Based on CCMT 2026 Round 3 data released on June 27 and 2025 counselling trends, ST category students can expect closing GATE scores of 340 to 510 for CSE M.Tech at top NITs and 200 to 420 for ECE and Electrical branches.
CCMT 2026 (Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan) counselling is actively underway, with Round 3 seat allotment published on June 27, 2026, at ccmt.admissions.nic.in. Closing scores for Scheduled Tribe students are lower than General and OBC-NCL categories because ST seats are reserved exclusively for ST applicants and the qualifying GATE score threshold for this category is lower. The figures in this article are expected final closing scores based on available 2025 data and 2026 Round 3 trends; official final scores will be confirmed after all rounds including the spot round conclude.
- CCMT 2026 Round 3 results are out as of June 27, 2026; final closing scores will be updated after the spot round.
- ST category CSE M.Tech at NIT Trichy is expected to close near a GATE score of 508, the highest among NITs for this branch.
- For Mechanical and Civil Engineering branches, ST category closing scores at many NITs are expected to fall below 300.
- All data below is expected and based on 2025 CCMT final round closing scores and 2026 Round 3 trends.
| Direct Link to CCMT 2026 Official Portal (ACTIVE) | ccmt.admissions.nic.in |
What Is CCMT ST Category Closing Score?
The CCMT closing score for a category is the lowest GATE score of any student allotted a seat in a specific M.Tech branch at a specific NIT during a given counselling round. For ST category, this score is the last Scheduled Tribe student admitted to that program in that round. GATE scores used by CCMT are normalised scores on a 0 to 1000 scale, not raw GATE marks out of 100. A closing GATE score of 400 means the normalised score, not marks in the paper.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Counselling Body | CCMT (National Coordination Network) |
| Admission Basis | GATE 2026 Normalised Score (0 to 1000 scale) |
| Category Covered | Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
| CCMT 2026 Round 3 Result Date | June 27, 2026 |
| Expected ST Score Range — CSE (top NITs) | 340 to 510 (based on 2025 trends) |
| Expected ST Score Range — ECE (top NITs) | 275 to 420 (based on 2025 trends) |
| Expected ST Score Range — ME and Civil (top NITs) | 160 to 300 (based on 2025 trends) |
| Official Portal | ccmt.admissions.nic.in |
CCMT 2025 ST Category Closing Scores at Top NITs
The table below lists the expected CCMT 2026 closing GATE scores for ST category at top NITs, modelled on 2025 CCMT final round closing data and available 2026 Round 3 figures. Official 2026 final scores will be published after all rounds conclude on ccmt.admissions.nic.in.
| NIT | M.Tech Branch | ST Closing GATE Score (2025 / Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | Computer Science and Engineering | 508 |
| NIT Trichy | VLSI Design | 416 |
| NIT Trichy | Mechanical Engineering | 290 |
| NIT Trichy | Civil Engineering | 228 |
| NIT Warangal | Computer Science and Engineering | 465 |
| NIT Warangal | Electronics and Communication Engg | 382 |
| NIT Warangal | Electrical Engineering | 322 |
| NIT Warangal | Mechanical Engineering | 267 |
| NIT Surathkal | Computer Science and Engineering | 452 |
| NIT Surathkal | VLSI Design | 416 |
| NIT Surathkal | Electronics and Communication Engg | 358 |
| NIT Surathkal | Mechanical Engineering | 248 |
| NIT Calicut | Computer Science and Engineering | 398 |
| NIT Calicut | Electronics and Communication Engg | 335 |
| NIT Calicut | Civil Engineering | 218 |
| NIT Rourkela | Computer Science and Engineering | 398 |
| NIT Rourkela | Electronics and Communication Engg | 318 |
| NIT Rourkela | Mechanical Engineering | 242 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | Computer Science and Engineering | 375 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | Electronics and Communication Engg | 308 |
| MNIT Jaipur | Computer Science and Engineering | 355 |
| MNIT Jaipur | Electronics and Communication Engg | 290 |
| NIT Durgapur | Computer Science and Engineering | 340 |
| NIT Durgapur | Electronics and Communication Engg | 275 |
Branch-Wise Expected ST Category Closing Score at NITs
ST category closing scores differ substantially across M.Tech disciplines. The table below shows the expected CCMT 2026 branch-wise closing GATE score range for ST students across NITs, based on 2025 closing data.
| M.Tech Branch | Expected ST Closing Score Range (Across NITs) | Demand Trend (vs 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 280 to 510 | High; closing scores may rise marginally at top NITs |
| Electronics and Communication Engg (ECE / VLSI) | 240 to 420 | Moderate to high; broadly stable |
| Electrical Engineering (EE / Power Systems) | 200 to 360 | Moderate; marginal increase expected |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME / Thermal / Manufacturing) | 180 to 300 | Stable; no significant change expected |
| Civil Engineering (CE / Structural / Geo-tech) | 160 to 265 | Stable to slight decline due to limited ST applicants |
| Chemical Engineering | 155 to 245 | Stable |
| Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering | 140 to 230 | Stable; limited seats at select NITs |
Factors Affecting CCMT 2026 ST Category Cutoff
Several variables will determine where CCMT 2026 final closing scores for ST category land after all rounds. Understanding these factors helps you estimate your admission chances before results are published.
- Total ST applicants with valid GATE 2026 scores: A larger pool of qualified ST students in a GATE paper raises competition and pushes closing scores upward for that discipline.
- ST seat matrix per branch and NIT: Each NIT fixes the number of ST reserved seats per program. Any reduction in seats directly raises the effective closing score for that branch.
- GATE 2026 difficulty and normalisation: An easier paper shifts more students into higher score bands, increasing competition for top NIT CSE and ECE programs.
- Round-wise seat movement and upgrades: Students accepting better-preference seats vacate lower-preference allotments. This can cause closing scores to drop in Round 3 or the spot round for some programs.
- Institute placement and reputation: NITs with stronger M.Tech placement records attract more first-preference choices from ST students, keeping their closing scores higher than comparably ranked peers.
- New or expanded M.Tech programs: Additional ST seats introduced in the 2026 seat matrix absorb more students and may ease pressure, slightly lowering cutoffs in those specific branches.
CCMT 2026 ST Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What GATE score does an ST category student need for CSE M.Tech at NIT Trichy through CCMT 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 CCMT data and available 2026 Round 3 trends, the expected final closing GATE score for ST category in CSE M.Tech at NIT Trichy is around 508. Students with a GATE score at or above this figure have a strong chance across counselling rounds. The official final closing score will be published after all CCMT 2026 rounds conclude at ccmt.admissions.nic.in.
Ques. Can an ST category student with a GATE score of 350 get CSE M.Tech at an NIT through CCMT 2026?
Ans. Yes, a GATE score of 350 for ST category is expected to be sufficient for CSE M.Tech at mid-tier NITs such as NIT Durgapur, MNIT Jaipur, or NIT Kurukshetra in later counselling rounds, based on 2025 trends. Top NITs like NIT Trichy and NIT Warangal typically need ST GATE scores above 450 for CSE. These are expected figures and actual 2026 cutoffs may vary.
Ques. Where can I check official CCMT 2026 round-wise closing scores for ST category?
Ans. The official CCMT portal at ccmt.admissions.nic.in publishes opening and closing scores after each counselling round. Go to the opening and closing scores section on the portal, then filter by institute, program, and category (ST) to see branch-wise data for each round. Round 3 scores were published on June 27, 2026.
Ques. Why are CCMT closing scores lower for ST category compared to General category?
Ans. ST seats are reserved exclusively for Scheduled Tribe students under Government of India reservation policy. Because only ST applicants compete for these seats and the total number of ST students with high GATE scores is smaller than the General pool, the closing score for ST reserved seats is typically lower than the General category closing score for the same branch and NIT.
Ques. Do CCMT closing scores for ST category drop in later counselling rounds?
Ans. Closing scores can fluctuate across rounds. For high-demand programs such as CSE at top NITs, ST closing scores tend to remain close to Round 1 levels throughout. For less popular branches or lower-ranked NITs, scores sometimes drop in Round 3 or the spot round if seats remain unfilled after earlier rounds.
Ques. What is the minimum GATE score for ST category students to register for CCMT 2026?
Ans. The minimum qualifying GATE score for ST category students to register for CCMT 2026 is published in the official CCMT 2026 information brochure at ccmt.admissions.nic.in. Typically, ST students need to achieve at least one-third of the General category qualifying marks in their respective GATE paper, which translates to a GATE score substantially below the General category threshold. Check the official brochure for the exact 2026 figure for your paper.
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