FRI MSc 2026 Expected SC Cutoff: Reserved Category Qualifying Marks

The FRI MSc 2026 expected cutoff for SC students is estimated at 80–90 marks out of 200, based on reservation norms and the 15% seats reserved for Scheduled Caste students across all MSc programs at FRI Deemed University, Dehradun.

Forest Research Institute (FRI) Deemed University conducts an OMR-based entrance exam of 200 marks for admission to four MSc programs. SC students are eligible with 45% marks in their undergraduate degree — compared to 50% for General — and a proportional relaxation applies to the competitive cutoff in the entrance exam as well. The official FRI MSc 2026 SC cutoff will be published as a category-wise merit list on fridu.edu.in after results are declared.

• FRI MSc 2026 entrance exam has 200 MCQs worth 200 marks with negative marking of –0.25 per wrong answer.
• SC students need a minimum of 45% marks in their UG degree (relevant science stream) to be eligible to apply.
• The expected entrance exam qualifying score for SC students is around 80–90 marks out of 200 — based on reservation norms and general trends.
• Programs offered: MSc Forestry, Environment Management, Wood Science and Technology, and Cellulose and Paper Technology.
• SC students have 15% of total seats reserved — approximately 6–7 seats per 43-seat program and ~4 seats in the 26-seat program.
• All cutoff figures in this article are expected and based on reservation norms and general exam trends — the official 2026 cutoff will be released only after FRI MSc results.

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FRI MSc 2026 SC Category Cutoff: What to Expect

The FRI MSc cutoff for SC students is the minimum score in the entrance exam required to be shortlisted on the reserved category merit list. FRI Deemed University follows the Government of India reservation policy, which extends relaxed qualifying criteria to SC, ST, and OBC students. For SC students, this translates to a lower minimum UG degree requirement (45%) and a proportionally lower competitive threshold in the entrance exam compared to the General category.

The FRI MSc entrance exam carries 200 marks with 200 MCQs and a –0.25 negative marking per wrong answer. Based on this exam structure and reservation norms, the FRI MSc 2026 SC cutoff is expected to fall in the range of 80–90 marks out of 200. SC students who score in or above this range will be ranked on a separate SC merit list for seat allotment into their preferred program.

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FRI MSc 2026 Category-wise Expected Cutoff

The table below presents estimated cutoff ranges for each reservation category, based on FRI University’s reservation structure, UG eligibility norms, and general entrance exam performance trends. All figures are expected estimates — official cutoffs are published only after the merit list is released.

All figures are indicative and based on reservation policies and general exam trends. The official 2026 cutoff will be confirmed via the FRI University merit list on fridu.edu.in.

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Program-wise Expected SC Cutoff for FRI MSc 2026

FRI Deemed University offers four MSc programs with different seat intakes. The competitive pressure within the SC category can vary slightly by program depending on applicant demand. The estimates below are based on seat distribution and general preference trends — actual program-wise cutoffs will be published in the official merit list.

SC seat counts reflect 15% reservation of total intake. Cutoffs are expected estimates — official program-wise merit lists are published after counselling.

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SC Reserved Seats in FRI MSc 2026

As per the Government of India reservation policy, FRI Deemed University reserves 15% of total seats for SC students in each MSc program. With a combined intake of approximately 155 seats across four programs, roughly 23–24 seats are available for SC students in FRI MSc 2026.

• MSc Forestry: ~6–7 SC seats out of 43 total
• MSc Environment Management: ~6–7 SC seats out of 43 total
• MSc Wood Science and Technology: ~6–7 SC seats out of 43 total
• MSc Cellulose and Paper Technology: ~4 SC seats out of 26 total

Because the SC seat pool is limited, competition within the category can be meaningful. Scoring well above the minimum qualifying threshold significantly improves your chances of securing a seat in your preferred program through the SC merit list.

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Factors Affecting FRI MSc 2026 SC Category Cutoff

Several variables determine where the SC cutoff lands each year. Understanding these helps you set a realistic target score.

• Number of SC applicants: A larger pool of SC test-takers competing for the same reserved seats pushes the category cutoff upward.
• Overall exam difficulty: A harder paper reduces average scores across all categories. The FRI MSc entrance exam reverted to OMR mode in 2025, which may affect score distributions compared to earlier CBT-format years.
• Negative marking impact: The –0.25 penalty per wrong answer discourages guessing and tends to widen the performance gap between well-prepared and under-prepared students.
• Demand across programs: High-demand programs like MSc Forestry may see tighter SC cutoffs than programs with relatively lower applicant volume.
• Seats unfilled in previous cycle: If SC seats went unfilled in 2024–25 for any program, FRI may adjust outreach or intake, indirectly affecting 2026 cutoff dynamics.

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How to Check FRI MSc 2026 Cutoff and SC Merit List

Once FRI University publishes the 2026 entrance results, you can access the category-wise merit list and cutoff by following these steps:

1. Visit the official FRI Deemed University website at fridu.edu.in.
2. Navigate to the Admissions section from the homepage menu.
3. Look for the notification titled MSc 2026 Merit List or FRI MSc 2026 Result and Cutoff.
4. Download the PDF merit list for the SC category.
5. Search for your roll number to confirm your rank and shortlisting status for counselling.

Keep your entrance exam admit card and application number handy. The official cutoff and merit list are only valid as published on fridu.edu.in — no other source carries authoritative figures.