FRI MSc 2026 Expected EWS Cutoff: Category-Wise Marks and Trends

The FRI MSc 2026 expected cutoff for the EWS category is projected to range between 80 and 110 marks out of 200, based on the university’s confirmed minimum qualifying threshold of 15% (30 out of 200) and the competitive merit-based selection pattern observed in previous years.

Forest Research Institute (FRI) University, Dehradun conducts a national-level written test for admission to its four MSc programs — Forestry, Wood Science and Technology, Environment Management, and Cellulose and Paper Technology. The official cutoff for all categories, including EWS, is declared after the result — expected around June 12, 2026 — and is determined strictly on merit within each category’s reserved seat pool. With only 10% of seats reserved for EWS students, knowing the expected score range is critical for planning your preparation and setting a target.

• Total exam marks: 200 (200 MCQs at 1 mark each; –0.25 for wrong answers)
• Minimum qualifying mark in written test: 15% (30 out of 200) for General and EWS students
• Expected competitive EWS cutoff: 80–110 out of 200 (40–55%), based on previous year trends
• EWS seats per program: approximately 4 seats in 40-seat programs; 2 seats in MSc Cellulose and Paper Technology (20 seats)
• A valid EWS certificate issued by a competent authority for the current financial year is mandatory to claim EWS reservation at admission

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What is FRI MSc EWS Cutoff 2026?

The FRI MSc EWS cutoff is the lowest score at which an EWS student secures admission to one of FRI University’s MSc programs in the 2026 admissions cycle. The university sets a baseline minimum qualifying mark of 15% in the written test — 30 out of 200 marks — for General and EWS students to remain eligible for the merit list. This threshold exists only to filter out non-serious attempts; it is not the actual admission bar.

The real competitive cutoff is determined by how all EWS applicants perform and how many EWS seats are available. Since EWS seats amount to roughly 10% of each program’s intake — approximately 4 seats in programs with 40 total seats — competition among EWS applicants is intense. Based on previous year performance patterns, the competitive cutoff for EWS students is expected to track within 5 to 10 marks of the General/UR expected cutoff, making it one of the tighter reserved-category thresholds at FRI.

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FRI MSc 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance

Interpreting cutoff scores correctly requires knowing the total marks and marking scheme. The key parameters for FRI MSc 2026 are confirmed below.

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FRI MSc 2026 Expected Category-Wise Cutoff

The table below presents the FRI MSc 2026 expected category-wise competitive cutoff across all reservation groups. These are estimated ranges based on historical applicant performance and seat intake. All figures are indicative; the official cutoff will be released with the 2026 result.

The EWS expected competitive cutoff sits close to the General/UR range because EWS students must first clear the same academic eligibility as General students — 50% marks at the BSc level — and then compete within a separate but very small EWS seat pool. Students targeting EWS admission should aim for a score above 100 out of 200 (50%) for a safe standing across most programs.

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FRI MSc 2026 Expected EWS Cutoff by Program

FRI University offers four MSc programs with different total seat intakes. The EWS expected cutoff varies by program depending on the number of seats and the applicant pool for that specialization. The table below shows expected EWS cutoff for each program in 2026, based on previous year trends.

MSc Cellulose and Paper Technology has the fewest seats overall (20) and the fewest EWS seats (approximately 2), making it the most competitive program for EWS students. Students applying to this program should target the higher end of the expected range. MSc Wood Science and Technology has historically been more accessible, with lower score thresholds across all categories. MSc Forestry typically attracts the highest number of applicants, which can push the cutoff up even within the EWS quota.

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Factors Affecting FRI MSc 2026 Cutoff

The FRI MSc 2026 cutoff — for EWS and all other categories — shifts year to year based on the following variables:

• Number of EWS applicants: More students competing for approximately 2–4 EWS seats per program directly raises the minimum score needed for selection.
• Exam difficulty: A harder paper lowers the score distribution and pulls the cutoff down; an easier paper raises it. With negative marking at –0.25 per wrong answer, over-attempting can hurt scores across all categories.
• Seat intake: EWS seats are fixed at 10% of total intake. Any expansion or reduction in overall program seats proportionally changes the EWS seat count and therefore the cutoff.
• Score clustering: When many EWS students score in a narrow band, a difference of just 1–2 marks can determine selection or rejection — making the last few correct answers in the exam highly valuable.
• No cross-category interchangeability for EWS: Unlike SC and ST seats (which are interchangeable with each other at FRI), EWS seats are not interchangeable with General or other categories. Unfilled EWS seats are handled per the university’s admission committee decisions.

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EWS Eligibility and Certificate Requirements

To claim admission under the EWS category at FRI University, you must satisfy all of the criteria listed below. The EWS certificate must be produced and verified at the time of document verification during counselling.

Failure to produce a valid EWS certificate at the time of admission will result in cancellation of EWS reservation benefits. In such cases, your score would be evaluated against the General/UR competitive cutoff — which is higher — and admission may not be possible if you scored below that threshold.