JoSAA Counselling 2025: Top 20 Percentile Cut-Off Marks You Need to Know for BTech Admissions

As the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) begins its 2025 counselling process for admission into premier engineering institutions across India, it has officially released the category-wise Class 12 top 20 percentile cut-off marks for BTech aspirants. This crucial data will play a pivotal role in determining eligibility for candidates seeking seats in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs).

What is the Top 20 Percentile Criterion?

To be eligible for admission to IITs, candidates must have:

• Completed their Class 12 board exams with at least five subjects.
• Achieved a minimum aggregate score of 75% (or 65% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates), or be in the top 20th percentile of successful candidates in their respective board examinations.
   

The top 20th percentile marks vary depending on the board of education and category of the candidate (General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD). JoSAA has made available the top 20 percentile cut-off scores not only for 2025 but also for 2023 and 2024 through its official website josaa.nic.in.

Institutes Covered Under JoSAA 2025

JoSAA regulates admissions for a total of 127 institutes for the academic year 2025–26. This includes:

• 23 IITs
• 31 NITs
• IIEST Shibpur
• 26 IIITs
• 46 Other-Government Funded Technical Institutes (Other-GFTIs)
   

The registration and choice-filling process for JoSAA Round 1 began on June 3, 2025. The seat allocation will include six regular rounds, followed by two special rounds conducted by the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) to fill any remaining vacancies in the NIT+ system.

Category-wise Top 20 Percentile Cut-Off Marks by Board (2025)

Here are the board-wise cut-off marks for various categories:

What if a Board Doesn’t Provide Top 20 Percentile Data?

In cases where a board does not publish the top 20th percentile cut-off marks, candidates must obtain a certificate from their respective Board confirming that they fall within the top 20th percentile of successful candidates. Failure to produce such documentation will result in the candidate's eligibility being evaluated using CBSE’s top 20th percentile scores.

Why Does the Top 20 Percentile Matter?

The percentile-based cut-off ensures that deserving students from various boards are evaluated fairly, based on their performance relative to peers. This is particularly important because difficulty levels and scoring patterns vary across state and national boards.

Candidates meeting the percentile criteria are eligible to participate in JoSAA counselling, which serves as the gateway to some of India's most prestigious engineering programs.

JoSAA Counselling Process in Brief

• June 3, 2025: Registration and choice filling began.
• 6 Rounds of Counselling: Candidates will undergo multiple rounds, during which they can accept, float, or slide their allotted seat options.
• CSAB Special Rounds: After JoSAA concludes, CSAB will conduct two additional rounds to fill vacant seats in NITs and other GFTIs.
   

Final Thoughts

For Class 12 students aiming for admission into IITs and other top-tier technical institutes, understanding and meeting the top 20th percentile cut-off is non-negotiable. JoSAA’s transparent release of board-wise and category-wise cut-offs equips students with the information needed to assess their eligibility and make informed decisions.

As the 2025-26 admission cycle gains momentum, candidates should stay updated via josaa.nic.in and ensure they meet both academic and percentile requirements to secure a seat at their dream institute.