The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) has released the notification for IIT JAM 2026. Candidates aiming for the Economics paper must check the IIT JAM EN previous years’ cut-off to understand the qualifying score trend. The cut-off marks provide clarity on the minimum score required to secure eligibility for the admission process.
Why Checking the Previous Year Cut-off is Important?
The Joint Admission Test for Master's (JAM) is among the most competitive exams in the country. It allows entry into postgraduate programmes such as M.Sc., M.Sc. (Tech.), M.Sc.–Ph.D. Dual Degree, and Joint M.Sc.–Ph.D. across IITs and other premier institutes. With thousands of applicants every year, the cut-off becomes a crucial benchmark. Analysing past trends helps aspirants:
- Set a realistic target score for preparation.
- Understand category-wise variations in qualifying marks.
- Gauge the difficulty level of recent exams.
IIT JAM Economics Previous Year Cut-off
The cut-off is the minimum score needed to qualify. Candidates scoring above it not only clear the exam but also improve their admission chances in top institutes. After the JAM results, qualified students must apply online for admission to their preferred programmes, fulfilling Eligibility Requirements (ERs) and Minimum Educational Qualifications (MEQs).The table below shows the qualifying marks for General, OBC-NCL/EWS, and SC/ST/PwD categories:
IIT JAM EN Cut-off Trend Analysis
The data highlights sharp year-to-year fluctuations in the Economics cut-off.
- For the General category, the cut-off ranged between 23 and 42 marks in the last three years. The highest was in 2025 (42.55), reflecting an easier paper or better performance by candidates.
- The OBC-NCL/EWS category consistently scored around 10% lower than General.
- The SC/ST/PwD category cut-offs were nearly half of the General scores, highlighting significant relaxation for reserved categories.
This analysis shows that the cut-off depends heavily on exam difficulty and candidate performance.
Factors Affecting IIT JAM EN Cut-off
Several elements decide the qualifying marks each year:
- Number of Test-Takers: More candidates increase competition, pushing the cut-off higher.
- Exam Difficulty: If the paper is tough, qualifying marks drop. Conversely, an easy paper raises the cut-off.
- Seat Availability: Fewer seats lead to higher cut-off marks, while more seats may reduce it.
- Overall Performance: If a large number of candidates perform well, the cut-off automatically rises.