IIT JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students is set at two-thirds of the General category cutoff for each paper, typically ranging from 9 to 18 marks out of 100.
IIT JAM 2026 was conducted by IIT Bombay across six test papers: BT, CY, GG, MA, MS and PH. For SC and ST students, the qualifying marks are lower than the General category cutoff, giving them a better chance to qualify and secure admission to MSc and other postgraduate programmes at IITs. The admission closing marks for SC and ST at top IITs are considerably lower than General category closing marks, making it important for students in these categories to plan their choices carefully before filling preferences on the admission portal.
- SC and ST qualifying marks are two-thirds of the General category cutoff for each paper.
- Each JAM 2026 paper is out of 100 marks total.
- Qualifying the exam is only the first step; admission closing marks at IITs are usually higher than the qualifying cutoff.
- JAM 2026 is conducted by IIT Bombay; results were declared in March 2026.
- Expected qualifying marks for SC and ST students range from 9.33 (MA) to 18.00 (GG) based on JAM 2025 trends.
| Direct Link to JAM 2026 Official Portal (OUT) jam2026.iitb.ac.in |
JAM 2026 SC and ST Qualifying Cutoff
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score a student must secure in their JAM 2026 paper to be eligible for admission. IIT JAM follows a fixed rule for category-wise relaxation: SC and ST students must score at least two-thirds of the General category qualifying marks in their respective paper. This means if the General cutoff for a paper is 18.00 marks, the SC and ST cutoff works out to 12.00 marks.
Qualifying the exam does not guarantee admission to an IIT programme. You must also secure a score that falls within the admission closing mark for your chosen IIT and programme. Both the qualifying cutoff and the closing marks matter for SC and ST students during the JAM 2026 admission process.
Paper-Wise Expected Qualifying Marks for SC and ST
The table below shows expected JAM 2026 qualifying marks for SC and ST students across all six test papers, based on JAM 2025 qualifying cutoff trends. Official JAM 2026 qualifying marks are published on the result page at jam2026.iitb.ac.in.
| Paper (Code) | General / EWS (2025) | OBC-NCL (2025) | SC / ST / PwD (2025) | Expected SC / ST (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology (BT) | 17.33 | 15.60 | 11.55 | 11 to 13 |
| Chemistry (CY) | 18.00 | 16.20 | 12.00 | 11 to 13 |
| Geology (GG) | 27.00 | 24.30 | 18.00 | 17 to 19 |
| Mathematics (MA) | 14.00 | 12.60 | 9.33 | 9 to 11 |
| Mathematical Statistics (MS) | 14.69 | 13.22 | 9.79 | 9 to 11 |
| Physics (PH) | 16.58 | 14.92 | 11.05 | 10 to 12 |
Expected 2026 figures are estimates based on JAM 2025 trends. Each paper is out of 100 marks.
Expected Admission Closing Marks for SC and ST at IITs
After qualifying, admission to an IIT programme depends on your JAM 2026 score and the closing marks from each round of counselling. The closing marks for SC and ST students are significantly lower than those for General category students. The table below lists expected JAM 2026 admission closing marks for select IITs and programmes, based on JAM 2025 admission data.
Closing marks vary by IIT, programme and the number of applicants each year. Programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and IIT Madras tend to have higher closing marks even for reserved categories compared to newer IITs.
| Paper | IIT | Programme | Expected SC Closing Marks (2026) | Expected ST Closing Marks (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics (PH) | IIT Bombay | M.Sc. Physics | 38 to 45 | 25 to 32 |
| Physics (PH) | IIT Delhi | M.Sc. Physics | 34 to 40 | 22 to 28 |
| Chemistry (CY) | IIT Bombay | M.Sc. Chemistry | 35 to 42 | 22 to 30 |
| Chemistry (CY) | IIT Kanpur | M.Sc. Chemistry | 30 to 38 | 20 to 28 |
| Mathematics (MA) | IIT Bombay | M.Sc. Mathematics | 30 to 38 | 20 to 28 |
| Mathematics (MA) | IIT Madras | M.Sc. Mathematics | 28 to 35 | 18 to 25 |
| Geology (GG) | IIT Bombay | M.Sc. Applied Geology | 38 to 46 | 28 to 35 |
| Mathematical Statistics (MS) | IIT Kanpur | M.Sc. Statistics | 28 to 36 | 18 to 26 |
| Biotechnology (BT) | IIT Bombay | M.Sc. Biotechnology | 30 to 38 | 20 to 28 |
All closing marks above are expected figures based on JAM 2025 admission data. Actual JAM 2026 closing marks are published on the official admission portal after each counselling round.
Factors Affecting JAM 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST
The qualifying cutoff and admission closing marks for SC and ST students in JAM 2026 are influenced by several key factors:
- Number of qualified SC and ST students: A higher number of qualified students in a category can push closing marks upward for popular programmes.
- Difficulty level of the paper: A tougher paper typically leads to lower qualifying and closing marks across all categories.
- Seats reserved for SC and ST: IITs reserve 15% of seats for SC and 7.5% for ST in each programme. Fewer reserved seats in a programme mean tighter competition among qualified students.
- IIT and programme popularity: Premier IITs like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and IIT Madras have higher closing marks even for SC and ST students compared to newer IITs.
- Total number of applicants per paper: Papers with more total applicants tend to have higher closing marks at popular IITs.
Students who qualify JAM 2026 should fill their choices carefully during admission, considering both their score and the typical closing marks at their preferred IITs and programmes.
JAM 2026 SC and ST Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students in JAM 2026?
Ans. The qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students is two-thirds of the General category qualifying marks for each paper. Based on JAM 2025 trends, this is expected to range from around 9.33 marks (MA) to 18.00 marks (GG) out of 100.
Ques. Are qualifying marks and admission closing marks the same in JAM 2026?
Ans. No. Qualifying marks are the minimum you need to pass the exam and become eligible for admission. Admission closing marks are the actual minimum scores accepted at a specific IIT and programme after all counselling rounds are complete. Closing marks are usually much higher than qualifying marks.
Ques. Which JAM 2026 paper has the highest SC and ST qualifying cutoff?
Ans. Based on JAM 2025 data, the Geology (GG) paper has the highest SC and ST qualifying cutoff at 18.00 marks. The Mathematics (MA) and Mathematical Statistics (MS) papers have the lowest cutoffs at around 9.33 and 9.79 marks respectively.
Ques. Where can I check the official JAM 2026 cutoff for SC and ST?
Ans. The official qualifying marks are published on the JAM 2026 result page at jam2026.iitb.ac.in. Admission closing marks are updated after each round of counselling on the JOAPS (JAM Online Application Processing System) portal.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for SC and ST in IIT JAM programmes?
Ans. IITs reserve 15% of seats for SC students and 7.5% of seats for ST students in each programme as per the government reservation policy. PwD students get an additional 5% horizontal reservation across all categories.
Ques. Which IIT has the lowest closing marks for SC and ST in JAM 2026?
Ans. Newer IITs and IITs with larger intake generally have lower closing marks for SC and ST students. Based on past trends, IITs such as IIT Dharwad, IIT Bhilai, IIT Tirupati and IIT Palakkad tend to have lower closing marks compared to older IITs like IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi.
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