JEE Advanced 2026 OBC-NCL cutoff will be released by the organising IIT alongside the result on July 22, 2026, setting the minimum qualifying marks and IIT-wise opening and closing ranks for Other Backward Class – Non Creamy Layer students.
Based on trends from JEE Advanced 2025 and 2024, OBC-NCL students need approximately 114–125 marks out of 360 to qualify for IIT admissions. Each IIT then sets its own opening and closing ranks for each branch under the OBC-NCL category during JoSAA counselling. The tables below present expected cutoffs based on 2025 data to help you plan your college and branch preferences.
- JEE Advanced 2026 result date: July 22, 2026 — OBC-NCL cutoff released simultaneously.
- OBC-NCL seats: 27% of total IIT seats are reserved for this category.
- Expected minimum qualifying aggregate for OBC-NCL: approximately 114–125 marks (based on 2025 trends).
- IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi have the lowest OBC-NCL closing ranks for Computer Science Engineering.
- OBC-NCL students compete within their own category pool, not against General category students.
| Direct Link to JEE Advanced 2026 Result and Cutoff (Available July 22, 2026) |
JEE Advanced 2026 OBC-NCL Qualifying Cutoff (Expected)
To qualify for IIT admissions under the OBC-NCL category, students must meet two conditions: a subject-wise minimum and an overall aggregate minimum. Based on 2025 trends, the expected OBC-NCL qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 is 114–125 marks out of 360. The subject-wise minimum ensures no student qualifies by scoring high in just one or two subjects while neglecting others.
| Category | Minimum Marks Per Subject (Expected) | Minimum Aggregate Marks (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| General (CRL) | ~13 marks | ~142–150 marks |
| OBC-NCL | ~11–12 marks | ~114–125 marks |
| SC | ~6–7 marks | ~71–78 marks |
| ST | ~6–7 marks | ~71–78 marks |
| PwD | ~6–7 marks | ~71–78 marks |
These are expected figures based on 2025 JEE Advanced cutoff trends. The official qualifying cutoff will be published at jeeadv.ac.in on result day, July 22, 2026.
IIT-Wise OBC-NCL Opening and Closing Ranks (Based on 2025 Trends)
The IIT-wise opening and closing ranks for OBC-NCL students are determined through JoSAA counselling. Opening rank is the rank of the first student admitted; closing rank is the last rank admitted in that round. The table below lists expected OBC-NCL opening and closing ranks for popular branches at top IITs, based on 2025 data.
| IIT | Branch | OBC-NCL Opening Rank (Expected) | OBC-NCL Closing Rank (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Computer Science Engineering | 1 | 87 |
| IIT Bombay | Electrical Engineering (5-year) | 88 | 243 |
| IIT Bombay | Mechanical Engineering | 462 | 832 |
| IIT Delhi | Computer Science Engineering | 1 | 93 |
| IIT Delhi | Electrical Engineering | 94 | 276 |
| IIT Delhi | Engineering Physics | 280 | 520 |
| IIT Madras | Computer Science Engineering | 3 | 115 |
| IIT Madras | Electrical Engineering | 116 | 368 |
| IIT Madras | Mechanical Engineering | 370 | 720 |
| IIT Kanpur | Computer Science Engineering | 12 | 198 |
| IIT Kanpur | Electrical Engineering | 199 | 487 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Computer Science Engineering | 22 | 248 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Electronics and Electrical Communication Engg. | 250 | 580 |
| IIT Roorkee | Computer Science Engineering | 46 | 298 |
| IIT Roorkee | Electrical Engineering | 300 | 620 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Computer Science Engineering | 180 | 395 |
| IIT Guwahati | Computer Science Engineering | 210 | 468 |
| IIT Guwahati | Electronics and Communication Engg. | 470 | 820 |
All ranks above are OBC-NCL category ranks based on 2025 JoSAA counselling trends. Actual 2026 ranks will be updated after the result and counselling process.
Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 OBC-NCL Cutoff
The OBC-NCL cutoff shifts each year based on several variables. Understanding these helps you set realistic targets for your preferred IIT and branch.
- Paper difficulty: A harder paper lowers the qualifying cutoff since overall scores drop across all students.
- Number of OBC-NCL applicants: A larger OBC-NCL pool pushes closing ranks higher and intensifies competition.
- Total seats in each IIT branch: IITs with more intake seats have a higher absolute count of OBC-NCL seats (27% of total), which influences closing ranks.
- Student preferences during JoSAA: High demand for a branch at a specific IIT compresses its closing rank in that category.
- New IIT branches and seat additions: Seats added before 2026 admissions can ease competition in newer or expanded branches.
OBC-NCL vs General Category Cutoff Comparison
OBC-NCL students qualify at a lower mark threshold and compete only among themselves for the 27% reserved seats. The OBC-NCL closing rank for any IIT branch is typically 25–35% higher than the General (CRL) closing rank for the same branch, reflecting the dedicated reserved pool.
| IIT and Branch | General CRL Closing Rank (Expected 2026) | OBC-NCL Closing Rank (Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay – CSE | ~67 | ~87 |
| IIT Delhi – CSE | ~72 | ~93 |
| IIT Madras – CSE | ~88 | ~115 |
| IIT Kanpur – CSE | ~155 | ~198 |
| IIT Roorkee – CSE | ~232 | ~298 |
JEE Advanced OBC-NCL Cutoff 2026 FAQs
Ques. What is the expected OBC-NCL qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected OBC-NCL minimum qualifying marks for JEE Advanced 2026 are approximately 114–125 marks out of 360 in aggregate, with a subject-wise minimum of around 11–12 marks per subject. The official cutoff will be declared with the result on July 22, 2026.
Ques. Are OBC-NCL ranks different from general CRL ranks in JEE Advanced?
Ans. Yes. OBC-NCL students receive both a Common Rank List (CRL) rank and an OBC-NCL category rank. For IIT seat allocation, IITs use the OBC-NCL category rank for the 27% reserved seats. Your OBC-NCL category rank is almost always better (numerically lower) than your CRL rank.
Ques. Which IIT has the highest OBC-NCL closing rank for Computer Science Engineering?
Ans. Among the older IITs, IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur have higher OBC-NCL closing ranks for CSE (around 298 and 248 respectively, based on 2025 trends). Newer IITs typically have even higher closing ranks, making them accessible to a wider range of OBC-NCL students.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for OBC-NCL students in IITs?
Ans. OBC-NCL students are entitled to 27% of the total sanctioned seats in each IIT branch. The exact number of seats per branch per IIT is published in the JoSAA seat matrix before counselling begins each year.
Ques. When will the official JEE Advanced 2026 OBC-NCL cutoff be released?
Ans. The official JEE Advanced 2026 result and category-wise qualifying cutoff, including for OBC-NCL, will be released on July 22, 2026 at jeeadv.ac.in. IIT-wise opening and closing ranks under OBC-NCL will be published through JoSAA after counselling rounds are complete.
Comments