JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff: IIT-Wise Opening and Closing Ranks

JEE Advanced 2026 ST category cutoff is expected between 36 and 65 aggregate marks out of 360, with CSE closing ranks for ST students at IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi expected in the range of 15 to 30 based on 2025 trends.

Scheduled Tribe (ST) students competing in JEE Advanced 2026 benefit from a lower qualifying threshold and reserved seats across all 23 IITs. The ST category cutoff — set during JoSAA counselling — varies by IIT and branch. Understanding previous-year opening and closing ranks helps ST students identify realistic IIT and branch targets. JEE Advanced 2026 results are expected on July 22, 2026, after which JoSAA counselling will determine branch allotment.

• JEE Advanced 2026 is conducted for 360 total marks (Paper 1: 180 marks + Paper 2: 180 marks).
• The ST category qualifying aggregate cutoff in 2025 was approximately 37 marks (10.28% of 360); in 2024 it was approximately 63 marks (17.5%).
• ST students must also clear a subject-wise minimum of 5% (~6 marks per subject) across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• IIT Bombay CSE closed at rank 19 (ST) in JEE Advanced 2025; IIT Delhi CSE closed at rank 26 (ST).
• The IIT-wise opening and closing ranks are released during JoSAA counselling rounds and not directly by JEE Advanced.

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JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Qualifying Cutoff (Expected)

To appear in the JEE Advanced rank list, ST students must meet two thresholds: an aggregate minimum and a subject-wise minimum across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The table below shows official qualifying marks from 2024 and 2025 alongside expected values for 2026.

The qualifying aggregate for ST category is significantly lower than the Common Rank List (CRL) cutoff. Clearing the qualifying cutoff does not guarantee an IIT seat — it only makes you eligible for a rank in the ST category list. The actual IIT branch allotment depends on the closing rank in each JoSAA counselling round.

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JEE Advanced 2025 ST Category Cutoff: IIT-Wise Closing Ranks

The table below lists the closing ranks for ST category students at top IITs in JoSAA 2025 Round 1. These closing ranks represent the last rank allotted in the first round of counselling and are the primary reference for 2026 predictions.

IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi remain the most competitive IITs for ST students in CSE, with closing ranks under 30. Opening ranks for these programs in Round 1 are typically in single digits for the ST category. Students with ST ranks above 100 can target newer IITs or non-CSE branches at older IITs.

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JEE Advanced 2024 ST Category Cutoff: IIT-Wise Data

The 2024 data provides branch-level detail for IIT BHU and IIT Guwahati and shows how cutoffs shift across engineering disciplines for ST category students.

IIT BHU (Varanasi) — Branch-Wise ST Category Closing Ranks (2024)

IIT Guwahati — Branch-Wise ST Category Cutoff Ranks (2024)

IIT Hyderabad’s overall ST category rank range in 2024 extended from rank 53 to 1240 across all branches, illustrating how choosing a less-competitive branch can open doors even for students with ranks in the hundreds or above.

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Expected JEE Advanced 2026 IIT-Wise Cutoff for ST Category

The table below provides expected closing ranks for ST category students across IITs and branches in 2026. These are projections based on 2024 and 2025 trends and will be confirmed after JoSAA 2026 counselling rounds.

Students targeting newer IITs such as IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Patna, IIT Mandi, or IIT Tirupati can typically secure seats with ST ranks between 500 and 2000 depending on branch. CSE remains the most competitive program across all IITs; Metallurgy, Mining, and Bioengineering programs generally record the least competitive closing ranks for ST category.

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Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff

The JEE Advanced 2026 ST category cutoff will depend on multiple variables. Understanding these helps you plan your JoSAA choice filling strategy.

• Number of ST students qualifying: A larger pool of ST students clearing JEE Advanced increases competition within the ST rank list and can tighten closing ranks at top IITs.
• Total ST seats in IITs: All IITs reserve 7.5% of seats for ST students. Total intake across 23 IITs shapes how many students receive allotments in each round.
• Exam difficulty level: A harder paper compresses scores at the top and shifts rank boundaries, which can affect who qualifies for the ST rank list.
• JoSAA counselling participation: If high-ranked ST students decline seats or skip registration, closing ranks for certain programs can shift unexpectedly in later rounds.
• Choice filling trends: Closing ranks are set in real time by the choices students submit in JoSAA. A surge in CSE preferences among ST students will tighten CSE cutoffs while easing less-preferred branches.