NCHMCT JEE 2026 Round 1 M.Sc. HA counselling is expected around July 15, 2026, with IHM Pusa likely closing at around rank 80–120 for General category students based on 2025 trends.

The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) runs centralised counselling for M.Sc. Hotel Administration (M.Sc. HA) admissions at top Institutes of Hotel Management. If you appeared in NCHMCT JEE 2026 and secured a rank, the expected closing ranks for IHM Pusa (New Delhi), IHM Mumbai, and IHM Bengaluru can help you build your preference list before Round 1 seat allotment. The figures below are expected closing ranks based on 2025 counselling data and are not confirmed official cutoffs for 2026.

  • M.Sc. HA Round 1 counselling 2026 is expected to begin around July 15, 2026 at nchmcounselling.nic.in.
  • IHM Pusa is the most competitive M.Sc. HA institute — expected General category closing rank: 80–120 in Round 1.
  • IHM Mumbai is the second most sought-after — expected General category closing rank: 100–160 in Round 1.
  • IHM Bengaluru typically records expected General category closing rank: 140–220 in Round 1.
  • NCHMCT JEE 2026 is conducted for a total of 800 marks; your rank in this exam drives M.Sc. HA seat allotment.
  • All closing ranks below are expected figures based on 2025 trends — official 2026 data will be published after Round 1 results.
Direct Link to NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA Counselling (OUT)

About NCHMCT JEE M.Sc. HA Counselling 2026

NCHMCT conducts M.Sc. Hotel Administration admissions through centralised counselling based on NCHMCT JEE 2026 ranks. The programme is a two-year postgraduate degree offered at select IHMs, including IHM Pusa, IHM Mumbai, and IHM Bengaluru. Seat allotment happens over multiple rounds, with Round 1 seeing the strongest competition as top-ranked students fill the most preferred institutes.

Students who appeared in NCHMCT JEE 2026 must register on the official counselling portal, submit their preference list, and pay the registration fee. Your rank, category, and preference order together determine which seat you receive in Round 1. Students who do not get a preferred seat in Round 1 can participate in subsequent rounds without losing their existing allotment.

Detail Information
Counselling Body National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT)
Programme M.Sc. Hotel Administration (M.Sc. HA)
NCHMCT JEE Total Marks 800
Round 1 Counselling (Expected) July 15, 2026
Official Counselling Portal nchmcounselling.nic.in

IHM Pusa Expected M.Sc. HA Cutoff 2026

IHM Pusa (New Delhi) is India’s flagship Institute of Hotel Management and consistently records the most competitive closing ranks in M.Sc. HA counselling every year. Based on 2025 Round 1 trends, the expected General category closing rank at IHM Pusa is 80–120. Students with a rank below 80 in the General category have a near-certain chance of securing a seat in Round 1. OBC students can expect the cutoff to close around rank 100–150, while SC and ST categories see higher closing ranks due to their reserved seat pool.

Category Expected Closing Rank Round 1 (2026) 2025 Round 1 Closing Rank (Reference)
General (UR) 80–120 ~90
OBC 100–150 ~130
SC 200–280 ~220
ST 300–400 ~330
PwD (Horizontal) 350–480 ~380

All figures are expected based on 2025 counselling trends. Official 2026 Round 1 closing ranks will be published at nchmcounselling.nic.in after seat allotment.


IHM Mumbai Expected M.Sc. HA Cutoff 2026

IHM Mumbai is the second most preferred choice for M.Sc. HA students, driven by its location in India’s largest hospitality market and its strong industry connections. The expected General category closing rank for IHM Mumbai in Round 1 is 100–160, based on 2025 data. Students who narrowly miss a seat at IHM Pusa often secure their second preference at IHM Mumbai within the same round if they rank their preferences correctly on the portal.

Category Expected Closing Rank Round 1 (2026) 2025 Round 1 Closing Rank (Reference)
General (UR) 100–160 ~140
OBC 130–200 ~180
SC 250–320 ~280
ST 350–480 ~400
PwD (Horizontal) 400–550 ~440

All figures are expected based on 2025 counselling trends. Visit nchmcounselling.nic.in for official Round 1 data after seat allotment.


IHM Bengaluru Expected M.Sc. HA Cutoff 2026

IHM Bengaluru is the go-to choice for students in South India and those who prefer the booming hospitality sector in Karnataka. The institute offers M.Sc. HA with strong ties to Bengaluru’s growing luxury and business hotel segment. Based on 2025 trends, the expected General category closing rank at IHM Bengaluru in Round 1 is 140–220. Students who do not receive a seat at IHM Pusa or IHM Mumbai in Round 1 often find IHM Bengaluru available as a strong alternative within the same round.

Category Expected Closing Rank Round 1 (2026) 2025 Round 1 Closing Rank (Reference)
General (UR) 140–220 ~180
OBC 180–260 ~220
SC 300–380 ~330
ST 400–520 ~450
PwD (Horizontal) 460–580 ~490

All figures are expected based on 2025 counselling trends. Official results will be available after Round 1 at nchmcounselling.nic.in.


Factors Affecting NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA Closing Ranks

Understanding what drives the closing rank at each IHM helps you set realistic expectations for Round 1:

  • Seat intake per institute: IHM Pusa and IHM Mumbai have limited M.Sc. HA seats, which keeps their closing ranks highly competitive. IHM Bengaluru’s relatively larger seat count results in a higher (less competitive) closing rank.
  • Total qualified students: If overall NCHMCT JEE 2026 participation grew compared to 2025, more students compete for the same number of M.Sc. HA seats, which can push closing ranks lower.
  • Institute reputation and placement record: IHM Pusa consistently attracts top-ranked students first, making its closing rank the most competitive of the three.
  • Round number: Round 1 sees the tightest closing ranks. In later rounds, students who accepted a seat in Round 1 exit the pool, so students with higher ranks get another opportunity.
  • Reservation matrix: NCHMCT follows Government of India norms — OBC (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), and PwD (5% horizontal) — so closing ranks differ meaningfully across categories.
  • Student preference order: A surge in first-preference choices for any one IHM can compress that institute’s closing rank in Round 1. Filling preferences strategically improves your chances of getting your best available option.

NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA Cutoff FAQs

Ques. What is the expected closing rank for IHM Pusa M.Sc. HA in Round 1 of NCHMCT JEE 2026 counselling?

Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected General category closing rank at IHM Pusa for M.Sc. HA in Round 1 is approximately 80–120. OBC students can expect the cutoff to close around rank 100–150.

Ques. Is IHM Mumbai more competitive than IHM Bengaluru for M.Sc. HA admission?

Ans. Yes. IHM Mumbai is more competitive, with an expected General category closing rank of 100–160 in Round 1, compared to IHM Bengaluru’s expected closing rank of 140–220 for the same round.

Ques. What is the total marks for NCHMCT JEE 2026?

Ans. NCHMCT JEE 2026 is conducted for a total of 800 marks. Your score in this exam determines your all-India rank, which is used for M.Sc. HA seat allotment across all participating IHMs.

Ques. Where can I check the official NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA Round 1 closing ranks?

Ans. The official Round 1 closing ranks are published on the NCHMCT counselling portal at nchmcounselling.nic.in after the Round 1 seat allotment result is declared.

Ques. Do closing ranks improve in Round 2 compared to Round 1 for M.Sc. HA?

Ans. Generally yes. Closing ranks in Round 2 and later rounds are usually higher (less competitive) than Round 1 because top-ranked students who accepted a Round 1 seat exit the pool, making their seats and better-ranked spots unavailable to others but opening up space for students ranked just below the Round 1 cutoff.

Ques. Can I use the expected closing rank table to check my chances across all categories?

Ans. Yes. The tables in this article provide expected closing ranks for General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories separately for each IHM. Find the row matching your category and compare it against your NCHMCT JEE 2026 rank to estimate your probability of securing a seat in Round 1.