FRI MSc 2026 Expected OBC Cutoff: Category-Wise Qualifying Marks

The FRI MSc 2026 expected cutoff for OBC students is estimated to be between 120 and 140 out of 200 marks, based on previous year entrance exam trends.

Forest Research Institute (Deemed University), Dehradun conducted the FRI MSc 2026 entrance exam on May 3, 2026. The university offers MSc programs in Forestry, Environment, Wood Science and Technology, and Cellulose and Paper Technology. As per central government reservation norms, 27% of seats in each program are reserved for OBC students, and a separate merit list is prepared for each category. FRI does not officially publish category-wise cutoff marks; all figures in this article are expected estimates based on 2024–25 admission trends.

• FRI MSc 2026 entrance exam total marks: 200
• OBC seat reservation: 27% of total seats in each MSc program
• Expected OBC cutoff range (2026): 120–140 out of 200 marks
• Separate merit lists are prepared for OBC, SC, and ST students, course-wise
• Minimum BSc eligibility for OBC students: 45% aggregate (5% relaxation over General category)
• FRI MSc 2026 results are expected in June–July 2026; counselling follows in July

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FRI MSc 2026 Expected OBC Cutoff: Program-Wise

The table below presents the expected FRI MSc 2026 cutoff for OBC students, broken down by MSc program. These are estimated figures based on 2024–25 entrance exam analysis since FRI does not officially release category-wise cutoff marks after each cycle.

OBC students who score 125 or above out of 200 in the FRI MSc 2026 entrance exam are well-positioned for the Forestry and Environment programs, based on expected 2026 trends.

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FRI MSc 2026 Category-Wise Expected Cutoff Comparison

FRI maintains a separate merit list for each reserved category. The table below compares the expected cutoffs across all categories for FRI MSc 2026, helping OBC students understand how their target score stacks up against the broader admission landscape.

All figures are expected estimates based on 2024–25 admission trends. Official qualifying marks will be published on the FRI website after the 2026 result is declared.

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FRI MSc OBC Cutoff Trend: Previous Years vs 2026 Expected

Tracking year-on-year OBC cutoff movement helps students calibrate their target score. The exam returned to OMR pen-and-paper format in 2025 after a computer-based testing phase (2020–2024), which can influence how scores cluster and where the cutoff settles.

FRI does not officially publish year-wise category cutoffs. The figures above are compiled from previous-year admission patterns and entrance exam analysis reports.

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Factors Affecting FRI MSc 2026 Cutoff for OBC Students

The OBC cutoff is not a fixed figure — it shifts each year based on several variables. Understanding these helps you assess whether your score is likely to cross the threshold:

• Number of OBC applicants: A larger pool of OBC test-takers competing for approximately 27% of seats raises the qualifying threshold for that category.
• Paper difficulty: A harder paper brings the cutoff down; an easier paper pushes it higher. The FRI MSc 2026 exam was held on May 3, 2026 in OMR mode.
• Program-wise seat intake: Programs with fewer total seats — such as Cellulose and Paper Technology with only 20 seats — are more competitive, and OBC cutoffs there can be tighter.
• Score distribution among OBC test-takers: If scores cluster heavily in the 110–130 range, the cutoff is pulled upward within that band.
• Exam format: The shift back to OMR from CBT affects how students perform and where scores fall relative to previous CBT-era cutoffs.
• Negative marking: The 0.25-mark deduction per wrong answer can significantly shift effective scores for students near the cutoff zone.

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How FRI MSc Cutoff is Determined for OBC Students

Understanding the cutoff mechanism helps you correctly interpret your score after the FRI MSc 2026 result is declared:

• FRI prepares separate merit lists for OBC, SC, and ST students, independent of the General merit list, for each MSc program.
• Students are ranked within their category based on marks scored in the 200-mark entrance test.
• The cutoff is effectively the score of the last admitted student once all OBC seats in a program are filled.
• A waiting list is also prepared for each category; students on this list are offered seats if confirmed students withdraw before counselling closes.
• Scoring: +1 mark for each correct answer, ?0.25 mark for each wrong answer; no penalty for unattempted questions.

OBC students targeting MSc Forestry or Environment should aim for at least 125 out of 200 to stay comfortably above the expected OBC cutoff for 2026, based on previous year trends.

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