JEE Advanced 2026 ST category cutoff is expected to be finalised in August–September 2026 after the last round of JoSAA counselling; based on 2025 trends, the closing rank for ST students ranges from approximately 196 at IIT Bombay CSE to over 1,200 at newer IITs.
JEE Advanced 2026 ST (Scheduled Tribe) category cutoff determines the last rank at which a seat is allotted to an ST student in each IIT branch. ST students benefit from a 7.5% horizontal reservation across all IITs. The expected cutoffs below are based on JEE Advanced 2024 and 2025 closing ranks and will be updated once official JoSAA 2026 round-wise allotment data is published. The JEE Advanced 2026 result is expected on July 20, 2026.
- ST students must clear the JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoff first, then participate in JoSAA 2026 counselling for seat allotment.
- IIT Bombay CSE expected ST closing rank (2026): ~196–220, based on 2025 trends.
- 7.5% of total IIT seats are reserved for ST category students across all programs and all 23 IITs.
- The JEE Advanced 2026 result is expected on July 20, 2026; JoSAA 2026 counselling begins shortly after.
- JoSAA 2026 conducts six allotment rounds; the final round closing ranks form the official IIT-wise ST category cutoff.
| Direct Link to JEE Advanced 2026 Official Website (Active) | jeeadv.ac.in |
JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff Overview
The JEE Advanced cutoff for ST category has two components: the qualifying cutoff (minimum marks to be ranked) and the admission cutoff (closing rank at each IIT branch after JoSAA counselling). ST students must score at least 5% in each subject and 17.5% aggregate to qualify in JEE Advanced 2026. Once qualified, their rank among all ST students determines seat allotment in JoSAA 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| ST Reservation in IITs | 7.5% of total seats |
| ST Qualifying Cutoff (Expected 2026) | 5% per subject and 17.5% aggregate (based on 2025 norms) |
| JEE Advanced 2026 Result Date | July 20, 2026 (expected) |
| JoSAA 2026 Counselling Start | Shortly after JEE Advanced 2026 result |
| Total JoSAA Rounds | 6 rounds |
| Seat Allotment Authority | Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) |
IIT-Wise ST Category Closing Rank 2026 (Expected)
The table below lists expected JEE Advanced 2026 ST category closing ranks for popular programs across IITs, based on 2025 trends. All ranks shown are ST category ranks, not Common Rank List (CRL) ranks. Actual 2026 closing ranks will be published after JoSAA 2026 round 6 allotment.
| IIT | Program | Expected ST Closing Rank 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Computer Science and Engineering | ~196–220 |
| IIT Bombay | Electrical Engineering | ~340–370 |
| IIT Bombay | Mechanical Engineering | ~550–590 |
| IIT Bombay | Chemical Engineering | ~700–750 |
| IIT Delhi | Computer Science and Engineering | ~240–270 |
| IIT Delhi | Electrical Engineering | ~480–530 |
| IIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | ~670–710 |
| IIT Madras | Computer Science and Engineering | ~290–330 |
| IIT Madras | Electrical Engineering | ~490–540 |
| IIT Madras | Mechanical Engineering | ~610–650 |
| IIT Kanpur | Computer Science and Engineering | ~310–350 |
| IIT Kanpur | Electrical Engineering | ~450–490 |
| IIT Kanpur | Aerospace Engineering | ~670–720 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Computer Science and Engineering | ~385–420 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Electronics and Communication Engg. | ~520–560 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Electrical Engineering | ~595–640 |
| IIT Roorkee | Computer Science and Engineering | ~420–460 |
| IIT Roorkee | Electronics and Communication Engg. | ~595–640 |
| IIT Roorkee | Civil Engineering | ~890–940 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Computer Science and Engineering | ~520–570 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Electronics and Communication Engg. | ~685–730 |
| IIT Guwahati | Computer Science and Engineering | ~630–680 |
| IIT Guwahati | Electronics and Communication Engg. | ~785–830 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | Computer Science and Engineering | ~680–730 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | Electronics Engineering | ~840–890 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Computer Science and Engineering | ~820–880 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Electronics and Communication Engg. | ~980–1,050 |
All figures above are expected based on 2025 trends. Official 2026 cutoffs will be published after JoSAA 2026 counselling concludes.
ST Category Seat Count in IITs 2026
ST students are allocated 7.5% of total seats in every IIT program as per Government of India reservation norms. The table below shows the approximate number of ST seats per IIT, based on the 2025 seat matrix. These figures are expected to remain similar in 2026.
| IIT | Total UG Intake (approx.) | Approx. ST Seats (7.5%) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 880 | 66 |
| IIT Delhi | 851 | 64 |
| IIT Madras | 785 | 59 |
| IIT Kanpur | 827 | 62 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 1,341 | 100 |
| IIT Roorkee | 1,188 | 89 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 395 | 30 |
| IIT Guwahati | 680 | 51 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | 1,090 | 82 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | 913 | 68 |
| All 23 IITs (Total) | ~16,000+ | ~1,200+ |
If ST seats go unfilled after all six JoSAA rounds, they are de-reserved and offered to other eligible categories as per Government of India policy. Students who fall within the closing ranks listed above stand a strong chance of securing a seat in the respective IIT and program during JoSAA 2026.
JEE Advanced 2026 ST Qualifying Cutoff
To receive a rank in JEE Advanced 2026, ST students must meet the minimum qualifying marks. The ST qualifying threshold is among the lowest across all categories, set at 5% in each subject and 17.5% aggregate. The table below compares qualifying cutoffs across categories based on 2025 norms.
| Category | Min. Marks Per Subject (Expected %) | Min. Aggregate (Expected %) |
|---|---|---|
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 10% | 35% |
| OBC-NCL | 9% | 31.5% |
| SC | 5% | 17.5% |
| ST | 5% | 17.5% |
| PwD | 5% | 17.5% |
Qualifying does not guarantee IIT admission. You must also fall within the closing rank of your chosen IIT program during JoSAA 2026 counselling to receive a seat.
Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff
The ST closing rank at each IIT can shift year to year. Key factors that shape the cutoff include:
- Number of qualified ST students: A larger pool of qualified ST students increases competition and may tighten closing ranks.
- Seat matrix changes: Any increase in IIT intake raises total ST seats, which can slightly ease the cutoff.
- Paper difficulty: A harder paper lowers overall scores, typically resulting in higher (more relaxed) closing ranks for all categories.
- Counselling preferences: High demand for a specific IIT-program combination among ST students will drive its closing rank lower and more competitive.
- De-reservation: Unfilled ST seats after JoSAA round 6 are de-reserved; this does not change the official ST closing rank but reduces total available ST seats in practice.
JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoff for ST category?
Ans. Based on 2025 norms, ST students are expected to need a minimum of 5% marks in each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) and 17.5% aggregate to qualify in JEE Advanced 2026. Official qualifying cutoffs will be confirmed with the result on July 20, 2026.
Ques. What is the expected ST closing rank at IIT Bombay CSE in 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected JEE Advanced 2026 ST category closing rank for IIT Bombay Computer Science and Engineering is approximately 196–220 (ST rank). This is the most competitive program for ST students across all IITs.
Ques. How many total seats are available for ST students across all IITs?
Ans. Approximately 7.5% of all IIT seats are reserved for ST students. With a combined IIT intake of over 16,000 seats, this works out to roughly 1,200 ST seats across all 23 IITs. The exact seat matrix for 2026 will be published in the JoSAA 2026 brochure.
Ques. Is the ST rank the same as the CRL rank in JEE Advanced?
Ans. No. JEE Advanced assigns every qualified student both a CRL rank and a category-specific rank such as the ST rank. Seat allotment for ST reserved seats uses the ST rank. A student with a competitive ST rank can secure admission to a top IIT branch through the ST quota even if their CRL rank is high.
Ques. What happens if ST seats at an IIT remain vacant after JoSAA round 6?
Ans. Unfilled ST seats after the final JoSAA round are de-reserved as per Government of India policy and offered to students from other eligible categories in subsequent special rounds.
Ques. When will the official JEE Advanced 2026 ST category cutoff be released?
Ans. The IIT-wise ST category closing ranks are published through the JoSAA 2026 round-wise allotment data after the final counselling round, typically in August–September 2026. The JEE Advanced 2026 result date is July 20, 2026, after which JoSAA counselling begins.
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