Tier 1 — Elite NITs (Closing Rank Below 4,129)
These elite NITs — NIT Karnataka, Surathkal and National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra — offer Information Technology (Gender-Neutral) accessible only to candidates with JEE Main Category Ranks at or below 4,129. Competition here is among the most intense in Indian engineering admissions. National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra is showing tightening competition year-over-year — meaning these seats are becoming progressively harder to secure. Notably, NIT Karnataka, Surathkal shows an easing trend year-over-year, potentially offering a marginal window for borderline aspirants.