MAHE Manipal does not reserve seats under SC or ST quotas for MET 2026 — all B.Tech seats are filled on merit through MET rank — but SC and ST students receive a full tuition fee waiver and a 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is a private deemed university that admits students to B.Tech programs through MET 2026 on a merit basis. Unlike government-funded institutes, MAHE does not maintain statutory reservation for SC, ST, OBC or EWS categories. All students compete for the same seat pool based on their MET rank, derived from 50% MET score and 50% Class 12 marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. MAHE does provide meaningful support to SC and ST students through eligibility relaxation and a tuition fee waiver policy that covers full fees for eligible students.
- MAHE does not offer reservation seats for SC, ST or OBC categories in MET 2026 B.Tech admissions.
- SC and ST students get a 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks in Class 12 PCM (45% vs the general threshold of 50%).
- Full tuition fee waiver is available to SC, ST and PwD students for UG B.Tech programs at MAHE.
- SC and ST students can apply for Government of India Post-Matric Scholarships via the National Scholarship Portal.
- MIT Manipal CSE 2025 final-round closing rank was approximately 5,129 — SC and ST students must meet the same rank as all other students since no separate seat pool exists.
| Direct Link to MET 2026 Counselling Cutoff (Active on Counselling Day) counseling.manipal.edu |
Does MAHE Offer SC and ST Reservation in MET 2026?
No. MAHE, as a private deemed-to-be university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, is not mandated to follow the Government of India’s statutory reservation policy for SC, ST, OBC or EWS categories. All B.Tech seats at MIT Manipal, MIT Bengaluru, MUJ Jaipur and SMIT Sikkim are filled purely on the basis of MET rank.
This means SC and ST students do not have a separate seat pool or a relaxed closing rank. The cutoff rank for a specific branch and campus is the same for all students. MAHE does extend two important benefits to SC and ST students: relaxation in the eligibility threshold and a full tuition fee waiver, making admission financially accessible even at the general merit closing rank.
MET 2026 Expected Cutoff — Branch-wise Closing Ranks at MIT Manipal
Since MAHE does not publish separate SC/ST cutoffs, SC and ST students must target the same MET rank as general-category students. The table below shows 2025 closing ranks at MIT Manipal and expected 2026 ranges based on historical trends.
| Branch | MET 2025 R1 Closing Rank | MET 2025 Final Round Closing Rank | MET 2026 Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 3,479 | 5,129 | 4,800 – 5,500 |
| CSE (AI and Machine Learning) | ~4,500 | ~6,800 | 6,000 – 7,500 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | ~5,800 | ~8,200 | 7,500 – 9,000 |
| Information Technology (IT) | ~6,200 | ~9,500 | 8,500 – 10,500 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) | ~10,000 | ~16,000 | 14,000 – 18,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | ~14,000 | ~22,000 | 19,000 – 24,000 |
| Civil Engineering | ~26,000 | ~38,000 | 33,000 – 40,000 |
2025 figures marked with ~ are approximate based on available trend data. Expected 2026 ranks are based on 2025 trends and are subject to change based on exam difficulty and total applicants.
Benefits for SC and ST Students at MAHE in MET 2026
While MAHE does not reserve seats, SC and ST students receive concrete financial and academic benefits once admitted:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Tuition Fee Waiver | SC, ST and PwD students admitted to UG B.Tech programs at MAHE receive a complete waiver on tuition fees. |
| Eligibility Relaxation | SC and ST students need a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in Class 12 PCM, compared to 50% for general-category students. |
| Government Post-Matric Scholarship | Eligible SC and ST students can apply via the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) for central government financial support. |
| Merit-Based Fee Waiver (All Categories) | Students securing MET rank 1 to 100 receive a 100% tuition fee waiver regardless of category. |
How SC and ST Students Can Strengthen Their MET 2026 Application
Since MAHE does not offer a relaxed closing rank for SC and ST students, improving your MET score is the primary path to securing admission at your preferred branch and campus:
- Target a MET rank under 5,500 to secure CSE at MIT Manipal based on expected 2026 trends.
- For ECE or IT, aim for a rank between 7,500 and 10,500 for MIT Manipal based on 2025 data.
- Consider MIT Bengaluru, MUJ Jaipur or SMIT Sikkim for comparatively relaxed cutoffs — MIT Bengaluru CSE closed around rank 9,362 in MET 2025 Round 1.
- Apply for the Government Post-Matric Scholarship once admission is confirmed via the National Scholarship Portal.
- Carry your SC or ST caste certificate to counselling at counseling.manipal.edu to claim the tuition fee waiver.
Factors Affecting MET 2026 Cutoff
The closing rank for each branch in MET 2026 depends on multiple variables:
- Total applicants: A higher number of applicants pushes closing ranks upward for popular branches.
- Exam difficulty: A tougher MET paper leads to lower scores across the board, which can ease closing ranks slightly.
- Sanctioned seats: MAHE’s approved seat intake for each branch and campus directly determines how competitive the cutoff becomes.
- Branch popularity: CSE and AI-related branches attract the most applicants, keeping their cutoffs the highest across all campuses.
- Previous year trends: The 2024 and 2025 closing ranks remain the strongest reference point for estimating 2026 cutoffs.
MET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff FAQs
Ques. Does MAHE Manipal have reservation for SC and ST students in MET 2026?
Ans. No. MAHE is a private deemed university and does not follow statutory SC, ST, OBC or EWS reservation. All B.Tech seats are filled on merit through MET rank. SC and ST students do receive a full tuition fee waiver and a 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks.
Ques. What is the expected MET 2026 closing rank for CSE at MIT Manipal?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected MET 2026 closing rank for CSE at MIT Manipal is between 4,800 and 5,500 in the final counselling round. This applies to all students since MAHE does not maintain separate SC/ST cutoffs.
Ques. Do SC and ST students get a fee waiver at MIT Manipal?
Ans. Yes. SC, ST and PwD students admitted to UG B.Tech programs at MAHE are eligible for a full tuition fee waiver. Submit your SC or ST caste certificate during counselling at counseling.manipal.edu to avail this benefit.
Ques. What eligibility relaxation do SC and ST students get in MET 2026?
Ans. SC and ST students need a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12, compared to 50% for general-category students. This 5% relaxation applies only to the eligibility threshold and not to the closing rank for admission.
Ques. Can SC and ST students apply for government scholarships at MAHE Manipal?
Ans. Yes. SC and ST students at MAHE can apply for the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). This scholarship is separate from the MAHE tuition fee waiver and can be applied after securing admission.
Ques. What is the MET 2026 expected cutoff at MIT Bengaluru for SC and ST students?
Ans. MAHE does not publish separate SC/ST closing ranks. At MIT Bengaluru, the CSE closing rank was approximately 9,362 in Round 1 of MET 2025. SC and ST students should target a similar rank for MIT Bengaluru CSE in 2026 as MAHE applies the same cutoff to all students.
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