Odisha CPET 2026 EWS Category Expected Cutoff: Qualifying Marks and Rank

Odisha CPET 2026 expected EWS category cutoff is 35–52 marks out of 100, with qualifying ranks estimated between 100 and 700 depending on the subject, based on 2025 trends from SAMS Odisha.

The Odisha Combined Post Graduate Entrance Test (Odisha CPET) 2026 is conducted by SAMS Odisha for admission to PG programmes across state universities. Students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category benefit from a 10% horizontal reservation. The official EWS cutoff — comprising minimum qualifying marks and merit-based rank — is published after results are declared on the official SAMS portal. This article covers expected EWS cutoff marks by subject, previous-year trends, and the key factors that drive cutoff movement.

• Odisha CPET 2026 is a 100-mark exam with 100 objective-type MCQs worth 1 mark each.
• EWS students get 10% horizontal reservation across all PG seats in participating universities.
• Expected EWS qualifying marks: 35–52 out of 100 (varies by subject; based on 2025 trends).
• A valid EWS income and asset certificate from a competent authority is mandatory to claim this category.
• Official cutoff will be published at pg.samsodisha.gov.in after result declaration.

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What is EWS Cutoff in Odisha CPET 2026

The EWS (Economically Weaker Section) cutoff in Odisha CPET 2026 is the minimum qualifying score and the closing rank at which an EWS student can secure a PG seat in a state university. The Government of India introduced 10% EWS reservation in 2019 for students from the general category whose annual family income is below ?8 lakh and who do not hold significant agricultural land or residential property.

In Odisha CPET, EWS operates as a horizontal reservation — seats are carved out proportionally across all courses and universities. SAMS Odisha releases the category-wise cutoff after the merit list is prepared. You can check subject-wise and university-wise EWS cutoff ranks on the official portal once it is published.

• EWS annual family income ceiling: below ?8 lakh from all sources.
• Certificate must be issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) or another designated competent authority.
• EWS cutoff is typically equal to or marginally lower than the General category cutoff by 2–5 marks.

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Expected EWS Cutoff 2026 — Subject-wise

The subject-wise expected Odisha CPET 2026 EWS cutoff marks and qualifying ranks listed below are estimates based on 2025 trends. All figures are expected; the official cutoff will be declared by SAMS Odisha after results are out.

Science and professional subjects like M.Sc. Computer Science see the highest competition, resulting in higher expected cutoffs. Arts subjects generally have lower per-seat competition and a wider applicant spread.

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Previous Year EWS Cutoff Trends

Reviewing Odisha CPET EWS cutoffs from 2024 and 2025 helps you set a realistic score target. The EWS cutoff has historically risen by 1–2 marks annually across most subjects, closely tracking the General category trend.

Aiming for the upper end of the expected range gives you the strongest chance of securing a preferred subject and university in the first counselling round.

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Factors Affecting the EWS Cutoff

The Odisha CPET 2026 EWS cutoff is shaped by several variables. Understanding these helps you estimate where the cutoff might land this year.

• Total EWS applicants: More students applying under EWS pushes the cutoff higher for popular subjects.
• Number of EWS seats available: An increase in seat intake can bring the cutoff down; fewer seats raises it.
• Exam difficulty level: A harder paper reduces overall scores and pulls the cutoff down across all categories.
• Subject-wise demand: M.Sc. Computer Science, M.A. English, and M.Sc. Mathematics consistently attract more applicants, resulting in higher cutoffs.
• University preference: Premier state universities in Odisha draw more applications, creating higher university-specific cutoffs within the EWS category.
• Score normalisation: If SAMS Odisha applies a normalisation formula across multiple exam sessions, it can shift individual scores and hence the final cutoff.

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How to Check Odisha CPET Cutoff 2026

Once SAMS Odisha publishes the official Odisha CPET 2026 EWS cutoff, follow these steps to check it.

1. Visit the official SAMS portal at pg.samsodisha.gov.in.
2. Click on the Cutoff / Merit List link on the homepage.
3. Select your course and subject from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose EWS as your category and select your preferred university.
5. The cutoff rank and marks for EWS students will be displayed for each counselling round.
6. Compare your rank against the EWS cutoff rank to assess your eligibility for that institution.

Keep your Odisha CPET 2026 rank card and EWS certificate ready before checking the cutoff list. Students whose ranks are at or better than the EWS closing rank are eligible to participate in the counselling process.