JoSAA 2026 Round 5 OBC-NCL closing ranks for NITs are expected to range from approximately 4,500 to over 1,00,000 depending on the institute and branch, based on 2024 and 2025 trends.
JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) conducts centralized seat allocation for 23 NITs, 26 IIITs, and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) using JEE Main 2026 ranks. Round 5 is among the final full rounds of allocation and is critical for students who are yet to receive a seat or wish to upgrade. OBC-NCL students must compare their OBC-NCL category rank — not the Common Rank List rank — with these closing ranks to assess their chances.
- JoSAA 2026 Round 5 seat allotment result is expected around July 14, 2026.
- Use your OBC-NCL category rank (printed on the JEE Main 2026 scorecard) to compare with closing ranks below.
- Round 5 closing ranks are typically 8–15% higher (numerically) than Round 1 closing ranks for the same seat.
- CSE remains the most competitive branch at all NITs and IIITs, followed by ECE and then Mechanical Engineering.
- NIT Home State (HS) quota closing ranks are consistently lower than Other State (OS) quota closing ranks.
| Direct Link: JoSAA 2026 Official Portal (Active) — josaa.nic.in |
What is JoSAA Round 5 OBC-NCL Closing Rank?
The closing rank in a JoSAA round is the highest OBC-NCL category rank among all students allotted a seat in a particular institute-branch combination during that round. If your OBC-NCL category rank is numerically equal to or lower than the closing rank, you have a strong chance of securing that seat in the same or a subsequent round.
Round 5 is a late-stage round in JoSAA’s seat allocation process. High-demand seats in top NITs are mostly filled by this stage, but seats in newer NITs, less popular branches, and mid-tier IIITs often remain available. Students who missed seats in earlier rounds or want upgrades should compare their OBC-NCL rank against Round 5 closing ranks carefully.
- Category rank only: OBC-NCL closing ranks apply solely to OBC-NCL category seats — do not compare them to general category ranks.
- HS vs OS quota: At NITs, Home State and Other State quotas carry separate closing ranks listed on josaa.nic.in.
- Round 5 outcome: Students allotted a seat in Round 5 must choose to freeze their seat or float or slide for further upgrades in Round 6.
Expected OBC-NCL Closing Ranks at Top NITs — CSE (2026)
The table below lists expected JoSAA 2026 Round 5 OBC-NCL closing ranks for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at leading NITs. All figures are projections based on 2024 and 2025 closing rank trends.
| Institute | OBC-NCL Closing Rank — OS (Expected 2026) | OBC-NCL Closing Rank — HS (Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy — CSE | 4,500 – 5,800 | 2,800 – 3,500 |
| NIT Warangal — CSE | 5,500 – 7,000 | 3,200 – 4,200 |
| NIT Surathkal — CSE | 6,500 – 8,500 | 3,800 – 5,000 |
| NIT Calicut — CSE | 8,000 – 10,500 | 4,500 – 6,000 |
| MNNIT Allahabad — CSE | 10,000 – 13,500 | 6,500 – 9,000 |
| NIT Delhi — CSE | 11,000 – 15,000 | — |
| NIT Rourkela — CSE | 11,500 – 15,500 | 5,000 – 7,000 |
| MNIT Jaipur — CSE | 14,000 – 18,500 | 7,000 – 10,000 |
| NIT Kurukshetra — CSE | 15,000 – 20,000 | 8,500 – 12,000 |
| MANIT Bhopal — CSE | 16,000 – 22,000 | 9,000 – 13,000 |
All figures are expected projections based on JoSAA 2024–2025 Round 5 closing rank trends. OS = Other State; HS = Home State. NIT Delhi does not follow the HS/OS distinction.
Expected OBC-NCL Closing Ranks at Top IIITs — CSE (2026)
IIITs under JoSAA also allocate seats to OBC-NCL students on the basis of category rank. Most IIITs do not maintain a Home State and Other State quota split. The table below shows expected JoSAA 2026 Round 5 OBC-NCL closing ranks for CSE at major IIITs.
| Institute | Branch | Expected OBC-NCL Closing Rank (Round 5, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad | CSE | 2,800 – 4,500 |
| IIIT Delhi | CSE | 5,500 – 9,000 |
| IIIT Allahabad | IT | 8,500 – 13,000 |
| ABV-IIITM Gwalior | CSE / IT | 15,000 – 23,000 |
| IIIT Jabalpur | CSE | 22,000 – 34,000 |
| IIIT Kota | CSE | 28,000 – 42,000 |
| IIIT Pune | CSE | 30,000 – 45,000 |
| IIIT Bhopal | CSE | 35,000 – 55,000 |
All figures are expected projections based on JoSAA 2024–2025 trends. Actual 2026 closing ranks will be published at josaa.nic.in after each round result.
Branch-wise OBC-NCL Closing Ranks at Select NITs (Round 5)
OBC-NCL students targeting Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) or Mechanical Engineering at top NITs can use the table below to set realistic expectations. All figures are expected for JoSAA 2026 Round 5 and are based on 2024–2025 trends.
| Institute | ECE — OBC-NCL OS (Expected) | Mechanical — OBC-NCL OS (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 9,500 – 13,000 | 24,000 – 32,000 |
| NIT Warangal | 12,000 – 16,000 | 28,000 – 38,000 |
| NIT Surathkal | 14,000 – 19,000 | 32,000 – 45,000 |
| NIT Calicut | 16,000 – 22,000 | 38,000 – 55,000 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | 20,000 – 28,000 | 45,000 – 65,000 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 25,000 – 35,000 | 55,000 – 80,000 |
Projections based on JoSAA 2024–2025 Round 5 OBC-NCL closing rank data. HS quota closing ranks at these institutes are typically 30–60% lower than OS quota ranks.
Factors Affecting JoSAA OBC-NCL Closing Ranks
JoSAA 2026 Round 5 OBC-NCL closing ranks will depend on several variables. Understanding these helps you set realistic expectations before the allotment result:
- OBC-NCL applicant pool size: A larger number of OBC-NCL students qualifying JEE Main 2026 increases competition and tightens closing ranks.
- JEE Main 2026 paper difficulty: An easier exam means more students score high, leading to tighter ranks across all categories.
- Seat additions at NITs or IIITs: New seats added in CSE or ECE can relax closing ranks for those programs.
- Round number effect: By Round 5, many students upgrade or withdraw, sometimes freeing vacated seats in popular programs at top NITs.
- Home State quota advantage: NIT HS quota OBC-NCL seats are typically far less competitive than OS quota seats for the same branch.
- Newer IIITs: IIITs established after 2018 tend to have more relaxed OBC-NCL closing ranks compared to established ones like IIIT Hyderabad or IIIT Delhi.
JoSAA 2026 OBC-NCL Closing Rank FAQs
Ques. What is the OBC-NCL closing rank in JoSAA Round 5?
Ans. The OBC-NCL closing rank in JoSAA Round 5 is the highest OBC-NCL category rank that received a seat in a specific institute-branch combination during Round 5. If your OBC-NCL category rank is numerically equal to or lower than this closing rank, you may be allotted that seat.
Ques. What OBC-NCL rank do I need for CSE at NIT Trichy in JoSAA 2026?
Ans. Based on 2024–2025 trends, an OBC-NCL rank between 4,500 and 5,800 (Other State quota) or 2,800 to 3,500 (Home State quota) is expected for CSE at NIT Trichy in JoSAA 2026 Round 5. These are projected figures and actual closing ranks will be confirmed once JoSAA 2026 allotment results are released.
Ques. Is Round 5 the last chance to get a JoSAA seat in 2026?
Ans. No. JoSAA 2026 is expected to conduct 6 full rounds. Round 5 is the second-last full round. Students without a seat after Round 5 or those seeking upgrades can participate in Round 6. After the six rounds, CSAB special rounds may open for remaining vacant seats.
Ques. Do IIITs have Home State quota for OBC-NCL students?
Ans. Most IIITs participating in JoSAA do not follow the Home State and Other State quota system. Seats are open to all eligible students based on JEE Main rank and category rank. A few state-funded IIITs may have minor variations; check the seat matrix on josaa.nic.in for exact details.
Ques. How can I check my OBC-NCL category rank for JoSAA 2026?
Ans. Your OBC-NCL category rank is printed on your JEE Main 2026 scorecard. Log in to jeemain.nta.nic.in with your application number and date of birth to download the scorecard. It shows both your Common Rank List (CRL) rank and your OBC-NCL category rank.
Ques. Why are Round 5 OBC-NCL closing ranks higher than Round 1 closing ranks?
Ans. Round 5 closing ranks are higher numerically because many students who received seats in earlier rounds upgrade to better programs or withdraw, freeing previously allocated seats. This allows students with slightly weaker ranks to receive allotments in Round 5 that were not available in Round 1.
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