JEE Main 2026 cutoff percentile for the general category for NITs is more likely to be above 98, especially for demanding branches like CSE and its specialisations. Top NITs like Trichy, Surathkal, and Warangal usually require above 98.5 percentile for the CSE branch.
- The JEE Main cutoff percentile for core branches like ECE and EE is slightly lower, but still requires a 97-98.5 percentile at NIT Trichy.
- NIT Jalandhar and Patna usually have slightly lower cutoff percentiles for core branches like Mechanical or Electrical, i.e., around 93-94 percentile.
- The JEE Main cutoff for NITs is relatively lower for home state candidates, mostly reducing to 1-2 cutoff percentiles.
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- Check Category-wise Opening and Closing Ranks for top NITs
- Check the Minimum JEE Main Marks Needed for IIITs
- Check the JEE Main Cutoff Percentile for GFTIs
Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Percentile for General Category to Qualify for NITs
To qualify for NITs, general candidates usually require a very high percentile in JEE Main. A score above 98.5 percentile is required for the top NITs, especially for high-demand branches such as CSE.
- If you want CSE at top NITs like Surathkal, Warangal, or Trichy, aim for the 99+ percentile.
- Core Engineering branches at mid-tier NITs are easily accessible with 95-98 percentile for general category candidates.
| NIT Tier / Branch | Expected JEE Main Cutoff Percentile | Expected Rank Range (Approx) | Safe Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top NITs (CSE/ECE) | 98.5-99.5+ | Top 5000 | Aim for 99+ |
| Mid-tier NITs (Any branch) | 95-98 | 5000-2000 | Safe with 96+ |
| Lower NITs / Home state quota | 93-95 | 20,000-50,000 | Possible with 94+ |
| Any NIT (less popular branch) | 92-94 | Above 50,000 | Risky but possible |
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Ques. What is the minimum JEE Main percentile needed for a good college like NIT for the general category?
Ans. For the general category, the qualifying JEE Main percentile is around 93, but for NITs, you need 95+ for any realistic NIT chance. 98.5+ for CSE at top NITs; however, core engineering branches can be accessed with 97-98 percentile.
Ques. Do I have any chance at NITs with a 93 percentile?
Ans. At 93-94 percentile, options are very limited for the general category. Mostly lower NITs at later JoSAA rounds or with home state quota.
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Expected JEE Main Cutoff Percentiles for the General Category at NITs
- CSE at NIT Trichy typically has the highest cutoff for the general category, i.e., above 98.8 percentile.
- For less popular branches like Civil or Chemical, the 97-98 percentile is typically sufficient for general categories.
- Home state can lower the required JEE Main cutoff by 1-3 percentiles.
| NIT | Expected JEE Main Cutoff Percentiles for CSE | Expected JEE Main Cutoff Percentiles for other branches (ECE//EE) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 98.8-99.5+ | 97.5-99 |
| NIT Surathkal | 98.7-99.4+ | 97 - 98.8 |
| NIT Warangal | 98.6 - 99.3+ | 96.8-98.5 |
| NIT Rourkela | 98.2-99 | 96.5-98.2 |
| NIT Calicut | 97.8-98.8 | 96-97.8 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 97.5-98.7 | 95.5-97.5 |
| NIT Allahabad | 97.7-98.9 | 96.2-98 |
| NIT Durgapur | 96.8-98.2 | 95-97 |
| NIT Kurukshetra | 96.5-98 | 94.8-96.8 |
Check out the minimum JEE Mains marks needed for top NITs analysis by Vedantu
Also Read:
Ques. At what percentile do I get the top 3 NIT CSE?
Ans. For top NITs like Trichy, Warangal, and Surathkal, CSE for the general category, you need a 98.5-99.5+ percentile. You can get core branches like ECE, EE, and Mech with slightly lower percentiles, around the 97 percentile.
NITs with Low JEE Mains Cutoff Percentiles for General Category
Mid-tier and newer NITs have relatively lower JEE Main cutoff percentile requirements, especially for less popular branches or with the home state quota.
- These NITs give better chances to students who score in the 93-96 percentile range. They are good options if you miss top NITs but still want an NIT seat.
- In later JoSAA rounds, seats in new NITs can open even at 93 percentile for the general category.
- Many students with ranks above 40,000 still get a seat at newer NITs by using the home state quota.
| NIT | Expected JEE Main Cutoff Percentile for CSE | Expected for EC/EE branches |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Jalandhar | 94-96.5 | 93-95.5 |
| NIT Patna | 93.5-96 | 92.5-95 |
| NIT Raipur | 93.8-96.2 | 93-95.2 |
| NIT Agartala | 93-95.5 | 92-94.5 |
| NIT Srinagar | 93.5-96 | 92.8-95 |
| NIT Arunachal Pradesh | 92.5-95 | 91.5-94 |
| NIT Puducherry | 93 - 95.8 | 92-94.8 |
Source: The JEE Main cutoff percentile analysed by the NITs, with a low cutoff percentile by Vedantu
Also Read:
- List of Colleges Accepting 99 Percentile in JEE Mains
- Government Colleges Accepting JEE Mains Score in Delhi
Ques. Do I have any chance of getting into CSE at any NITs with a 93-94 percentile in JEE Main?
Ans. CSE at NITs usually has the highest cutoff and requires above 98 percentile. You might have a chance with Newer or Tier-3 NITs with 93-94 percentile. NITs like Agartala, Arunachal Pradesh, have slightly lower cutoffs compared to top NITs. Home state quota can help you reduce your cutoff percentiles.
A user on the r/JEENEETards thread on Reddit listed out the chances of NITs and IIITs for 98.19 percentile in JEE Main 2026. According to the user, with 98 percentile, they are expecting to get ECE at NIT Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Srinagar.
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