The GATE cutoff 2026 is the minimum score you need to clear the exam. A qualified score keeps you eligible for M.Tech admission, PSU jobs and PhD seats. IIT Guwahati released the official qualifying cutoff on March 28, 2026. The result had come earlier, on March 19, 2026. For Computer Science, the General-category qualifying mark is 30. Many public sector companies now want a GATE score above 700 for shortlisting.
IIT Guwahati declared the official GATE 2026 qualifying marks on March 28, 2026, paper-wise at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
Here are quick answers to the most searched questions about the cutoff this year.
- For CSE, the GATE 2026 qualifying mark is 30 (General), 27 (OBC-NCL and EWS) and 20 (SC, ST, PwD).
- For a top IIT CSE M.Tech seat, you need a GATE 2026 score above 800 based on previous counselling trends.
- Top PSUs like IOCL, NTPC and ONGC usually shortlist students with a GATE score above 700.
- The qualifying cutoff only clears the exam. Admission and PSU cutoffs sit much higher.
- Your GATE 2026 score stays valid for three years, till March 2029.
- Reserved-category cutoffs are lower. OBC-NCL and EWS get 0.9 times the General mark, and SC, ST and PwD get two-thirds of it.
Key Summary
- IIT Guwahati released the GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff on March 28, 2026, paper-wise and category-wise.
- The CSE General cutoff moved from 29.2 in 2025 to 30 in 2026.
- The qualifying cutoff lets you clear the exam. Admission to IITs and NITs needs a far higher score.
- PSUs such as IOCL, NTPC, ONGC and GAIL are releasing GATE 2026 score-based recruitment notifications through 2026.
- For top IIT CSE M.Tech seats, target a score above 800. For PSU shortlisting, aim for 700 and above.
What is the GATE Cutoff 2026?
The GATE cutoff 2026 is the minimum mark set for each paper and category. You must score at or above it to qualify the exam. IIT Guwahati decides this number after the exam. It is based on how students performed that year. Once you cross it, your name enters the merit list with a valid GATE score and rank.
The cutoff changes every year. It depends on the number of students, the paper difficulty and the seats or jobs on offer. For most papers, the General cutoff sits between 25 and 35 marks out of 100.
Previous Year Official GATE Cutoff
The table below shows the official qualifying marks for Computer Science (CS) over the last five years. It is the most chosen paper, so it works as a clear reference. The marks are out of 100.
| Year | General | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC / ST / PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30.0 | 27.0 | 20.0 |
| 2025 | 29.2 | 26.3 | 19.5 |
| 2024 | 27.6 | 24.8 | 18.4 |
| 2023 | 32.5 | 29.2 | 21.6 |
| 2022 | 25.0 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
Source: GATE 2026 Official Cut-off, IIT Guwahati
The CS General mark has stayed in a tight band. It peaked at 32.5 in 2023, dropped to 27.6 in 2024, and now reads 30 in 2026. So the five-year swing is only about 7 marks. The reserved-category marks track the General mark closely each year.
Ques. Will the GATE cutoff increase in 2026 compared to last year?
Ans. Yes, slightly. The CS General mark rose from 29.2 in 2025 to 30 in 2026, a rise of less than 1 mark. Other papers showed similar small shifts. The cutoff has not jumped sharply this year.
Ques. Is the official GATE cutoff the same as the college admission cutoff?
Ans. No. The official number is only the qualifying mark to clear the exam. College admission and PSU jobs use a much higher GATE score, which we explain below.
GATE 2026 Cutoff: Important Dates
The cutoff timeline runs from the exam in February to counselling and PSU recruitment later in the year. The table lists the upcoming dates first, then the events that are already over.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| COAP 2026 counselling rounds (IITs and IISc) | June – July 2026 | Ongoing |
| CCMT 2026 registration (NITs, IIITs and GFTIs) | Expected June 2026 | Upcoming |
| PSU recruitment notifications via GATE 2026 | Till December 2026 | Ongoing |
| GATE 2026 score validity ends | March 2029 | Upcoming |
| GATE 2026 exam | Feb 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2026 | Over |
| GATE 2026 result declared | March 19, 2026 | Over |
| GATE 2026 scorecard download window | March 27 – May 31, 2026 | Over |
| GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff released | March 28, 2026 | Over |
The qualifying cutoff is already out. The admission and PSU numbers keep updating as counselling and recruitment move ahead through 2026.
Factors Affecting the Cutoff
The cutoff is not a fixed number. IIT Guwahati sets it fresh each year based on real exam data. Here are the main factors that decide it.
- Number of students: More students in a paper usually push the cutoff higher. CS and Mechanical draw the largest crowds every year.
- Paper difficulty: An easy paper lifts scores, so the cutoff rises. A tough paper pulls it down.
- Category: General has the highest cutoff. OBC-NCL and EWS get 0.9 times that mark. SC, ST and PwD get two-thirds of it.
- Normalisation: Some papers run in two sessions. IIT Guwahati normalises the marks to keep both sessions fair. This shifts the final cutoff.
- Seats and vacancies: For admission and PSU numbers, fewer seats mean a higher score is needed.
- Past trends: The cutoff rarely moves more than a few marks from the previous year for the same paper.
GATE 2026 Category-Wise Qualifying Marks
IIT Guwahati releases the cutoff paper-wise and category-wise. The table below lists the official 2026 qualifying marks for the five most chosen papers. All marks are out of 100.
| Paper | General | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC / ST / PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science (CS) | 30.0 | 27.0 | 20.0 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | 25.8 | 19.1 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | 24.9 | 18.4 |
| Electronics & Communication (EC) | 26.4 | 23.7 | 17.5 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | 22.6 | 16.7 |
Source: GATE 2026 Official Cut-off, IIT Guwahati
Computer Science holds the highest mark at 30 for General. Mechanical sits lowest among these five at 25.2 marks. The gap between General and SC, ST or PwD is about 10 marks for most papers.
GATE Qualifying Marks vs Admission Cutoff
Many students mix up these two numbers. They are very different, so read this part carefully.
The qualifying cutoff is the mark you need to clear the exam. For CS General, it is just 30 out of 100. Once you cross it, you get a valid GATE score and an All India Rank.
The admission cutoff is the GATE score the colleges actually ask for. Top IITs want a score above 800 for CSE M.Tech. PSUs want a score above 700 for shortlisting. So clearing the exam is only the first step. A high score is what gets you a seat or a job.
Qualifying the GATE exam does not promise admission or a PSU job. The real fight is for a high GATE score, not just the qualifying mark.
GATE PSU Cutoff 2026
Many public sector companies hire engineers through your GATE score instead of a separate exam. After the result on March 19, PSUs began releasing GATE 2026 score-based recruitment notifications. Each notification lists the eligible papers and a shortlisting rule.
The final PSU number depends on vacancies, applicants and category. PSUs announce the exact closing scores only after their own shortlisting ends. So the scores below are expected bands based on previous years’ recruitment trends. Treat them as a guide, not confirmed GATE 2026 closing scores.
| Discipline | Expected General Cutoff (GATE Score) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science / IT | 750 – 850 |
| Electrical Engineering | 720 – 820 |
| Electronics & Communication | 700 – 800 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 700 – 800 |
| Chemical Engineering | 700 – 800 |
| Civil Engineering | 650 – 760 |
| Instrumentation | 650 – 750 |
The next table shows expected bands for some of the big recruiting PSUs. These are for General-category candidates. Reserved categories get lower scores at each PSU.
| PSU | Expected General Cutoff (GATE Score) |
|---|---|
| ONGC | 750 – 850 |
| GAIL | 750 – 850 |
| IOCL | 720 – 820 |
| NTPC | 700 – 780 |
| POWERGRID (PGCIL) | 700 – 780 |
| BHEL | 650 – 750 |
| NPCIL | 650 – 750 |
Maharatna PSUs like ONGC, GAIL and IOCL sit at the top of the band. They offer few seats, so they pull a high score. Mid-tier recruiters like BHEL and NPCIL stay a little lower. Keep checking each PSU career page for the live GATE 2026 notification.
Ques. What GATE 2026 score do I need for a PSU job?
Ans. Aim for a GATE score above 700 for most PSUs. For top recruiters like ONGC and GAIL, target above 750. Reserved-category students can get shortlisted at lower scores.
Ques. Have PSUs released the final GATE 2026 cutoff scores yet?
Ans. Not yet. PSUs are releasing recruitment notifications now. The final shortlisting scores come after each company finishes its selection. The numbers above are expected bands from past trends.
GATE 2026 Cutoff for Top M.Tech Colleges
For M.Tech admission, the GATE cutoff means the closing GATE score at each institute. IITs and IISc admit through COAP. NITs, IIITs and GFTIs admit through CCMT. The table shows expected CSE closing scores for General students, based on previous counselling trends.
| Institute | Expected CSE Closing Score (General) |
|---|---|
| IISc Bangalore | 870 – 920 |
| IIT Bombay | 820 – 870 |
| IIT Delhi | 800 – 860 |
| IIT Madras | 790 – 850 |
| IIT Kanpur | 760 – 830 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 730 – 800 |
| NIT Trichy | 650 – 720 |
| NIT Surathkal | 640 – 710 |
IISc and the older IITs sit at the top. They want a score close to 850 or more for CSE. The NITs stay lower and admit around 650 to 720. The exact GATE 2026 closing scores come out once COAP and CCMT rounds finish.
GATE Previous Year Cutoff Trends
Looking at past data helps you read the 2026 numbers better. The table below tracks the CS General qualifying mark over five years, with the year-on-year shift in raw marks.
| Year | CS General Cutoff | Shift From Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30.0 | Up by 0.8 marks |
| 2025 | 29.2 | Up by 1.6 marks |
| 2024 | 27.6 | Down by 4.9 marks |
| 2023 | 32.5 | Up by 7.5 marks |
| 2022 | 25.0 | Reference year |
Source: GATE 2026 Official Cut-off, IIT Guwahati
The big spike came in 2023, when the mark jumped 7.5 points to 32.5. That year the paper was seen as easier. The number then settled back near 28 to 30 over the next three years. So the recent trend is steady, with only small moves each year.
Ques. Why did the GATE CS cutoff fall in 2024?
Ans. The 2024 CS paper was tougher than 2023, so scores dropped across the board. The mark fell by about 4.9 points, from 32.5 to 27.6. A harder paper almost always pulls the number down.
GATE 2026 Marks vs Rank
Your raw marks out of 100 become a GATE score out of 1000 after normalisation. That score then gives you an All India Rank. The table links marks, score and rank for CS, based on previous-year patterns.
| Marks (out of 100) | GATE Score (out of 1000) | Expected AIR (CS) |
|---|---|---|
| 85 and above | 980 and above | Under 20 |
| 75 – 85 | 900 – 980 | 20 – 150 |
| 65 – 75 | 830 – 900 | 150 – 600 |
| 55 – 65 | 760 – 830 | 600 – 1,500 |
| 45 – 55 | 680 – 760 | 1,500 – 4,000 |
| 35 – 45 | 600 – 680 | 4,000 – 10,000 |
| 30 – 35 | 550 – 600 | 10,000 – 20,000 |
The link between marks and rank shifts a little each year. It moves with the paper difficulty and the number of students. Use this table as a rough guide while you plan your applications.
GATE 2026 Counselling Process
Clearing the qualifying cutoff is just the start. To use your score for M.Tech admission, you must join the right counselling. Two main portals handle this.
- COAP: The Common Offer Acceptance Portal handles admission to IITs and IISc. You get offers round by round and accept the best one.
- CCMT: The Centralised Counselling for M.Tech admission covers NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. You register, fill choices and get seats by score and category.
Some IITs and many PSUs also run their own separate shortlisting. So check the website of each institute and company. COAP and CCMT rounds for 2026 are running through June and July.
How to Check the GATE 2026 Cutoff
You can check the official GATE cutoff in a few simple steps. The data is free and needs no login.
- Open the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
- Click the link for the cut-off marks page.
- Find your paper in the list of all GATE papers.
- Check the qualifying mark for your category.
- Match it with your scorecard to confirm you have qualified.
For admission and PSU numbers, visit the COAP, CCMT and PSU career pages. Those scores update as each round and notification comes out.
Ques. How long is the GATE 2026 score valid?
Ans. The GATE 2026 score is valid for three years from the result date. So you can use it for admissions and PSU jobs till March 2029.
GATE 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the GATE 2026 cutoff for CSE?
Ans. The CS qualifying mark is 30 for General, 27 for OBC-NCL and EWS, and 20 for SC, ST and PwD. IIT Guwahati released these marks on March 28, 2026.
Ques. When was the GATE 2026 cutoff released?
Ans. IIT Guwahati released the official qualifying cutoff on March 28, 2026. This came soon after the result, declared on March 19, 2026.
Ques. Who decides the GATE cutoff?
Ans. The organising institute decides it. For 2026, that is IIT Guwahati. It sets the number after the exam, based on student performance and paper difficulty.
Ques. What is a good GATE score for IITs?
Ans. For top IIT CSE M.Tech seats, a GATE score above 800 is safe. Older IITs like Bombay and Delhi often close CSE near 850 for General students.
Ques. What GATE score do PSUs need in 2026?
Ans. Most PSUs shortlist students with a GATE score above 700. Top recruiters like ONGC and GAIL want above 750. These numbers come from previous recruitment trends.
Ques. Is the qualifying cutoff different from the admission cutoff?
Ans. Yes. The qualifying cutoff just clears the exam, around 30 marks for CS. The admission cutoff is a far higher GATE score that colleges use to give seats.
Ques. Why is the cutoff lower for reserved categories?
Ans. GATE gives relaxation by rule. OBC-NCL and EWS get 0.9 times the General mark. SC, ST and PwD get two-thirds of the General mark.
Ques. Did the GATE 2026 cutoff go up or down?
Ans. It went up slightly. The CS General mark rose from 29.2 in 2025 to 30 in 2026, a rise of less than 1 mark. Other papers moved by similar small amounts.
Ques. Can I get admission with just the qualifying marks?
Ans. No. Qualifying marks only make you eligible. For a seat at an IIT or NIT, you need a much higher GATE score and a good rank.
Ques. Where can I check the official GATE 2026 cutoff?
Ans. Visit the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in, and open the cut-off marks page. The paper-wise and category-wise marks are listed there for free.
Ques. How long can I use my GATE 2026 score for PSU jobs?
Ans. Your GATE 2026 score stays valid for three years, till March 2029. PSUs will keep releasing notifications that accept this score through that period.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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