JEE Main Passing Marks 2026 - Check Minimum Marks and Qualifying Score Category Wise

Diksha Sharma

Updated On: January 02, 2026 06:39 PM

JEE Main passing marks 2026 are expected to be around 90-95 marks for General category, 70-75 marks for EWS, 70-80 marks for OBC-NCL, 40-60 marks for SC, and 40-55 marks for ST category. Predict passing marks out of 300 in JEE Mains based on past trends here.

JEE Main Passing Marks 2026

The minimum marks to qualify JEE Mains 2026 are expected to be on the higher side for all categories as compared to last year. The category-wise JEE Main passing marks 2026 are likely to be around 40-60 marks for the SC category, 40-55 marks for the ST category, 90-95 marks for the General category, 70-75 marks for the EWS category and 70-80 marks for the OBC-NCL category. JEE Mains 2026 qualifying marks refer to the minimum scores that are needed to pass the test and qualifying for JoSAA counselling and for the upcoming JEE Advanced exam (specifically for IIT admission). Nevertheless, the passing marks out of 300 in JEE Mains vary each year depending on several factors, such as the exam difficulty level total number of examinees, seat availability and so on. The harder the exam, lower will be the raw scores for the same percentile, and hence lower will be JEE passing marks.
Also Check - Predicted Marks for 97 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

JEE Main Passing Marks 2026

JEE Main passing marks vary category-wise. The minimum qualifying marks tends to be high for the General category and relatively lower for SC/ ST categories. This year, the predicted passing marks for Open category may go up to 90-95 marks out of 300. You may refer to the following until the category-wise JEE Main passing marks 2026 official data is available.

Category

Expected Passing Marks Out of 300 in JEE Mains 2026

General

90-95 marks

EWS

70-75 marks

OBC-NCL

70-80 marks

SC

40-60 marks

ST

40-55 marks
Also Check - What is a Good Score and Rank in JEE Main 2026?

JEE Mains Qualifying Marks 2026 for Paper 2 (B.Arch/ B.Plan)

JEE Main passing marks for Paper 2 may be lower compared to Paper 1 due to lower demand for B.Arch/ B.Plan courses. JEE Mains minimum marks to qualify Paper 2 also depends on difficulty level, student category or reservation, total number of test takers etc. For General category students, the qualifying marks may range around 85-110 marks out of 400.
Category Expected Passing Marks in JEE Mains 2026 Paper 2 (Out of 400)
General 85-110 marks
EWS 70-75 marks
OBC-NCL 70-73 marks
SC 40-55 marks
ST 30-35 marks

Passing Marks Out of 300 in JEE Mains 2026

A common question among students who are preparing for the upcoming engineering entrance test is how many marks are required to clear JEE Mains in 2026. To answer this query, it is necessary to understand that there is no fixed passing marks in the JEE Mains exam and it is determined by various influencing factors every year. The passing marks for Session 1 and Session 2 are released separately and vary from one another. For the Session 1 exam, the passing marks for the General category is likely to range between 90 to 100 points, whereas for the reserved categories, it is expected to be between 40 to 85 points. Based on the expected cutoff percentile in the JEE Mains 2026, the category-wise JEE Mains qualifying marks have been mentioned here in detail for your reference.

Also Check - NITs for 97 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

Passing Marks for General Category in JEE Main 2026

The passing marks in JEE Mains 2026 for the General category is expected to be around 95 to 105 out of 300. The General category cutoff percentile for 95 to 105 passing marks in JEE Mains is likely to be around 95+. Previous year, the JEE Mains passing marks for the General category was 93.10. However, securing the passing marks in the entrance test does not guarantee admission into the top engineering colleges. JEE passing marks only suggest that a candidate has passed the entrance test.

Also Check - NITs for 96 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

Passing Marks for EWS Category in JEE Main 2026

If you are wondering how many marks are required to clear JEE Mains for the EWS category, keep reading further. The expected passing marks in the entrance test is around 75.00 to 85.00 for the EWS category. The cutoff percentile for the same student category in JEE Main 2026 is expected to be around 85. Last year, the EWS category JEE passing marks was 80.38. To secure admission into their desired colleges, the EWS category students must aim to score higher than the passing marks in the JEE entrance exam.
Quick Links:

JEE Main 2026 Result JEE Main Cutoff 2026
JEE Main Rank Predictor 2026 JEE Main 2026 College Predictor

Passing Marks for OBC-NCL Category in JEE Main 2026

The minimum marks to qualify JEE Mains 2026 for the OBC-NCL category is expected to be around 70.00 to 80.00. The cutoff percentile for qualifying the JEE Main exam is likely to be around 83+ for the OBC-NCL category. Students who secure the specified marks will be deemed eligible for applying to the further rounds of admission. To offer an example, the JEE passing marks for the OBC-NCL category was 79.43 last year. The college-wise admission cutoff may be higher than the JEE passing marks for all student categories.

Also Read: List of Colleges for 50-60 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

Passing Marks for SC Category in JEE Main 2026

The passing marks out of 300 in JEE Mains for the SC category is expected to range between 50.00 to 60.00. According to the previous year’s data, the passing marks for the SC category was 61.15. Based on the expected passing marks for JEE Mains 2026, the cutoff percentile for SC applicants is likely to be around 65+.

Also Check - List of Colleges for 70-80 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

Passing Marks for ST Category in JEE Main 2026

Students wondering how many marks to qualify JEE Mains for the ST category must note that the tentative data is derived by analyzing the past year trends. The expected JEE Mains passing marks 2026 for the ST category is between 40.00 to 50.00. Last year, the passing marks as announced by the NTA was 47.90 for the ST category. Many factors usually influence the category-wise JEE passing marks every year which determine the eligibility of the students to apply for the admission counselling process.
Also Check - IIITs for 97 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

JEE Main Passing Marks (Year-wise)

The year-wise analysis of the JEE Main passing marks has been provided here for all student categories. The following data is available for the years 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 for an in-depth analysis.

Student Category

JEE Main Passing Marks 2025

JEE Main Passing Marks 2024

JEE Main Passing Marks 2023

JEE Main Passing Marks 2022

JEE Main Passing Marks 2021

General

93.10

93.23

90.78

88.41

87.90

EWS

80.38

81.32

75.32

63.11

66.22

SC

61.15

60.09

51.98

43.08

46.88

ST

47.90

46.69

37.23

26.78

34.67

OBC-NCL

79.43

79.67

73.61

67.01

68.02

PwD

0.00

0.00187

0.001

0.003

1.01

Also Check - List of Colleges for 60-70 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

Factors Affecting Passing Marks in JEE Mains 2026

Several factors are responsible for determining the minimum marks to qualify JEE Mains 2026. These factors are mentioned below for easy reference to all participating students:

  • The total number of applicants appearing in the JEE Main 2026 exam

  • The overall seat availability as per the JEE Main 2026 participating colleges list

  • The overall exam difficulty level of JEE Main 2026

  • The reservation policy for student categories

  • Previous year's cutoff trends

Also Check - List of Colleges for 80-90 Percentile in JEE Main 2026

How Many Marks Are Required to Get 99th Percentile in JEE Main 2026?

To secure 99th percentile marks in JEE Main 2026, students have to secure more than 175 marks out of 300 in JEE Main 2026. Students can check the marks required to get 99th percentile marks in JEE Main 2026, along with the expected ranks and percentile against the secured marks in the table below:

Percentile in JEE Main 2026

Expected Marks Required

Expected Rank

99.99826992 - 99.99890732

288-294

20-11

99.99617561 - 99.99790569

280-284

44-22

99.99034797 - 99.99417236

270-279

107-63

99.95228621 - 99.99016586

252-268

522-106

99.87388626-99.95028296

231-249

1385-546

99.74522293-99.87060821

215-230

2798-1421

99.57503767 - 99.73930423

202-214

4666-2862

99.39319714 - 99.56019541

190-200

6664 - 4830

99.02150308 - 99.3487614

175-189

10746-7151

Students who successfully secure JEE Mains qualifying marks 2026 will be invited to participate in the counselling process for further admission rounds. NTA will release JEE Mains 2026 merit list for all qualifers.

JEE Main Rank Wise College Articles

List of Colleges Expected for 20,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026 List of Colleges Expected for 30,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026
List of Colleges Expected for 35,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026 List of Colleges Expected for 40,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026
List of Colleges Expected for 45,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026 List of Colleges Expected for 55,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026
List of Colleges Expected for 70,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026 List of Colleges Expected for 80,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026
List of Colleges Expected for 85,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026 List of Colleges Expected for 90,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026


If you have further queries regarding admission to top private engineering colleges in India , you can write to hello@collegedekho.com or call our toll free number 18005729877, or simply fill out our Common Application Form on the website.

FAQs

Where can I check the official JEE Main passing marks and cutoff details?

All the detailed information about the JEE Main passing marks and cutoff will be released by the official exam conducting body, i.e., the National Testing Agency or NTA, on its official website.

What was the JEE Main passing marks in the previous year?

In 2025, the JEE Main passing marks were 93.10 for the General category, 80.38 for the EWS category, 79.43 for the OBC-NCL category, 61.15 for the SC category, and 47.90 for the ST category. 

Can I improve my score if I do not clear JEE Main passing marks in the first attempt?

Yes, if you have failed to secure the JEE Main passing marks in the first attempt, you can appear for the Session 2 exam to be held in April 2026 to improve your chances of securing a better score in the entrance test. 

Do JEE Main passing marks differ for different sessions or attempts?

No, the JEE Main passing marks do not differ for different sessions or attempts. However, a candidate’s performance in different sessions will reflect differently in the overall score after the final calculation.

Are JEE Main passing marks based on percentile or raw score?

The JEE Main passing marks are calculated based on the percentile score instead of the raw score. The NTA uses a process of normalization which ensures a fair process of converting your raw marks into a percentile, reflecting your relative performance against all the other test-takers of that particular exam shift.

Is there negative marking affecting JEE Main passing marks?

Yes, according to the marking criteria introduced by the NTA, there is a negative marking scheme of 1 mark for incorrect responses in the JEE Mains exam. This will affect the JEE Main passing marks of a candidate based on their overall performance in the entrance test.

What happens if I do not meet the JEE Main passing marks?

If you fail to meet the specified JEE Main passing marks 2026, you will be deemed ineligible for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs for the current academic year. Moreover, you will also not be eligible to apply for JEE Advanced 2026 exam.

Does JEE Main passing marks guarantee admission to NITs or IIITs?

No, only securing the JEE Main passing marks does not guarantee admission to NITs or IIITs. To be eligible for admission, students must meet the admission cutoff requirements and secure the required scores for eligibility.

What score is required to qualify for JEE Advanced?

To qualify for the JEE Advanced, students must secure a score around 105 to 115 for the general category, 85 to 100 for the OBC and EWS categories, 60 to 75 for the SC category and 50 to 65 for the ST category in the JEE Mains exam.

Can I qualify JEE Advanced without clearing JEE Main passing marks?

No, you cannot qualify for JEE Advanced without securing the JEE Main passing marks. The JEE Main passing marks refer to the minimum qualifying marks to clear the entrance test. To qualify for JEE Advanced, students are required to secure a good score in the JEE Mains entrance test.  

Is there any sectional passing marks in JEE Main?

No, there are no sectional passing marks in the JEE Mains 2026 exam. Students are only required to secure the category-wise overall passing marks to clear the test for further admission rounds. 

Are passing marks different for General, OBC, SC, and ST candidates in JEE Main?

Yes, the passing marks in JEE Main is different for the General, OBC, EWS, SC, and ST category candidates. The passing marks for the General category are usually higher than the rest of the student categories.

What is the difference between JEE Main qualifying marks and cutoff marks?

The JEE Main qualifying marks essentially refer to the minimum score required to pass the entrance test. On the other hand, the cutoff marks usually refer to the required percentile in the JEE Mains exam for admission to the desired engineering college.  

Is qualifying JEE Main the same as passing JEE Main?

No, passing the JEE Main exam essentially refer to clearing the entrance test with the minimum passing score and cutoff. On the contrary, qualifying the JEE Mains refers to a candidate’s eligibility to appear for the JEE Advanced entrance exam.

Do JEE Main passing marks change every year?

Yes, the category-wise JEE Main passing marks vary every year based on the exam statistics, number of applicants, past year trends, and seat availability. 

What is considered a good score in JEE Main?

Any marks above 120+ are considered a good score in JEE Main. This is applicable to all student categories in the JEE Main 2026 entrance exam.

Is there any minimum passing marks in JEE Main?

Yes, there is a minimum passing mark in JEE Main 2026 for all student categories for qualification purposes. For the General category, it is 95+ and for the reserved categories it varies between 50 to 85+.

What are the passing marks for JEE Main 2026?

The passing marks for JEE Main 2026 are 95 to 105 for the General category, 75 to 85 for the EWS category, 70 to 80 for the OBC-NCL category, 50 to 60 for the SC category, and 40 to 50 for the ST category. 

How are JEE Main passing marks calculated?

JEE Mains passing marks are determined by several factors such as number of applicants who took the JEE Mains, availability of seats in the JEE Main participating institutes 2026, difficulty level of JEE Mains, category of the candidate, and previous year's cutoff trends.

Is there a fixed passing marks for JEE Main Paper 1 and Paper 2?

There are no fixed passing marks in the JEE Mains exam for Paper 1 and Paper 2. The qualifying marks required for JEE Mains Paper 2 including B.Arch courses, may differ from one college to another and from year to year. Similarly, the passing marks for Paper 1 will be calculated based on the candidate's overall performance and past year's trends, as well as based on the exam difficulty level. 

View More
/articles/jee-main-passing-marks/
View All Questions

Related Questions

What is the B.tech fee for Mechanical Engineering at LPU?

-testUpdated on January 28, 2026 10:50 AM
  • 81 Answers
Shila, Student / Alumni

The B.Tech Mechanical Engineering fee at LPU is approximately ₹1.4 lakh per semester. The exact fee can vary based on scholarships (LPUNEST), category, and admission year. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, it’s best to check the official LPU website or contact the admissions team directly.

READ MORE...

What is the tution fees for BTech cse

-Bhumika jainUpdated on January 28, 2026 11:41 AM
  • 5 Answers
Mansi arora, Student / Alumni

The tuition fee for B.Tech CSE at LPU is somewhere between INR 1,40,000 - 1,60,000 per semester, which fits well with the quality of education offered. With updated curriculum, strong coding culture, and great placement support, it’s totally worth it for CSE students.

READ MORE...

I need a detailed syllabus chart for TGEAPCET please

-naUpdated on January 28, 2026 11:02 AM
  • 1 Answer
Himani Daryani, Content Team

TS EAMCET, or now called TGEAPCET, follows the Class 11 and 12 syllabus of Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education for both Engineering (MPC) and Agriculture/Medical (BiPC) streams. You can download the TGEAPCET Syllabus PDF from here!

READ MORE...

Do you have a question? Ask us.

  • Typical response between 24-48 hours

  • Get personalized response

  • Free of Cost

  • Access to community

Recent Articles

Subscribe to CollegeDekho News

By proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the CollegeDekho terms of use and privacy policy

Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India

View All
Top