How Many Marks Are Required in JEE Main 2026 to Qualify for JEE Advanced? Category-Wise Expected Cutoff Explained

As the JEE Main 2026 examination season continues, students are keenly searching for one crucial detail: the minimum marks required in JEE Main to qualify for the next stage. For lakhs of engineering aspirants, clearing the JEE Main cutoff is the first and most important hurdle in the journey towards top engineering colleges.

Every year, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announces the qualifying cutoff for JEE Main after the results are declared. Until then, students rely on previous years’ trends to understand the minimum marks and percentiles required to qualify. 

The examination will be conducted in two sessions. Session 1 is scheduled from 21 January to 30 January 2026, while Session 2 will be held from 2 April to 9 April 2026.

For Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), the exam will be conducted in two shifts:

• Morning Shift: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

• Afternoon Shift: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

What Does “Minimum Marks in JEE Main” Mean?

The minimum marks in JEE Main refer to the lowest score required to cross the qualifying cutoff. This cutoff decides:

• Whether a student qualifies JEE Main

• Whether they become eligible for the next stage

It is important to note that JEE Main qualification is based on percentile, not raw marks, but marks give students a practical target to aim for.

Expected Minimum JEE Main Marks 2026 (Category-Wise)

Based on analysis of previous years’ cutoff data, here are the expected minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026:

General (UR) Category

• Expected Percentile: Around 94–95

• Minimum Marks: 90 to 100 marks

Students scoring below 90 may find it difficult to qualify, while those scoring above 100 remain on the safer side.

OBC-NCL Category

• Expected Percentile: 88–92

• Minimum Marks: 80 to 95 marks

Due to high competition, OBC-NCL candidates are advised to target marks closer to the upper range.

EWS Category

• Expected Percentile: 88–92

• Minimum Marks: 80 to 95 marks

EWS cutoff trends remain similar to OBC-NCL, with slight yearly variations.

SC Category

• Expected Percentile: 70–80

• Minimum Marks: 65 to 80 marks

ST Category

• Expected Percentile: 65–75

• Minimum Marks: 60 to 75 marks

These figures are indicative and may change depending on exam difficulty and number of candidates.

Why Do Minimum Marks Change Every Year?

The minimum marks required in JEE Main are not fixed. They depend on:

• Difficulty level of the question paper

• Total number of students appearing

• Normalisation process across multiple sessions

• Overall performance of candidates

This is why students should always aim higher than the minimum expected marks.

Previous Years’ JEE Main Cutoff Trends (2020–2024)

Below is a table showing the actual qualifying cutoff percentiles for JEE Main (used as minimum benchmarks for eligibility) over the last five years. These figures help students analyse trends and set score goals:

(Percentiles from NTA official cutoff data represent minimum qualifying percentiles, not marks.)

Marks vs Percentile: What Students Must Understand

While students often ask about minimum marks, the official cutoff is released in percentile form. For example:

• A tough paper may result in lower marks but higher percentile

• An easier paper may push cutoff marks higher

Therefore, focusing on accuracy and consistency is more effective than chasing a fixed marks number.

How Many Marks Should Students Aim for Safety?

Experts recommend the following safe target scores in JEE Main 2026:

• General Category: 100+ marks

• OBC-NCL / EWS: 90+ marks

• SC / ST: 75+ marks

Scoring above these marks significantly improves the chances of qualifying.

The minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026 will vary across categories, but students should not limit their preparation to just clearing the cutoff. Aiming comfortably above the expected minimum marks provides security against fluctuations in cutoff trends.

As the official JEE Main 2026 cutoff will be released after results, students are advised to stay updated and continue focused preparation.

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