UPTAC 2026 Cutoff: JEE Main Rank vs AKTU College Branch-wise
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26 May 2026
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The single most searched thing before UPTAC choice filling is rank versus college data — specifically, 'what JEE Main rank do I need for this branch at this college?' This guide answers that directly using previous year closing rank data across government and private AKTU colleges. Use it alongside the B.Tech College Predictor, which gives you a live, personalised rank-to-college match filtered by your exact rank and category.
How UPTAC Cutoffs Work
UPTAC doesn't publish a single cutoff number per college. The cutoff is the closing rank — the rank of the last student allotted a seat in a given branch at a given college in a specific round. Round 1 closing ranks are the most competitive (lowest rank numbers). By Round 4 and beyond, closing ranks are usually much higher (more accessible). UPTAC 2026 runs across multiple rounds — Round 1 choice filling and locking is scheduled for July 24–28, with Round 1 seat allotment on July 30, and Round 2 filling on August 2–3. Planning around these dates matters if you're upgrading between rounds.
There's also a Home State vs Other State distinction. UP domicile students get Home State quota seats — which carry more accessible closing ranks at UP government colleges and some private colleges. Students from outside UP compete under Other State quota. Always check which quota applies to you before reading cutoff tables.
IET Lucknow: Branch-wise JEE Main Closing Ranks
IET Lucknow has the tightest cutoffs among AKTU government colleges. Based on 2024 UPTAC data, here are approximate Round 1 closing ranks for General Home State category:
Table
| Branch | Round 1 Closing Rank (General HS, approx) | Round 4 Closing Rank (General HS, approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering | 45,000–55,000 | 65,000–75,000 |
| Information Technology | 50,000–60,000 | 72,000–85,000 |
| Electronics and Communication | 65,000–80,000 | 90,000–1,10,000 |
| Electrical Engineering | 80,000–1,00,000 | 1,10,000–1,30,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 1,00,000–1,20,000 | 1,30,000–1,60,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 1,20,000–1,50,000 | 1,60,000–2,00,000 |
3 columns · 7 rows
KNIT Sultanpur and BIET Jhansi: Government College Cutoffs
KNIT Sultanpur and BIET Jhansi have slightly more accessible cutoffs than IET Lucknow due to their non-capital locations. Here are approximate Round 1 General Home State closing ranks at these two colleges:
Table
| Branch | KNIT Sultanpur Closing Rank (approx) | BIET Jhansi Closing Rank (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| CSE | 70,000–90,000 | 80,000–1,00,000 |
| IT | 85,000–1,05,000 | 95,000–1,15,000 |
| ECE | 1,00,000–1,20,000 | 1,10,000–1,30,000 |
| Electrical | 1,10,000–1,35,000 | 1,20,000–1,45,000 |
| Mechanical | 1,30,000–1,60,000 | 1,40,000–1,70,000 |
3 columns · 6 rows
Rajkiya Engineering Colleges: Most Accessible Government Cutoffs
The four RECs under AKTU — REC Sonbhadra, REC Ambedkar Nagar, REC Banda, and REC Kannauj — have the most accessible government cutoffs in UPTAC. CSE closing ranks at these colleges extend to 2,00,000–3,00,000 in General HS category, meaning even students with JEE Main rank around 2–3 lakh can secure a government engineering seat. Given the low annual fee (INR 35,000–55,000), these are worth including as safety choices on any UPTAC list.
AKGEC Ghaziabad: Branch-wise Private College Cutoffs
AKGEC Ghaziabad (NAAC A++) is the top-rated AKTU private college in Ghaziabad by NIRF. Here are approximate UPTAC closing ranks for General Home State, Round 1:
Table
| Branch | Round 1 Closing (General HS) | Round 4 Closing (General HS) |
|---|---|---|
| CSE | 1,50,000–2,00,000 | 2,50,000–3,50,000 |
| IT | 1,80,000–2,30,000 | 2,80,000–3,80,000 |
| ECE | 2,00,000–2,60,000 | 3,00,000–4,00,000 |
| Electrical | 2,50,000–3,20,000 | 3,80,000–5,00,000 |
| Mechanical | 3,00,000–4,00,000 | 4,50,000–6,00,000 |
3 columns · 6 rows
GL Bajaj, GCET, and ABES: Mid-Tier Private Cutoffs
Three colleges that consistently see high UPTAC traffic — GL Bajaj Greater Noida, Galgotias College of Engineering Greater Noida, and ABES Ghaziabad — have broadly similar cutoff ranges. For CSE at Round 1, General HS closing ranks are approximately 2,00,000–3,00,000 at all three. IT closes slightly higher (more accessible), and ECE is usually 3,00,000–4,00,000. By Round 4, CSE closing ranks extend to 4,00,000–6,00,000, meaning even students with rank 4–5 lakh often land CSE seats at these colleges if they hold through later rounds.
GNIOT, Lloyd, and Dronacharya: Lower-Rank Accessible Options
For students with JEE Main ranks above 4,00,000, GNIOT, Lloyd Institute, and Dronacharya Group become the realistic private options. CSE at these colleges has historically closed at ranks of 5,00,000–8,00,000 by Round 4, which means UPTAC allocates seats here well into the later rounds. If your rank is in this range, include these solidly in your mid-to-lower choice list. NCR location is genuinely an asset for placements regardless of college tier.
OBC and SC Category: Different Numbers Entirely
All the numbers above are for General category. OBC-NCL closing ranks in UPTAC are typically 40–60% higher in absolute rank terms than General for the same branch and college. SC closing ranks are even more accessible — at IET Lucknow, SC CSE has closed at ranks of 1,50,000–2,50,000 in previous years, which is 3–4x more accessible than the General closing rank. If you're in a reserved category, do not plan based on General cutoffs. Use the B.Tech Predictor with your category selected for accurate comparison.
Expected Changes for UPTAC 2026 Cutoffs
UPTAC 2026 cutoffs will differ from 2024-25 data based on three factors: total UPTAC applicants (rising every year), seat matrix changes (some colleges add or reduce seats), and JEE Main difficulty (affects rank distributions). Generally, if JEE Main 2026 was harder than 2025, the same score gives a better rank — meaning closing ranks at top colleges may become slightly more competitive in absolute rank terms even for equivalent students.
The safest approach: use 2024 closing ranks as a reference, assume a 5–10% tightening at top government colleges (IET, KNIT) due to demand growth, and keep mid-tier private closing ranks roughly similar. Add a buffer of 20,000–30,000 rank when estimating your probability of getting a specific college — if Round 1 closed at 2,00,000 and your rank is 1,90,000, you're in realistic territory but not guaranteed.
How to Approach Choice Filling with This Data
Three practical rules for UPTAC choice filling. First: fill more choices than you think you need — UPTAC allows up to 200+ choices and more students regret filling too few than too many. Second: don't put only CSE choices if your rank makes CSE at good colleges unlikely — a CSE seat at a lower-ranked college is not always better than IT or ECE at a strong one. Third: government colleges first in every tier. The fee advantage at IET Lucknow, KNIT, and RECs is substantial enough that they belong above same-quality private options in your list.
For the UPTAC 2026 official schedule and choice filling process, visit uptac.admissions.nic.in. For the complete AKTU affiliated college list and branch-wise seat matrix, check aktu.ac.in. And run the CaderaEdu B.Tech Predictor with your specific rank to get a personalised, probability-ranked list of colleges rather than manually scanning these tables.
One more thing worth checking: if you're also considering NIT options outside UP alongside UPTAC, compare your JoSAA options for newer NITs using the B.Tech Predictor. Some students with rank 2–3 lakh find that newer NITs and UPTAC top colleges are comparable choices — and the decision comes down to location preference, fees, and branch rather than any obvious quality difference.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What JEE Main rank is needed for CSE at IET Lucknow in UPTAC 2026?
Based on 2024 UPTAC data, General Home State candidates need approximately rank 45,000–55,000 for Round 1 allotment and up to 65,000–75,000 by Round 4. SC and OBC candidates have significantly higher (more accessible) closing ranks. Use the B.Tech Predictor on CaderaEdu for the most accurate estimate.
What is the UPTAC 2026 expected cutoff for private AKTU colleges?
Top private AKTU colleges like AKGEC Ghaziabad and Galgotias College close CSE at roughly rank 1,50,000–2,00,000 in Round 1 for General HS category, extending to 3,50,000–5,00,000 by Round 4. Mid-tier private colleges like GNIOT and Lloyd see CSE closing at 5,00,000–8,00,000 in later rounds.
How many rounds does UPTAC 2026 have?
UPTAC 2026 runs up to 7 rounds plus a special round. Round 1 seat allotment is expected on July 30, 2026. Each round has a short window for choice filling, locking, and fee payment. Missing a deadline means losing a round of allotment.
Is OBC cutoff significantly different from General in UPTAC?
Yes. OBC-NCL closing ranks in UPTAC are typically 40–60% higher in absolute rank terms than General closing ranks for the same branch and college. SC closing ranks are even more accessible — often 2–4x higher than General. Always use your category-specific data, not General cutoffs, for planning.
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