OJEE 2026 Round 2 closing ranks are expected to be 15 to 35 percent higher than Round 1, giving students with a higher rank number a second chance to secure seats that appeared out of reach in the first round.
The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board conducts OJEE 2026 counselling in multiple rounds for admission to B.Tech Lateral Entry, MBA, MCA, and M.Tech programmes. Each round publishes closing ranks — the last rank at which a seat was allotted. As seats fill up in Round 1, the remaining vacancies in Round 2 attract fewer applicants, relaxing the cutoff across all categories including General, SEBC, SC, and ST. Knowing how much closing ranks shift between rounds helps students decide when to participate and whether to hold a seat or seek an upgrade.
- OJEE 2026 counselling is expected to begin in July 2026 and run across at least two main rounds before a spot admission round.
- Round 2 closing ranks are typically 15–35% higher (more relaxed) than Round 1 closing ranks, based on 2024 and 2025 counselling trends.
- SC and ST category seats see the steepest rank relaxation between rounds as reserved vacancies persist into Round 2.
- Students who received a Round 1 allotment can still apply in Round 2 for an upgrade without losing their current seat.
- Official round-wise cutoffs for OJEE 2026 will be published on ojee.nic.in after each allotment result.
| Direct Link to OJEE 2026 Counselling and Cutoff (Check Official Portal) — ojee.nic.in |
What is OJEE Cutoff and How Are Rounds Structured
The OJEE cutoff is the closing rank at which the last seat in a specific course and college is allotted during a round of counselling. The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board typically runs two main rounds followed by a spot admission round for unfilled vacancies.
- Round 1: All registered students compete for all available seats. Closing ranks are lowest (most competitive) because demand is at its peak.
- Round 2: Seats left after Round 1 are allotted to new applicants, seat rejectors, and upgrade seekers. Fewer competitors mean the closing rank relaxes across every category.
- Spot Round: Any remaining vacancies are filled at walk-in, at ranks well beyond Round 2 closing ranks.
The cutoff is not a minimum qualifying score — it is the final closing rank of a seat. A student’s OJEE rank must be equal to or lower than the closing rank to be eligible for that seat in that round.
OJEE 2026 Round 1 vs Round 2: Key Differences
The table below compares how Round 1 and Round 2 differ structurally in the OJEE 2026 counselling process, based on the pattern followed in previous years.
| Parameter | Round 1 | Round 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat pool | All available seats | Seats left after Round 1 allotment |
| General closing rank | Stricter (lower rank number) | 15–35% higher rank number |
| Who participates | All registered students | New registrants, Round 1 rejectors, upgrade seekers |
| Seat upgrade allowed | No | Yes, existing seat held until new allotment |
| Reserved category vacancy | Standard | Higher — unfilled SC/ST seats carry over |
| Branch availability | All branches open | Top branches mostly filled; niche branches remain open |
Category-Wise Closing Rank Comparison: Round 1 vs Round 2
The tables below show expected OJEE 2026 closing ranks by category based on 2025 trends. Actual 2026 figures will be released on ojee.nic.in after each allotment round. The four reservation categories in OJEE are General (UR), SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes), SC (Scheduled Caste), and ST (Scheduled Tribe).
B.Tech Lateral Entry — Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
| Category | Expected Round 1 Closing Rank | Expected Round 2 Closing Rank | Approximate Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 1,800 | 2,500 | +700 ranks |
| SEBC | 2,200 | 3,100 | +900 ranks |
| SC | 3,200 | 4,500 | +1,300 ranks |
| ST | 4,800 | 6,500 | +1,700 ranks |
MBA
| Category | Expected Round 1 Closing Rank | Expected Round 2 Closing Rank | Approximate Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 2,500 | 3,500 | +1,000 ranks |
| SEBC | 3,000 | 4,200 | +1,200 ranks |
| SC | 4,000 | 5,500 | +1,500 ranks |
| ST | 5,500 | 7,000 | +1,500 ranks |
MCA
| Category | Expected Round 1 Closing Rank | Expected Round 2 Closing Rank | Approximate Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 3,000 | 4,200 | +1,200 ranks |
| SEBC | 3,800 | 5,200 | +1,400 ranks |
| SC | 5,000 | 6,800 | +1,800 ranks |
| ST | 6,500 | 8,500 | +2,000 ranks |
All figures above are expected estimates based on 2025 counselling trends and will vary by college, branch, and the number of applicants who register for OJEE 2026 counselling.
Closing Rank Shift Across Top Colleges
The rank relaxation between rounds is not uniform across colleges. Government-aided institutions fill seats faster in Round 1 and show smaller shifts. Private colleges with larger seat pools see wider gaps between Round 1 and Round 2 closing ranks.
| College | Course | Round 1 Closing Rank — General (Expected) | Round 2 Closing Rank — General (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar | B.Tech Lateral — CSE | 500 | 700 |
| Silicon Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar | B.Tech Lateral — CSE | 1,500 | 2,200 |
| Trident Academy of Technology, Bhubaneswar | B.Tech Lateral — CSE | 2,500 | 3,500 |
| Centurion University, Bhubaneswar | B.Tech Lateral — CSE | 4,000 | 5,800 |
| ITER, Bhubaneswar (SOA University) | B.Tech Lateral — Mechanical | 3,200 | 4,500 |
All figures are expected based on 2025 counselling data. Government colleges fill 95–100% of seats in Round 1; private colleges often carry 20–40% of seats into Round 2, explaining their larger rank shifts.
Factors That Cause Rank Relaxation Between Rounds
Five key factors determine how much the OJEE closing rank rises from Round 1 to Round 2:
- Seat withdrawal rate: Students who reject their Round 1 allotment return those seats to the Round 2 pool. A high withdrawal rate increases available seats and relaxes competition.
- Category-wise vacancy carryover: Reserved seats for SC, ST, and SEBC that go unfilled in Round 1 carry into Round 2 with proportionally fewer eligible applicants competing for them.
- Smaller Round 2 applicant pool: Fewer new students register for Round 2 alone compared to the full Round 1 pool, reducing competition for remaining seats.
- College preference sorting: Top-ranked students take government and premier college seats in Round 1. Students who enter or remain in Round 2 tend to have lower ranks, naturally pushing closing ranks higher.
- Branch popularity: CSE and IT seats fill in Round 1. Mechanical, Civil, and less-sought branches carry vacancies into Round 2, with closing ranks that relax significantly.
Which Round Should You Target
Your OJEE rank and college preferences should guide which round to prioritise:
- Rank in top 500: Participate in Round 1. The best seats at premier government colleges fill in Round 1 and may not reappear in Round 2.
- Rank between 500 and 3,000: Participate in Round 1, lock a seat, and apply for an upgrade in Round 2. This strategy secures admission while keeping better options available.
- Rank above 3,000: Round 2 is more favourable. Closing ranks relax by 15–35% and private colleges with strong placements become accessible.
- SC, ST, or SEBC students: Reserved category seats see the largest rank relaxation between rounds. Applying in Round 2 can give access to colleges that appeared unreachable in Round 1.
Holding a Round 1 seat does not block Round 2 participation. Students can simultaneously retain an existing allotment and request an upgrade — a safe approach that guarantees admission regardless of Round 2 outcome.
OJEE 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. Why are OJEE Round 2 closing ranks higher than Round 1?
Ans. Round 2 operates on a smaller pool of remaining seats and a smaller group of competing students. Most top-ranked students have already secured seats in Round 1, so the applicants left in Round 2 tend to have higher rank numbers, naturally raising the closing rank threshold.
Ques. Can I participate in OJEE Round 2 if I already received a Round 1 allotment?
Ans. Yes. Students who received a Round 1 allotment can apply for an upgrade in Round 2. Your existing seat is held until a new allotment is confirmed. If you do not get an upgrade, you retain your Round 1 seat.
Ques. Which category sees the most rank relaxation between OJEE rounds?
Ans. SC and ST categories typically see the largest rank relaxation. Reserved seats that remain unfilled after Round 1 carry into Round 2 with fewer eligible applicants competing, pushing closing ranks up by 1,300 to 2,000 positions based on 2025 trends.
Ques. By how much do OJEE closing ranks change between Round 1 and Round 2?
Ans. Based on 2025 counselling data, OJEE closing ranks relax by approximately 15 to 35 percent from Round 1 to Round 2. For the General category in CSE this is roughly 500 to 1,000 rank positions. SC and ST categories see relaxations of 1,300 to 2,000 positions.
Ques. Where are OJEE 2026 round-wise cutoffs published?
Ans. The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board publishes round-wise allotment results and closing ranks on ojee.nic.in after each counselling round. Students can log in with their OJEE roll number and password to check their allotment status and the closing rank of their allotted seat.
Ques. Do OJEE cutoffs differ between government and private colleges?
Ans. Yes. Government and autonomous colleges attract high-ranked students first and typically fill 95 to 100 percent of seats in Round 1, leaving little rank relaxation in Round 2. Private colleges carry 20 to 40 percent of seats into Round 2, resulting in a larger gap between their Round 1 and Round 2 closing ranks.
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