JEE Advanced 2026 ST category qualifying cutoff is expected around 54 marks in aggregate out of 360, with at least 5 marks per subject — based on 2024 and 2025 trends. JoSAA 2026 closing ranks for ST students at IIT Bombay CSE are expected around 290, with wider options available up to a rank of 4,000 at newer IITs.
JEE Advanced 2026 results are scheduled for June 29, 2026 at jeeadv.ac.in. Once results are declared, JoSAA 2026 counselling begins, where ST category students compete within a reserved pool of seats — 7.5% of total IIT intake. Knowing the JoSAA closing rank trends from 2024 and 2025 helps you shortlist realistic IIT and branch combinations before choice filling opens.
- JEE Advanced 2026 total marks: 360 (Paper 1 + Paper 2, 180 marks each)
- Expected ST qualifying cutoff: ~54 marks aggregate (15% of 360), minimum 5 marks per subject
- ST reservation at IITs: 7.5% horizontal reservation across all branches
- JoSAA 2026 CSE closing rank at IIT Bombay for ST: expected around 280–310 based on 2024 trends
- ST students with a rank up to 4,000 can expect a seat at one of the 23 IITs
- JEE Advanced 2026 result date: June 29, 2026
| Direct Link to JEE Advanced 2026 Result (Expected June 29, 2026) jeeadv.ac.in — Official JEE Advanced Portal |
JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Qualifying Cutoff (Expected)
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score you need in JEE Advanced to receive a rank and become eligible for JoSAA IIT counselling. ST category students benefit from a lower aggregate threshold compared to General and OBC-NCL students, making it easier to qualify while competing for reserved seats. The expected 2026 cutoffs below are based on 2024 and 2025 patterns.
| Category | Min. Marks Per Subject (out of 120) | Min. Aggregate (out of 360) |
|---|---|---|
| CRL (General/EWS) | 10 | 108 (~30%) |
| OBC-NCL | 9 | 97 (~27%) |
| SC | 5 | 54 (~15%) |
| ST | 5 | 54 (~15%) |
| PwD (all categories) | 5 | 54 (~15%) |
Expected figures based on JEE Advanced 2024 and 2025 data. Official 2026 qualifying cutoffs will be announced alongside results on June 29, 2026.
JoSAA Closing Ranks for ST Category — 2024 and 2025 Trends
JoSAA closing ranks represent the highest ST AIR at which a seat was filled in a specific IIT branch during the final counselling round. These ranks shift each year based on IIT seat intake, paper difficulty, and student preferences. The table below shows closing rank trends across top IITs for the most sought-after branches, with expected 2026 ranges based on recent data.
| Institute | Branch | JoSAA 2024 ST Closing Rank (Approx.) | Expected 2026 Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Computer Science and Engineering | 290 | 280–320 |
| IIT Bombay | Electrical Engineering | 560 | 540–590 |
| IIT Delhi | Computer Science and Engineering | 375 | 360–400 |
| IIT Delhi | Electrical Engineering | 630 | 610–660 |
| IIT Madras | Computer Science and Engineering | 440 | 420–460 |
| IIT Kanpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 575 | 550–600 |
| IIT Kharagpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 710 | 680–740 |
| IIT Roorkee | Computer Science and Engineering | 840 | 810–870 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,050 | 1,000–1,100 |
| IIT BHU (Varanasi) | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,210 | 1,150–1,260 |
| IIT Guwahati | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,350 | 1,300–1,400 |
| IIT Indore | Computer Science and Engineering | 1,620 | 1,550–1,700 |
| IIT Patna | Computer Science and Engineering | 2,100 | 2,000–2,200 |
| IIT Jodhpur | Computer Science and Engineering | 2,380 | 2,300–2,500 |
All 2024 figures are approximate and based on JoSAA published data. 2026 expected trends are projections — actual closing ranks will be available after JoSAA 2026 counselling concludes.
IIT Branch Options by ST Rank Range
Your ST category AIR in JEE Advanced 2026 directly determines which IITs and branches you can realistically target. Use the rank-wise guide below to shortlist choices before JoSAA 2026 opens.
| ST AIR Range (Expected) | Accessible IITs and Branches |
|---|---|
| Up to 300 | IIT Bombay — CSE; IIT Delhi — CSE |
| 301–500 | IIT Madras — CSE; IIT Delhi — EE; IIT Bombay — EE |
| 501–800 | IIT Kanpur — CSE; IIT Kharagpur — CSE; IIT Roorkee — CSE |
| 801–1,200 | IIT Hyderabad — CSE; IIT Roorkee — EE; IIT Kharagpur — EE and ME |
| 1,201–2,000 | IIT BHU — CSE; IIT Guwahati — CSE; IIT Indore — CSE; IIT Tirupati — CSE |
| 2,001–3,500 | IIT Patna — CSE; IIT Jodhpur — CSE; IIT Mandi — CSE and IT |
| 3,501–6,000 | Newer IITs — IIT Bhilai, IIT Dharwad, IIT Jammu, IIT Palakkad (ECE, ME, Civil branches) |
ST students are advised to fill all available JoSAA choice-filling slots. Shortlisting both high-demand and moderate-demand branches across older and newer IITs improves your chances of a preferred seat allotment.
Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff
The qualifying cutoff and JoSAA closing ranks for ST category students shift each year based on several key variables.
- Paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers overall scores across the board, which can pull the qualifying aggregate cutoff down for all categories including ST.
- Number of ST students appearing: A larger ST applicant pool increases competition for reserved IIT seats and can push JoSAA closing ranks higher.
- Total IIT seat intake: If IITs add new branches or increase intake, ST closing ranks in those branches may ease in 2026.
- Branch and IIT preference patterns: High demand for a specific branch at a top IIT pushes its ST closing rank upward. Choosing less-preferred branches or newer IITs can help you secure better options.
- Marking scheme changes: Any revisions to the marking scheme between Paper 1 and Paper 2 can shift score distributions and affect who crosses the ST qualifying threshold.
JEE Advanced 2026 ST Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected JEE Advanced 2026 qualifying cutoff for ST category?
Ans. Based on 2024 and 2025 trends, the expected qualifying cutoff for ST category is around 54 marks in aggregate out of 360 (approximately 15%), with a minimum of 5 marks per subject. The official cutoff will be announced on June 29, 2026 with the results at jeeadv.ac.in.
Ques. What ST AIR is needed for CSE at IIT Bombay in JEE Advanced 2026?
Ans. Based on JoSAA 2024 data, an ST category AIR of around 290 or below was required for CSE at IIT Bombay. The expected closing rank for 2026 is in the 280–320 range, though actual figures will be confirmed after JoSAA 2026 counselling.
Ques. Is the ST rank different from the JEE Advanced All India Rank?
Ans. Yes. JEE Advanced assigns both a Common Rank List (CRL) rank and a category-specific ST rank to every qualified student. For reserved IIT seats, the ST rank is used during JoSAA counselling. If an ST student’s CRL rank is competitive enough for an open-category seat, they can opt for that seat as well.
Ques. When does JoSAA 2026 counselling start for IIT admissions?
Ans. JoSAA 2026 counselling is expected to begin within a week after JEE Advanced 2026 results on June 29, 2026. Registration, choice filling, and round-wise allotment schedules will be published on the official JoSAA portal.
Ques. Can ST students get an IIT seat with a rank above 5,000?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, ST students with a rank between 4,000 and 6,000 may find seats in civil engineering, metallurgy, or other core branches at newer IITs. Filling a wide range of JoSAA preferences across all 23 IITs gives you the best chance of securing a seat.
Ques. How many JoSAA rounds are there for IIT seat allotment?
Ans. JoSAA typically conducts 5 to 6 rounds of seat allotment for IITs. ST students should register promptly, fill as many choices as possible, and participate in every round to maximise their chances of a preferred branch and institute.
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