Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector (JKPSI) examination, one of the first things you should check is the previous year cut-off. Cut-off marks give candidates a realistic idea of the level of competition and help in deciding how much they should target in the upcoming examination.
The JKPSI recruitment conducted through the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) witnessed strong competition. The recruitment was for 1,200 Sub-Inspector posts, and the written examination was conducted for candidates competing for these highly sought-after posts. JKSSB later published the selection-related information and category-wise cut-off marks.
For aspirants preparing for the next JK Police SI recruitment, these figures are particularly useful because simply aiming to cross a minimum qualifying mark may not be enough. Your actual target should be comfortably above the previous cut-off.
JKPSI Previous Year Cut Off Marks
The category-wise cut-off marks were reported as follows:
| Category | Cut-Off Marks |
|---|---|
| Open Merit (OM) | 107.91 |
| ALC | 101.28 |
| RBA | 100.16 |
| PSP | 97.86 |
| OSC | 97.45 |
| SC | 95.08 |
| EWS | 89.93 |
| ST | 88.00 |
The cut-off was reported out of 200 marks. The highest cut-off was for Open Merit at 107.91, while the ST category closed at 88 marks.
These numbers should not be viewed merely as marks required to qualify. They show how competitive the recruitment was and provide a useful benchmark for candidates preparing for future JKPSI examinations.
JKPSI OM Cut Off – 107.91 Marks
The Open Merit (OM) category recorded the highest cut-off at 107.91 marks.
For an OM candidate, targeting exactly 108 marks would not be a sensible preparation strategy. Cut-offs can move significantly from one recruitment cycle to another depending on the difficulty of the paper, number of vacancies, number of candidates, normalization or selection criteria, and overall performance.
A safer approach is to prepare with a target substantially higher than the previous cut-off. If the previous OM cut-off was around 108, candidates should ideally aim for a score that gives them a reasonable margin rather than depending on the last few marks.
JKPSI ALC Cut Off – 101.28 Marks
The ALC category had a previous cut-off of 101.28 marks.
This means candidates in the ALC category who were competing for selection needed to perform strongly in the written examination. The difference between the OM and ALC cut-offs was relatively small, which again shows that competition remained intense across categories.
Aspirants should therefore avoid preparing only around the expected category cut-off. A strong score gives you greater protection against fluctuations in the final cut-off.
RBA Cut Off – 100.16 Marks
For the RBA category, the reported cut-off was 100.16 marks.
Interestingly, the RBA cut-off was just above the 100-mark level. For candidates preparing for future recruitment, this is a useful benchmark.
If your practice scores are currently around 90–100, don't become satisfied simply because the previous cut-off was close to that range. Your goal should be to improve accuracy and push your score considerably higher.
PSP and OSC Cut Off
The previous cut-off for PSP was 97.86 marks, while the OSC category closed at 97.45 marks.
The difference between these two categories was extremely small. This is a good example of why candidates should not assume that a particular reserved category will automatically have a significantly lower cut-off.
Cut-offs are determined by the actual competition and selection process. They can change every recruitment cycle.
SC Cut Off – 95.08 Marks
The SC category recorded a cut-off of 95.08 marks.
Crossing the 95-mark range was therefore an important benchmark in the previous recruitment. However, candidates preparing for the next examination should keep a higher target.
A candidate who prepares only to score around the previous cut-off is taking unnecessary risk. The better strategy is to prepare for a difficult paper and aim for a score that remains competitive even if the cut-off rises.
EWS Cut Off – 89.93 Marks
The previous EWS cut-off was 89.93 marks.
Although this was below the 100-mark level, candidates should remember that the cut-off is not fixed. A different paper, different number of vacancies or changes in candidate performance can produce a completely different cut-off.
Therefore, previous-year marks should be treated as a reference point, not a guaranteed qualifying score.
ST Cut Off – 88 Marks
The ST category recorded a cut-off of 88 marks, the lowest among the categories listed above.
This does not mean that ST candidates should target only 88–90 marks in a future JKPSI examination. A higher score always provides a better position, particularly when competition is strong.
The ideal approach is to prepare without becoming overly dependent on category-wise predictions.
What Does the Previous JKPSI Cut Off Tell Us?
The most important lesson from the previous JKPSI cut-off is the level of competition.
The OM cut-off of 107.91 out of 200 means the selection benchmark was above 50 percent of the maximum marks. At the same time, several reserved categories also had cut-offs close to or above 95 marks.
This tells aspirants something important: JKPSI preparation should be score-oriented rather than merely qualification-oriented.
Instead of asking, "How many marks are enough?", candidates should ask, "How can I consistently score well above the previous cut-off?"
That change in mindset can make a major difference in preparation.
How Many Marks Should You Target for JKPSI?
There is no guaranteed score for a future JKPSI recruitment because the final cut-off depends on the examination and selection conditions of that particular recruitment.
Still, using the previous cut-off as a benchmark, candidates can set an ambitious preparation target.
For example, OM candidates may consider 120+ marks as a strong practice target rather than preparing around 107–110. Candidates from reserved categories can similarly maintain a comfortable margin above their previous category cut-off.
The objective should not be to predict the exact future cut-off. The objective should be to make your own score strong enough that a moderate increase in the cut-off does not put your selection at risk.
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Previous Cut Off Is Not the Only Thing to Consider
Candidates should also remember that the JKPSI selection process is not simply about looking at one number on a website.
JKSSB has published selection-list and recruitment-related notices for the Sub-Inspector, Police (Home Department) recruitment, including selection-list updates and subsequent notices.
Therefore, candidates should always check official JKSSB notifications for the recruitment they are applying for instead of relying exclusively on old articles, YouTube videos or social-media posts.
The official JKSSB website has published the relevant Sub-Inspector selection-list information for the recruitment advertised under Notification No. 06 of 2021.
How to Prepare for the Next JKPSI Examination
If you are preparing for the next JKPSI recruitment, don't spend too much time trying to predict the exact cut-off months before the examination.
Instead, focus on improving your actual score.
Start with the complete syllabus and divide it into manageable sections. Give special attention to areas where you repeatedly make mistakes. Practice previous-year questions because they help you understand the type and level of questions expected.
Regular revision is equally important. Many candidates keep solving new questions but fail to revise questions they have already studied. That eventually leads to the same mistakes being repeated.
Mock tests can also be useful, but they should be used as a diagnostic tool rather than something that determines your confidence. If your score is low in one test, identify the weak areas, revise them and attempt another test.
Most importantly, work on accuracy. In a competitive examination, randomly attempting questions simply to increase the number of attempts can hurt your final score if negative marking applies.
Final Takeaway
The previous JKPSI category-wise cut-off gives aspirants a clear picture of the competition. The reported cut-offs were 107.91 for OM, 101.28 for ALC, 100.16 for RBA, 97.86 for PSP, 97.45 for OSC, 95.08 for SC, 89.93 for EWS and 88.00 for ST.
But don't make the mistake of treating these numbers as the expected cut-off for the next recruitment. The next JKPSI examination may have a different difficulty level, vacancy count and competition.
Use the previous cut-off as a benchmark, then set your own target considerably higher.
For serious JKPSI aspirants, the best strategy is simple: complete the syllabus, revise repeatedly, practice high-quality MCQs, solve previous-year questions, analyse mistakes and keep improving your score.
A candidate who prepares only to cross the cut-off is always under pressure. A candidate who prepares to score well above it enters the examination with much greater confidence.
Previous cut-off tells you where the competition was. Your preparation decides where you will stand next.







