NIT Cutoffs: What You Need to Know About Admission Scores

When you hear NIT cutoffs, the minimum JEE Main scores required for admission to India's National Institutes of Technology. Also known as NIT admission cutoffs, these numbers decide whether you get a seat in one of the country’s most respected engineering schools. They’re not just random numbers—they’re the gatekeepers between your hard work and a top-tier engineering degree.

NIT cutoffs are tied directly to JEE Main, the national entrance exam for undergraduate engineering programs in India. Your rank in JEE Main, not your board marks, determines where you stand. Each NIT sets its own cutoff based on how many seats are available, how many applicants apply, and how high the scores climb that year. For example, NIT Trichy or NIT Surathkal might need a top 2,000 rank, while newer NITs in smaller states might accept ranks up to 50,000. The cutoff changes every year, so last year’s number doesn’t guarantee anything this year.

It’s not just about the overall cutoff. Your category matters too—General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS each have separate cutoffs. And your home state plays a role: 50% of seats are reserved for students from the state where the NIT is located. So if you’re from Tamil Nadu, your chances at NIT Trichy are better than if you’re from Uttar Pradesh, even with the same score. You also need to pick your branch wisely. Computer Science and Electronics will always have the highest cutoffs, while Civil or Chemical Engineering might be easier to get into.

What you’ll find below are real, up-to-date guides and breakdowns from students who’ve been through this. You’ll see how cutoffs shifted between 2023 and 2025, what scores actually got people into top NITs, and how to spot trends before they happen. There’s no guesswork here—just clear data, real experiences, and the kind of advice that helps you plan smarter, not harder.