IIT JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff marks, released by IIT Bombay on March 19, 2026, place Biotechnology at 42.30 and Economics at 40.63 as the highest General category thresholds among all seven papers — while Physics (12.04) and Mathematics (12.65) remain the easiest papers to qualify.
IIT JAM 2026 was conducted on February 15, 2026 across seven test papers: Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), Economics (EN), Geology (GG), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS) and Physics (PH). Each paper carries a maximum of 100 marks. The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score students must secure to become eligible for the JOAPS portal counselling and seat allotment process. Clearing the cutoff does not guarantee a seat — your All India Rank (AIR) and programme preferences determine the final outcome.
- JAM 2026 result and qualifying cutoff were declared by IIT Bombay on March 19, 2026.
- Biotechnology (BT) saw the steepest rise — from 24.46 in 2025 to 42.30 in 2026 for the General category.
- Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics cutoffs fell compared to JAM 2025 reflecting tougher papers and lower overall scores.
- SC/ST/PwD qualifying marks are exactly half the General category cutoff in every paper.
- Economics (EN) remained high at 40.63 for General in 2026, down only marginally from 42.55 in 2025.
| Direct Link — IIT JAM 2026 Official Website (ACTIVE) |
JAM 2026 Paper-Wise Qualifying Cutoff — All Categories
The table below shows the official JAM 2026 qualifying marks for each paper across all reservation categories. Every paper is scored out of 100 marks. Students who meet or exceed their category threshold are eligible for the JOAPS counselling process.
| Paper | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology (BT) | 42.30 | 38.07 | 21.15 |
| Chemistry (CY) | 18.65 | 16.78 | 9.32 |
| Economics (EN) | 40.63 | 36.56 | 20.31 |
| Geology (GG) | 25.98 | 23.38 | 12.99 |
| Mathematics (MA) | 12.65 | 11.38 | 6.32 |
| Mathematical Statistics (MS) | 13.33 | 11.99 | 6.66 |
| Physics (PH) | 12.04 | 10.83 | 6.02 |
JAM 2026 vs JAM 2025 Qualifying Cutoff Comparison
Comparing year-on-year cutoffs shows which papers became more competitive and which eased. Biotechnology rose by 17.84 marks — the largest single-year jump among all papers — while Mathematics and Chemistry each fell by more than 7 marks.
| Paper | JAM 2025 (General) | JAM 2026 (General) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology (BT) | 24.46 | 42.30 | ▲ +17.84 |
| Chemistry (CY) | 25.83 | 18.65 | ▼ −7.18 |
| Economics (EN) | 42.55 | 40.63 | ▼ −1.92 |
| Geology (GG) | 21.06 | 25.98 | ▲ +4.92 |
| Mathematics (MA) | 19.90 | 12.65 | ▼ −7.25 |
| Mathematical Statistics (MS) | 8.75 | 13.33 | ▲ +4.58 |
| Physics (PH) | 14.66 | 12.04 | ▼ −2.62 |
The Economics cutoff has stabilised at around 40–43 over two years suggesting consistent paper difficulty. Mathematical Statistics, which had an unusually low cutoff in 2025 (8.75), corrected upward to 13.33 in 2026.
Three-Year Cutoff Trend (2024–2026) — General Category
Looking at three years of data helps identify structural trends versus one-off fluctuations. The table below uses official data from JAM 2024 and JAM 2025 alongside the released JAM 2026 figures. GG and MS complete 2024 data are not available from official sources.
| Paper | JAM 2024 | JAM 2025 | JAM 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology (BT) | 44.46 | 24.46 | 42.30 |
| Chemistry (CY) | 25.38 | 25.83 | 18.65 |
| Economics (EN) | 24.64 | 42.55 | 40.63 |
| Mathematics (MA) | 11.22 | 19.90 | 12.65 |
| Physics (PH) | 19.63 | 14.66 | 12.04 |
Biotechnology swings sharply between years (44.46 → 24.46 → 42.30) reflecting high sensitivity to paper difficulty and student participation. Physics shows a steady three-year downward trend. Chemistry remained broadly stable in 2024 and 2025 before dipping in 2026. Mathematics oscillates significantly and has returned close to its 2024 level after spiking in 2025.
Expected JAM 2026 Closing Scores for IIT Admissions
Clearing the qualifying cutoff is the entry gate — but the actual seat depends on your AIR. Based on JAM 2025 opening and closing rank data published by IIT Delhi the table below provides expected closing rank ranges for selected IITs in JAM 2026 (General category). These are estimates based on 2025 trends and are not the official JAM 2026 seat allotment data.
| Institute | Paper | Expected Closing Rank (General) 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | Physics (PH) | ~25–45 |
| IIT Bombay | Chemistry (CY) | ~15–30 |
| IIT Delhi | Mathematics (MA) | ~40–80 |
| IIT Kanpur | Physics (PH) | ~70–110 |
| IIT Kanpur | Mathematical Statistics (MS) | ~50–85 |
| IIT Kanpur | Chemistry (CY) | ~95–130 |
| IIT Jodhpur | Physics (PH) | ~550–625 |
| IIT Jodhpur | Mathematics (MA) | ~310–420 |
Students targeting IIT Bombay or IIT Delhi should aim for a score well above 50 out of 100 in their paper to secure a competitive AIR. For IITs with larger seat capacities admission with ranks between 400 and 700 has been possible in recent years based on 2025 trends. The official round-wise opening and closing ranks for JAM 2026 are published on jam2026.iitb.ac.in after each counselling round.
Factors Affecting JAM 2026 Cutoff
The following factors drive fluctuations in JAM qualifying cutoffs each year:
- Paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers the overall score distribution and brings the qualifying cutoff down. JAM 2026 Mathematics and Physics papers were more challenging than in 2025 reducing cutoffs for both.
- Number of test-takers: Higher participation in a paper raises average competition and can lift the cutoff. Biotechnology participation increased significantly in 2026 pushing its cutoff from 24.46 to 42.30.
- Total seats available: IITs and other participating institutes periodically revise MSc seat capacity. Fewer seats raise the effective admission bar even if the qualifying cutoff stays flat.
- Reservation categories: OBC-NCL and EWS cutoffs are set approximately 10% below the General threshold. SC, ST and PwD students qualify at exactly half the General cutoff in every paper.
- Score normalisation: If a paper is conducted across multiple sessions JAM applies normalisation before assigning ranks which can shift effective thresholds across the cohort.
IIT JAM 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff for Physics?
Ans. The JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff for Physics (PH) is 12.04 out of 100 for General, 10.83 for OBC-NCL/EWS and 6.02 for SC/ST/PwD students. Physics had the lowest qualifying threshold among all seven JAM 2026 papers.
Ques. Why did the Biotechnology cutoff jump so sharply in JAM 2026?
Ans. The JAM 2026 Biotechnology (BT) cutoff rose from 24.46 to 42.30 because more students appeared for the paper and overall performance improved significantly compared to 2025 when the paper was widely reported as difficult. The qualifying cutoff reflects the score distribution of all test-takers not a fixed benchmark set in advance.
Ques. Does clearing the JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff guarantee a seat in an IIT?
Ans. No. Clearing the qualifying cutoff makes you eligible for the JOAPS counselling process. Your All India Rank (AIR) and programme preference choices determine the actual seat. Top IITs have closing ranks far more competitive than the minimum qualifying threshold.
Ques. What is the JAM 2026 cutoff for the Economics paper?
Ans. The JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff for Economics (EN) is 40.63 marks for General, 36.56 for OBC-NCL/EWS and 20.31 for SC/ST/PwD students. Economics had the second-highest cutoff after Biotechnology among all seven papers.
Ques. How does the JAM 2026 Mathematics cutoff compare to 2025?
Ans. The JAM Mathematics qualifying cutoff fell from 19.90 in 2025 to 12.65 in 2026 for the General category. The paper was reported as more difficult in 2026 bringing overall scores down and lowering the qualifying threshold by 7.25 marks.
Ques. Where can I check the official JAM 2026 cutoff and opening/closing ranks?
Ans. The official qualifying cutoff is available on the IIT JAM 2026 portal at jam2026.iitb.ac.in. Opening and closing ranks for each institute and programme are published on the same portal under the Opening and Closing Ranks section after each counselling round.
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