Check the minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026 for admission to top 5 engineering branches in IIITs, including CSE, ECE, IT, AI, and Data Science.
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) are among the top institutes that give admission to engineering aspirants based on the JEE Main exam score. IIITs are famous for many features, such as placement drives, infrastructure, and industry connections. Admission to the top IIITs is one of the toughest things, especially in branches like Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Electronic and Communication (EC), etc.
The number of applicants appearing for the JEE Main exam is increasing day-by-day. With an increase in the number of applicants and a limited number of seats, you must clearly understand the minimum marks requirement in JEE Main 2026 for the top engineering branches in IIITs. To take admission into the IIITs within the top streams, you should always look for a safe score range required for each branch.
In this article, we'll discuss the branch-wise minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026 for IIITs, institute-wise trends, and key factors influencing the cutoffs.
Top 5 Engineering Branches in IIITs Via JEE Main 2026
As per the previous year's demand and cut-off trends, these below given five branches are the most demanding branches in the IIITs.
- Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
- Artificial Intelligence & Data Science (AI/DS)
- Information Technology (IT)
- Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)
- Civil Engineering
Articles Related to JEE Main
| JEE Main Participating Colleges | JEE Main Cutoff |
| JEE Main College Predictor | JEE Main Counselling |
Branch-wise Minimum Marks Required in JEE Main 2026
There is a different range of minimum marks required in the JEE Main 2026 exam to take admission into top streams in IIITs. The branch-wise minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026 are as follows:
Minimum Marks Required in JEE Main 2026 for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
The Minimum marks required in the JEE Main 2026 exam for admission into the CSE stream are as follows:
|
Admission Level |
Expected Percentile |
Approx. Marks (2026) |
|
Minimum (New IIITs) |
96 – 97 |
190 – 210 |
|
Safe (Mid-tier IIITs) |
98 – 99 |
230 – 250 |
|
Top IIITs |
99.5+ |
255 – 280 |
Minimum Marks Required in JEE Main 2026 for Artificial Intelligence & Data Science (AI/DS)
The Minimum marks required in the JEE Main 2026 exam for admission into the AI/DS stream are as follows:
|
Admission Level |
Expected Percentile |
Approx. Marks |
|
Minimum |
95 – 96 |
180 – 200 |
|
Safe |
97.5 – 98.5 |
220 – 240 |
|
Top IIITs |
99+ |
250+ |
Minimum Marks Required in JEE Main 2026 for Information Technology (IT)
The Minimum marks required in the JEE Main 2026 exam for admission into the IT stream are as follows:
|
Admission Level |
Expected Percentile |
Approx. Marks |
|
Minimum |
95 – 96 |
175 – 195 |
|
Safe |
97 – 98 |
215 – 235 |
|
Top IIITs |
99+ |
245 – 265 |
Minimum Marks Required in JEE Main 2026 for Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)
The Minimum marks required in the JEE Main 2026 exam for admission into the ECE stream are as follows:
|
Admission Level |
Expected Percentile |
Approx. Marks |
|
Minimum |
93 – 95 |
160 – 180 |
|
Safe |
96 – 97 |
200 – 215 |
|
Top IIITs |
98.5+ |
235 – 250 |
Minimum Marks Required in JEE Main 2026 for Civil Engineering
The Minimum marks required in the JEE Main 2026 exam for admission into the CE stream are as follows:
|
Admission Level |
Expected Percentile |
Approx. Marks |
|
Minimum |
88 – 90 |
120 – 135 |
|
Safe |
92 – 94 |
150 – 165 |
|
Top Preference Seats |
95+ |
175+ |
IIIT-Wise Minimum Marks in JEE 2026
The minimum marks required for each stream vary depending on the type of IIIT you're looking to be admitted into. The minimum marks required for each popular branch in the IITs are as follows:
|
IIIT Category |
Popular Branches |
Minimum Marks Range |
|
Top IIITs (Hyderabad, Delhi, Allahabad) |
CSE, AI |
250 – 280 |
|
Mid-tier IIITs |
CSE, IT, ECE |
220 – 250 |
|
New IIITs |
CSE, IT |
185 – 210 |
|
Select IIITs |
Civil |
120 – 165 |
Factors Affecting Minimum Marks for IIITs in JEE Main 2026
The factor that affects the minimum marks for IIITs in JEE Main 2026:
- Branch Demand:
Technology-related branches such as CSE, AI, and IT are in most demand, with the maximum number of applicants looking for admission into these branches having a very high cut-off, higher percentile, and marks compared to other branches.
- Institute Reputation:
Institutes like IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Delhi, and IIIT Allahabad have shown higher cutoff records. As per previous year trends, these institutes have a strong academic reputation, industrial networks, and placement records, which make them more competitive.
- Seat Availability:
Most old IIITs have a limited intake for top branches, especially CSE and AI-related programs. With fewer seats and high demand, these streams lead to higher closing ranks.
- Category Reservation:
The JEE Main follows a category-based reservation policy, which affects branch-wise cutoffs during counselling.
Safe Score vs Minimum Score Explained
Minimum score is often confused with a safe score. Minimum score refers to the lowest possible marks at which a candidate may secure admission. A safe score, on the other hand, is a more practical target - it's the marks range that gives a high probability of securing admission into your preferred branch and IIIT during JoSAA counselling. The recommended safe score in JEE Main to get admission into top branches in IIITs is as follows:
|
Branch |
Safe Score Target |
|
CSE |
250+ |
|
AI / DS |
235+ |
|
IT |
225+ |
|
ECE |
210+ |
|
Civil |
160+ |
To secure admission in the top engineering branches of IIITs through JEE Main 2026, you must aim for a safe score in JEE Main 2026. Minimum marks can work for newer institutes or the last rounds of counselling, but a safe score will help you get a better institute with a better stream for sure, with increasing competition and focus of candidates towards CSE, AI, or IT in top IIITs. You should always focus on getting a score above 240 to 260. Make sure you create a strategic preparation plan as per the previous year's cutoff trends to get admission into top streams in top IIITs.
