JoSAA Opening and Closing Rank 2026 OUT: Check Round 1 IIT, NIT, IIIT & GFTI OR-CR Cutoff

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) has released its official opening and closing ranked (OR-CR) 2026 data, along with the round 1 seat allotment results. For those who are participating at JoSAA Counselling 2026, this is among the most significant datasets as it provides the rank in which admissions were granted in IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and other GFTIs.

Every year hundreds of students rely on OR-CR data to analyze patterns of admission, assess their chances of being selected for the next round and adjust their counselling strategies. Since the first round often serves as the bar for the following rounds, applicants should be aware of the current cutoffs before taking any decision about seat acceptance and slide, float or filling in for the future.

If you're participating for JoSAA 2026 in the year of your choice, this is what you must be aware of about the latest open and closing ranks.

What is JoSAA Opening and Closing Rank?

In each round of counselling, JoSAA publishes the ranks in which admissions begin and conclude for each institute department, classification, or the quota.

In simple terms, the rankings represent the number of students who have been able to gain admission into a particular course.

For example, if the branch is closed around AIR 1500, those who have a rank above that level will not get into this particular round.

The OR-CR data helps students understand:

• Branch competitiveness
• Institute demand
• Admission trends
• Future counselling possibilities

Understanding Opening Rank (OR)

The Opening Rank is the highest Ranking candidate who got admission to a particular Programme in a Counselling Round.

For example:

If the Opening Rank of the Computer Science in an IIT is 1, that signifies that the best available candidate accepted that seat.

Opening ranks usually remain very competitive in top branches.

Understanding Closing Rank (CR)

The Closing Rank is far more important for most students.

It represents the last rank at which admission was offered in a particular programme during a counselling round.

Most candidates use Closing Ranks to estimate:

• Admission possibilities
• Branch availability
• Future round chances

Also Read : JEE Main Rank 10000–25000 Colleges 2026

JoSAA Round 1 OR-CR 2026 Released

The Round 1 cutoff data covers:

• IITs
• NITs
• IIITs
• IIEST Shibpur
• GFTIs

The released data includes:

Institute-wise Cutoff

Different ranks for every participating institute.

Branch-wise Cutoff

Separate cutoffs for:

• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Category-wise Cutoff

Available for:

• Open
• EWS
• OBC-NCL
• SC
• ST
• PwD

Quota-wise Cutoff

• Home State Quota
• Other State Quota
• Gender-Neutral Seats
• Female-Only Seats

Top IIT Round 1 Cutoff Highlights

As expected, Computer Science remained the most competitive branch across all IITs.

IIT Bombay

Computer Science and Engineering closed at AIR 66, making it one of the most competitive programmes in the country.

Other branches:

• Electrical Engineering – 433
• Mechanical Engineering – 1834
• Chemical Engineering – 2405
• Civil Engineering – 4250

IIT Delhi

Computer Science Engineering closed at AIR 123.

Other major branches:

• Electrical Engineering – 593
• Mechanical Engineering – 2131
• Civil Engineering – 2649

IIT Madras

The growing demand for AI-related programmes was clearly visible.

Closing ranks:

• Computer Science – 149
• AI and Data Analytics – 226
• Electrical Engineering – 742
• Mechanical Engineering – 2445

IIT Hyderabad Emerging as a Strong Choice

One of the biggest trends visible in JoSAA 2026 is the increasing demand for IIT Hyderabad.

Round 1 closing ranks:

• CSE – 647
• Artificial Intelligence – 906
• Electrical Engineering – 1714

Students interested in AI and emerging technologies are increasingly preferring IIT Hyderabad.

NIT Round 1 Cutoff 2026

Among NITs, Computer Science continued to dominate.

NIT Trichy

Closing Ranks:

• CSE – 1317
• EEE – 4987
• Mechanical – 7872
• Civil – 15884

NIT Trichy remains the most preferred NIT among JEE Main candidates.

NIT Surathkal

Closing Ranks:

• CSE – 1605
• AI & Data Science – 2392
• Mechanical – 12656
• Civil – 21513

AI and Data Science is rapidly becoming one of the most competitive programmes.

NIT Warangal

Closing Ranks:

• CSE – 3426
• AI & DS – 2725
• Mechanical – 12704
• Civil – 23525

The AI branch closed before several traditional engineering programmes.

NIT Calicut

Closing Ranks:

• CSE – 5100
• Electrical – 10458
• Mechanical – 15985
• Civil – 26753

NIT Rourkela

Closing Ranks:

• CSE – 3606
• AI & DS – 4078
• Electrical – 8956
• Mechanical – 13358

The institute continues to attract strong demand across engineering streams.

IIIT Round 1 Cutoff Trends

IIITs remain a preferred choice for students targeting software and technology careers.

IIIT Allahabad

• Information Technology – 4718
• ECE – 6788

IIIT Lucknow

• CSE – 8095
• IT – 9998

IIIT Gwalior

• CSE – 8073

IIIT Jabalpur

• CSE – 13866
• ECE – 17397

Many IIITs continue to offer strong placement outcomes despite having fewer branches.

GFTI Cutoff Highlights

Several Government Funded Technical Institutes also recorded healthy demand.

PEC Chandigarh

Closing Rank: 26090

BIT Mesra

Closing Rank: 21530

Assam University

Closing Rank: 50021

Gurukula Kangri

Closing Rank: 66037

For candidates unable to secure seats in NITs or IIITs, GFTIs remain strong alternatives.

JoSAA Opening and Closing Rank 2026 for GFTIs
Institute Name	General Opening Rank	General Closing Rank
PEC Chandigarh	7871	26090
BIT Mesra	10675	21530
Assam University	42321	50021
Gurukula Kangri	26137	66037
Mizoram University	53867	68966

Home State vs Other State Quota: Why It Matters

One of the biggest factors affecting cutoffs is quota type.

Home State Quota

50% seats in NITs are reserved for candidates who completed Class 12 from the same state.

Other State Quota

Remaining seats are filled through national competition.

Students often find that Home State cutoffs are significantly more relaxed compared to Other State cutoffs.

This is why candidates should always compare both categories before finalising counselling expectations.

Major Trends Visible in JoSAA OR-CR 2026

After analysing the Round 1 data, some clear trends have emerged.

AI Branches Are Rising Fast

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science programmes are becoming almost as competitive as traditional Computer Science branches.

IIT Hyderabad Demand Increasing

The institute continues to strengthen its position among top IIT choices.

CSE Cutoffs Becoming Tighter

Top IITs and NITs witnessed even stronger competition for Computer Science seats.

Newer IIITs Expanding Opportunities

Additional seats have improved access for students in the 10,000–30,000 rank range.

Also Read : JoSAA Mock Seat Allotment 2026 Round 2 Out

How Should Students Use OR-CR Data?

Instead of checking only one institute, candidates should compare multiple colleges and branches.

A good counselling strategy includes:

Dream Choices

Branches slightly above your current rank.

Realistic Choices

Branches where your rank is close to the latest closing rank.

Safe Choices

Alternatives, which you have a decent chance of being ranked higher than the cut-off.

This will give you a better chance at winning a better seat in round two.

Final Thoughts

JoSAA Opening and Closing Rank 2026 gives insights into the trend of admission in the IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. For students planning to pursue Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, or any other major, OR-CR data is a critical factor to consider before making a counselling decision.

Candidates should bear in mind that the Round 1 cutoffs are not final. There are a few ranks that switch in later rounds and when students pay attention to trends carefully they make better decisions on counselling than those who assume based on the data.

Enquire Now at CLC Sikar – Build Your Path to Top IITs & Medical Colleges!

FAQs

Q1. What is JoSAA Opening Rank?

Opening Rank is the highest-ranked candidate who secured admission in a particular branch and institute during a counselling round.

Q2. What is JoSAA Closing Rank?

Closing Rank is the last rank at which admission was offered for a specific branch, category, and institute.

Q3. Are Round 1 cutoffs final?

No. Cutoffs generally change in later counselling rounds depending on seat availability and student preferences.

Q4. Why are AI branches becoming more competitive?

Increasing industry demand for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science has significantly increased student interest in these programmes.

Q5. Should I use OR-CR data for choice filling?

Yes. OR-CR data is one of the most useful tools for creating a realistic and effective JoSAA choice filling strategy.