JEE Main Eligibility Marks in 12th For OBC: Know JEE Main 2026 eligibility marks in 12th for OBC, 75% criteria, qualifying marks for JEE Advanced 2026, and expected cut off for NITs & IIITs.
OBC (Other Backward Class) category students enjoy 27% reservation in almost all government and private engineering colleges in India. This reservation applies to admissions in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, helping lakhs of students every year secure seats in top institutes.
However, despite reservation benefits, every OBC student must meet the minimum eligibility criteria to qualify for admission. Many students assume that just clearing JEE Main 2026 is enough, but in reality, Class 12th marks also play an important role in determining whether you are eligible for admission to these colleges.
The good part is you can still appear for JEE Main 2026 even if your Class 12th marks are below 75%. But when it comes to IIT, NIT, or IIIT admissions, the 75% rule and percentile cut-offs apply strictly.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything an OBC candidate must know, from 12th marks eligibility to JEE Main 2026 expected cut-offs, qualifying marks for JEE Advanced, and percentile needed for top NITs and IIITs.
JEE Main Eligibility Marks In 12th For The OBC Category
The 75% Marks Rule for OBC Students: To be eligible for admission through JEE Main or JEE Advanced, OBC category students must meet one of the following conditions:
- Score at least 75% marks in Class 12th (or equivalent board exam), OR
- Be in the top 20th percentile of their respective board in Class 12th.
Score at least 75% marks in Class 12th (or equivalent board exam) or be in the top 20th percentile of their respective board in Class 12th. This rule applies to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and IITs. The rule ensures that candidates maintain a good academic standard in their board exams, along with qualifying for JEE Main 2026.
Example:
Let’s say Rohan, an OBC student, scored 74% in CBSE Class 12th. If he is among the top 20th percentile scorers of his board, he still becomes eligible for admission even though his percentage is below 75%. If not, he won’t be considered for IIT/NIT admission despite qualifying for JEE.
Important Notes:
- The 75% rule is applicable only during admission, not for appearing in JEE Main.
- There is no minimum percentage required to appear for JEE Main 2026 — you just need to pass Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- For SC/ST/PwD, the requirement is 65% instead of 75%.
JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Marks for OBC Category (for JEE Advanced)
To appear in JEE Advanced 2026, OBC category candidates must score above a certain cutoff percentile in JEE Main 2026. This cutoff changes every year based on paper difficulty and the total number of candidates. The past year’s trend and expected qualifying marks for JEE Advanced are given below.
| Year | OBC-NCL Cutoff Percentile | Approx. Marks (out of 300) | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.61 percentile | 85–90 marks | Moderate |
| 2024 | 76.06 percentile | 90–95 marks | Moderate to Easy |
| 2025 | 77.52 percentile | 95–100 marks | Slightly Tougher |
| 2026 (Expected) | 77–78 percentile | 100–110 marks | Predicted Similar |
Based on this data, OBC candidates should aim for at least 100 marks in JEE Main 2026 to safely qualify for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Main 2026 Cut Off Percentile for OBC Category (for JEE Advanced)
The cutoff percentile for OBC category candidates determines who qualifies for JEE Advanced. It is not the same as the admission cutoff; it’s the minimum percentile required to appear for the next stage (JEE Advanced). Here’s the cutoff trend for the last three years and the expected cutoff for 2026.
| Year | OBC-NCL Cutoff Percentile | Change from Previous Year | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.61 | – | Baseline |
| 2024 | 76.06 | +2.45 | Higher participation |
| 2025 | 77.52 | +1.46 | Slight increase |
| 2026 (Expected) | 77–78 | Stable | Consistent trend expected |
The cutoff for the OBC category has steadily increased due to rising competition and normalization effects. Hence, students should target at least 78 percentile to stay safely above the qualifying line for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Main 2026 CSE Cut Off for Top NITs (OBC Category)
Computer Science (CSE) remains the most popular branch in NITs, so cut-offs are naturally higher for it. The following table shows the expected cutoff percentile and rank range for OBC students seeking CSE admission in top NITs based on JoSAA 2024 data.
| NIT | Expected Percentile (OBC-NCL) | Approx. Rank Range | Approx. Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 97.5 – 98 percentile | 10,000 – 12,000 | 165–175 |
| NIT Surathkal | 97 – 97.5 percentile | 11,000 – 13,000 | 160–170 |
| NIT Warangal | 96.5 – 97 percentile | 12,000 – 14,000 | 155–165 |
| NIT Allahabad | 95.5 – 96 percentile | 14,000 – 16,000 | 145–155 |
| NIT Rourkela | 95 – 95.5 percentile | 15,000 – 17,000 | 140–150 |
Key Insight:
To secure CSE in top NITs, OBC candidates must target the 96–98 percentile, equivalent to 160+ marks in JEE Main 2026.
Also, Read: JEE Main 2026: IIT, NIT, और IIIT में कैसे होता हैं Admission | JosAA Counselling 2026.
JEE Main 2026 CSE Cut Off for Top IIITs (OBC Category)
IIITs are equally good options for OBC students who want a top-quality Computer Science education. Here’s the expected cutoff range for 2026 based on 2024 admission trends:
| IIIT | Expected Percentile (OBC-NCL) | Approx. Rank Range | Approx. Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad (via JEE Main) | 98+ percentile | 8,000 – 10,000 | 170–180 |
| IIIT Allahabad | 96.5 – 97 percentile | 12,000 – 13,500 | 155–165 |
| IIIT Delhi | 96 – 96.5 percentile | 13,000 – 14,500 | 150–160 |
| IIIT Gwalior | 95 – 95.5 percentile | 15,000 – 16,000 | 145–155 |
| IIIT Pune | 94.5 – 95 percentile | 16,000 – 17,000 | 140–150 |
Final Thoughts
For OBC candidates, JEE Main 2026 provides a golden chance to enter India’s top engineering institutes but you must meet both the academic eligibility (75% in Class 12th) and the JEE cutoff percentile.
To summarize:
- Class 12th: Minimum 75% marks or top 20 percentile
- JEE Advanced Eligibility: 77–78 percentile (~100 marks)
- Top NIT/IIIT Admission (CSE): 96–98 percentile (~160+ marks)
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Q1. How many marks are required in 12th for JEE for OBC?
OBC candidates need 75% marks in Class 12th or must be in the top 20th percentile of their board to be eligible for admission in IITs, NITs, and IIITs.
Q2. What is the 75% criterion for JEE Main 2026 for OBC?
The 75% rule means OBC and General category candidates must score at least 75% in Class 12th or be among the top 20th percentile of their board to take admission via JEE.
Q3. Is the 75% criterion removed from JEE for OBC?
No, the 75% criterion is not removed. It is still applicable for admission to IITs, NITs, and IIITs. You can appear for the exam with less than 75%, but admission requires meeting this rule.
Q4. What is the cutoff for OBC in JEE 2026?
The expected cutoff percentile for OBC-NCL in JEE Main 2026 is around the 77–78 percentile, equivalent to about 100–110 marks.
Q5. What is a good score in JEE Main for OBC?
A good score for OBC candidates is 150+ marks (95+ percentile). This score range can help you secure a CSE branch in the top NITs or IIITs.
More Links:
JEE Mains 2026 Registration Last Date Session 1: आवेदन करने की अंतिम तारीख और आवश्यक डाक्यूमेंट्स।
UP Board Exam Date 2026: कब होगी 12वीं यूपी बोर्ड परीक्षा? टाइम टेबल और PDF डाउनलोड करें।
