What are the Minimum Marks Needed for JEE Mains and Advanced for Aeronautical Engineering at IITs and NITs?

Ans: Hello dear,
It's not possible for me to set a target for any student regarding the uncertain JEE (Adv) examination. Ask your son to focus solely on the syllabus and try to crack both JEE (Mains & Advanced) with a high percentile. Instead of aiming for a low benchmark, encourage him to score as high as possible so that all doors remain open. Never set a target at this stage. Review your son's performance either in Nov or Jan 2026. Until then, stay relaxed.
Good luck!
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Radheshyam

Ans: Sayali, For JEE Main 2026, securing admission to a decent NIT for the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) branch as an OBC category candidate typically requires both a high percentile and a competitive All India Rank. Recent cut-off data across reliable educational portals indicates that the cut-off percentile for qualifying JEE Main as an OBC candidate is usually in the 79–80 range, but actual admissions to CSE at NITs—especially well-regarded ones—demand a much higher percentile, often above 93, and a corresponding rank within roughly the top 2,500–8,000 for OBC category students. For example, 2024 JoSAA Round 4 closing ranks for CSE in NIT Trichy and NIT Warangal were around 369 and 629, respectively, while more accessible NITs such as NIT Jalandhar, Raipur, and Hamirpur reported closing OBC ranks between 3,000 and 10,000. For moderately ranked NITs—considered “decent”—the OBC closing ranks for CSE generally fall in the range of 4,000 to 9,000. In percentile terms, a safe range to target is at least 96–97 percentile, equivalent to a normalized mark typically above 165–175 out of 300 in JEE Main, subject to exam difficulty and normalization each year. Minimum marks required fluctuate annually, but scoring above 150–160 marks is advisable to ensure a competitive OBC rank for CSE in most NITs; higher marks increase the range of NITs available. Additionally, factors such as home state quota, seat allocation trends, and seat matrix changes may influence branch allotment but do not substantially change the need for a strong JEE Main score.

In summary, OBC candidates aiming for CSE in a decent NIT through JEE Main 2026 should target a percentile of at least 96, strive for a rank below 7,000, and secure marks above 150 for maximum options and admission flexibility. All the BEST for Your JEE Preparation!

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Ans: Aim for a minimum of 135 marks in JEE Main to maximize admission chances in Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering at Tier 1 and 2 NITs, considering OBC-NCL female and Tamil Nadu status. However, have a minimum of 3-4 backupoptions of Private Engineering Colleges, instead of relying only on JEE. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: For an EWS category student targeting Computer Science Engineering (CSE) in mid-tier NITs and IIITs through JEE Main 2026, the expected cutoff metrics based on the last two years' data (2024-2025) demonstrate realistic benchmarks for strategic preparation. The JEE Main 2025 qualifying cutoff for the EWS category established at 80.3830119 percentile (approximately 80 marks minimum) creates the foundational threshold, while actual NIT/IIIT admission cutoffs for EWS CSE range significantly higher. Mid-tier NIT CSE admissions for EWS candidates typically close between ranks 8,000-15,000, translating to approximately 155-170 marks out of 300, representing 85-90 percentile range. For mid-tier IIITs like IIIT Gwalior, IIIT Kalyani, IIIT Allahabad, and IIIT Lucknow, EWS CSE cutoffs historically close around ranks 3,500-5,600, requiring approximately 150-165 marks (corresponding to the 82-88 percentile). IIIT Kalyani Round 6 (2025) data shows EWS CSE closing at rank 5,640 (approximately 165 marks); IIIT Gwalior EWS CSE closing around rank 8,200 (approximately 155 marks). Specific institution trends: NIT Warangal EWS CSE closing rank approximately 13,847, requiring ~165 marks; NIT Jaipur closing around rank 11,000, requiring ~160 marks; NIT Surathkal EWS CSE approximately rank 8,000-9,000, requiring ~160-165 marks. The 2024-2025 data consistently demonstrates EWS candidates securing mid-tier NIT/IIIT CSE seats with scores spanning 150-170 marks (82-90 percentile), suggesting a realistic target for 2026 preparation aligns with achieving 155-170 marks minimum (85-90 percentile equivalent). Competition intensity remains moderate-to-high for CSE branch; achieving marks above 170 provides a comfortable margin for premium mid-tier seat acquisition, while 150-155 marks offer realistic prospects in lower mid-tier institutions, with the EWS reservation advantage substantially improving admission probability compared to general category candidates requiring 20-30 additional marks for identical institution admission.? Important Disclaimer: The admission probability assessments provided are estimates based on historical data and should be considered indicative only. Opening and closing ranks experience annual fluctuations due to multiple dynamic factors including exam difficulty variations, candidate participation rates, performance distributions, institutional seat matrix adjustments, policy modifications in reservation criteria, evolving student preferences across disciplines, shifting institutional rankings, historical cutoff influences, economic trends affecting branch demand, increase/decrease in students' intake, and multi-round counselling processes.

Strategic Recommendation: Include as many institute-branch combinations as possible in JoSAA Counselling Process, beginning with your preferred options first. Also, to optimize your admission prospects, we strongly encourage maintaining a diversified application portfolio by preparing/appearing for 4-5 additional engineering entrance examinations for private institutions alongside JEE/JoSAA. This comprehensive approach ensures multiple pathways to quality engineering education beyond the highly competitive IIT/NIT/IIIT/GFTI ecosystem. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026 & for Your Prosperous Future!

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