JEE Main 2026 Session 1 & 2 Results —
What Score Gets You Into the Top 10?
Official cutoffs released. 2,50,182 students qualify for JEE Advanced. Here's the complete breakdown of what percentile, rank and marks you need for India's top NITs, IITs & IIITs.
📋 Table of Contents
JEE Main 2026 — The Big Picture
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has completed both sessions of JEE Main 2026. Session 1 was held in January and Session 2 in April-May. Both results are now officially declared, and 2,50,182 students have qualified for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Main 2026 has been the most competitive edition yet. Over 15.5 lakh candidates registered, with 13,04,653 appearing for Session 1 alone — one of the highest appearances ever recorded for a single JEE Main session.
The result computation follows a rigorous normalization process: NTA scores are normalized across multi-shift papers based on relative performance within each shift. The best of the two session scores is considered for final rank calculation when a candidate appears in both sessions — giving every student a second chance to improve.
The final All India Rank (AIR) is computed from the best NTA Score between Session 1 and Session 2. If you appeared in both sessions, you get the higher percentile automatically — there's no need to choose. This protects every student's best performance.
Session 1 — January 2026 Results
Session 1 (January 2026) saw significant variation across shifts in terms of paper difficulty, leading to a wide distribution of percentile scores across exam dates.
What Made Session 1 Unique
According to official NTA data and analysis, Session 1 had more variation between shifts — some papers were easier, and some were notably tougher. The January 24th (Shift 2) session was considered easier, resulting in more students scoring above the 99 percentile mark. Remarkably, three students achieved a perfect 100 percentile in Session 1.
Conversely, the January 23rd shifts were considered tougher, with fewer students breaching the top percentile bands. This is precisely why NTA's normalization methodology is critical — it ensures students on tougher shifts aren't unfairly penalized.
Session 1 Topper Highlights
- 3 students achieved perfect 100 percentile in Session 1
- Session 1 appearance was among the highest ever in JEE Main history
- 54 candidates' NTA Scores were withheld for unfair means practices
- Tamil Nadu students performed strongly, with multiple top 100 percentile scorers
Note for Session 1 students: Even if your Session 1 score was lower than expected, your final rank is the best of both sessions. Many students significantly improved their percentile in Session 2 (April).
Session 2 — April/May 2026 Results
Session 2 was conducted from April 2 to 8, 2026, with results declared on April 20, 2026. This session proved to be more competitive and evenly spread.
What Made Session 2 Different
Session 2 (April) shifts were notably more balanced and competitive. The cutoff for achieving 99 percentile was slightly higher than Session 1, and fewer students crossed the 99 percentile mark overall. Critically, every individual shift had only 1 topper — indicating performance was evenly spread with no single shift giving disproportionate advantage.
A total of 26 candidates secured a perfect 100 percentile in JEE Main 2026 Session 2 — the highest ever for a single session. Andhra Pradesh led the state-wise tally with five students achieving the top score.
Session 2 National Toppers (AIR 1, 2, 3)
| AIR | Candidate Name | State | Percentile | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Aarush Singhal | Chandigarh | 100.00 | General |
| #2 | Jonnala Roshan Mandeep Reddy | Andhra Pradesh | 100.00 | General |
| #3 | Shreyas Mishra | Delhi | 100.00 | General |
Scorecard Download: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 scorecards are available at jeemain.nta.nic.in and through DigiLocker. You'll need your Application Number and Password. Scorecards include candidate name, percentile, subject-wise marks, and All India Rank.
Official JEE Main 2026 Cutoffs — By Category
The NTA has released official qualifying cutoffs for JEE Advanced 2026 along with Session 2 results. These are the minimum percentiles needed to be among the 2,50,000 qualifiers for JEE Advanced.
Type 1 — JEE Advanced Qualifying Cutoff: Minimum percentile to qualify for JEE Advanced (for IIT admission). Released by NTA.
Type 2 — NIT/IIIT/GFTI Admission Cutoff: Opening and closing ranks for specific colleges and branches through JoSAA counselling. These are much higher and college-specific. Released during JoSAA rounds (June–July 2026).
Official JEE Advanced Qualifying Cutoff 2026
| Category | Official Percentile Cutoff | vs 2025 | Approximate Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 93.4123549 | +0.31 ↑ | ~1,00,000 |
| OBC-NCL | 80.9218774 | Stable | ~2,50,000 |
| EWS | 81.3266412 | Stable | ~2,25,000 |
| SC | 62.8400260 | +0.54 ↑ | ~4,50,000 |
| ST | 49.6948422 | Stable | ~5,50,000 |
| PwD | 0.0013527 | — | Lowest threshold |
The General category cutoff of 93.41 percentile represents a slight increase compared to 2025 (93.10 percentile), reflecting the intensifying competition with over 15.5 lakh candidates. The distribution of 2,50,000 JEE Advanced seats follows the national reservation policy: 40.50% General, 27% OBC-NCL, 15% SC, and 7.50% ST.
Category-Wise Seat Distribution for JEE Advanced 2026
| Category | Percentage | Approx. Seats |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 40.50% | ~1,01,250 |
| OBC-NCL | 27.00% | ~67,500 |
| SC | 15.00% | ~37,500 |
| ST | 7.50% | ~18,750 |
| EWS | 10.00% | ~25,000 |
Marks vs Percentile vs Rank — The Full Map
Understanding the relationship between raw marks, percentile, and rank is essential for college prediction. Percentile is NOT percentage — it's your relative position among all test-takers.
JEE Main is out of 300 marks (Physics 100 + Chemistry 100 + Mathematics 100). However, your NTA Score (percentile) is what actually matters for ranking. The same marks can give different percentiles across different years and sessions depending on exam difficulty and competition.
| Marks Range (out of 300) | Approximate Percentile | Approximate AIR Rank | College Access Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 270–300 | 99.8–100 | 1 – 500 | IIT Bombay / Delhi CSE |
| 240–270 | 99.2–99.8 | 500 – 2,000 | Top IITs + NIT Trichy CSE |
| 220–240 | 98.5–99.2 | 2,000 – 5,000 | Top NITs (CSE/ECE) |
| 200–220 | 97–98.5 | 5,000 – 12,000 | Mid Tier NITs + Top IIITs |
| 170–200 | 94–97 | 12,000 – 35,000 | Good NITs (core branches) |
| 140–170 | 90–94 | 35,000 – 75,000 | Newer NITs + GFTIs |
| 100–140 | 80–90 | 75,000 – 1,50,000 | GFTIs / Private Colleges |
| Below 100 | Below 80 | 1,50,000+ | State / Private Colleges |
Important: These are approximate General category figures. The exact marks-to-percentile mapping shifts every year based on paper difficulty. For reserved categories (OBC/SC/ST/EWS), category rank (not AIR) is used for seat allocation, giving significant advantage.
Percentile Visualization — Who Qualifies Where
Top 10 NITs — Exact Score Needed in 2026
The National Institutes of Technology are the most sought-after destinations for JEE Main qualifiers. Here's the precise rank and percentile needed at each top NIT, based on JoSAA 2025 Round 6 closing ranks (the most reliable 2026 predictor).
Note on Quotas: NITs reserve 50% seats for Home State (HS) candidates and 50% for Other State (OS) candidates. HS quota closing ranks are typically 2,000–5,000 ranks more lenient. All data below is for OS quota, General category, gender-neutral unless specified.
NIT Trichy
National Institute of Technology, TiruchirappalliNIT Surathkal
NIT Karnataka, SurathkalNIT Warangal
NIT Warangal, TelanganaMNIT Jaipur
Malaviya NIT, Jaipur, RajasthanNIT Calicut
NIT Kozhikode, KeralaNIT Rourkela
NIT Rourkela, OdishaNIT Allahabad (MNNIT)
Motilal Nehru NIT, AllahabadNIT Silchar
NIT Silchar, AssamNIT Bhopal (MANIT)
Maulana Azad NIT, BhopalNIT Durgapur
NIT Durgapur, West BengalTamil Nadu Student Advantage: If you're from Tamil Nadu and targeting NIT Trichy, the Home State (HS) quota closing rank for CSE is approximately 4,569 — significantly more lenient than the OS quota rank of ~1,449. This gives Tamil Nadu students a major advantage at India's most prestigious NIT.
Top IIITs — The Hidden Gems of JEE Main
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) are rapidly rising as alternatives to even top NITs, especially for Computer Science. Some IIITs deliver placement records that rival the best NITs.
| IIIT Name | CSE Closing Rank | IT Branch Rank | Percentile Needed | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad | ~200–600 | — | 99.95%+ | Elite |
| IIIT Allahabad | ~3,000–5,000 | ~4,817–6,094 | 99.7%+ | Tier 1 |
| IIIT Bangalore (IIIT-B) | ~6,000–9,000 | ~8,500 | 99.4%+ | Tier 1 |
| IIIT Delhi | ~3,500–6,500 | ~6,000 | 99.5%+ | Tier 1 |
| IIIT Gwalior (ABV) | ~7,000–10,000 | ~8,050 (ECE) | 99.3%+ | Tier 2 |
| IIIT Pune | ~10,000–14,000 | ~12,000 | 99.0%+ | Tier 2 |
IIIT Hyderabad Special Note: IIIT Hyderabad has its own separate admission process (UGEE) alongside JoSAA. It consistently ranks as the most selective IIIT, with CSE closing ranks in the 200–600 bracket — competing with top IITs. If you have 99.9%+ percentile, it should be high on your list.
The IIT Path — Via JEE Advanced 2026
IIT admission doesn't happen through JEE Main directly. JEE Main qualifiers (top 2,50,182) must clear JEE Advanced 2026, conducted by IIT Roorkee this year.
JEE Advanced 2026 was announced and registration opened on April 23, 2026. Candidates must be among the 2.5 lakh rank holders in the BE/BTech paper of JEE Main. Age requirement: born on or after October 1, 2001 (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD). A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
One important rule: students already admitted to any IIT (or whose IIT admission was cancelled after joining) are not eligible for JEE Advanced.
IIT CSE Closing Ranks — JEE Advanced (Indicative)
| IIT | CSE Closing Rank (Adv.) | JEE Main Rank Needed | Approx. Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | ~100 | Top 200 | 99.99%+ |
| IIT Delhi | ~150 | Top 300 | 99.98%+ |
| IIT Madras | ~150 | Top 300 | 99.98%+ |
| IIT Kanpur | ~200 | Top 400 | 99.97%+ |
| IIT Kharagpur | ~250 | Top 500 | 99.96%+ |
| IIT Roorkee | ~600 | Top 1,200 | 99.9%+ |
| IIT Guwahati | ~1,200 | Top 2,500 | 99.82%+ |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | ~2,000 | Top 4,000 | 99.7%+ |
For students who couldn't secure top JEE Main ranks for IIT CS admission, IIT Guwahati, IIT Jammu, and IIT Mandi now offer specialised courses in AI, EV technology, deep learning, and data analytics. These programmes require only Class 12 qualifications and offer IIT-certified credentials with industry-relevant skills — a growing pathway for JEE aspirants.
JoSAA 2026 — Your Roadmap to Admission
JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) manages seat allocation for all IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. Registration opens June 2, 2026. Every qualified JEE Main student must participate.
How JoSAA Works — Step by Step
- Register on JoSAA portal using your JEE Main / JEE Advanced roll number (josaa.nic.in)
- Fill college-branch preferences in order of priority — fill minimum 25–40 choices, never fewer
- Multiple rounds of seat allotment — JoSAA releases allotments in phases, giving you chances to lock your seat or float to a better option
- Accept, withdraw, or float to a higher preference if your rank allows in each round
- Final round locks your seat — complete document verification and fee payment
- CSAB counselling follows JoSAA for remaining vacant seats
Critical JoSAA Strategy Tips
- Fill 25–40 choices minimum — there is no penalty for unused choices. Students who fill only 5–10 choices and all stretch options often end up without a seat
- Include safe options — follow the 40% dream + 40% realistic + 20% safe formula
- Home State quota matters — for NITs, adding your home state unlocks extra HS quota seats with easier cutoffs
- Don't ignore branch flexibility — ECE at NIT Trichy beats CSE at a Tier 3 college for long-term career prospects in many cases
- Check CSAB — if you miss JoSAA rounds, CSAB counselling fills vacant seats after JoSAA
JEE Main 2026 — Complete Timeline
Session 1 Examination
Conducted across India. 13,04,653 candidates appeared — one of the highest ever for Session 1.
Session 1 Result Declared
NTA released Session 1 scores and percentiles at jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Session 2 Examination
8,61,343 common candidates appeared in both sessions. 26 candidates scored perfect 100 percentile.
Session 2 Result + Final AIR Declared
Official cutoffs released. 2,50,182 students qualified for JEE Advanced. Scorecards available on DigiLocker.
JEE Advanced 2026 Registration Opens
IIT Roorkee opened registration for qualified candidates at jeeadv.ac.in.
JEE Main Paper 2 (B.Arch) Results
Final All India Ranks for B.Arch and B.Planning declared by NTA.
JoSAA 2026 Registration Opens
All JEE Main and JEE Advanced qualifiers register at josaa.nic.in and fill college preferences. Start preparing your choice list NOW.
JoSAA Seat Allotment Rounds
Multiple rounds of allotment. Document verification, seat acceptance and fee payment follow each round.
CSAB 2026 Special Rounds
Candidates who missed JoSAA can participate in CSAB rounds for remaining NIT/IIIT/GFTI seats.
Score Analysis by Branch — What You Actually Need
Your target score changes dramatically based on the branch you choose. CSE is the most competitive; Civil and Metallurgy are significantly more accessible. Here's a strategic breakdown.
| Branch | NIT Trichy | NIT Warangal | NIT Calicut | Approx Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSE | ~1,449 | ~2,409 | ~4,500 | 99.9%+ |
| AI & Data Science | ~2,800 | ~2,952 | ~6,000 | 99.8%+ |
| ECE | ~3,800 | ~5,500 | ~8,000 | 99.6%+ |
| Electrical Engineering | ~6,500 | ~9,000 | ~12,000 | 99.2%+ |
| Mechanical | ~9,000 | ~12,000 | ~15,000 | 98.8%+ |
| Chemical | ~11,000 | ~15,000 | ~20,000 | 98.5%+ |
| Civil | ~16,000 | ~20,000 | ~28,000 | 97.5%+ |
| Metallurgy / Mining | ~20,000+ | ~25,000+ | ~35,000+ | 96%+ |
The gap between CSE and Civil at the same NIT is 70–90+ marks. If your rank falls between NITs, choosing ECE/EE at a top-5 NIT often provides better long-term outcomes (placements, GATE prospects, research) than CSE at a Tier 3 NIT. Always evaluate: college brand + branch future vs just chasing "CSE" at any cost.
Key Takeaways for 2026 Aspirants
- The official General category cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 is 93.41 percentile — slightly higher than 2025's 93.10. Competition is intensifying each year.
- For NIT Trichy CSE (OS quota), you need approximately rank 1,449 (99.9%+ percentile / 240+ marks). Tamil Nadu students get significant HS quota relief (~4,569 rank).
- IIIT Hyderabad CSE closes around rank 200–600 in JEE Advanced — more competitive than all NITs except in the absolute top bracket.
- 26 candidates scored 100 percentile in Session 2; Andhra Pradesh led with 5 such achievers. AIR 1 went to Aarush Singhal from Chandigarh.
- JoSAA 2026 registration opens June 2, 2026. Fill minimum 25–40 choices — missing this is one of the biggest mistakes students make.
- For reserved categories: OBC-NCL cutoff is 80.92%, SC is 62.84%, ST is 49.69%. Category rank (not AIR) is used for seat allocation, providing significant admission advantage.
- If you missed the qualifying cutoff this year: JEE Main 2027 preparation should start immediately. A structured 12-month plan can dramatically improve your result.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions from JEE Main 2026 students — answered by our expert counselling team.
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The information provided in this article is compiled from publicly available official sources including NTA (National Testing Agency), JoSAA, and reputed educational platforms as of May 2026. All rank ranges, percentile estimates, and cutoff figures are based on official JoSAA 2025 Round 6 data and NTA-released 2026 cutoffs, and are provided for informational and guidance purposes only.
Actual JoSAA 2026 opening and closing ranks will only be published during the official counselling process at josaa.nic.in (June–July 2026) and may vary from the estimates provided here. College-specific cutoffs depend on annual seat matrix changes, applicant preferences, category distributions, and exam difficulty — all of which can shift year to year.
Success Masters Academy (successmastersacademy.in) does not represent, nor is affiliated with, NTA, JoSAA, IITs, NITs, IIITs, or any government body. We are an independent educational guidance institution based in Kadayanallur, Tamil Nadu. Students are strongly advised to verify all information on official government portals before making any admission decisions.
For personalised counselling tailored to your specific score, category, and goals, please contact our team directly.
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