IIT CSE Round 1 Cutoff 2026, Check Opening and Closing Rank

IIT CSE Round 1 Cutoff 2026: JoSAA Round 1 seat allotment for 2026 was announced on June 13, 2026, marking the start of the official counselling cycle. For BTech Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), which remains the most competitive branch across all IITs, Round 1 sets the benchmark for the entire counselling season. This article covers the actual Round 1 closing ranks for 2026, an IIT-wise breakdown, category-wise analysis, comparison with 2025 trends, and what candidates can expect in the rounds ahead.

IIT CSE Round 1 Cutoff 2026

The JoSAA Round 1 cutoff 2026 for IIT CSE (General category, Gender Neutral) has been officially released. IIT Bombay CSE closed at AIR 65 and IIT Delhi CSE closed at AIR 123 in Round 1, consistent with expectations based on prior year trends. These figures confirm that CSE at the top IITs remains among the most fiercely contested seats in the country.

Note: The Round 1 closing rank reflects the last seat allotted in that round for the General category (Gender Neutral pool). Candidates with ranks beyond the Round 1 closing rank can still receive allotments in subsequent rounds as seats are vacated through withdrawals and upgrades.

Key Round 1 highlights for 2026:

• IIT Bombay CSE: Closed at AIR 65 (General, Gender Neutral)
• IIT Delhi CSE: Closed at AIR 123 (General, Gender Neutral)
• IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Roorkee: Closing ranks expected in the range of AIR 170 to AIR 600 (based on 2025 Round 1 data; official 2026 figures to be updated)
• Newer IITs such as IIT Goa, IIT Palakkad, IIT Jammu, IIT Dharwad, and IIT Bhilai: CSE typically closes between AIR 4000 and AIR 7500
• Allocation is based strictly on JEE Advanced 2026 AIR; score-to-rank conversion is not applicable for seat allotment purposes

Also Read: JEE Advanced College Predictor

IIT-Wise CSE Closing Rank List in Round 1

The table below presents the confirmed Round 1 closing rank for IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi, alongside the 2025 Round 1 data for all other IITs as a reference baseline. The 2026 figures for remaining IITs will be updated once JoSAA publishes the complete official data.

Disclaimer: Figures marked '~expected' are estimates derived from JoSAA 2025 Round 1 data. Confirmed 2026 figures for all IITs will be available on josaa.nic.in after full round data publication.

Also Read: JoSAA 2026 Round 1 Cutoff OUT , Check Now @josaa.nic.in

Category-Wise IIT CSE Cutoff Analysis

JoSAA releases separate opening and closing ranks for each category: General (Open), OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and EWS. Additionally, each category has Gender Neutral and Female Only sub-pools. The table below uses 2024 Round 1 confirmed data to illustrate the category-wise pattern, which typically holds for 2026 with minor variation.

IIT CSE Cutoff 2024: Round 1 Category-Wise Closing Ranks (General Category = Open closing rank)

Key observations from the category-wise data:

• OBC-NCL and EWS candidates at top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras) face very tight cutoffs, often within three-digit AIR
• SC and ST categories follow the same ranking of IIT preference but with relatively higher numerical AIRs
• IIT Gandhinagar is an outlier in 2024: OBC-NCL closing rank (1714) was higher than the General closing rank (1576), indicating an unusual seat utilisation pattern in that round
• For all categories, the pecking order remains stable: IIT Bombay toughest, then Delhi and Madras, followed by older IITs, then newer IITs
• Female Only supernumerary seats often close at higher numerical AIRs compared to Gender Neutral seats within the same category, though this varies by IIT and round

Round 1 Cutoff Trends Compared to Previous Years

The 2026 Round 1 data available so far (IIT Bombay: AIR 65, IIT Delhi: AIR 123) places the 2026 cutoffs virtually in line with 2025 figures (IIT Bombay: AIR 66, IIT Delhi: AIR 125). This confirms the year-on-year stability at the top two IITs. The table below tracks Round 1 General category closing ranks across 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the major IITs.

Key trend insights:

• IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi CSE closing ranks have been remarkably stable across 2023 to 2026, moving within a narrow band of 5 to 10 AIR positions
• IIT Madras showed a sharp drop in closing rank from 2023 (319) to 2024 (159), possibly reflecting changes in seat allocation or candidate preference distribution; 2025 settled at 171
• IIT BHU Varanasi closing rank improved significantly from 2023 (1748 Female Only for Round 1) to 2025 (1350 Gender Neutral), reflecting growing preference among mid-range rankers
• Older IITs like Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, and Hyderabad show consistent year-on-year patterns with minor fluctuations of 20 to 50 AIR positions
• The relative ranking of IITs for CSE preference has stayed stable across all years analysed, with Bombay leading, followed by Delhi and Madras

Candidates can practise extensively with subject-wise and chapter-wise problems through the JEE Questions on Cracku to strengthen their JEE Advanced performance and improve their chances of securing a competitive AIR for CSE admission.

Also Read: IIT ECE Round 1 Cutoff 2026, College & Category Wise Ranks

Expected Cutoff Changes in Upcoming JoSAA Rounds

With Round 1 complete and Round 2 scheduled for June 30, 2026, candidates who have received a Round 1 allotment must now decide whether to Freeze, Float, or Slide. Understanding how cutoffs evolve across rounds is critical for making this decision correctly.

How cutoffs typically change from Round 1 to subsequent rounds:

What candidates should expect in upcoming rounds:

• IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras CSE closing ranks are unlikely to change significantly across rounds as demand consistently matches or exceeds supply
• IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Roorkee may see closing ranks relax by 10 to 30 AIR positions in later rounds as candidates with better allotments elsewhere vacate seats
• Newer IITs (IIT Goa, Palakkad, Jammu, Dharwad, Bhilai) can see more meaningful relaxation of 100 to 500 AIR positions in Rounds 3 and 4 due to higher withdrawal rates
• Candidates who have selected Float should monitor Round 2 allotment closely; if a better IIT is allotted, the previous seat is automatically released
• The NIT+ system runs parallel rounds and has its own final allotment window; IIT Round 5 is the last opportunity for IIT-specific seat upgrades

Strategy note: If your Round 1 allotment is at a newer IIT and you are targeting an older IIT in a later round, selecting Float keeps you eligible for upgrade without losing the current allotment. Freeze only if you are fully satisfied with the Round 1 seat.

Also Read: NIT CSE Round 1 Cutoff 2026, JoSAA Opening & Closing Rank

IIT CSE Round 1 Cutoff 2026: Conclusion

The JoSAA Round 1 CSE cutoff for 2026 confirms the enduring demand for Computer Science at IITs, with IIT Bombay closing at AIR 65 and IIT Delhi at AIR 123. The pattern is consistent with previous years, underscoring the importance of targeting a strong JEE Advanced rank well within Round 1 closing ranks for the preferred IIT. As subsequent rounds unfold through July 2026, candidates should track allotments carefully, understand their Freeze/Float/Slide options, and use historical trends to make informed counselling decisions.