As per the experts, the JEE Mains 2026 cutoff percentile for SC is expected to be around 62 to 64. The previous year's cutoff was 61+ percentile, which is likely to increase this year due to the increasing competition.
- The expected cutoff marks for JEE Mains 2026 for SC category can be around 50 – 65+ marks.
- For SC candidates, the JEE Mains cutoff is important because it decides if the candidate is eligible to appear in JEE Advanced or not.
- Even if the qualifying cutoff is lower, the admission cutoff for top NITs and IIITs remains is much higher, so clearing cutoff does not guarantee a seat.
The JEE Mains cutoff shows the minimum percentile need to qualify for JEE Advanced, so it depends on how many candidates need to be shortlisted.
Related Links:
- Check the expected date for the JEE Main Admit Card 2026
- JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Category Wise
- JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Category-Wise

Key Summary
- The SC cutoff in JEE Main 2026 is expected to stay in a lower percentile range.
- This decline suggests that fewer marks are now required to qualify, mainly due to changes in exam difficulty and overall student performance.
- The cutoff represents the minimum percentile needed to qualify for JEE Advanced, so it depends on how many candidates need to be shortlisted rather than absolute marks.
JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff Percentile
- The SC cutoff percentile shows an upward trend from 2021 to 2025.
- In 2021 the cutoff was very low around 34+ percentile which highly increased in 2022 to 43+ percentile and keeps increasing every year.
- As per the previous year cutoff and experts prediction, the expected cutoff for JEE Main 2026 can be 62 to 64+ percentile.
| Year | Cutoff Percentile for SC |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 62 to 64+ Expected Percentile |
| 2025 | 61.1526933 |
| 2024 | 60.0923182 |
| 2023 | 51.9776027 |
| 2022 | 43.0820954 |
| 2021 | 34.6728999 |
Source: Previous Years Official Cutoff and Experts Prediction

Ques. What is the expected SC cutoff for JEE Main 2026?
Ans. The expected cutoff percentile for SC category in JEE Main 2026 is around 62 to 64 percentile, based on previous year trends and expert predictions.
Reddit Discussion for JEE Mains 2026 Cutoff for SC Category
Various users on Reddit are discussing the expected cutoff for JEE Mains 2026. A user from SC category asked “If I scored 50 marks in mains mod, tough shift in January so am I eligible for advanced or not?”
A user in the comment section mentioned “IIT is possible for such marks in SC category”.

Source: Reddit Discussion
Ques. What was the SC cutoff in JEE Main 2025?
Ans. The SC cutoff in JEE Main 2025 was approximately 61.15 percentile, which shows a gradual increasing trend in recent years.
Check:
- JEE Main 2026 Free Mock Tests for Practice
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Check Exam Dates, Timings, Dress Code, Things to Carry & Avoid
JEE Mains 2026 Expected Marks vs Percentile
The data shows that percentile is relatively higher at lower marks that shows a moderate to tough paper level.
- Around 30–40 marks is expected to be around 40–55 percentile that shows many students scored in a lower marks range.
- The mid-range (70–120 marks) has high competition, where small mark difference can cause percentile increase.
| Marks | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 180+ | 99+ percentile |
| 150 – 160 | 98 – 99 percentile |
| 130 – 140 | 96 – 98 percentile |
| 110 – 120 | 93 – 95 percentile |
| 90 – 100 | 88 – 92 percentile |
| 70 – 80 | 80 – 85 percentile |
| 50 – 60 | 65 – 75 percentile |
| 30 – 40 | 40 – 55 percentile |
| 20 – 30 | 25 – 40 percentile |
| 10 – 20 | 10 – 25 percentile |
Source: YouTube Video PW Vidyapeeth Maharashtra

Ques. How many marks are required for SC cutoff in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Candidates may need around 50 to 65+ marks to reach the expected cutoff percentile, depending on shift difficulty and normalization.
JEE Mains SC Cutoff for Top NITs and IIITs: Previous Year
These tables shows the 2025 cutoff for top NITs, IITs, and GFTIs. It shows the last round cutoff for Computer Science and Engineering for various institutes for SC category.
Previous Year Cutoff for Top NITs
- NIT Allahabad is expected to be the most competitive NIT with previous year closing rank of 1132.
- NIT Jaipur and NIT Durgapur are other most competitive NITs with 1369 and 1562 closing rank.
| Institute | SC (Closing Rank) for 2025 |
|---|---|
| NIT Jalandhar | 3454 |
| NIT Jaipur | 1369 |
| NIT Bhopal | 2905 |
| NIT Allahabad | 1132 |
| NIT Agartala | 8718 |
| NIT Arunachal Pradesh | 26592 |
| NIT Calicut | 4674 |
| NIT Delhi | 2093 |
| NIT Durgapur | 1562 |
Source: JoSSA Official Website

Previous Year Cutoff for Top IIITs
- IITM Gwalior is one of the most competitive IIITs with closing rank 2092 in 2025.
- IIT Pune and IIT Guwahati are other most competitive IIITs with 5646 and 5708 closing rank.
| Institute | SC (Closing Rank) for 2025 |
|---|---|
| IIITM Gwalior | 2092 |
| IIIT Nagpur | 7431 |
| IIIT Pune | 5646 |
| IIIT Ranchi | 9351 |
| IIIT Chittoor | 7536 |
| IIIT Kota | 7467 |
| IIIT Bhagalpur | 10415 |
| IIIT Bhopa | 7875 |
| IIIT Guwahati | 5708 |
| IIIT Manipur | 11300 |
Source: JoSSA Counselling

Ques. Does clearing the SC cutoff guarantee admission to NITs or IIITs?
Ans. No, clearing the cutoff only makes candidates eligible for JEE Advanced. Admission to NITs/IIITs requires a much higher percentile and rank.
Ques. How does normalization affect SC cutoff in JEE Main?
Ans. Normalization adjusts scores across different shifts, so the cutoff is based on percentile rather than raw marks, ensuring fairness.
Ques. What percentile can I expect with 30–40 marks in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Based on current analysis, 30–40 marks may correspond to around 40–55 percentile, depending on exam difficulty.
Ques. Is the SC cutoff increasing or decreasing over the years?
Ans. The SC cutoff has shown an increasing trend from 2021 to 2025, rising from around 34 percentile to 61+ percentile.
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