As the National Testing Agency (NTA) prepares to finalise the JEE Main 2026 category-wise cutoff after the Session-2 results, predictions based on historical trends and expert analysis indicate that the ST category cutoff will be comparatively lower than other categories. The cutoff reflects the minimum qualifying percentile required to be eligible, especially for JEE Advanced 2026 and subsequent admission processes.
Expected ST Category Cutoff Percentile for JEE Main 2026
While the official cutoffs will only be announced alongside the final result, several sources estimate the percentile ranges across categories for qualifying JEE Main 2026:
- ST Category Cutoff (Expected): 47 – 49 percentile
- SC Category Cutoff: ~60 – 62 percentile
- OBC-NCL Cutoff: ~79 – 82 percentile
- Gen-EWS Cutoff: ~80 – 82 percentile
- General (UR) Cutoff: ~93 – 95 percentile
These expected values help students gauge where they might stand relative to qualifying benchmarks for JEE Advanced eligibility and other institutional criteria.
What the ST Cutoff Mean for JEE Main Candidates?
The cutoff percentile for the ST category signifies the minimum score threshold a candidate typically needs to attain in JEE Main to be considered for further stages, such as JEE Advanced qualification or counselling for engineering admissions. It is influenced by:
- Number of candidates appearing in the exam
- Difficulty level of the JEE Main papers
- Reservation policy and seats available under ST and other categories
Students from the ST category should note that achieving a percentile close to or above the expected cutoff range (around 47–49) enhances the chances of advancing in the selection process, although actual admission to colleges like NITs, IIITs or GFTIs also depends on overall rank, performance trends, and available seats.
JEE Main 2026: Final Cutoff Announcement Timing
The official JEE Main 2026 cutoffs, including category-wise percentiles for ST, SC, OBC-NCL, Gen-EWS and General will be declared on the NTA portal (jeemain.nta.nic.in) after Session-2 results are announced. Until then, students can use these expected ranges as a reference point for preparation and counselling planning. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official JEE Main portal for confirmed cutoff values and detailed eligibility criteria once released.