Wondering what would be your predicted rank with 40 marks in JEE Main session 1 exam 2026? Here's what our expert, Mahima Gupta , 5+ years of experience in analyzing JEE cutoff trends and predicting marks vs rank vs percentile for students, has to say - "A score of 40 in JEE Mains 2026 means a probable 78 percentile and a rank of 3,29,000, placing you in the lower middle performance range." While 40 marks may not be a great achievement, it doesn’t mean your engineering admission opportunities are over. The percentile-based normalisation system used by JEE Main translates the same raw score into different percentiles and ranks. The differences are based on the shift’s difficulty level. So, if you score 40 marks, you need to know the predicted percentile, rank range, and college options. The article here discusses your realistic options.
Also Check - 30 Marks in JEE Main 2026 Predicted Percentile Score and Rank
40 Marks in JEE Main 2026 Predicted Percentile Score and Rank
As a General category student, you can expect a percentile of around 78+, that too in the tougher shift of JEE Main 2026 . Your All India Rank would be close to 3.2- 3.3 lakh. The percentile may drop slightly in easier shifts. So, the rank may even be higher. We’ve prepared this table using the previous year’s trends and shift-wise analysis for the predicted percentile score and AIR. Since lower scores are more sensitive to paper difficulty, you’ll see more noticeable percentile variations.
Marks | Percentile (Easy to Moderate Shift) | Rank | Percentile (Tough Shift) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
49 marks | 77.45+ | ≲ 338,000 | 81.25+ | ≲ 281,500 |
48 marks | 76.80+ | ≲ 348,000 | 80.95+ | ≲ 285,500 |
47 marks | 75.45+ | ≲ 368,000 | 80.55+ | ≲ 291,500 |
46 marks | 74.60+ | ≲ 381,000 | 80.20+ | ≲ 297,000 |
45 marks | 73.70+ | ≲ 394,500 | 79.85+ | ≲ 302,000 |
44 marks | — | — | 79.55+ | ≲ 306,500 |
43 marks | — | — | 79.25+ | ≲ 311,500 |
42 marks | — | — | 78.95+ | ≲ 315,500 |
41 marks | — | — | 78.50+ | ≲ 322,500 |
40 marks | — | — | 78.05+ | ≲ 329,000 |
Here is a visual representation of the above tabular data:
Use CollegeDekho's JEE Main rank predictor 2026 tool to accurately evaluate your rank based on the calculated scores.
Also Check - 20 Marks in JEE Mains 2026 Predicted Percentile Score and Rank
Are there Central or NIT Seats for JEE Mains 40 Marks General Category?
No. You can’t get in NITs, IIITs, and GFTI-like central government institutes with 40 marks in JEE Main. General category students need to target around 50,000- 80,000 ranks if they want admission in NIT. With a 3 lakh+ rank, you are far beyond the JoSAA closing ranks for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Even newer or northeastern NITs don’t provide admissions to this rank range. You can’t even cover this large a rank gap with home state quota or gender neutral policies.
Practically, this means:
JoSAA counselling is not a viable route
You can’t reach the central government colleges
Private universities and state counselling alternatives may be open
On the basis of estimated percentile ranks, assess which colleges you might get a seat in using our JEE Main 2026 college predictor tool.
Also Check - 90 Marks in JEE Main 2026 Predicted Percentile Score and Rank
Colleges that Accept 40 Marks in JEE Main 2026 for General Category
NITs and IIITs are not the options for you because they strictly use JEE Main cutoff 2026 . However, many private universities and state-level engineering colleges accept your JEE Main score in the 3-4 lakh rank range. They consider it a qualifying criterion.
Private Universities Accepting Low JEE Main Scores
40 marks in JEE Main means the following institutions:
Universities | Details |
|---|---|
Large Private Universities at the National Level | They either use JEE Main for basic eligibility or offer direct admission/ counselling-based seats. You can do these branches:
You can get CSE only in later counselling rounds or specialised allied streams like CSE with Data Science, Cyber Security, etc. |
State Government/ State-Affiliated Colleges | Many states conduct their own state counselling through CET cells. But they also accept JEE Main ranks for outside-state candidates or use JEE Main as an alternative entry score. Realistically available branches include:
Rajasthan state counselling, UP private/state-affiliated colleges, and MP and Haryana technical boards are examples. |
Deemed-to-be-Universities | They accept wide JEE Main rank ranges and focus more on 12th board marks + counselling rounds. They provide modern infrastructure, flexible branch options, and industry-oriented specialisations. However, students should consider placement support, faculty quality, and accreditation and approvals. |
40 marks in JEE Main give you an expected 78+ percentile and a rank close to 3.3 lakh. The score may be low, but it should not end your engineering aspirations. You can still target private universities and state-affiliated institutions. If you need more help, connect with CollegeDekho .
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