JEE Advanced 2026 EWS cutoff refers to the minimum qualifying marks and IIT-wise opening and closing ranks in the EWS rank list, which holds 10% of all IIT seats for Economically Weaker Section students.
Based on JEE Advanced 2024 trends, the expected EWS closing rank for CSE at IIT Bombay is around 480–530 in the EWS rank list. The JEE Advanced 2026 result is scheduled for July 25, 2026, after which official IIT-wise cutoffs will be published round-by-round as JoSAA counselling proceeds. You can track official updates at jeeadv.ac.in.
- EWS category holds 10% of total IIT seats under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, introduced in 2019.
- Family income must be below ₹8 lakh per annum to qualify for EWS reservation in JEE Advanced.
- JEE Advanced 2026 result date: July 25, 2026 as per the official schedule.
- EWS minimum qualifying aggregate is typically around 88–95 marks out of 360 based on previous year trends.
- All IIT-wise opening and closing rank data below is based on JEE Advanced 2024 figures and is labelled expected for 2026.
| Direct Link – JEE Advanced 2026 Official Website: jeeadv.ac.in (UPCOMING) |
What is EWS Category in JEE Advanced 2026
EWS stands for Economically Weaker Section. From 2019, 10% of IIT seats are reserved for EWS students under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. IITs expanded total intake by 25% to create EWS seats without reducing existing SC, ST, or OBC-NCL quotas.
To claim EWS reservation during JoSAA counselling for JEE Advanced 2026, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Family gross annual income is below ₹8 lakh.
- Family does not own agricultural land of 5 acres or more.
- Family does not own a residential flat of 1,000 sq ft or more.
- Family does not own a residential plot of 100 sq yards or more in a notified municipality.
- You must hold a valid EWS certificate issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar or equivalent) on the prescribed government format.
Students who belong to SC, ST, or OBC-NCL categories are not eligible for EWS reservation even if their income is below ₹8 lakh.
JEE Advanced EWS Qualifying Cutoff — Previous Years
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum marks you must score to appear in JEE Advanced’s rank list and become eligible for IIT admission. EWS students need lower minimum marks than General category students. The table below shows EWS qualifying marks from 2021 to 2024, along with the expected 2026 range.
| Year | Min Marks per Subject (EWS) | Min Aggregate (EWS) | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 90 | 360 |
| 2023 | 6 | 88 | 360 |
| 2022 | 6 | 87 | 360 |
| 2021 | 5 | 75 | 360 |
| 2026 (Expected) | 5–7 | 88–95 | 360 |
IIT-Wise EWS Opening and Closing Ranks 2024
The tables below list IIT-wise EWS opening and closing ranks for the three most-sought branches in JEE Advanced 2024. All ranks are in the EWS category rank list, not the Common Rank List (CRL). Use these as a reference benchmark for expected 2026 trends.
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) — EWS Ranks 2024
| IIT | EWS Opening Rank (2024) | EWS Closing Rank (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 373 | 497 |
| IIT Delhi | 489 | 655 |
| IIT Madras | 521 | 741 |
| IIT Kanpur | 606 | 862 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 712 | 991 |
| IIT Roorkee | 841 | 1142 |
| IIT Guwahati | 1053 | 1387 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 1124 | 1461 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | 1247 | 1623 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | 1512 | 1834 |
Electrical Engineering (EE) — EWS Ranks 2024
| IIT | EWS Opening Rank (2024) | EWS Closing Rank (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 721 | 934 |
| IIT Delhi | 897 | 1123 |
| IIT Madras | 965 | 1287 |
| IIT Kanpur | 1032 | 1354 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 1178 | 1521 |
| IIT Roorkee | 1312 | 1687 |
| IIT Guwahati | 1534 | 1912 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | 1798 | 2156 |
Mechanical Engineering (ME) — EWS Ranks 2024
| IIT | EWS Opening Rank (2024) | EWS Closing Rank (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 1423 | 1897 |
| IIT Delhi | 1687 | 2134 |
| IIT Madras | 1812 | 2298 |
| IIT Kanpur | 1943 | 2456 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 2124 | 2689 |
| IIT Roorkee | 2312 | 2876 |
| IIT Guwahati | 2587 | 3145 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | 2876 | 3456 |
Expected JEE Advanced 2026 EWS Cutoff
Based on year-on-year trends from 2021 to 2024, the expected JEE Advanced 2026 EWS closing ranks are projected to stay within ±5–8% of 2024 figures. A significantly tougher or easier paper can shift these bands. The table below gives expected EWS closing ranks for key branches at top IITs.
| IIT | Branch | Expected EWS Closing Rank 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | CSE | 480–530 |
| IIT Delhi | CSE | 630–690 |
| IIT Madras | CSE | 720–790 |
| IIT Kanpur | CSE | 840–910 |
| IIT Kharagpur | CSE | 960–1040 |
| IIT Roorkee | CSE | 1100–1190 |
| IIT Guwahati | CSE | 1340–1440 |
| IIT Hyderabad | CSE | 1420–1520 |
| IIT Bombay | Electrical Engineering | 900–980 |
| IIT Delhi | Electrical Engineering | 1080–1160 |
| IIT Bombay | Mechanical Engineering | 1850–1970 |
| IIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | 2080–2200 |
These are expected figures based on 2024 JEE Advanced trends. Official 2026 cutoffs will be released after JoSAA counselling rounds conclude in July–August 2026.
Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 EWS Cutoff
Several factors can shift EWS cutoffs from one year to the next:
- Paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers scores overall and may reduce the qualifying aggregate cutoff, while making IIT-branch rank competition more intense among high scorers.
- Number of EWS applicants: Higher EWS participation increases competition within the EWS rank list and pushes closing ranks to higher numbers.
- Total EWS seats available: The 10% EWS quota is fixed by law, but IITs periodically revise total intake, changing the absolute number of EWS seats and thus the closing rank range.
- JoSAA round structure: The number of open rounds and seat reallocation patterns across rounds directly affect the final closing ranks each year.
- Branch-specific demand: CSE and Electrical Engineering consistently attract the highest EWS applicant volumes, keeping their closing ranks far tighter than newer interdisciplinary or dual-degree programmes.
JEE Advanced 2026 EWS Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected EWS qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, the expected EWS minimum aggregate qualifying mark for JEE Advanced 2026 is around 88–95 out of 360. Subject-wise minimum is expected to be around 5–7 marks. The exact figures will be announced with the official result on July 25, 2026.
Ques. How is the EWS rank different from the CRL rank in JEE Advanced?
Ans. The Common Rank List (CRL) ranks all qualified students together regardless of category. The EWS rank list orders only EWS-qualified students separately. During JoSAA counselling, EWS seats are filled using the EWS rank, not CRL. This means your EWS rank can be numerically much lower than your CRL rank for the same score, giving you access to IIT branches you would not reach on the CRL alone.
Ques. Which documents are needed to claim EWS reservation in IIT admissions?
Ans. You need a valid EWS certificate issued by a competent authority — typically a Tehsildar or equivalent — on the prescribed government format. The certificate must confirm that family income is below ₹8 lakh per annum and that the family does not own the prescribed limits of agricultural land, residential flat, or residential plot. The certificate must be produced during JoSAA document verification.
Ques. What is the expected JEE Advanced 2026 EWS closing rank for IIT Bombay CSE?
Ans. Based on 2024 trends, the expected EWS closing rank for CSE at IIT Bombay in JEE Advanced 2026 is around 480–530 in the EWS rank list. This is an expected estimate; official cutoffs will be published after JoSAA allotment rounds in July–August 2026.
Ques. Do EWS students get a relaxation only in seat allotment, or in qualifying marks too?
Ans. Both. EWS students get a lower qualifying cutoff (minimum aggregate to appear in the rank list) and also compete within a separate EWS seat pool during JoSAA counselling. This means an EWS student can secure admission to an IIT branch with a higher (numerically larger) EWS rank than what a General category student would require for the same branch.
Ques. Are SC and ST students eligible for EWS reservation in JEE Advanced?
Ans. No. SC, ST, and OBC-NCL students are not eligible for EWS reservation even if their family income is below ₹8 lakh. The EWS quota is available only to General (unreserved) category students who meet the income and property criteria.



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