Quick Summary
• Opening rank is the best (highest) rank that got admission in a specific institute and branch in a specific round. Closing rank is the last rank that got that seat in that round.
• JoSAA publishes round-wise OR-CR data on the official counselling portal using filters like Round, Institute Type, Institute Name, Academic Program and Seat Type or Category.
• As of March 7, 2026, JoSAA 2026 OR-CR is not available yet. Use JoSAA 2025 OR-CR and the previous-year archive to estimate your chances until 2026 round-wise data is published.
• For OPEN seats, OR-CR is based on CRL. For EWS, OBC-NCL, SC and ST seats, OR-CR uses category rank. For PwD seats, OR-CR uses PwD rank within the category. If a rank has a suffix 'P', it is from the Preparatory Rank List.
• Best use: shortlist 30-60 options, then set realistic choices using buffers (keep some safe options and some ambitious options).
What are JoSAA Opening and Closing Ranks?
JoSAA Opening and Closing Ranks (OR-CR) show the rank range for which a seat was allotted in a particular round for a particular institute, branch and category. This is official seat allotment data, so it is the most trusted reference for counselling planning.
Simple meaning
• Opening Rank: the best rank that got that seat in that round.
• Closing Rank: the last rank that got that seat in that round.
• If your rank is better than the closing rank, you have a chance. If your rank is worse, your chance is low unless seats or demand change.
Important note about 2026 data (Updated March 7, 2026)
JoSAA releases OR-CR data only after seat allotment starts. Until JoSAA 2026 counselling begins and rounds are conducted, the official portal will not show JoSAA 2026 opening and closing ranks. So for now, use the latest available official OR-CR (JoSAA 2025) and the previous-year archive to plan your 2026 choice list.
Where to Check JoSAA Opening and Closing Ranks
• JoSAA main website (news, schedule, documents): https://josaa.nic.in/
• JoSAA OR-CR (current year on counselling portal): https://josaa.admissions.nic.in/applicant/SeatAllotmentResult/CurrentORCR.aspx
• JoSAA opening and closing ranks archive (previous years): https://josaa.admissions.nic.in/applicant/seatmatrix/openingclosingrankarchieve.aspx
How to Use the OR-CR Filters (Round, Category, College, Branch)
1. Select Round No (Round 1 to Round 6). Start with Round 6 to see the final closing ranks.
2. Select Institute Type (IIT, NIT, IIIT, or Other-GFTI).
3. Select Institute Name.
4. Select Academic Program (branch).
5. Select Seat Type or Category (OPEN, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD variants and other seat types shown on portal).
6. Click Submit to view the OR-CR table.
How ranks are represented on the JoSAA portal
• OPEN seats: ranks represent CRL (Common Rank List).
• EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST: ranks represent category ranks.
• PwD seats: ranks represent PwD ranks within the respective category.
• If an opening or closing rank has a suffix 'P', it indicates the rank is from the Preparatory Rank List.
Create a shortlist table
|
Field |
What to fill |
|
Round |
Use Round 6 for final cutoff trend and Round 1 for demand trend |
|
Institute |
Example: IIT Madras, NITK Surathkal, IIIT Allahabad |
|
Branch |
Exact programme name from JoSAA portal |
|
Seat Type or Category |
OPEN, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD variants |
|
Opening Rank |
From OR-CR |
|
Closing Rank |
From OR-CR |
|
Your Rank |
Your CRL or category rank |
|
Chance |
Safe / Moderate / Stretch based on buffer rule |
|
Notes |
Home state, preferred campus, placement goals, location |
Last Updated: August 26, 2026
Buffer rule
Do not use last year closing rank as a guaranteed cutoff. Seats and demand can change. Use a buffer to make smarter choices.
• Safe: your rank is better than last year closing rank by about 15% to 25%.
• Moderate: your rank is within about 0% to 15% better than last year closing rank.
• Stretch: your rank is slightly worse than last year closing rank, but you still keep it as a dream option.