JEE Advanced 2026 SC category cutoff is expected to close around rank 200–320 for CS at IIT Delhi — with the last IIT seat for SC students forecast around rank 10,000–12,000, based on JoSAA 2024–2025 Round 6 trends.
The JEE Advanced 2026 result is scheduled for July 20, 2026. Once the result is declared, JoSAA 2026 will open choice filling and begin seat allotment for IITs. SC students holding a valid JEE Advanced rank can participate and fill IIT branch preferences. This article presents IIT-wise SC category closing rank forecasts and seat availability data so you can shortlist colleges and branches before counselling begins.
- JEE Advanced total marks: 360 (120 each for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
- The SC qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 is expected around 65–70 out of 360 marks in aggregate (approximately 17.5% of total marks).
- Top IIT CS branches for SC category are expected to close between rank 200 and 730 depending on the institute.
- Approximately 2,550 seats are reserved for SC students across all 23 IITs, representing 15% of total IIT intake.
- JEE Advanced 2026 result and official cutoff will be released on July 20, 2026 at jeeadv.ac.in.
| Direct Link to JEE Advanced 2026 Official Portal (Active) — jeeadv.ac.in |
Expected SC Qualifying Cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026
To appear on the JEE Advanced 2026 rank list, SC students must clear the minimum qualifying marks set by the conducting IIT. Based on the approximately 17.5% aggregate and 5% per-subject criteria applied in recent years, the expected SC qualifying cutoff for 2026 is around 65–70 out of 360 marks in aggregate and about 6–7 marks per subject (out of 120).
Clearing the qualifying cutoff earns you a rank. Your rank then determines IIT seat eligibility during JoSAA counselling — the qualifying marks alone do not guarantee a seat.
| Category | Expected Min. Aggregate Marks 2026 | Expected Min. Marks Per Subject 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| SC | ~65–70 out of 360 (17.5%) | ~6–7 out of 120 (5%) |
| ST | ~65–70 out of 360 (17.5%) | ~6–7 out of 120 (5%) |
| OBC-NCL | ~113–117 out of 360 (31.5%) | ~11–12 out of 120 (9%) |
| GEN (CRL) | ~126–130 out of 360 (35%) | ~12–13 out of 120 (10%) |
All figures are expected estimates based on percentage criteria applied in 2022–2025 and are not official JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoffs.
IIT-Wise SC Closing Rank Forecast 2026
The table below lists expected JEE Advanced 2026 SC category closing ranks for key branches at major IITs, based on JoSAA Round 6 final allotment data from 2024 and 2025. Actual ranks may shift by ±5–10% in 2026 depending on exam difficulty, number of qualified SC students, and any seat intake changes.
| IIT | Branch | Expected SC Closing Rank 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | Computer Science and Engineering | 200–320 |
| IIT Bombay | Computer Science and Engineering | 270–380 |
| IIT Madras | Computer Science and Engineering | 380–500 |
| IIT Kanpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 430–580 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 490–650 |
| IIT Roorkee | Computer Science and Engineering | 570–730 |
| IIT Delhi | Electrical Engineering | 580–720 |
| IIT Bombay | Electrical Engineering | 680–860 |
| IIT Madras | Electrical Engineering | 850–1,050 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Computer Science and Engineering | 850–1,100 |
| IIT Guwahati | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,100–1,500 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,400–1,850 |
| IIT Indore | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,600–2,100 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Mechanical Engineering | 2,900–3,600 |
| IIT Roorkee | Civil Engineering | 3,800–4,800 |
| IIT Tirupati / IIT Palakkad | Computer Science and Engineering | 4,500–6,500 |
| Newest IITs (last seat) | Civil / Metallurgical Engineering | 10,000–12,000 |
All ranks are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2024–2025 Round 6 data and are not confirmed cutoffs for 2026. Actual SC closing ranks will be published by JoSAA after each allotment round.
SC Seat Availability Across IITs
SC students receive 15% horizontal reservation in every IIT branch as mandated by the Government of India. Across all 23 IITs, approximately 2,500–2,600 SC seats are expected in 2026, subject to any sanctioned intake revisions for the academic year.
| IIT | Approx. Total Seats | Approx. SC Seats (15%) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | ~940 | ~141 |
| IIT Delhi | ~860 | ~129 |
| IIT Madras | ~830 | ~125 |
| IIT Kanpur | ~820 | ~123 |
| IIT Kharagpur | ~1,450 | ~218 |
| IIT Roorkee | ~1,120 | ~168 |
| IIT Guwahati | ~740 | ~111 |
| IIT Hyderabad | ~620 | ~93 |
| All 23 IITs (Estimated Total) | ~17,000 | ~2,550 |
Unfilled SC seats in one JoSAA round carry forward to the next but are never de-reserved — they remain available exclusively for SC students across all allotment rounds.
Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 SC Cutoff
Closing ranks for SC students shift year to year because of several variables:
- Paper difficulty: A tougher paper compresses the marks distribution. Rank 300 in a hard year needs fewer marks, but the rank threshold for a specific seat stays broadly stable across cycles.
- Number of SC students qualifying JEE Main: Only the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main scorers are eligible for JEE Advanced. A larger SC cohort qualifying JEE Main increases competition within the SC rank pool and can push closing ranks higher.
- Seat intake changes: If IITs expand sanctioned intake for 2026, closing ranks may ease slightly as more seats become available per category.
- JoSAA round dynamics: Closing ranks rise from Round 1 to Round 6 as students upgrade or exit the process. The forecasts above use Round 6 data as the conservative benchmark.
- Branch preference trends: Sustained demand for CS and AI branches at mid-tier IITs keeps pushing SC closing ranks for those programs closer to top-IIT levels seen a few years ago.
Previous Year SC Qualifying Cutoff Trends
The table below shows approximate SC category minimum qualifying marks in JEE Advanced over the last four years. These marks are required to appear on the rank list — not to secure an IIT seat.
| Year | SC Min. Aggregate Marks (Approx.) | SC Min. Per Subject (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ~65 out of 360 | ~6 out of 120 |
| 2024 | ~63 out of 360 | ~6 out of 120 |
| 2023 | ~60 out of 360 | ~6 out of 120 |
| 2022 | ~57 out of 360 | ~5 out of 120 |
The gradual upward trend reflects improving SC student performance in JEE Advanced over recent cycles. The JEE Advanced 2026 SC qualifying cutoff is expected in the 65–70 out of 360 range. Official figures will be published with the result on July 20, 2026, at jeeadv.ac.in.
JEE Advanced 2026 SC Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected minimum qualifying marks for SC in JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. Based on the ~17.5% aggregate criteria applied in recent years, SC students are expected to need approximately 65–70 out of 360 marks in aggregate and about 6–7 marks per subject to appear on the rank list. The official cutoff will be announced with the result on July 20, 2026.
Ques. What is the expected SC closing rank for CS at IIT Delhi in JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. Based on JoSAA 2024–2025 Round 6 trends, the expected SC closing rank for Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi in 2026 is around 200–320. Actual closing ranks will be confirmed during JoSAA counselling rounds after the July 20 result.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for SC students across all IITs?
Ans. Approximately 2,500–2,600 seats are reserved for SC students across all 23 IITs, representing 15% of the estimated total IIT intake of around 17,000 seats for 2026.
Ques. Can SC students get an IIT seat with a rank above 5,000?
Ans. Yes. SC students with ranks between 5,000 and 12,000 typically secure seats in newer IITs such as IIT Tirupati, IIT Palakkad, IIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, and IIT Dharwad for branches like Mechanical, Civil, or Chemical Engineering.
Ques. Are unfilled SC seats converted to general category in JoSAA?
Ans. No. Unfilled SC reserved seats carry forward from round to round in JoSAA but are never de-reserved. They remain available exclusively for SC students throughout all allotment rounds.
Ques. When will the official JEE Advanced 2026 SC cutoff be published?
Ans. The JEE Advanced 2026 result and qualifying cutoffs are scheduled for July 20, 2026, at jeeadv.ac.in. IIT-wise SC closing ranks for each branch will be published by JoSAA after each allotment round during counselling.
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