The expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff for SC students is around the 62-63 percentile. It depends on the normalisation across all shifts. Scoring 63+ percentile ensures that you are eligible to attend JEE Advanced 2026.
- Approximately 37,000 SC candidates get selected for JEE Advanced every year out of 2.5 Lakh students.
- Even though the 62-63 percentile clears the JEE Main cutoff, it doesn’t guarantee you a seat at any NIT or IIITs.
Also Read:
- Check JEE Main 2026 Category-wise qualifying Percentile
- JEE Main Opening and Closing Ranks for Top Branches
Key Summary
- Current prediction suggests that the qualifying percentile for SC candidates will likely be around 62-63 percentile.
- The SC cutoff has significantly increased over the years, mainly because of high competition.
- Annually, around 37000 students qualify for JEE Advanced.
- Students with 50+ marks qualify the JEE Main comfortably, irrespective of shift-wise difficulty.
Expected JEE Main Cutoff 2026 for SC Category
Over the years. The JEE Main cutoff for SC has been increased significantly. An increase in the SC cutoff is mainly due to high competition. 62-63 percentile is expected to be the cutoff percentile for SC.
| Category | JEE Main Cutoff percentile (Expected) |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 93.3 - 95 |
| OBC-NCL | 79.5-81.5 |
| Gen-EWS | 81-82 |
| SC | 62-63 |
| ST | 49-50 |
Source: Analysis from the various coaching institutes and the JEE Main cutoff by We Won Academy
As per the IndianTechGuide on X Platform, JEE Main 2026 cutoff for SC is around the 60-63 percentile. The cutoff percentile for general may rise up to 95 percentile.
Ques. Is 65 percentile enough to qualify for JEE Advanced for SC students?
Ans. Yes. The expected cutoff for 2026 is around 62-63 percentile. With 65 percentile, you will comfortably clear the JEE Mains to attend the JEE Advanced.
Historical Trends for JEE Main Cutoff for SC (2023-2025)
Over the last few years, we have seen a significant upward shift in the qualifying cutoff for the SC category. This trend is a direct reflection of high competition.
| Year | SC Cutoff Percentile | ST Cutoff percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61.15 | 47.90 |
| 2024 | 60.09 | 46.697 |
| 2023 | 51.977 | 37.23 |
Ques. Why is the SC cutoff in JEE Main is increasing every year?
Ans. It's mainly due to 2 reasons.
- An increasing number of candidates. Approx. 10 lakh students attended the JEE Main 2026.
- High competition. The performance of the SC candidates has increased over the years.
JEE Main 2026 Session-1: Shift-wise Expected SC Cutoff Percentile?
After the analysis of the exam, it's clear that the JEE Main 2026 leaned toward moderate to difficult across shifts.
- Mathematics: Heavy on calculation and very time-consuming.
- Chemistry: Even though it was scoring, questions were conceptual and tricky.
- Physics: Lengthy due to many statement-based questions.
50+ marks in any JEE Main shift for SC students will likely be enough to qualify for the JEE Advanced. This score offers a safety buffer, regardless of shift difficulty.
Based on the shift-wise difficulty level, the cutoff marks are given below. Actual cutoff marks can be varied due to normalisation across shifts.
| Exam Date | Shift | Overall Difficulty | Predicted SC Cutoff marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | Shift 1 | Moderate-tough | 30-35 |
| Shift 2 | Moderate | 40-45 | |
| Jan 22 | Shift 1 | Moderate-tough | 30-35 |
| Shift 2 | Moderate-tough | 30-35 | |
| Jan 23 | Shift 1 | Moderate-tough | 30-32 |
| Shift 2 | Tough-lengthy | ~30 | |
| Jan 24 | Shift 1 | Moderate | ~35 |
| Shift 2 | Tough-lengthy | ~30 | |
| Jan 28 | Shift 1 | Tough-lengthy | ~30 |
| Shift 2 | Moderate | ~40 |
Source: JEE Main exam analysis from various sources and expected cutoff percentile analysis by Study with Aditya
JEE Main cutoff for SC has seen an upward trend over the years. SC students with 62+ percentiles ensure a safe score to achieve the cutoff for JEE Advanced. However, admission into any NIT requires a higher percentile.
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