The JoSAA counselling process is expected to start in June 2026 for 6 rounds. All the reserved categories, such as OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, will get a relaxation of around 10–25% relaxation in rank cutoffs.
- On the basis of previous years' trends, the expected JoSAA cutoff for NITs and IITs can be around 1,500–70,000 rank on the basis of the branch.
- General category cutoff for round 1 is expected to be around 93.5–95 percentile, EWS/OBC-NCL around 80–90, and SC/ST around 48–64.
- CS/IT branches close within 1,500–5,000 ranks; ECE/Electrical 5,000–28,000; Civil/Mechanical 15,000–70,000.
JoSAA cutoffs increase step by step in each round as seats keep getting vacant and filled again during the counselling process.
JoSSA 2025 Opening and Closing Ranks: Round 1 to 5
| Rounds | IITs | NITs | IIITs | GFTIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF |
| Round 2 | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF |
| Round 3 | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF |
| Round 4 | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF |
| Round 5 | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF |
| Round 6 | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF | View PDF |
Source: josaa.nic.in
Related Links:
- JoSAA Counselling 2026: Check Dates, Seat Matrix, Eligibility, and Documents Required
- JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Category Wise
- JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026

Key Summary
- Rank relaxation does not happen officially, but appears through the increase in closing ranks across rounds.
- The maximum cutoff expansion is usually observed in Round 5 and Round 6, making later rounds crucial for mid-rank candidates.
- Understanding this pattern helps candidates strategically stay in counselling instead of exiting early.
Expected JoSAA 2026 Cutoff Ranks (Round-Wise Trends)
- Top institutes like NIT Trichy and top IIITs have very high competition, so their CSE cutoff remains very low (top ranks only).
- In Round 1, only top rankers get CSE/IT seats, but by Round 6, the cutoff increases as more seats become available.
- The closing rank increases in every round, which means students with slightly lower ranks get chances in later rounds.
| Institution Type | Top Course (CSE/IT) - Round 1 (Rank) | Top Course (CSE/IT) - Round 6 (Rank) | Core Branches (Civil/Mech) - Round 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top NITs (e.g., Trichy) | < 1,500 | 1,500 - 3,000 | 10,000 - 25,000 |
| Other NITs | 2,000 - 8,000 | 8,000 - 15,000 | 25,000 - 50,000+ |
| Top IIITs (e.g., Hyderabad) | < 500 | 500 - 1,000 | N/A (Mostly CSE) |
| Other IIITs | 5,000 - 15,000 | 15,000 - 30,000 | 30,000 - 50,000 |
| GFTIs | 10,000 - 20,000 | 20,000 - 40,000 | 40,000 - 70,000+ |
Ques. What is rank relaxation in JoSAA counselling?
Ans. Rank relaxation in JoSAA refers to the increase in closing ranks across rounds, allowing candidates with lower ranks to secure seats in later rounds. It is not officially declared but observed through cutoff trends.
Also Check:
JoSAA Cutoff 2026 Overview
This table shows a detailed overview of JoSAA 2026.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Authority | Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) |
| Cutoff Type | Opening Rank & Closing Rank |
| Based On | JEE Main Rank & JEE Advanced Rank |
| Participating Institutes | IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST, GFTIs |
| Total Counselling Rounds | 6 Rounds |
| Mode of Release | Online |
| Official Website | josaa.nic.in |

Ques. Does JoSAA cutoff decrease in every round?
Ans. Yes, JoSAA cutoffs generally expand to higher ranks in every round due to seat withdrawals, upgradation, and reallocation of vacant seats.
Also Read: JEE Main 2026 Exam Marks vs Percentile for January Session
Expected JoSAA 2026 Cutoff Ranks (Round-Wise Trends)
- For top NITs such as NIT Trichy, the expected closing rank for CSE in Round 1 can be below 1500 rank.
- For top IITs such as IIT Hyderabad it can be below 500 rank.
| Institution Type | Top Course (CSE/IT) - Round 1 (Rank) | Top Course (CSE/IT) - Round 6 (Rank) | Core Branches (Civil/Mech) - Round 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top NITs (e.g., Trichy) | < 1,500 | 1,500 - 3,000 | 10,000 - 25,000 |
| Other NITs | 2,000 - 8,000 | 8,000 - 15,000 | 25,000 - 50,000+ |
| Top IIITs (e.g., Hyderabad) | < 500 | 500 - 1,000 | N/A (Mostly CSE) |
| Other IIITs | 5,000 - 15,000 | 15,000 - 30,000 | 30,000 - 50,000 |
| GFTIs | 10,000 - 20,000 | 20,000 - 40,000 | 40,000 - 70,000+ |
Ques. Which JoSAA round has the maximum rank relaxation?
Ans. Maximum rank relaxation is usually observed in Round 5 and Round 6, as most seat movements happen before the final allotment.
Check:
JoSAA 2026 Top NITs CSE Round-Wise Cutoff
This table shows the expected cutoff for round 1 to 6 for top NITs for CSE branch.
- For NIT Surathkal, the round 1 cutoff for CSE branch can be around 1,500 – 2,800 rank.
- For NIT Warangal, it can be around 1,500 – 2,800 and for round 2 can be 1,550 – 3,050.
| Institute | Round | Expected Opening and Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | Round 1 | 1,262 – 1,500 |
| Round 2 | 1,300 – 1,700 | |
| Round 3 | 1,380 – 2,000 | |
| Round 4 | 1,450 – 2,500 | |
| Round 5 | 1,550 – 3,200 | |
| Round 6 | 1,650 – 3,900 | |
| NIT Surathkal | Round 1 | 1,500 – 2,800 |
| Round 2 | 1,550 – 3,050 | |
| Round 3 | 1,650 – 3,400 | |
| Round 4 | 1,750 – 3,800 | |
| Round 5 | 1,900 – 4,200 | |
| Round 6 | 2,050 – 4,600 | |
| NIT Warangal | Round 1 | 1,800 – 3,000 |
| Round 2 | 1,850 – 3,250 | |
| Round 3 | 1,950 – 3,600 | |
| Round 4 | 2,100 – 4,000 | |
| Round 5 | 2,250 – 4,500 | |
| Round 6 | 2,400 – 5,000 | |
| NIT Calicut | Round 1 | 2,000 – 3,200 |
| Round 2 | 2,100 – 3,500 | |
| Round 3 | 2,250 – 3,900 | |
| Round 4 | 2,400 – 4,400 | |
| Round 5 | 2,600 – 5,000 | |
| Round 6 | 2,800 – 5,600 | |
| NIT Rourkela | Round 1 | 2,200 – 3,500 |
| Round 2 | 2,300 – 3,900 | |
| Round 3 | 2,500 – 4,400 | |
| Round 4 | 2,700 – 5,000 | |
| Round 5 | 2,900 – 5,600 | |
| Round 6 | 3,100 – 6,200 |
Ques. What is rank relaxation in JoSAA counselling?
Ans. Rank relaxation in JoSAA refers to the increase in closing ranks across rounds, allowing candidates with lower ranks to secure seats in later rounds. It is not officially declared but observed through cutoff trends.
JoSAA 2026 Top IITs CSE Round Wise Cutoff
This table shows the expected cutoff for round 1 to 6 for top IITs for CSE branch.
- For IIT Bombay which is the most competitive branch, the expected cutoff for Round 1 can be 1 - 66 rank which can be increasing at every round.
- For IIT Delhi, it can be around 24 – 125 rank and for round 2 it can be 24 – 128.
| Institute | Round | Expected Opening and Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Round 1 | 1 – 66 |
| Round 2 | 1 – 69 | |
| Round 3 | 1 – 73 | |
| Round 4 | 1 – 78 | |
| Round 5 | 1 - 82 | |
| Round 6 | 1 - 87 | |
| IIT Delhi | Round 1 | 24 – 125 |
| Round 2 | 24 – 128 | |
| Round 3 | 24 – 132 | |
| Round 4 | 24 – 136 | |
| Round 5 | 24 – 140 | |
| Round 6 | 24 – 145 | |
| IIT Madras | Round 1 | 76 – 159 |
| Round 2 | 76 – 162 | |
| Round 3 | 76 – 168 | |
| Round 4 | 76 – 172 | |
| Round 5 | 76 – 178 | |
| Round 6 | 76 – 185 | |
| IIT Kanpur | Round 1 | 147 – 270 |
| Round 2 | 147 – 275 | |
| Round 3 | 147 – 285 | |
| Round 4 | 147 – 295 | |
| Round 5 | 147 – 310 | |
| Round 6 | 147 – 325 | |
| IIT Kharagpur | Round 1 | 180 – 414 |
| Round 2 | 180 – 420 | |
| Round 3 | 180 – 435 | |
| Round 4 | 180 – 450 | |
| Round 5 | 180 – 470 | |
| Round 6 | 180 – 490 |
Ques. Does JoSAA cutoff decrease in every round?
Ans. Yes, JoSAA cutoffs generally expand to higher ranks in every round due to seat withdrawals, upgradation, and reallocation of vacant seats.
Ques. Which JoSAA round has the maximum rank relaxation?
Ans. Maximum rank relaxation is usually observed in Round 5 and Round 6, as most seat movements happen before the final allotment.
Ques. Do opening ranks change in JoSAA rounds?
Ans. Opening ranks may change slightly in later rounds, but mostly remain stable, especially for top branches like CSE in IITs.
Ques. Why do JoSAA cutoffs change after every round?
Ans. Cutoffs change because candidates upgrade their choices, withdraw from counselling, or shift to better institutes, which creates vacant seats for the next round.
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