With 42.458 percentile in JEE Mains 2025 and ST category , your expected CRL rank would be around 750,000–800,000 , and your ST category rank could be much lower due to the reservation. While your percentile is on the lower side, your ST reservation gives you a better chance in government colleges, especially through home state quota .

You can consider the following options:

1. NITs through JoSAA (ST Quota)

You may have some chances in lower-demand branches (like Civil, Metallurgy, Production, Environmental Engineering) in the newer NITs , such as:

• NIT Mizoram

• NIT Nagaland

• NIT Arunachal Pradesh

• NIT Sikkim

• NIT Meghalaya

• NIT Puducherry

2. IIITs and GFTIs (ST Quota)

• New IIITs may offer non-core branches (like CS+Business or CS+Maths) in later rounds.

• GFTIs like:

  • Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya

  • Assam University

  • University of Hyderabad (Integrated programs)

3. State Government Colleges

If you are from a state like:

• Jharkhand – Apply through JCECEB counselling

• Madhya Pradesh – Use DTE MP counselling

• Rajasthan – Apply through REAP counselling

• Chhattisgarh – Check CGPET counselling

• Northeastern states – ST quota has better chances in regional government engineering colleges

4. Other Options

• Private colleges with ST scholarships or government fee waivers

• AICTE tuition fee waivers (TFWS)

• Vocational B.Tech or diploma to degree lateral entry options after 1 year

Next Steps:

1. Register for JoSAA counselling

2. Also register for your state counselling authority

3. Keep options open for less competitive branches and newer colleges