offs for eligibility to appear in JEE Advanced saw an increase across all categories compared to previous years. The General category qualifying percentile reached its highest level in four years, and the OBC-NCL percentile crossed the 80-percentile mark for the first time. This rise is attributed to record participation, moderate exam difficulty, and stronger overall preparation among candidates. Around 2.5 lakh candidates qualified for JEE Advanced 2026.

JOSAA Counselling Process for NIT Admissions

Engineering aspirants seeking admission into the 31 NITs must participate in JoSAA counselling. Candidates who fall within the opening and closing ranks for their preferred college and course are shortlisted. Shortlisted candidates are then required to engage in the JoSAA counselling process, which includes seat allotment, document verification, and fee payment. Candidature will stand cancelled without participation in JoSAA counselling.

The institute-wise allotment of seats for admission to B.Tech courses is released by JoSAA after the JEE Main result declaration. Candidates are called for counselling based on their JEE Main All India Rank (AIR) and the availability of seats. Candidates have three consecutive years for JEE Main attempts.

Further reading

• DSU 2027: Apply for UG/PG with JEE Main, CAT, COMEDK UGET scores
• JEE Main 2027 eligibility announced: check passing year, drop rules, and subjects
• JEE Main cutoff: previous closing ranks and marks Next step
• VITEEE application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• MHT CET application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• JEE Main: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →