NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA Round 1 Cutoff: Expected Closing Ranks at IHM Mumbai, Chennai and Pusa

In 2026, the overall M.Sc. HA closing rank at IHM Pusa for General category students was 151; applying the 2025 round-wise ratio, the Round 1 closing rank for General category at IHM Pusa is expected around 55 to 65, with IHM Mumbai projected near 145 to 165 and IHM Chennai around 155 to 180.

NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA counselling, conducted at nchmcounselling.nic.in, determines seat allocation at premier Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) campuses for the two-year Master of Science in Hospitality Administration programme. Eligibility is restricted to students with a B.Sc. (HHA) or equivalent degree, making the applicant pool smaller but highly competitive for top IHMs. IHM Pusa (New Delhi), IHM Mumbai and IHM Chennai consistently attract the strongest demand and record the tightest Round 1 closing ranks among all participating campuses.

• The 2026 overall M.Sc. HA General category closing rank at IHM Pusa is 151, down from 180 in 2025, indicating a slightly more competitive cycle this year.
• In 2025, IHM Pusa Round 1 closed at rank 68 for General category while the final round closed at 180, a ratio of approximately 37 per cent.
• IHM Mumbai Round 1 General category closed at rank 157 in the 2025 M.Sc. HA counselling cycle.
• IHM Chennai’s General category closing rank across all rounds in 2025 was 179; its 2026 Round 1 figure is estimated in the 155 to 180 range.

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NCHMCT JEE M.Sc. HA Round 1 Cutoff 2026: Overview

The M.Sc. HA Round 1 closing rank is the highest category rank at which a seat is offered in the first round of NCHMCT centralised counselling. Students whose category rank is at or below that figure for their preferred IHM receive a Round 1 seat offer. Those who miss Round 1 remain eligible for subsequent rounds, where closing ranks typically ease as vacancies from non-accepting students are redistributed.

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Previous Year M.Sc. HA Closing Ranks at IHM Pusa, Mumbai and Chennai

The table below presents actual M.Sc. HA closing ranks from 2024 and 2025 at IHM Pusa, IHM Mumbai and IHM Chennai. Figures are all-round final closing ranks unless Round 1 is noted separately. The 2026 General closing rank at IHM Pusa (151) is included for reference.

IHM Pusa shows notable year-on-year variation: the General closing rank was 95 in 2024, rose to 180 in 2025 and has dropped to 151 in 2026, indicating that 2026 is more competitive than 2025 but less so than 2024. The 2025 Round 1 figure of 68 at IHM Pusa is the clearest available benchmark for estimating where 2026 Round 1 will close. IHM Chennai’s General closing rank of 179 across all 2025 rounds signals strong demand through the entire counselling cycle, not just Round 1.

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Expected Round 1 Closing Ranks for NCHMCT JEE 2026 M.Sc. HA

The expected 2026 Round 1 closing ranks below are derived from two data points: the 2025 round-wise ratio at IHM Pusa (Round 1 closed at 38 per cent of the all-rounds closing rank) and the confirmed 2026 overall closing rank of 151 at IHM Pusa. All figures for IHM Mumbai and IHM Chennai are estimates based on 2025 counselling trends and will be confirmed at nchmcounselling.nic.in after each round of allotment.

IHM Pusa is expected to retain its position as the most competitive M.Sc. HA campus in Round 1, with General category seats likely filling within rank 55 to 65 based on the 2026 overall figure of 151 and the 2025 round pattern. IHM Mumbai and IHM Chennai are projected to close at broader ranges of 145 to 180 for General, reflecting the secondary preference pattern where students who do not secure IHM Pusa shift demand to these campuses. N/A entries reflect insufficient prior round-wise category data for those campuses, not the absence of reserved seats.

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Factors Affecting NCHMCT JEE M.Sc. HA Round 1 Cutoff 2026

The Round 1 closing rank is shaped by several variables specific to the 2026 cycle:

• Seat matrix for 2026: Any change in M.Sc. HA intake at IHM Pusa, Mumbai or Chennai directly shifts Round 1 closing ranks. NCHMCT publishes the official seat matrix at nchmcounselling.nic.in before Round 1 opens.
• Eligible applicant pool size: M.Sc. HA applicants are exclusively B.Sc. (HHA) or equivalent graduates. A larger graduating cohort in 2025-26 increases competition and compresses closing ranks at top IHMs.
• Score distribution in 2026 M.Sc. JEE: A higher overall scoring pattern means the rank cutoff is achieved by stronger performances, effectively raising the bar at the same rank positions.
• Preference submissions: IHM Pusa consistently receives the highest first-preference listings. A surge in first-preference votes for IHM Chennai or IHM Mumbai could tighten their Round 1 cutoffs beyond current projections.
• Non-acceptance of Round 1 offers: Students who receive but decline a Round 1 allotment trigger waitlist movement, which can shift the effective Round 1 closing rank after the acceptance deadline passes.

The confirmed 2026 overall closing rank at IHM Pusa (General: 151) is lower than 2025 (180), confirming a more competitive cycle this year. Students who narrowly miss Round 1 at IHM Pusa should stay registered for Round 2 and subsequent rounds, where closing ranks typically ease by 20 to 30 positions based on past M.Sc. HA counselling patterns.

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