The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 commenced on January 21, 2026 with two shifts on the first day. Students who appeared for the exam described the overall difficulty level as moderate, though variations were observed across subjects and shifts. Based on student feedback, expert analysis, and previous years’ trends, an expected cutoff percentile has been estimated, even as the official cutoff will be released later by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The JEE Main cutoff refers to the minimum qualifying percentile required to be eligible for JEE Advanced. It is important to note that this qualifying cutoff is different from the admission cutoffs set by individual institutes. Only candidates scoring above the cutoff can appear for JEE Advanced and seek admission to IITs and other premier institutions.
Day 1 paper analysis
In Shift 1, Physics was considered moderate to slightly tough, while Chemistry was largely easy but lengthy. Mathematics emerged as the most challenging section, with questions from high-weightage topics like Sets and Relations, Vectors and 3D Geometry, Matrices, Limits, Differentiability, and Probability.
In Shift 2, Physics was formula-based and moderate, with notable questions from Capacitors, Modern Physics, and Ray Optics. Chemistry leaned more towards Organic Chemistry and was considered manageable. Mathematics remained lengthy and difficult, with a strong emphasis on Calculus and Vectors.
Expected cutoff percentile (Category-wise)
Based on the difficulty level and the growing number of aspirants, experts anticipate a slight rise in the cutoff across categories: General (UR): 92–95; OBC-NCL: 79–82; EWS: 80–82; SC: 64–66; ST: 45–48.
A significant increase in the number of candidates appearing for JEE Main 2026 is a key factor influencing the expected rise in cutoffs. Trends suggest that higher competition and increased participation in categories like EWS and ST often lead to upward shifts in qualifying percentiles.
The final cutoff will be announced by NTA along with the results in April 2026.