OJEE 2026 SC ST Cutoff: Expected Round 1 Closing Ranks in Odisha

OJEE 2026 Round 1 expected closing rank for SC students at top Odisha engineering colleges starts from around 150 at IIIT Bhubaneswar CSE and for ST students from around 380, based on 2025 counselling trends.

The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) 2026 counselling Round 1 is scheduled for July 7, 2026. SC and ST students competing for lateral entry B.Tech, MBA, and MCA seats in Odisha benefit from reserved quotas under state reservation norms. Knowing the expected Round 1 closing rank helps you shortlist colleges and fill your choices strategically before the window opens.

• Odisha reserves 16% seats for SC students and 22.5% seats for ST students in government and government-aided colleges.
• SC and ST students are ranked on separate category merit lists; your rank within the SC or ST list determines your college and branch allocation.
• Round 1 SC closing ranks for CSE at top colleges are expected between 150 and 560, and for ST between 380 and 980, based on 2025 trends.
• Private colleges have higher closing ranks and remain accessible to students with ranks beyond 3,000 in both SC and ST lists.
• SC and ST students can also compete in the General merit list if their rank qualifies, giving them dual eligibility for seats.

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OJEE 2026 SC and ST Reservation Policy

Under Odisha state reservation norms, 16% of total seats are reserved for SC students and 22.5% for ST students across government and government-aided colleges participating in OJEE counselling. These reserved seats are filled through category-specific merit lists prepared by the OJEE Board. Unfilled reserved seats after Round 1 may be converted to the General category in later rounds, reducing SC/ST availability if you miss the first round.

SC and ST students can simultaneously compete in the open General merit list if their overall OJEE rank qualifies. This dual eligibility means a high-ranked SC or ST student can access both reserved and open seats, maximising their college options during choice filling.

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OJEE 2026 Expected Round 1 Closing Rank for SC Category

The expected SC closing ranks for OJEE 2026 Round 1 are derived from 2025 counselling data and assume a comparable applicant pool and seat matrix. Actual ranks may shift by 8–10% depending on the number of qualified SC applicants and any board-approved seat changes for 2026.

For MBA programs under OJEE 2026, SC students with a rank up to 500 can expect seats at top Odisha management institutions, while an MCA SC closing rank of up to 700 has historically been sufficient for reputed colleges, based on 2025 patterns.

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OJEE 2026 Expected Round 1 Closing Rank for ST Category

ST students benefit from a larger reservation quota (22.5%) compared to SC (16%), which means more reserved seats are distributed among ST applicants. As a result, ST closing rank numbers are typically higher than SC closing ranks for the same college and branch, reflecting the wider seat availability under the ST quota. The figures below are expected based on 2025 trends.

ST students from tribal districts of Odisha may also qualify for additional district-level preferences at certain government colleges. Check individual college admission rules before finalising your choice-filling list in OJEE 2026 counselling.

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Previous Year OJEE Cutoff for SC and ST: 2025 Reference Data

The 2025 OJEE Round 1 closing ranks serve as the primary benchmark for 2026 expected figures. The table below shows consolidated SC and ST closing ranks from OJEE 2025 counselling, which form the base for the projections in the sections above. Year-on-year variation in OJEE cutoffs has historically been within 8–10% for most colleges.

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Factors Affecting OJEE 2026 SC and ST Cutoff

Several variables can shift the Round 1 cutoff for reserved category students each year. Understanding these helps you gauge whether your rank gives you a comfortable margin for your target college and branch.

• Number of qualified SC/ST applicants: More qualified applicants in a category tightens the closing rank (lower number); fewer applicants relaxes it and more students can secure seats.
• Total reserved seat intake: Government-approved changes to seat capacity in a branch directly affect how many students can be admitted under each category quota.
• OJEE 2026 exam difficulty and score distribution: A tougher paper compresses score differences, which can tighten rank distribution near the cutoff boundary.
• Branch and college popularity: CSE and ECE seats at IIIT Bhubaneswar and VSSUT Burla consistently attract the highest demand, keeping SC/ST closing rank numbers low for those programmes.
• Round 1 seat conversion rule: Unfilled SC/ST reserved seats are typically converted to the General category from Round 2 onwards. Participating actively in Round 1 maximises your chances under the reserved quota.
• Odisha domicile requirement: Reserved quota seats under OJEE are available only to Odisha domicile holders; non-Odisha students are not eligible for SC or ST reserved seats.