JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Expected Cutoff: Category Wise Trends from Previous Years

Millions of engineering aspirants across India are waiting for their JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted this exam in computer-based mode, and the results are set to release on January 12, 2026. For students and parents alike, understanding the cutoff trends is important to gauge their chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced and securing admission to premier institutes.

The JEE Main exam serves as a gateway not just to JEE Advanced but also to admissions in NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded technical institutions. This makes the cutoff percentile a critical number that can determine a student's engineering career path.

Understanding the Two-Session Format

JEE Main 2026 is being conducted in two sessions. If you appear in both sessions, here's some good news: NTA will consider your better score from the two attempts for the final merit list. This gives students a fair chance to improve their performance and maximise their percentile.

Only candidates who achieve the minimum qualifying percentile in JEE Main become eligible to sit for JEE Advanced, which is the entrance exam for IITs. The JEE Main score also determines admission to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions.

Why Cutoff Percentile Matters

Simply passing the exam isn't enough. Each category has a different qualifying percentile that candidates must achieve. This cutoff decides whether a student qualifies for JEE Advanced and what level of institutions they can target for admission.

The cutoff varies based on several factors: the difficulty level of the paper, the number of candidates appearing, the number of available seats, and the overall performance of students in that particular session.

Category Wise Cutoff Trends from Recent Years

Looking at the past few years gives us a clear picture of how cutoffs have evolved. The competition has grown tougher, especially for the General category.

General Category

The General category has seen a steady increase in cutoff percentiles:

2025: Around 93 percentile
2024: Around 93 percentile
2023: Around 90 percentile
2022: Around 88 percentile

This upward trend shows that the competition is getting stiffer each year. Students in the General category need to aim for at least 93 percentile to stay on the safer side.

Other Categories

Reserved categories typically have lower cutoff percentiles compared to the General category. While the exact numbers vary each year, the pattern remains consistent:

OBC-NCL candidates usually need to score around 10-15 percentile points lower than General category
EWS category cutoffs are typically close to General category, with a slight relaxation
SC category candidates have a significantly lower cutoff requirement
ST category has the most relaxed cutoff among all categories

What These Trends Tell Us

The data from previous years reveals a clear message: the bar is rising. More students are preparing better, and the overall performance level has improved. This means that merely clearing the cutoff might not guarantee admission to top colleges. Students need to aim for percentiles well above the minimum qualifying mark to secure good colleges.

For JEE Main 2026, experts expect the cutoff to either maintain the 2025 level or see a slight increase, depending on the paper's difficulty and student performance.

Preparing for Result Day

When the results come out on January 12, you should have a plan ready. Check your scorecard carefully. Note your percentile and compare it with the category wise cutoff. If your score is above the cutoff, start preparing for JEE Advanced immediately.

If you're slightly below the cutoff or want to improve your percentile, remember that Session 2 gives you another opportunity. Use the time between sessions wisely to work on your weak areas.

Beyond the Numbers

While cutoffs are important, they're not the end of the story. Your JEE Main percentile determines which colleges you can apply to through JoSAA counselling. Higher percentiles open doors to better NITs and IIITs. So even if you clear the cutoff, pushing for a higher score always helps.

Students should also keep track of college-specific cutoffs from previous years. This helps in making realistic choices during counselling and understanding which branches you might get in different colleges.

Making the Most of Your Score

Once you know your percentile, research thoroughly about colleges and branches. Don't just focus on college names. Look at placement records, faculty quality, infrastructure, and the branch you're interested in. Sometimes, a good branch in a decent college offers better prospects than a less preferred branch in a top college.

Remember, JEE Main is just one step in your engineering journey. Whether you clear it in the first attempt or use the second session to improve, what matters is how you use the opportunities that come your way.

The next few days will be crucial. Stay calm, stay prepared, and keep your documents ready for the next steps in the admission process. Good luck to all aspirants waiting for their results.