NATA 2026 Safe Score for OBC and EWS Students: Phase 2 Admission Guide

A score of 110 or above out of 200 is considered safe for OBC students in NATA 2026 Phase 2, while EWS students are expected to need 115 or above to remain competitive for B.Arch admissions at government colleges.

NATA 2026 Phase 2 gives you a second opportunity to strengthen your B.Arch admission prospects. OBC (Other Backward Classes) and EWS (Economically Weaker Section) students benefit from reserved seats, but a strong score still matters. Understanding the safe score threshold for your category helps you target the right colleges and set realistic goals.

• NATA 2026 is out of 200 marks total, covering cognitive skills and drawing ability.
• OBC students (27% reservation at central institutions): 110–120 out of 200 is expected to be safe for most government colleges, based on 2025 trends.
• EWS students (10% reservation): 115–125 out of 200 is expected to be safe for government architecture colleges.
• For premier institutions such as SPAs and NITs, even OBC and EWS students may need 130 or above.
• Private colleges generally have lower cutoffs — scores of 90–105 may be sufficient for OBC and EWS admissions at many private institutions.

---

What is a Safe Score in NATA 2026 for OBC and EWS Students?

A safe score is the minimum marks that give you a reasonable chance of securing B.Arch admission at a good architecture college after accounting for reservation benefits. NATA 2026 is conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA) and is a mandatory qualifying test for B.Arch admissions at most institutions across India.

For OBC and EWS students, the safe score is lower than the General category threshold because reserved seats reduce direct competition. However, this gap narrows at highly competitive institutions such as Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) where overall application volume is high.

• A safe score does not guarantee a seat but places you in the competitive range for your category.
• Safe scores vary by institution type — premier colleges have higher thresholds than private colleges.
• If you appear in both Phase 1 and Phase 2, most colleges consider your best score across phases.
• NATA 2026 scores are valid only for the current admissions cycle.

---

NATA 2026 Category-wise Safe Score Table

The table below shows the expected safe score range for each category in NATA 2026, based on 2024–25 cutoff trends. Actual cutoffs depend on seat availability and applicant volume at individual colleges.

These figures are expected based on 2024–25 trends. Confirmed cutoffs are declared by individual colleges at the time of counselling.

---

NATA 2026 Phase 2 Expected Cutoff for OBC and EWS

Phase 2 cutoffs depend on the difficulty level of the exam, total number of applicants and available seats in each category. Based on previous year patterns, here are the expected cutoff ranges for OBC and EWS students across different institution types:

EWS cutoffs tend to be 5–8 marks higher than OBC cutoffs at most institutions, since EWS eligibility conditions are similar to the General category income criteria. These are expected estimates based on 2025 data.

---

How Reservation Helps OBC and EWS Students in NATA Admissions

Knowing your reservation entitlement helps you judge how competitive your NATA 2026 score actually is:

Important points for OBC and EWS students in NATA 2026:

• OBC-NCL certificate must be within the validity period and in the prescribed government format. Confirm with each college whether a fresh certificate for the current year is required.
• EWS certificate is typically required for the year of admission and must be issued by a competent authority such as a Tehsildar or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
• State universities and many private colleges follow state-level reservation norms that can differ from central government percentages.
• If your score crosses the General category cutoff at any college, you can secure an open seat — you are never restricted to using your reserved category.

---

Expected NATA 2026 Cutoffs at Top Colleges for OBC and EWS

The table below shows expected NATA 2026 cutoff ranges for OBC and EWS students at select architecture institutions. These are indicative estimates based on 2024–25 closing scores and will vary in the actual 2026 admission cycle.

Final cutoffs are announced by individual colleges after NATA 2026 results are published. Check the official admissions page of your target institution for confirmed category-wise data.

---

How NATA 2026 Score is Calculated

Knowing how your score is computed helps you assess whether you have reached the safe score benchmark for your category:

• NATA 2026 is a computer-based test totalling 200 marks, conducted by the Council of Architecture.
• The test covers cognitive skills (mathematics, general aptitude and logical reasoning) and drawing ability.
• There is no negative marking — every correct answer adds to your total without any penalty for wrong answers.
• If you sit for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, most colleges accept your best score across both phases — confirm this with each institution you apply to.
• CoA sets a minimum qualifying score each year; reserved categories including OBC and EWS typically have a lower qualifying threshold than the General category.

Strategy tip for OBC and EWS students: The drawing section carries significant weight. Scoring well in drawing can help you reach the safe score threshold even if your cognitive skills score is average.