GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for SC and ST: Minimum Score to Qualify

The expected GATE 2026 PSU cutoff for SC category starts from approximately 450–500 GATE Score (out of 1000) and for ST category from 400–460, varying by PSU and discipline.

GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati. Top Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such as BHEL, NTPC, IOCL, HPCL, GAIL, ONGC, and Power Grid shortlist students based on valid GATE scores. SC and ST students benefit from relaxed cutoffs — typically 10–20% lower than General category thresholds — making PSU recruitment through GATE a significant opportunity for students in reserved categories to land a government job.

• GATE papers carry a total of 100 marks; PSUs use the normalized GATE Score (out of 1000) for shortlisting, not raw marks.
• SC category students need a minimum GATE Score of approximately 450–550 (varies by PSU and discipline) based on 2025 trends.
• ST category students need a minimum GATE Score of approximately 400–500 to qualify for top PSU shortlists.
• GATE qualifying marks for SC/ST/PwD are set at two-thirds (2/3) of the General category qualifying marks for the same paper.
• GATE 2026 result was expected in March 2026; individual PSU shortlists are released after results are declared.

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GATE 2026 Qualifying Marks for SC and ST

Students must first clear the GATE qualifying cutoff set by IIT Guwahati to receive a GATE Score and Scorecard. For SC and ST students, the minimum qualifying marks are set at two-thirds of the General category cutoff for the same paper. The expected qualifying marks for GATE 2026 based on 2025 trends are given below:

Qualifying GATE alone does not guarantee a PSU call letter. Students must also meet each PSU’s individual GATE Score cutoff, which is significantly higher than the minimum qualifying marks.

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Expected GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for SC Category

PSU cutoffs for SC students are typically 10–15% lower than General category cutoffs. The table below lists expected GATE 2026 PSU cutoffs for SC category students across top PSUs, based on 2025 trends. All scores are out of 1000.

These figures are expected based on 2025 trends. Actual cutoffs will be announced by individual PSUs after GATE 2026 results are declared.

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Expected GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for ST Category

ST category students receive the maximum relaxation in PSU GATE cutoffs. Expected cutoffs for ST students are generally 15–20% lower than General category cutoffs, based on 2025 trends. All scores are out of 1000.

These figures are expected based on 2025 trends. Actual GATE 2026 PSU cutoffs for ST category will be announced by individual PSUs after GATE 2026 results.

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Factors Affecting GATE PSU Cutoff for SC and ST

The GATE PSU cutoff for SC and ST students is not fixed and changes every year. Key factors that influence these cutoffs include:

• Number of vacancies: Fewer vacancies mean higher competition and higher cutoffs even for reserved categories.
• Total applicants: A larger applicant pool raises competition and pushes cutoffs upward.
• GATE 2026 paper difficulty: A tougher paper generally leads to lower overall marks and lower absolute cutoffs.
• PSU reservation policy: Each PSU follows the government-mandated reservation matrix — SC (15%) and ST (7.5%) — which determines seats available per category.
• Score normalization: GATE 2026 is held over multiple sessions; normalization across sessions can shift the effective cutoff score.
• Previous year trends: PSUs typically revise cutoffs by ±5–10% from the prior year based on applicant quality and vacancy count.

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How is GATE Score Calculated for PSU Recruitment?

PSUs do not use raw GATE marks directly. They use the GATE Score — a normalized value on a scale of 0 to 1000 — calculated by IIT Guwahati using the formula below:

GATE Score = Sq + (St − Sq) × [(M − Mq) / (Mt − Mq)]

• M = marks obtained by the student (normalized marks for multi-session papers)
• Mq = qualifying marks for General category
• Mt = mean marks of top 0.1% students or top 10 students, whichever is larger
• Sq = 350 (score assigned to General category qualifying marks)
• St = 900 (score assigned to the mean of top performers)

A student scoring around 25–30 marks out of 100 in GATE receives a GATE Score close to 350. Top performers approach scores of 900–1000. For SC and ST students targeting top PSUs, aiming for a GATE Score of 450–550 or above is advisable based on current trends.