A score of 240 out of 300 in JEE Main 2026 is expected to fetch a rank between 2,000 and 8,000 (General category), making it a borderline-to-safe score for several top NIT branches — but not universally safe for CSE at the most competitive NITs like NIT Trichy.
JEE Main is conducted by NTA across two sessions and your best session percentile determines your All India Rank (AIR). Admission to NITs happens through JoSAA counselling using this AIR. At 240 marks — 80 percent of the total 300 marks — your exact rank depends heavily on the paper difficulty that year. Based on JEE Main 2025 trends this score places students in the 99.5 to 99.8 percentile band.
- 240 out of 300 in JEE Main 2026 is expected to correspond to the 99.5–99.8 percentile band, based on 2025 data.
- Expected All India Rank: 2,000–8,000 (General category); varies with paper difficulty.
- NIT Trichy CSE (Other State, General) closed at approximately 1,400–1,500 in JoSAA 2025 — 240 marks is unlikely to be safe for CSE at NIT Trichy.
- NIT Warangal, NIT Surathkal and NIT Rourkela CSE are borderline at 240 marks and depend on your actual rank.
- NIT Calicut CSE closed around 5,000–5,500 in JoSAA 2025, making it likely accessible for students at 240 marks with a rank below 5,000.
- OBC-NCL, SC and ST students receive category-specific closing ranks that significantly improve their prospects at 240 marks.
| Direct Link — JEE Main 2026 Official Website | jeemain.nta.nic.in |
Expected Rank at 240 Marks in JEE Main 2026
In JEE Main 2025, a score of 240 out of 300 translated to an estimated rank between 2,000 and 8,000 in the General category. The wide band reflects how sensitive rank is to paper difficulty — in a tougher session fewer students score above 240 so the same marks yield a better rank. The table below maps score ranges to expected ranks based on 2025 trends.
| Score (out of 300) | Expected Percentile | Expected Rank (General, CRL) |
|---|---|---|
| 260–300 | 99.8–100 | Below 1,500 |
| 240–259 | 99.5–99.8 | 1,500–8,000 |
| 220–239 | 98.5–99.5 | 8,000–20,000 |
| 200–219 | 97–98.5 | 20,000–40,000 |
| 180–199 | 95–97 | 40,000–65,000 |
These are expected figures based on JEE Main 2025 data and are subject to change in 2026. Students scoring exactly 240 should note that a rank of 2,000 opens very different doors compared to a rank of 8,000 — both are possible at 240 marks across different sessions.
Top NIT CSE Cutoffs vs 240 Marks: Is It Safe?
The table below compares expected JoSAA 2026 closing ranks for CSE at top NITs against the expected rank range for a 240-mark scorer. All cutoff figures are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2025 Other State (OS) closing ranks for the General category and may change in 2026.
| NIT | Branch | JoSAA 2025 Closing Rank (OS, General) | Safe at 240 Marks? |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | CSE | ~1,400–1,500 | No — rank at 240 marks typically exceeds cutoff |
| NIT Warangal | CSE | ~2,400–2,500 | Borderline — safe only if rank falls below 2,400 |
| NIT Surathkal | CSE | ~2,500 | Borderline — safe only if rank falls below 2,500 |
| NIT Rourkela | CSE | ~3,300–3,500 | Borderline — possible if rank falls below 3,300 |
| NIT Calicut | CSE | ~5,000–5,500 | Likely Yes — accessible for most rank ranges at 240 marks |
| NIT Allahabad | CSE | ~4,500–5,500 | Likely Yes — accessible if rank falls below 5,000 |
240 marks is not a universally safe score for CSE at all top NITs. NIT Trichy CSE is out of reach for most students at this score. NIT Warangal and NIT Surathkal CSE are borderline and hinge on whether your rank lands below 2,500. NIT Calicut and NIT Allahabad CSE offer more realistic options for students scoring 240 marks.
ECE and Other Branches at Top NITs with 240 Marks
For students open to branches beyond CSE, 240 marks offers considerably stronger options at top NITs. ECE closing ranks at top NITs were in the 5,000–12,000 range in JoSAA 2025 making them accessible for a much wider band of ranks at 240 marks.
| NIT | Branch | Expected Closing Rank 2026 (OS, General) | Safe at 240 Marks? |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | ECE | ~4,000–5,500 | Borderline to Yes |
| NIT Warangal | ECE | ~4,000–6,000 | Borderline to Yes |
| NIT Surathkal | ECE | ~4,500–6,500 | Yes for most rank ranges |
| NIT Calicut | ECE | ~6,000–9,000 | Yes |
| NIT Trichy | Mechanical | ~8,000–13,000 | Yes |
| NIT Warangal | Mechanical | ~9,000–14,000 | Yes |
ECE at NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal and NIT Surathkal is expected to close above 4,000 in 2026 making it a strong option for students scoring 240 marks — particularly those with a rank closer to 2,000. Mechanical, Civil and Chemical Engineering at top NITs close above 8,000 in most cases and are broadly safe at this score. All figures are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2025 trends.
Category-wise Analysis at 240 Marks in JEE Main 2026
Your category plays a major role in determining whether 240 marks is safe for a specific NIT branch. JoSAA assigns category-specific closing ranks that are more relaxed than the General CRL for OBC-NCL, SC and ST students.
| Category | Expected Rank at 240 Marks | Safety for Top NIT CSE |
|---|---|---|
| General (CRL) | ~2,000–8,000 | Borderline — NIT Calicut and NIT Allahabad; not safe for NIT Trichy |
| OBC-NCL | OBC rank ~700–2,800 | Good chances at NIT Trichy and NIT Warangal CSE for better-end ranks |
| SC | SC rank ~300–1,100 | Safe for CSE at most top NITs |
| ST | ST rank ~100–450 | Safe for CSE at all top NITs |
| EWS | EWS rank ~600–2,500 | Borderline to Good for NIT Warangal and NIT Surathkal CSE |
If you belong to a reserved category always compare your category rank — not your CRL — against category-specific closing ranks from JoSAA 2025. These are available on the official JoSAA portal. All figures above are expected estimates based on 2025 trends.
Factors That Affect Your Rank at 240 Marks
Because 240 marks spans a rank range of 2,000 to 8,000, understanding what determines your exact rank helps in realistic college planning.
- Paper difficulty: A tougher paper means fewer students score high and the same marks give a better rank. A 240 in a harder session can yield a rank near 2,000. In an easier session the same score can mean a rank of 7,000 or more.
- Session performance: JEE Main takes your best percentile from Session 1 or Session 2 for the final merit list. Appearing in both sessions and performing better in at least one improves your chances.
- Number of students appearing: With over 12 lakh students sitting for JEE Main, a 0.1 percentile difference near the 99.5 mark translates to hundreds of rank positions.
- Home State quota: NITs reserve 50 percent of seats for Home State (HS) students. If you are a resident of the state where an NIT is located, HS closing ranks are generally more relaxed than OS closing ranks giving home-state students a meaningful advantage at 240 marks.
JEE Main 2026 240 Marks FAQs
Ques. What percentile is 240 marks in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. A score of 240 out of 300 in JEE Main 2026 is expected to correspond to the 99.5–99.8 percentile band based on 2025 trends. The exact percentile depends on the difficulty of the paper and the overall performance of all students in that session. Easier papers shift more students toward higher scores which can lower the percentile at any fixed marks value.
Ques. What rank will I get with 240 marks in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Based on JEE Main 2025 data, a score of 240 marks is expected to fetch an All India Rank between 2,000 and 8,000 for General category students. The range is wide because rank at 240 marks varies significantly with paper difficulty. A harder session yields a rank closer to 2,000 while an easier session may push the rank above 5,000 for the same score. The exact rank will be published by NTA after JEE Main 2026 results are declared.
Ques. Can I get CSE at NIT Trichy with 240 marks in JEE Main?
Ans. It is very difficult. CSE at NIT Trichy (Other State, General category) closed at approximately 1,400–1,500 in JoSAA 2025. A score of 240 marks is expected to yield a rank of 2,000–8,000 which typically exceeds the NIT Trichy CSE closing rank. Students targeting NIT Trichy CSE should aim for 260 marks or above. All figures are expected based on JoSAA 2025 trends and may change in 2026.
Ques. Is 240 marks enough for NIT Warangal or NIT Surathkal CSE?
Ans. It is borderline. NIT Warangal CSE (OS, General) closed at around 2,400–2,500 in JoSAA 2025 and NIT Surathkal CSE closed at approximately 2,500. If your rank at 240 marks falls below 2,400 you have a realistic chance at these institutes. If your rank is above 3,000 these branches become difficult. The outcome depends on the actual session difficulty. These are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2025 data.
Ques. What is the total marks in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. The total marks in JEE Main is 300. The paper covers three subjects — Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics — each carrying 100 marks. A score of 240 out of 300 represents 80 percent of the total. JEE Main 2026 is conducted by NTA and your best session result determines your percentile and All India Rank for JoSAA counselling.
Ques. Which top NIT branches are broadly safe with 240 marks for General category students?
Ans. For General category students with a rank of 2,000–8,000 at 240 marks, ECE at NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal and NIT Surathkal is borderline to likely safe as ECE closing ranks at these institutes are expected above 4,000 in 2026. Mechanical, Civil and Chemical Engineering at top NITs are broadly safe with 240 marks as closing ranks for these branches are typically above 8,000. CSE at NIT Calicut and NIT Allahabad which closed around 5,000–5,500 in JoSAA 2025 is accessible for students whose rank falls below 5,000. All figures are expected based on 2025 trends.
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