JEE Main 2026: Safe Score, Expected Cutoff Marks & Percentile for NIT Admission

JEE Main 2026 Safe Score, Cutoff & NIT Percentile Guide

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If you're preparing for JEE Main 2026, you've probably heard the term "safe score" many times. A safe score is an estimated score that can get you into a top engineering college.

It's not a guarantee, but rather a benchmark for setting goals during preparation. It gives you an idea of the score you should aim for and work towards during your studies.

A high safe score can provide you with a wider range of options and a better chance of getting into your dream college and branch.

Scoring higher than the safe score gives you more options. You'll have better chances of getting into your preferred college and branch. So, it's always smart to aim a little higher than the minimum.

👉 Read Also - JEE Main 2026: Preparation Strategy to Score High

Safe Score for JEE Main 2026

Many students mix up the safe score with the cutoff. These two are related but not the same.

The cutoff is the minimum score you need to qualify for the exam or get admission to certain colleges. If you score below the cutoff, you won't be eligible.

The safe score is slightly higher than the cutoff. It acts as a buffer. Even if there are small changes in your performance or normalization affects your score, you'll still be in a comfortable position.

Here's a quick look at the expected safe scores for different categories:

Category	Cutoff Marks (2026)	Safe Score (2026)	Admission Possibility
General	90–115	180–200+	Top NITs/IIITs, JEE Advanced
OBC-NCL	76–90	160–170+	Good NITs/IIITs, JEE Advanced
EWS	75–85	160–170+	Good NITs/IIITs
SC	50–75	120–130+	Decent NITs, IIITs
ST	46–60	100–110+	NITs, IIITs

Safe Score vs Cutoff JEE Main 2026

Many students get confused between the JEE Main 2026 safe score and cutoff. Let's first understand the difference between the two.

The cutoff is the minimum score required to pass the exam or gain admission to a particular category of colleges. On the other hand, the safe score is a score that is slightly higher than the cutoff.

This means that if you achieve the safe score, you are safe from failing to pass the exam or being denied admission to a college due to minor fluctuations in your exam performance or normalization changes.

Safe Percentile for JEE Main 2026

The safe percentile for JEE Main 2026 will depend on the category and admission target. However, as a general guideline, higher percentiles, especially those above the 50th percentile, are considered safe for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs and for qualifying for JEE Advanced.

Here's a breakdown of safe percentiles by category:

Category	Qualifying Cutoff Percentile	Safe Percentile for Admission
General (UR)	92–95	95–99+
OBC-NCL	83–86	95–98
EWS	85–88	95–96
SC	60–65	80–90
ST	45–55	70–85

Safe Marks for NIT Admission JEE 2026

Now let's talk about the marks you need specifically for NIT admission.

NITs are among the most sought-after engineering colleges in India. Getting into one requires a solid score. Based on previous trends, general category students should aim for around 105–120 marks to secure a seat in a good NIT.

For reserved categories, the required marks are lower. But you should still aim above the cutoff to have better branch options.

Here's a table showing safe marks for NIT admission:

College Type	General Category	OBC Category	SC Category	ST Category
NITs (Top Branch)	120+	110–115	75–85	65–75
NITs (Other Branch)	105–110	95–100	60–70	50–60

👉 JEE Main & Advanced Study Material

JEE Main & Advanced Study Material
JEE Main Study Material 2026	JEE Main Mock Test
JEE Main Previous Year Question Paper	JEE Main DPP
JEE Main Chapterwise Previous Year Question	JEE ADV Chapterwise Previous Year Question