JEE Main 2026: Closing ranks for AI, ML, data science at NITs highlight rising demand

JEE Mains 2026: Admission counselling data from the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) suggests high demand for recently-launched BTech courses in artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI-ML) and data science at the National Institutes of Technology. The NITs admit on through the Joint Entrance Examination (Main); JEE Main 2026 registration starts soon .

Data from the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling exercise shows a rising demand for emerging branches such as AI-ML, and Data Science at National Institutes of Technology (NITs). Traditional Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) remains highly competitive alongside these programmes.

Top NITs see tough CSE cut-offs

For traditional CSE programmes, the closing ranks varied widely across institutes. NIT Tiruchirappalli recorded the lowest closing rank at 1,449 for the OS quota, followed by NIT Karnataka, Surathkal, closing rank at 1,827. While NIT Meghalaya and NIT Nagaland saw ranks at 24,074 and 39,594, respectively, highlighting the high competition at top institutes.

Other top-performing NITs included NIT Warangal with a closing rank at 2,409 and NIT Rourkela with a closing rank at 3,431, reinforcing their status as preferred destinations for CSE aspirants.

New-age branches see rising competition

New-generation branches also attracted significant interest. At NIT Karnataka, Surathkal, the closing rank for the AI 4-year programme was 2,372, while at NIT Rourkela it was 3,918. NIT Sikkim reported AI & ML closing ranks of 29,014 for gender-neutral seats and 42,561 for female-only seats, reflecting both rising demand and the impact of supernumerary quotas.

AI & Data Engineering at MNIT Jaipur saw closing ranks of 6,491 for gender-neutral and 11,881 for female-only seats. Similarly, AI & Data Science programmes reported competitive closing ranks at NIT Delhi with 6,896, NIT Kurukshetra with 8,510, and NIT Patna with 16,537. Data Science and Engineering at DR B R Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar closed at 14,814.

CSE and AI branches show close competition

Comparisons between traditional CSE and emerging branches highlight narrowing preference gaps. At NIT Kurukshetra, the closing rank for CSE was 7,037, while AI & ML closed at 9,204 and AI & DS at 8,510. This indicates that a growing number of top candidates are opting for new-age computing disciplines alongside conventional CSE programmes.

As per JoSAA, these trends suggest sustained interest in AI, ML, and Data Science among engineering aspirants. The demand for such programmes is expected to continue in upcoming admission rounds, and institutes are likely to expand capacity or introduce more undergraduate courses in AI and data-oriented fields next year.

JEE Main 2026: NIT closing rank for AI, ML, Data science

JoSAA last year’s data shows top NITs like Surathkal, Rourkela and Jaipur recorded closing ranks below 7,000 for AI, ML and Data Science programmes. The following table lists closing ranks for AI, ML and Data Science courses across NITs, showing how newer branches are competing closely with CSE.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 from January 21 to 30 and Session 2 from April 1 to 10, 2026. Engineering aspirants will be able to register for the JEE Main 2026 through the official website at jeemain.nta.nic.in.