Understanding Seat Selection and Rankings at IIT Kharagpur

Many students and parents often inquire about the number of ranks that are selected for various branches at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), specifically IIT Kharagpur. The primary determinant for seat allocation is not the rank obtained in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advance, but the preferences of students above you in the rank list and the number of available seats in the chosen branch. Sitting at the top of the rank list does not automatically guarantee an admission. The availability of seats is crucial.

Seat Availability and Allocation

IIT Kharagpur allocates seats based on several categories, including general, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Persons with Disabilities (PwD) in each of these categories. The exact number of seats for each category is provided below:

General Category:

Other Backward Classes (OBC):

Scheduled Castes (SC):

Scheduled Tribes (ST):

General-PwD:

OBC-PwD:

SC-PwD:

ST-PwD:

These numbers represent the total number of seats available against different categories. It's important to note that the actual number of eligible candidates who aim for IIT Kharagpur may exceed these seat numbers, particularly in highly competitive categories like General.

Cutoff Scores and Last Admission Rank

While the seat allocation is primarily based on the number of available seats, students often want to know the approximate cutoff scores for admission. The cutoffs can vary significantly from year to year based on the number of applicants and the availability of seats. For a more precise understanding, you can refer to the cutoff list available here:

The link provided is from 2016, and while it may not be the latest, it can still offer an approximate idea of how the cutoffs typically vary. For the most accurate information, always refer to the official IIT Kharagpur website or the latest available data.

In a specific instance, the last rank admitted in a four-year Bachelor of Science () course in General Category in 2017 was 6692 in the Earth Sciences branch. For the (Biological Sciences and Bioengineering) branch, the last rank admitted in the same year was 5191. These last ranks represent the positions from where students were admitted after all available seats in their preferred branches had been filled.

Conclusion

When applying to IIT Kharagpur via the JEE Advanced, the key factors to consider are the number of available seats and the preferences of students above you in the rank list. While your rank plays a role, it is not the sole determining factor for admission. The exact seat allocation and cutoffs can vary each year, and thus, it's always a good idea to check the latest data from official sources.

For further details and the most up-to-date information, visit the official IIT Kharagpur website or the official JEE Advanced resources.