JEE Main 2026 NIT cutoffs released today, category-wise opening and closing ranks available

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA), in conjunction with the National Testing Agency (NTA), today, 11 October 2026, released the JEE Main 2026 cutoffs for admission to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs). These cutoffs provide engineering aspirants with the minimum JEE Main ranks required to secure admission into specific B.Tech branches across the 31 NITs in India, presented as opening and closing ranks for various categories and institutes.

The release of these cutoffs follows the declaration of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results and the official JEE Main 2026 qualifying cut-off by the NTA on 20 April 2026. Around 2.5 lakh candidates qualified for JEE Advanced 2026, with the qualifying cut-off rising across all categories compared to the previous year, influenced by record participation and exam difficulty.

Understanding JEE Main NIT Cutoffs 2026

The JEE Main NIT cutoffs for 2026 are crucial for candidates aspiring to secure B.Tech seats in the 31 NITs across India. These cutoffs, released by JoSAA, are based on the scores obtained in the JEE Main examination and are available round-wise, detailing opening and closing ranks for each institute and specific branch. The cutoffs vary significantly for each category, requiring candidates to score at least the specified cut-off to be eligible for admission.

Factors influencing these cutoffs include the total number of candidates applying for and appearing in JEE Main, the total B.Tech seats available across NITs, the difficulty level of the entrance examination, and previous year’s JEE Main cutoff trends. JoSAA has released the NIT cutoff 2026 for all rounds and courses, with the Round 5 (final round) opening and closing ranks having been released on 16 July 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Percentiles and Eligibility

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the official JEE Main 2026 qualifying cut-off on 20 April 2026, determining eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026. The qualifying percentile for JEE Advanced 2026 saw an increase across all categories compared to 2025, a trend attributed to record participation, moderate exam difficulty, and stronger overall preparation among candidates. While these cut-offs determine eligibility for JEE Advanced, actual admission to NITs depends on the All India Rank and the JoSAA closing ranks.

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam was conducted from 21 January to 28 January 2026, and the Session 2 exam took place from 2 April to 9 April 2026. The Session 1 results were declared prior to the release of the qualifying cut-offs. The opening and closing ranks for Open Seats represent the Common Rank List (CRL), while those for EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST Seats represent their respective Category Ranks. For PwD Seats, the ranks represent PwD Ranks within their respective categories.

JOSAA Counselling and Admission Process

Candidates seeking admission into the 31 NITs must participate in JoSAA counselling. JoSAA is in charge of releasing the NIT cutoff scores in the form of opening and closing ranks, which are essential for candidates to understand their admission prospects. Cutoffs for the same institute-branch-category combination can fluctuate year to year, influenced by factors such as the introduction of new seats, changes in exam difficulty, or shifts in branch popularity.

Typically, Home State cutoffs are observed to be less competitive than Other State figures. In addition, closing ranks generally tend to rise (become less competitive) round over round in counselling as candidates may withdraw their applications or upgrade to preferred choices. The final Round 5 opening and closing ranks were released by JoSAA on 16 July 2026, marking a significant step in the admission cycle for JEE Main 2026 qualified candidates.

Further reading

• JEE Main 2026 cutoffs for NITs released: JoSAA publishes opening and closing ranks
• Apply for Gujarat 2026 B-Tech via JEE Main/Advanced or GUJCET, then ACPC counseling
• JEE Main counselling: rounds, dates and seat allotment Next step
• DSU 2027: Apply for UG/PG with JEE Main, CAT, COMEDK UGET scores
• VITEEE 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.

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