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JoSAA 2026 vs 2025: what changed
Final-round JEE Main closing ranks at NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, this year against last year
JoSAA counselling 2026, Round 5 (final) · years 2024, 2025, 2026 · updated 2026-11-02
In JoSAA 2026, the typical final-round closing JEE Main rank (OPEN, gender-neutral) was 6.9% later (easier) than in 2025, across 609 programs with ranks in both years: 494 got easier and 115 got harder. NITs +5.1%, IIITs +8.2%, GFTIs +9%.
Main quota: Other State at NITs, All India elsewhere. Positive = later closing rank = easier to get. B.Arch and B.Planning are left out.
Data last updated , from official JoSAA counselling results. CRL = Common Rank List (the overall JEE rank) · OPEN = open to all categories · EWS = Economically Weaker Section · OBC-NCL = Other Backward Classes (non-creamy layer) · SC = Scheduled Caste · ST = Scheduled Tribe · PwD = Persons with Disability
By branch
| Branch | Programs | Typical change | Easier | Harder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | 5 | +15.7% | 5 | 0 |
| Information Technology | 17 | +11.8% | 14 | 3 |
| Mathematics and Computing | 14 | +11.3% | 13 | 1 |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 80 | +10.9% | 76 | 4 |
| Artificial Intelligence and Data Science | 10 | +9.8% | 9 | 1 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | 71 | +7.6% | 58 | 13 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 18 | +6.9% | 16 | 2 |
| Chemical Engineering | 21 | +5.4% | 14 | 7 |
| Civil Engineering | 47 | +5.2% | 42 | 5 |
| Electrical Engineering | 32 | +4.6% | 28 | 4 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 48 | +3.3% | 33 | 15 |
| Biotechnology | 10 | +2.5% | 7 | 3 |
| Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | 14 | +0.4% | 8 | 6 |
| Aerospace Engineering | 4 | -1.9% | 2 | 2 |
| Engineering Physics | 4 | -3.2% | 2 | 2 |
Programs that got much easier
Programs that got much harder
| Program | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Warangal · Chemistry | 37,985 | 21,899 | -42.3% |
| NIT Calicut · Engineering Physics | 17,056 | 10,012 | -41.3% |
| IIIT Allahabad · Information Technology-Business Informatics | 6,150 | 4,969 | -19.2% |
| NIT Delhi · Aerospace Engineering | 13,389 | 10,870 | -18.8% |
| SMVDU Katra · Bio Technology | 83,268 | 67,647 | -18.8% |
| NIT Calicut · Production Engineering | 36,080 | 29,366 | -18.6% |
| GGV Bilaspur · Chemical Engineering | 1,09,723 | 91,843 | -16.3% |
| Tezpur University · Electrical Engineering | 86,122 | 73,682 | -14.4% |
| Tezpur University · B.Tech. (Electronics and Communication Engineering) - MBA | 72,944 | 62,535 | -14.3% |
| NIT Durgapur · Biotechnology | 49,920 | 42,848 | -14.2% |
| NIT Tiruchirappalli · Instrumentation and Control Engineering | 11,047 | 9,550 | -13.6% |
| IIIT Sri City · Computer Science and Engineering | 26,387 | 23,052 | -12.6% |
| University of Hyderabad · Materials Engineering | 72,228 | 63,187 | -12.5% |
| NIT Rourkela · Mining Engineering | 35,731 | 31,315 | -12.4% |
| IIIT Sri City · Electronics and Communication Engineering | 33,596 | 29,473 | -12.3% |
Only programs whose closing rank moved by 1,000 or more are listed.
Frequently asked questions
Was JoSAA 2026 cutoff higher or lower than 2025 for NITs, IIITs and GFTIs?
In JoSAA 2026, the typical final-round closing JEE Main rank (OPEN, gender-neutral) was 6.9% later (easier) than in 2025, across 609 programs with ranks in both years: 494 got easier and 115 got harder. NITs +5.1%, IIITs +8.2%, GFTIs +9%.
Which branches got easier or harder in JoSAA 2026?
Easier: AI (+15.7%), IT (+11.8%), MnC (+11.3%), CSE (+10.9%). Harder: Engineering Physics (-3.2%), Aerospace (-1.9%). Typical change in the final OPEN, gender-neutral closing rank.
Source: JoSAA counselling results (josaa.admissions.nic.in). A later closing rank means easier to get.