Every JEE aspirant dreams of getting into an IIT. But how many IITs are there? What are the actual cutoffs? Which branches are available? And is your dream IIT realistic based on your current preparation level? This comprehensive guide lists all 23 IITs in India with JEE cutoff data and seat information for 2027 — so you can set clear targets and practice accordingly.
How Many IITs Are There in India?
As of 2027, India has 23 Indian Institutes of Technology. These are divided into three generations based on when they were established:
First Generation IITs (The Original 5)
| # | IIT | Established | Location | NIRF Rank (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Kharagpur | 1951 | West Bengal | 4 |
| 2 | IIT Bombay | 1958 | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1 |
| 3 | IIT Madras | 1959 | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | 1959 | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | 5 |
| 5 | IIT Delhi | 1961 | New Delhi | 3 |
Second Generation IITs
| # | IIT | Established | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | IIT Guwahati | 1994 | Guwahati, Assam |
| 7 | IIT Roorkee | 2001 (converted) | Roorkee, Uttarakhand |
Third Generation IITs (Post-2008)
| # | IIT | Established | Location | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | IIT Bhubaneswar | 2008 | Bhubaneswar | Odisha |
| 9 | IIT Gandhinagar | 2008 | Gandhinagar | Gujarat |
| 10 | IIT Hyderabad | 2008 | Sangareddy | Telangana |
| 11 | IIT Indore | 2009 | Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 12 | IIT Jodhpur | 2008 | Jodhpur | Rajasthan |
| 13 | IIT Mandi | 2009 | Mandi | Himachal Pradesh |
| 14 | IIT Patna | 2008 | Bihta, Patna | Bihar |
| 15 | IIT Ropar | 2008 | Rupnagar | Punjab |
| 16 | IIT (BHU) Varanasi | 2012 (converted) | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 17 | IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | 2016 (converted) | Dhanbad | Jharkhand |
| 18 | IIT Tirupati | 2015 | Tirupati | Andhra Pradesh |
| 19 | IIT Palakkad | 2015 | Palakkad | Kerala |
| 20 | IIT Dharwad | 2016 | Dharwad | Karnataka |
| 21 | IIT Bhilai | 2016 | Bhilai | Chhattisgarh |
| 22 | IIT Goa | 2016 | Ponda | Goa |
| 23 | IIT Jammu | 2016 | Jammu | J&K |
JEE Advanced Cutoffs — Top IITs (General Category, 2026)
These are closing ranks for popular branches. Lower rank = more competitive.
| IIT | CSE | Electrical | Mechanical | Chemical | Civil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 68 | 320 | 1,200 | 2,800 | 3,500 |
| IIT Delhi | 98 | 450 | 1,500 | 3,200 | 4,000 |
| IIT Madras | 115 | 500 | 1,400 | 2,900 | 3,800 |
| IIT Kanpur | 195 | 700 | 2,000 | 4,500 | 5,500 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 340 | 900 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 6,000 |
| IIT Roorkee | 520 | 1,200 | 3,000 | 5,500 | 6,500 |
| IIT Guwahati | 680 | 1,500 | 3,500 | 6,000 | 7,000 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 750 | 1,800 | 4,000 | — | — |
| IIT (BHU) | 1,100 | 2,500 | 4,500 | 6,500 | 7,500 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | 1,500 | 3,500 | 5,500 | 7,000 | 8,000 |
| IIT Patna | 2,200 | 4,500 | 6,500 | 8,000 | 8,500 |
| IIT Indore | 1,800 | 4,000 | 6,000 | — | — |
Note: Cutoffs vary year-to-year. These are approximate closing ranks for General category from 2026 data. OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and EWS categories have different cutoffs.
Total Seats Across All IITs
| Category | Approximate Seats |
|---|---|
| Total B.Tech seats (all 23 IITs) | ~17,500 |
| General category | ~6,400 (36.5%) |
| OBC-NCL | ~4,725 (27%) |
| SC | ~2,625 (15%) |
| ST | ~1,312 (7.5%) |
| EWS | ~1,750 (10%) |
| PwD (across categories) | ~875 (5%) |
IIT Patna — A Bihar Perspective
For students from Bihar and eastern India, IIT Patna deserves special attention:
- Location: Bihta, Patna — just 35 km from Patna city center
- Campus: 501 acres, one of the largest new IIT campuses
- Popular Branches: CSE (closing rank ~2,200), ECE (~3,500), EE (~4,500)
- Emerging Strength: AI/ML research, strong placement record in tech companies
- Placement Stats (2026): Average package ~₹18-20 LPA, highest ~₹65 LPA
IIT Patna is not a “last resort” IIT — it’s a rising star with excellent infrastructure and improving placements. For students from Bihar, it offers the IIT brand with the comfort of being close to home.
Branch Selection Strategy
A common dilemma: should you choose a better IIT with a less popular branch, or a newer IIT with CSE? Here’s the framework:
| If Your Rank Is… | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|
| Under 500 | Top 5 IIT + CSE/EE — you’ve earned the best of both |
| 500-2,000 | Top 7 IIT + core branch OR newer IIT + CSE — depends on career goals |
| 2,000-5,000 | CSE at any IIT is better than non-CS at a top IIT (for tech careers) |
| 5,000-8,000 | Take any IIT seat you get — the brand matters for your first job |
| 8,000+ | Consider NITs (through JEE Main) — some NITs have better placements than newer IITs |
Category-wise Cutoff Differences
For reserved category students, the closing ranks are significantly higher (easier to get in):
| IIT Bombay CSE | Closing Rank (2026) |
|---|---|
| General | 68 |
| OBC-NCL | 45 (within OBC rank list) |
| SC | 15 (within SC rank list) |
| ST | 8 (within ST rank list) |
| EWS | 25 (within EWS rank list) |
Note: These are category-specific rank lists, not overall AIR. The actual AIR for these students may be much higher.
Beyond IITs — Top Alternatives
If IITs seem out of reach right now, these alternatives offer excellent education and placements:
| Institution | Through | Cutoff Level |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy, Warangal, Surathkal | JEE Main (99+ percentile) | Competitive |
| IIIT Hyderabad | JEE Main + UGEE | Very Competitive |
| BITS Pilani | BITSAT | Competitive |
| DTU, NSUT Delhi | JEE Main (98+ percentile) | Moderate |
| VIT, SRM, Manipal | Own exams | Moderate |
What Rank Do You Need? — Realistic Target Setting
Here’s a practical guide to set your target rank based on your current level:
- Take a full mock test today — note your score out of 300
- Calculate your approximate percentile using previous year data
- Set a realistic target IIT and branch from the tables above
- Work backwards: How much daily practice do you need to bridge the gap?
The answer to #4 is almost always the same: 50 MCQs per day, consistently, for 6-8 months. The students who do this improve by 30-50 percentile points. That’s the difference between “no IIT” and “IIT Patna CSE.”
Start Your IIT Journey Today
Looking at these cutoffs might feel overwhelming. But remember: every IIT topper started exactly where you are — with a dream and the willingness to practice daily.
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The IIT is real. The seats are real. The only question is: are you willing to practice daily to earn one?