JEE Advanced 2026 expected SC category closing cutoff is likely between SC rank 150 and 260 for CSE at IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi, and SC rank 2,500 to 4,200 for CSE at newer IITs — based on JoSAA 2025 final round trends.
With JoSAA 2026 nearing its final rounds and the last seat allotment expected by July 17, 2026, SC category students need accurate IIT-wise closing rank data to guide their choices. Unlike general category students who compete on the Common Rank List (CRL), SC students compete in a dedicated SC rank pool. This means a student with a higher CRL rank can still secure a seat at a premier IIT if their SC category rank is competitive enough.
- JEE Advanced 2026 SC qualifying marks are expected around 55–75 out of 360, based on 2025 patterns.
- IIT Bombay CSE is expected to close near SC rank 150–260 in the JoSAA 2026 final round.
- SC students with ranks up to SC rank 4,000 can expect seats in newer IITs across multiple branches.
- All figures in this article are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2025 closing data — official 2026 cutoffs will publish after each JoSAA round.
- JoSAA 2026 final seat allotment is expected by July 17, 2026.
| Direct Link to JEE Advanced 2026 Important Dates (Official) — jeeadv.ac.in |
What is SC Category Closing Cutoff in JEE Advanced 2026
The SC category closing cutoff in JEE Advanced refers to the last SC merit list rank at which a seat was filled in a given IIT branch during JoSAA counselling. It is based on the SC category rank list, not the Common Rank List (CRL). JEE Advanced 2026 publishes separate rank lists for General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and EWS categories. JoSAA then uses these category-specific ranks to allot seats within respective quota seats at each IIT.
Seat allotment in JoSAA takes place over up to six rounds. The closing rank from Round 6 (the final round) is the official closing cutoff for that year. A lower SC closing rank means higher demand for that branch among SC applicants; a higher closing rank indicates the seat was less competitive within the SC pool. Students must compare their SC rank — not CRL — against these figures to gauge their chances.
IIT-Wise Expected SC Category Closing Cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026
The table below shows expected SC category closing ranks for JEE Advanced 2026 across popular IITs and branches, based on JoSAA 2025 final round data. All figures are predictions — official 2026 cutoffs will be published after each JoSAA round on the JoSAA portal.
| IIT | Branch | Expected SC Closing Rank 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Computer Science and Engineering | 150 – 260 |
| IIT Bombay | Electrical Engineering | 400 – 600 |
| IIT Bombay | Mechanical Engineering | 800 – 1,200 |
| IIT Bombay | Chemical Engineering | 1,000 – 1,500 |
| IIT Delhi | Computer Science and Engineering | 200 – 320 |
| IIT Delhi | Electrical Engineering (Power) | 600 – 900 |
| IIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | 900 – 1,400 |
| IIT Delhi | Chemical Engineering | 1,100 – 1,600 |
| IIT Madras | Computer Science and Engineering | 260 – 400 |
| IIT Madras | Electrical Engineering | 700 – 1,000 |
| IIT Kanpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 300 – 450 |
| IIT Kanpur | Electrical Engineering | 700 – 1,100 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 400 – 600 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Electronics and Electrical Communication Engg. | 900 – 1,400 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Mining Engineering | 3,500 – 5,000 |
| IIT Roorkee | Computer Science and Engineering | 450 – 700 |
| IIT Roorkee | Electrical Engineering | 1,200 – 1,800 |
| IIT Roorkee | Civil Engineering | 1,800 – 2,800 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Computer Science and Engineering | 800 – 1,200 |
| IIT Guwahati | Computer Science and Engineering | 900 – 1,400 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,300 – 1,900 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,500 – 2,300 |
| IIT Indore | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,400 – 2,100 |
| IIT Patna | Computer Science and Engineering | 2,000 – 3,200 |
| IIT Jodhpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 2,100 – 3,400 |
| IIT Mandi | Computer Science and Engineering | 2,600 – 4,200 |
| IIT Ropar | Computer Science and Engineering | 2,500 – 4,000 |
All ranks above are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2025 final round closing data. Actual JoSAA 2026 cutoffs will be published officially after each allotment round.
SC Category Closing Cutoff Trends: 2024 vs 2025
Tracking year-on-year SC closing ranks helps students set realistic expectations for JoSAA 2026. The table below compares SC closing ranks for select IITs and branches in JoSAA 2024 and JoSAA 2025.
| IIT and Branch | SC Closing Rank (JoSAA 2024) | SC Closing Rank (JoSAA 2025) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay – CSE | ~180 | ~220 | Slightly relaxed |
| IIT Delhi – CSE | ~220 | ~270 | Slightly relaxed |
| IIT Madras – CSE | ~280 | ~330 | Slightly relaxed |
| IIT Kanpur – CSE | ~320 | ~370 | Stable |
| IIT Roorkee – CSE | ~490 | ~560 | Slightly relaxed |
| IIT Hyderabad – CSE | ~920 | ~1,050 | Slightly higher |
| IIT BHU Varanasi – CSE | ~1,400 | ~1,600 | Higher |
| IIT Patna – CSE | ~2,500 | ~2,800 | Slightly higher |
The general trend shows SC closing ranks moving slightly upward (more relaxed) for most older IITs between 2024 and 2025. Based on this pattern, JEE Advanced 2026 SC closing cutoffs are expected to remain similar to or marginally relaxed versus 2025 levels — a positive indicator for SC applicants this cycle.
Factors That Affect JEE Advanced SC Category Closing Cutoff
Several variables influence how SC closing ranks shift from one year to the next:
- Total SC seats per IIT branch — SC students occupy 15% of seats in each branch (horizontal reservation). When an IIT increases total intake, more SC seats become available and closing ranks can relax.
- Number of SC qualified students — more students clearing the SC qualifying threshold increases competition and tightens closing ranks at high-demand IITs.
- Round-wise upgrades and withdrawals — students upgrading to a preferred seat in later rounds vacate lower-preference seats, opening them to students with higher SC ranks.
- Branch preference trends — CSE consistently draws the most SC applicants, keeping its closing rank tight; branches like Civil, Chemical, and Mining have comparatively looser closing ranks.
- Difficulty level of JEE Advanced 2026 — a tougher paper lowers overall scores, potentially reducing the number of students who clear the SC qualifying threshold and thereby relaxing seat competition.
Which Branch Can SC Students Expect by Rank in JEE Advanced 2026
The guide below maps expected JEE Advanced 2026 SC category rank ranges to realistic IIT and branch options. All figures are expected estimates based on JoSAA 2025 closing data.
| SC Rank Range | Expected IIT and Branch Options |
|---|---|
| Up to 250 | IIT Bombay CSE, IIT Delhi CSE, IIT Madras CSE — all top-tier choices accessible |
| 250 – 500 | IIT Kanpur CSE, IIT Kharagpur CSE, IIT Roorkee CSE; IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi Electrical Engineering |
| 500 – 1,000 | IIT Hyderabad CSE, IIT Guwahati CSE; IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi Mechanical and Chemical branches |
| 1,000 – 2,000 | IIT BHU CSE, IIT ISM Dhanbad CSE, IIT Indore CSE; older IITs in Civil and Electrical branches |
| 2,000 – 4,000 | IIT Patna CSE, IIT Jodhpur CSE, IIT Mandi CSE, IIT Ropar CSE and adjacent branches |
| Above 4,000 | New IITs in Electrical, Mechanical, and Civil branches; IIT Kharagpur Mining Engineering |
SC students should fill choices across all six JoSAA rounds and include a balanced mix of preferred and safer branch options. Participating in every round maximises the chance of a seat allotment or upgrade before July 17, 2026.
JEE Advanced 2026 SC Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected SC closing rank for IIT Bombay CSE in JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. Based on JoSAA 2025 trends, IIT Bombay CSE is expected to close near SC rank 150 to 260 in the final round of JoSAA 2026. This is an estimate; the official cutoff will be published after each JoSAA 2026 round on the JoSAA portal.
Ques. Is the SC closing rank in JEE Advanced based on CRL or the SC merit list?
Ans. The SC closing rank is based on the SC category merit list, not the Common Rank List (CRL). JEE Advanced 2026 publishes separate merit lists for each category, and JoSAA uses SC rank for seat allotment within the SC quota at each IIT.
Ques. With an SC rank of 1,000, which IITs can I expect in JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. With an SC rank of around 1,000, you can expect seats at IIT BHU, IIT ISM Dhanbad, or IIT Indore in CSE, and possibly IIT Hyderabad or IIT Guwahati in CSE if closing ranks remain near 2025 levels. Older IITs in Mechanical or Electrical branches may also be within reach at this rank.
Ques. When will the JoSAA 2026 SC category closing cutoff be officially published?
Ans. JoSAA 2026 publishes SC category closing cutoffs after each allotment round. The final official SC closing cutoff will be available after JoSAA Round 6, expected by July 17, 2026, on the official JoSAA portal at josaa.nic.in.
Ques. Can SC students upgrade their seat in JoSAA 2026?
Ans. Yes. SC students who receive a seat allotment in any round can choose to upgrade to a higher-preference option in subsequent rounds. Students should participate in every round until they secure their preferred seat or the final round closes on July 17, 2026.
Ques. Is the SC closing cutoff the same across all IITs and branches?
Ans. No. Each IIT has its own SC closing rank for each branch, determined by demand and seat availability. Top IITs like IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi have tighter SC closing ranks for CSE (expected 150–320), while newer IITs can see SC closing ranks going up to 4,000 or higher in the same branch.
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