Minimum Marks in JEE Advanced to Get IIT — Category-Wise Qualifying Marks

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So you've cleared JEE Main — congratulations, that was no small feat. Now you're staring at JEE Advanced and asking the one question every serious aspirant has: how many marks do I actually need to get into an IIT?

The minimum marks in JEE Advanced to get IIT isn't a single number. It depends on your category, the paper's difficulty level that year, and — critically — whether you're just trying to qualify or actually get a seat. These are two very different thresholds, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes students make.

Let's break it all down clearly, category by category, year by year.

What Are JEE Advanced Qualifying Marks — And Why Do They Change Every Year?

Before we jump into the numbers, you need to understand what "qualifying marks" actually means here.

The JEE Advanced cutoff has two layers:

Layer 1 — The Rank List Cutoff: This is the minimum you need to score to even appear in the rank list. If you don't cross this, you're out — no rank, no JoSAA counselling, no IIT.

Layer 2 — The Admission Cutoff: This is the IIT-specific and branch-specific closing rank released during JoSAA counselling. This is what determines which IIT and which branch you actually get.

Most students focus only on Layer 2 and panic about IIT Bombay CSE ranks. But if you don't clear Layer 1 first, Layer 2 is irrelevant.

The rank list cutoff changes every year because it's not a fixed percentage applied mechanically. The conducting IIT sets it based on how difficult the paper was, how candidates performed overall, and how many seats are available. A tough paper in 2025 led to a much lower cutoff than the relatively easier 2024 paper. That's why you'll see sharp jumps and drops in the data.

JEE Advanced Qualifying Marks 2025 — Official Category-Wise Cutoff

The 2025 exam was conducted by IIT Kanpur and was considered significantly harder than 2024, particularly Paper 2. As a result, the qualifying marks dropped considerably compared to the previous year.

Here are the official JEE Advanced 2025 qualifying marks for inclusion in the rank list (out of 360):

The 2025 CRL aggregate dropped from 109 marks in 2024 to just 76 marks — a fall of nearly 30%. The subject-wise cutoff for General category also came down to 7 marks per subject.

Here's what this means practically: if you scored 80 aggregate in JEE Advanced 2025 and cleared at least 7 marks in each of Physics, Chemistry, and Maths — you made it to the rank list.

JEE Advanced Qualifying Marks 2024 — For Reference

The 2024 exam was conducted by IIT Madras. The paper was considered relatively more manageable, which pushed the cutoffs significantly higher compared to 2025.

Official JEE Advanced 2024 qualifying marks (out of 360):

So in 2024, a General category student needed 109 marks in aggregate with at least ~10 marks per subject. That's a meaningful jump from 2023's cutoff of 86 marks.

JEE Advanced Qualifying Marks 2023 — For Reference

The 2023 exam was conducted by IIT Guwahati. The paper was considered moderately difficult.

Year-Wise Trend: JEE Advanced Qualifying Marks for General Category (CRL)

Here's the big picture — the CRL aggregate cutoff over recent years:

Notice the pattern? The 2022 cutoff was the lowest in recent years because the paper was considered very hard. Then it jumped sharply in 2024 when the paper was easier, and dropped again in 2025.

The lesson here is clear: chasing the minimum is a risky strategy. Paper difficulty is unpredictable, and a single easy year can push the qualifying bar much higher than you planned for.

The Subject-Wise Minimum — The Rule Everyone Forgets

This is the part that catches students off guard every year.

You don't just need a good aggregate. You need to cross a minimum threshold in each subject individually — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

It doesn't matter if you scored 100+ marks in Maths. If you scored 5 marks in Chemistry in a year when the subject-wise cutoff is 7, you don't make the rank list. Period.

In 2025, the subject-wise minimum was just 7 marks per subject for General category — but in 2024, it was around 10 marks. These may sound easy, but given JEE Advanced's negative marking and question difficulty, many students miss the subject-wise bar in their weakest subject even when their total looks fine.

Practical advice: Don't abandon any subject while preparing. A 30-mark Maths advantage doesn't protect you if Chemistry pulls you below the subject minimum.

Minimum Marks in JEE Advanced for OBC-NCL Candidates

If you're in the OBC-NCL category, here's what you need to know.

The OBC-NCL cutoff is typically set at around 90% of the General (CRL) cutoff. In recent years:

• 2025: 66 marks aggregate, minimum 6 marks per subject

• 2024: 98 marks aggregate, minimum ~9 marks per subject

• 2023: 77 marks aggregate, minimum ~7 marks per subject

So in 2025, an OBC-NCL candidate needed 66 marks to enter the rank list — 10 marks lower than the General cutoff of 76.

For getting an actual IIT seat (not just qualifying), OBC-NCL candidates compete within the OBC-NCL reserved seats across IITs. The closing ranks for OBC-NCL admission vary by IIT and branch, just like General category, and are released through JoSAA counselling.

Minimum Marks in JEE Advanced for EWS Candidates

The GEN-EWS (Economically Weaker Section) cutoff has historically been the same as the OBC-NCL cutoff.

• 2025: 66 marks aggregate, minimum 6 marks per subject

• 2024: 98 marks aggregate

• 2023: 77 marks aggregate

EWS seats in IITs follow a 10% reservation. The JoSAA counselling process handles EWS admissions in a separate rank list, so your rank within the GEN-EWS list — not just the aggregate qualifying marks — determines your IIT seat.

Minimum Marks in JEE Advanced for SC and ST Candidates

SC and ST candidates have a significantly lower qualifying threshold — roughly half the General cutoff.

• 2025: 37 marks aggregate, minimum 3 marks per subject

• 2024: 54 marks aggregate, minimum ~4–5 marks per subject

• 2023: 43 marks aggregate

This doesn't mean SC/ST students need to aim for just 37 marks. The qualifying cutoff is only the entry gate. Getting a good branch at a reputed IIT still requires a strong rank, and competition within SC/ST categories is real.

SC candidates who don't qualify the main rank list but score above a separate lower threshold are eligible for the Preparatory Course at IITs — a bridge program designed to bring them up to speed for admission the following year.

Qualifying Marks vs. Marks Needed to Actually Get an IIT

Here's the most important distinction to understand.

Clearing the qualifying cutoff ≠ getting an IIT seat.

The qualifying cutoff just puts you in the rank list. Your rank in that list then determines whether you actually get a seat in JoSAA counselling, and which IIT and branch.

Here's a rough idea of what ranks typically get you in:

These are rough benchmarks. Actual JoSAA closing ranks shift every year, and some newer IITs have lower closing ranks even for desirable branches. The key point is: if your goal is any IIT, you need to aim well above the qualifying cutoff.

What Percentage Is the JEE Advanced Qualifying Cutoff?

Students often ask about percentages rather than raw marks. Here's how it breaks down:

• General (CRL): Approximately 25–35% of total marks, with about 8–10% per subject

• OBC-NCL / EWS: Approximately 22–31.5% of total marks

• SC / ST: Approximately 12–17.5% of total marks

These percentages shift with each year's paper. The 2025 General cutoff was roughly 21% (76 out of 360), while 2024's was about 30% (109 out of 360).

Key Factors That Decide the JEE Advanced Cutoff Each Year

Understanding why the cutoff moves helps you plan better:

Paper Difficulty: The single biggest factor. A tough paper = lower cutoff. An easier paper = higher cutoff. You have no control over this, which is why you need to aim well above the minimum.

Total Candidates: More candidates competing generally nudges cutoffs upward in competitive years.

Available Seats: Any increase in total IIT seats can slightly ease the effective competition for rank list inclusion.

Category-Wise Performance: Each rank list is set independently, so performance trends within each category affect that category's cutoff.

JEE Advanced 2026 — What to Expect

JEE Advanced 2026 is being conducted by IIT Roorkee. The official cutoff will be released on June 1, 2026, along with the results on jeeadv.ac.in.

Based on exam reviews and paper difficulty, the 2026 paper has been described as moderate to difficult. Expert estimates suggest the General category (CRL) qualifying marks may fall somewhere between 74 and 92 marks — broadly in the same range as 2025, though the official figure may vary.

If you appeared in JEE Advanced 2026, keep an eye on the official portal for your category's cutoff when results are declared.

FAQ

Q1. What is the minimum marks to qualify JEE Advanced for General category?

In 2025, the minimum aggregate marks to qualify for the General category (CRL) was 76 out of 360, with a minimum of 7 marks required individually in each of the three subjects. This changes every year based on exam difficulty. In 2024, the cutoff was 109 marks for the same category.

Q2. What is the minimum marks in JEE Advanced for OBC-NCL candidates?

In 2025, OBC-NCL candidates needed a minimum of 66 marks in aggregate and at least 6 marks in each subject. The OBC-NCL cutoff is typically set slightly lower than the General category cutoff.

Q3. How many marks are needed in JEE Advanced to get into any IIT?

Just clearing the qualifying cutoff isn't enough to guarantee an IIT seat. To get into any IIT branch through JoSAA counselling, you typically need a rank under approximately 15,000–17,000, which generally requires scoring around 120–150+ marks out of 360. For top IITs and popular branches like CSE, the bar is significantly higher.

Q4. Is the subject-wise cutoff mandatory in JEE Advanced?

Yes, absolutely. You must score the minimum required marks in each subject — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics — separately, in addition to the overall aggregate. Failing even one subject's minimum disqualifies you from the rank list, regardless of your total score.

Q5. What is the JEE Advanced cutoff for SC and ST candidates?

In 2025, SC and ST candidates needed a minimum of 37 marks in aggregate and at least 3 marks per subject. In 2024, the cutoff was 54 marks aggregate. These thresholds are roughly half those of the General category.

Q6. Does qualifying JEE Advanced guarantee an IIT seat?

No. Qualifying JEE Advanced means you appear in the rank list and become eligible for JoSAA counselling. Whether you get an IIT seat — and which IIT and branch — depends entirely on your All India Rank (AIR) and the choices you fill during counselling.

Conclusion

Here's the bottom line on minimum marks in JEE Advanced to get into IIT: the qualifying cutoff is your first hurdle, but it's nowhere near the finish line.

In 2025, the General category cutoff was 76 marks, OBC-NCL and EWS was 66 marks, and SC/ST was 37 marks. Subject-wise minimums are just as important — clearing the aggregate without crossing the per-subject threshold means disqualification.

But remember: qualifying marks just put you in the race. If you want an actual IIT seat, especially at a reputed institute or in a competitive branch, you need to aim considerably higher.

Study smart, give equal attention to all three subjects, and don't let year-to-year cutoff variations distract you from your real target — the rank that gets you where you want to go.