JEE Main 2026 ST Category Closing Ranks at NITs and IIITs: JoSAA Round 5

ST category students with a JEE Main 2026 ST rank up to 6,000 can secure seats at NITs and IIITs in JoSAA Round 5, based on 2024 JoSAA counselling trends.

JoSAA 2026 Round 5 seat allotment is expected on July 14, 2026. By Round 5, closing ranks for the ST category ease as vacated seats from earlier rounds are redistributed. ST category students receive 7.5% reservation across all NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs participating in JoSAA 2026.

• JoSAA 2026 Round 5 seat allotment is expected on July 14, 2026.
• ST category students get 7.5% reservation across NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs in JoSAA.
• Top NITs like NIT Warangal and NIT Trichy are expected to close around ST rank 600–900 for CSE in Round 5.
• IIIT Allahabad IT programme may close around ST rank 1,500 in Round 5.
• NITs in the northeast such as NIT Agartala may close beyond ST rank 5,000 for CSE.

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JoSAA Round 5 and ST Category: An Overview

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) manages seat allotment for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs using JEE Main scores. The counselling process runs across six rounds. Round 5 is a late-stage round where unoccupied seats from students who withdrew or upgraded in earlier rounds become available. For ST category students, this round carries special importance as closing ranks in Round 5 are typically more relaxed than in Round 1 or Round 2.

In JoSAA 2024, several NITs showed ST category closing rank relaxation of 300 to 800 positions by Round 5 compared to Round 1. Students who did not receive a preferred seat in Rounds 1 through 4 should fill all available options before the Round 5 choice-filling deadline to maximise their chances.

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NIT ST Category Closing Ranks After Round 5 (Expected)

The table below lists expected ST category closing ranks at NITs for JoSAA 2026 Round 5, primarily for the CSE branch. All figures are based on JoSAA 2024 trends and are indicative — actual 2026 closing ranks will be published on josaa.nic.in after Round 5 seat allotment.

Beyond CSE, branches like ECE and Mechanical Engineering at top NITs are also accessible at higher ST ranks. NIT Warangal ECE and NIT Trichy ECE are expected to close at ST ranks between 1,500 and 2,200 in Round 5. Mechanical Engineering at top NITs may accept ST ranks up to 4,000 based on 2024 trends.

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IIIT ST Category Closing Ranks After Round 5 (Expected)

Several IIITs participate in JoSAA 2026 and allocate seats under the ST category at 7.5% reservation. The expected ST closing ranks below are based on JoSAA 2024 data and should be treated as indicative.

IIIT Allahabad and ABV-IIITM Gwalior are the most competitive IIITs under JoSAA for ST category students. Students with ST ranks beyond 9,000 may explore newer IIITs such as IIIT Srirangam, IIIT Kalyani, and IIIT Una, where CSE closing ranks tend to be more relaxed based on 2024 trends.

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Factors That Affect ST Closing Ranks in Round 5

Several factors determine where ST closing ranks settle in JoSAA Round 5:

• Seat vacancy from earlier rounds: Students who float or slide to better options in Rounds 1 through 4 free up seats. These vacated seats push Round 5 ST closing ranks higher, making them more accessible.
• Number of ST applicants in JoSAA 2026: Higher ST participation tightens ranks across all institutes and rounds.
• Branch popularity: CSE is the most competitive branch at every NIT and IIIT. ECE and Mechanical Engineering are more accessible for students with ST ranks beyond 2,000 at the same institutes.
• Institute location: NITs in northeastern states and J&K tend to have more relaxed ST closing ranks due to lower aggregate demand from the broader applicant pool.
• JEE Main 2026 score distribution: A tougher paper compresses scores toward the middle range, which can shift cutoff bands across institutes in both directions.