What Score Is Needed in JEE Main 2026 for BTech IT in IIITs?

BTech IT at IIITs is a very competitive admission that mainly relies on the JEE Main 2026 results and rank. One of the most in-demand branches is IT, as it has promising career opportunities in software development, AI, data science, and other areas of new technology. The JEE Main 2026 cut-off score that is required is dependent on the popularity of the branch, reservation type and the competition based on year-to-year.

According to the trends of past years, the best IIITs, such as IIIT Allahabad, IIIT Kota, usually close IT admissions of General category students at the mark of 230+ (98.5+ percentile). Mid-tier IIITs like Vadodara, Pune and Nagpur close around 20,000-30,000 rank, which relates to 190-220 marks (96-98.5 percentile). Newer IIITs such as Bhagalpur, Una and Dharwad had closing ranks of 35,000-50,000, which is approximately 160-195 marks (92-97 percentile).

Knowing what score is needed in JEE Main 2026 for BTech IT in IIITs aids aspiring candidates in preparing in advance, having a target score and making wise decisions during JoSAA and CSAB counselling.

JEE Main Score (Expected) for B.Tech. IT in Top IIITs in 2026 

The required JEE Main score in IIITs in BTech IT differs with the institute in terms of the demand, seat allocation, and number of students appearing for the exam. The cutoffs are always higher in top IIITs, whereas with new and less popular campuses admitting students with low scores. The table below shows the expected JEE Main score for BTech IT in the top IIITs. These estimates use the past JoSAA rankings and score-to-rank analysis.

BTech IT Cut-Off Trends in IIITs in 2024 & 2025

To have an idea of the competitiveness in IIITs, it is best to look at the recent trends of B.Tech. IT over the years to know what to expect in 2026. Even the best IIITs like IIIT Allahabad and IIIT Kota have always had a very high competition, as closing ranks in the General category tend to be less than 12,000. 

IIITs in the middle tier typically have a closing range of 20,000-30,000 rank, and they are considered to have moderate competition. Lesser-known or newer IIITs, such as Bhagalpur, Una, and Dharwa,d have lower ranks in terms of closing, which are usually between 35,000 and 50,000, thus making them relatively easy to get into the college as compared to the best IIITs.

The past 2 years have revealed that the closing ranks of most IIITs have experienced a downward trend by slightly over the past few years, and this implies the growing popularity of the IT branch. This trend can be utilized in order to estimate the expected scores in 2026 at JEE Main. The table below shows the BTech IT cut-off trends for IIITs in the last two years.

Factors Affecting IT Cut-Offs in IIITs

The Btech IT requirements score in the IIITs in the JEE Main exam changes with each passing year. There are several factors that determine the level at which the cutoff will be. Knowing such aspects will enable students to have clear goals in terms of score and strategise their counselling approach.

1. Difficulty Level of JEE Main - When the paper is hard, the total scores will be lower, and there will be a tendency to have lower cutoffs. When the paper is not difficult, more students will score high, and the cutoff will be increased.

2. Number of candidates appearing for the exam - When the number of candidates is high, competition is high, and one would need a higher score to retain the same rank.

3. Seats in IIITs - An increased number of seats tends to lower the cutoff scores, whereas a decrease in the number of seats leads to increased competition and an increase in the required marks.

4. Popularity of IT Branch - IT has become very trendy because of career prospects in the field of software, AI, and data areas. Cutoff scores are raised because of higher demand.

5. Choice Filling - In the event that top-rankers prefer IITs, NITs, or CSE first, IT cutoffs in IIITs can slightly decrease. On the other hand, the increased preference for some IIITs drives cutoffs upwards.

6. Category reservation - There are also categories reserved (OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST). The score required by the general category is higher than the others, hence the cut-off is also higher.

7. Number of rounds in Counselling - The highest cutoffs occur during the initial rounds. Subsequent rounds can be of a lower closing position because the seats can be vacant or students can drop out.

How JEE Main Score Translates to Percentile & Rank

With references to past year trends, we are able to make approximations based on scores to different ranges of rank. The table below shows how JEE Main scores translate to percentile and rank.

JEE Main 2026 Score vs Rank – What Should You Target?

JEE Main is not the only score that is used to determine the cutoff score in IIITs. It is also determined by the process of filling seats in JoSAA and CSAB counselling. This knowledge aids students in projecting their choice filling and estimating the safe score required.

Round 1 and Round 2 have the highest cutoffs since the most preferred IIITs and branches get filled by top-ranked candidates. Aspirants usually have to achieve or surpass these high cutoffs in order to secure IT in a top IIIT.

In the middle rounds, other students are upgrading or dropping out, having obtained seats elsewhere. This leaves open slots, particularly in IIITs in the middle and newer tiers, which reduces the rankings and required scores slightly when closing.

Unfilled seats are also available after JoSAA using CSAB rounds. They are normally ranked the lowest because the high-ranking candidates would have been accepted in earlier rounds. Those students who were very close in the previous rounds can also get themselves a seat.

Most of the sought-after campuses and Top IIITs usually fill up early in the round, and therefore, cutoffs are high both at the beginning. IIITs experience higher decreases in closing rank as well as scores in subsequent rounds.

The objective of the students is to have a high score so as to be able to get a seat in the initial rounds, since depending on subsequent rounds may be very risky. The table below shows the JEE Main score vs rank.

How you can Improve Your Chances for Admission to BTech IT in IIITs?

Admission to BTech IT in IIITs is very competitive, though there are some tips that you can follow to increase your chances. A special emphasis on preparation, counselling strategy, and informed decision-making can make a great difference.

1. Strive to obtain more than the projected cutoff. This buffer takes into consideration the annual differences in the level of difficulty and competition.

2. Take the score-to-rank tables of the past years and see which score can guarantee you the IIIT that you want. Concentrate on areas where you can get the highest number of marks.

3. Students should prioritize Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry equally as they have the same weightage in the JEE Main paper. Do past years' papers and practice tests to find areas of weakness.

4. Improve speed and accuracy. Practice to get as many marks as possible within the time allowed. Do not take excessive time on one question because this will impact the end result on the ranking.

5. Research IIIT-wise anticipated cutoffs on IT and rank, respectively. List the top and middle-tier and safe IIITs to increase the likelihood of being allotted a seat.

6. Remember about category-wise reservation and seat availability. Take into account all rounds of Counselling. The cutoffs of rounds in early JoSAA are generally high, prepare to get a seat in your preferred IIIT. Use the backup option for later rounds or in CSAB rounds in case there is no option of your choice.

Conclusion

The JEE Main score required for B.Tech. in IT in IIITs has been fluctuating every year based on the difficulty of the exam, the number of applicants, the availability of the seats, the popularity of the branch, and the dynamics of the counselling process. The trend of the past suggests that the top IIITs have an entry requirement of 230+, the mid-tier IIITs have 190-220 marks, and new or less popular IIITs will end up with 160-195 marks.

There are also category differences that affect the expected scores, where the reserved ones have the lowest marks compared to the General category. To ensure an opportunity to be admitted, the students are supposed to strive to score a little above the required range.