The expected EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 will be around the 80.5-82.5 percentile. The exact JEE Main Cutoff will be released on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, after the session 2 result will be released.
- As per the report, around 1.5-1.6 lakh EWS candidates have appeared for the exam, and the overall difficulty of the paper was moderate to tough. Due to this factor, it is expected that the cutoff may increase compared to 2025.
- To qualify for JEE Advanced, EWS candidates should have at least 75-85+ marks out of 300.
- 80-83 percentile will give an EWS category student an approx. of around rank of 2,00,000 – 2,50,000 range.
The JEE Main cutoff is the minimum percentile which is required to get admission in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026.
Also Read:
- Safe Score for JEE Main 2026 for the General Category
- Safe Score for JEE Main 2026 for the ST Category
- Safe Score for JEE Main 2026 for the PwD Category
- Safe Score for JEE Main 2026 for the OBC Category
Key Summary
- The expected EWS cutoff for JEE Main 2026 is around the 80-83 percentile
- As the difficulty level of the JEE Main 2026 paper was around tough, the cutoff might increased
- To qualify for JEE Advanced 2026, EWS candidates need to score 85+ marks
- For admissions, safe percentiles for EWS are much higher:
- Top NITs: 97–99
- Mid-tier NITs: 93–96
- IIITs: 90–95
- GFTIs: 85–92
EWS Cutoff Percentile: 2025 vs 2026 (Expected)
- As per @WeWonAcademy EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 will increase by 1-2 percentiles as compared to the previous year.
- This is due to the increasing number of participants and better average performance among the candidates.
| Year | Category | Cutoff Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Official) | EWS | 80.38 percentile |
| 2026 (Expected) | EWS | 82 - 83 percentile |
Ques. What is the expected cut off for EWS 2026?
Ans. The expected cut off for EWS 2026 for JEE Mains is around the 80-83 percentile.
EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 Marks (Expected)
Marks may vary depending on:
- Shift difficulty
- Normalisation process
- Session-wise performance trends
But an EWS candidate if score 60+ marks, then there is a high chance that they will be in the qualifying cutoff.
| Year | Category | Expected Marks (Out of 300) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Reference) | EWS | 50 - 55 |
| 2026 (Expected) | EWS | 55 - 65 |
Also Read:
Ques. Is the EWS cutoff lower than the General category?
Ans. Yes. The EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 Marks is always lower than the General category but higher than the OBC-NCL and SC/ST cutoffs.
Why the EWS Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 May Change?
As per different experts, there are four reasons behind the expected cutoff change:
| Factor | Impact on 2026 Cutoff |
|---|---|
| Increase in applicants | Slight upward pressure |
| Paper difficulty | Can neutralise high competition |
| Normalisation across shifts | Prevents extreme cutoffs |
| Reservation policy | Keeps EWS cutoff stable |
What does this mean for EWS Candidates in 2026?
For EWS candidates targeting JEE Advanced eligibility, the data suggests:
- Safe percentile target: 82+
- Borderline zone: 78-80
- High-risk zone: Below 75
JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff PDF
| JEE Main 2026 Cutoff for NITs (Expected) |
| JEE Main 2026 Cutoff for GFTIs (Expected) |
| JEE Main 2026 Cutoff for IIITs (Expected) |
EWS Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026- Expected Marks vs Percentile
- As shown below in the table, candidates who score 70-80 are expected to be in the 75-80 percentile range. As it's just a borderline if there will be any change of 5-7 marks, there is a high chance EWS candidates won't get qualified for JEE Advanced 2026.
- EWS candidates with 85-95 marks are expected to be in 80-85th percentile range, which is considered to be a safe zone.
| Marks (Out of 300) | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 70 - 80 | 75 - 80 |
| 85 - 95 | 80 - 85 |
| 100 - 120 | 88 - 92 |
Also Read:
Ques. Can I get NIT with just the qualifying cutoff?
Ans. No. Qualifying cutoff is only for JEE Advanced eligibility, not admission.
Ques. Are EWS seats separate in NITs?
Ans. Yes. EWS has 10% reservation across central institutions.
EWS Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs
Qualifying JEE Main does not guarantee admission. Colleges have separate closing ranks and cutoffs during JoSAA counselling.
| Institute Type | Safe Percentile (EWS) |
|---|---|
| Top NITs | 97 - 99 |
| Mid-Tier NITs | 93 - 96 |
| IIITs | 90 - 95 |
| GFTIs | 85 - 92 |
Also Read:
JEE Main 2026 Exam Marks vs Percentile for January Session
Ques. Are 70 marks enough for the EWS cutoff?
Ans. It can be borderline, depending on the session difficulty. For the difficult session, the 70 mark score might meet the cutoff as la ower score is needed.
Ques. Should I target marks or percentiles?
Ans. Always target marks, as the percentile is calculated later. Percentile is calculated using normalized process, so if your shift was difficult, a lower score can give a high percentile.
Predict your college based on your JEE Main 2026 marks or ranks. Check Collegedunia JEE Main College Predictor
EWS Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026: Previous-Year Cutoff Trends
- As per the past trends, the qualifying cutoff of EWS has increased over the years.
- In 2022, it was at 63.11 percentile, but in 2023, due to an increased number of participants and difficulty level, it increased to 75.62 percentile.
- In 2025, the EWS cutoff was decreased slightly but that's mostly because of normalisation across sessions.
| Year | Gen-EWS Cutoff Percentile |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 80.06 |
| 2024 | 81.33 |
| 2023 | 75.62 |
| 2022 | 63.11 |
Source: jeemain.nta.nic.in
EWS Cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 Reddit Discussion
As per the below-mentioned Reddit post, the EWS cutoff for JEE Mains 2026 will be around the 80th-82nd percentile.
Source: Reddit
With results expected soon after Session 2, experts advise EWS candidates to focus on rank analysis instead of raw marks.
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