Know the safe score and expected percentile in JEE Main 2026 for B.Tech AI & ML admissions in GFTIs. Understand cutoff trends to plan your admission strategy better.
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B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning through JEE Main 2026 in Government Funded Technical institutes is very competitive. Hard work alone cannot help you to crack JEE Main 2026 and secure admission in GFTIs in India. You must know the safe score and percentile required for AI and Machine Learning at GFTIs. It will help you make proper preparation strategies and set goals.
A safe score is more than the qualifying cutoff. It is the score or percentile that provides you with a buffer in counseling and seat allotment rounds. As AI and ML are highly sought-after branches of engineering, it's also highly competitive, which makes it important to know expected safe scores and percentiles to increase chances of admission.
In this article, we will learn about the safe score and percentile for B.Tech in AI and ML in JEE Main 2026.
What Is Considered a Safe Score for B.Tech AI & ML in GFTIs
A safe score in JEE Main for B.Tech in AI & ML means scoring more than the official cutoff. A safe score increases your chances of securing a seat in your desired institute and branch during counseling.
A qualifying cutoff percentile means the minimum requirement for counseling rounds, but your chances of getting your desired college or branch are low. So, to get admission in GFTIs through JEE Main 2026 in B. tech AI & ML, you must score more than the minimum qualifying marks.
In short:
- Qualifying percentile - ensures your participation in counselling.
- Safe percentile or score - ensures your seat in your dream institute and branch.
Click to read JEE Main Related Articles:
| JEE Main Counselling | JEE Main College Predictor |
| JEE Main Marks vs Percentile | JEE Main Merit List |
Safe Score Range Expected for B.Tech AI & ML in GFTIs in 2026
Safe scores in Ai & ML in GFTIs are based on marks vs percentile conversion. It fluctuates with the changing difficulty level of the exam. Here is the expected safe score range for B.Tech AI & ML in GFIT through JEE Main 2026:
|
GFTI Category |
Safe Percentile |
Approximate Marks* |
Expected Rank Range |
|
Top GFTIs (IISc Bangalore*, IIEST Shibpur, PEC Chandigarh, BIT Mesra) |
98.5 – 99.2 |
235 – 255+ |
6,000 – 12,000 |
|
Upper Mid-Tier GFTIs (Assam University, Gurukula Kangri, Sant Longowal Institute, Tezpur University) |
96.8 – 98.5 |
210 – 235 |
12,000 – 25,000 |
|
Mid-Tier GFTIs (Central Universities & State-aided GFTIs with AI/ML) |
95.0 – 96.8 |
190 – 210 |
25,000 – 40,000 |
|
Lower-Tier / Newer GFTIs (Recently added AI & ML programs) |
93.0 – 95.0 |
170 – 190 |
40,000 – 60,000 |
|
Percentile vs Marks Logic |
— |
— |
JEE Main admissions are based on normalized percentile, so the same percentile may map to different marks across exam sessions |
Category-Wise Safe Score for B.Tech AI & ML in GFTIs
The admission cutoff in GFTIs for Artificial Intelligence and machine learning depends on the reservation category. Here are the expected safe score/percentile ranges as per previous year trends:
|
Category |
Safe Percentile Range |
Competition / Relaxation Level |
Key Notes |
|
General (UR) |
97.5 – 99.3 |
Very high competition |
AI & ML is a high-demand specialization; top GFTIs close seats at very high percentiles due to limited intake |
|
OBC-NCL |
95.5 – 98.5 |
Moderate relaxation |
The benefit of reservation exists, but overlap with the general rank pool keeps the cutoffs competitive |
|
EWS |
95.0 – 98.2 |
Moderate relaxation |
Cutoffs often mirror OBC-NCL trends; a higher percentile improves chances in later counselling rounds |
|
SC |
88.0 – 94.5 |
Significant relaxation |
Safe admission is possible at lower percentiles, but top GFTIs and AI & ML seats still demand higher scores |
|
ST |
82.0 – 92.0 |
Maximum relaxation |
Lower cutoff advantage, yet aiming above the 90th percentile increases chances in reputed GFTIs |
|
Percentile vs Marks Logic |
— |
— |
JEE Main admissions are based on normalized percentile, not raw marks; the same percentile can correspond to different marks across exam sessions |
Note: These are not the official cutoffs; the exact numbers will depend on exam difficulty, applicant performance, and other factors.
Factors That Influence Safe Score for B.Tech AI & ML in GFTIs
Several factors affect the safe score and percentiles in JEE Mains 2026 for admission in B.Tech AI & machine learning. Here are the major factors:
- Difficulty level of the JEE Main exam
The harder paper leads to a lower percentile. It means even if you have not scored high, you can still get a good percentile. On the other hand, if the paper is easy, you need to score high to get a good percentile.
- Number of aspirants appearing in JEE Main 2026
If the number of aspirants is higher, the competition will increase. High competition means higher cutoffs and an upward shift of safe scores.
- Seat Availability in AI & ML
The number of seats available in AI & ML branches in GFTIs affects the safe scores. If the seats are higher, you can get slightly lower cutoffs. Similarly, lower seats mean a higher percentile requirement for admission.
- Category Reservation Policies
The seat availability for each reserved category affects the safe scores. The seat availability decides which category requires what scores to secure admission.
- Normalization
The result will be released on the official website after normalization across multiple sessions. You will get percentiles. This normalization policy affects the safe score and causes variations in score-to-percentile conversions.
Conclusion
Choosing to pursue a B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning via JEE Main 2026 through Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) is an excellent choice for students who wish to receive quality education at a reasonable cost. Admission to GFTIs is based on your JEE Main percentile and all India Ranks (AIR), which are determined by the level of competition and available seats for that year.
In most cases, candidates with percentile scores ranging between the 80 - 96+ range tend to have better odds of getting into AI & ML in mid/top-level GFTIs compared to students with lower percentile scores; however, students with lower scores may be accepted by newer GFTIs and/or other related programs. Students are encouraged to consult JoSAA cutoff lists, identify backup choices, and apply to other related courses, such as Data Science or CSE (AI), to improve their chances of admission into those schools.
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