The expected GATE 2026 minimum score for the scorecard ( out of 100) is around 25-30 for General, 22-27 for OBC and 16-20 for SC/ST/PwD.
The score varies depending on the paper, and usually a score above 350-400 ( out of 1000 ) is required to qualify for the GATE Scorecard.
- Qualifying marks are the minimum marks required to pass the GATE exam, and every candidate who qualifies for the GATE 2026 will receive a GATE scorecard.
- For the General category for CS/ME/EE branches, you should target 30-40+ marks, for OBC-NCL 27-30+, and for SC/ST/PwD 20 to 23+ marks out of 100 in GATE 2026
- For admission into IITs and PSUs, you should target 60-70+ marks for the general category, 50- 60+ for OBC-NCL, for SC/ST/PwD 50+.
This article helps you with the minimum marks required for qualifying for the GATE for different categories and subjects. Minimum marks required for admission and for a job.
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- GATE Cutoff 2026: Check Branch-wise Cutoff for IITs, NITs, Marks vs Ranks and College Predictor
- GATE Score Calculation 2026, Formula, Calculation Method, Normalization, Marks vs Score vs Rank
Key Summary
- Qualifying marks are the minimum marks required to pass the GATE exam, and every qualified student receives a scorecard.
- Qualifying marks are different for different subjects and categories.
- To get a scorecard, you should secure a score of around 23-30 out of 100, depending on the branch and category
- For popular branches, the cutoff is higher, and the qualifying mark for SC/ST/PwD is around 17-20.
- For admission into IITs and PSUs, you should target 60-70+ marks for he general category, 50- 60+ for OBC-NCL, for SC/ST/PwD 50+.
GATE 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff
This is the expected cutoff marks(out of 100) for different branches and categories like General, OBC-NCL, SC/ST/PwD.
- For top branches such as CS, ME, CE, EE, and EC cutoff goes higher than 30+ for General, for OBC-NCL 27-30+, and for SC/ST/PwD 20-23+.
- The actual qualifying cutoff may be different from this. The actual cutoff depends on exam difficulty and the performance of the candidates in the exam.
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science(CS) | 30-40 | 27-31 | 20-23 |
| Mechanical Engineering(ME) | 37-40 | 33-37 | 25-28 |
| Civil Engineering(CE) | 30-33 | 27-30 | 20-23 |
| Electrical Engineering(EE) | 26-29 | 24-27 | 18-21 |
| Electronics & Communication(EC) | 29-32 | 27-30 | 20-23 |
| Chemical Engineering(CH) | 24-27.5 | 22-25 | 16-19 |
| Mathematics(MA) | 24-27 | 22-24 | 16-19 |
| Physics(PH) | 31-33 | 28-31 | 20-23 |
| Chemistry(CY) | 24-27 | 22-25 | 16-19 |
| Biotechnology(BT) | 28-31 | 25-28 | 18-21 |
| Aerospace Engineering(AE) | 28-34 | 26-30 | 19-23 |
Ques: How many marks should I target to qualify GATE 2026?
Ans: For qualifying GATE 2026 you should target a score of 30+ depending upon your branch. For safe side to secure admission or to get a job you should target 40-45+ marks in GATE 2026.
Ques: Can I get into IIT if I qualify GATE 2026?
Ans: No, qualifying GATE doesn't get you into IIT. IITs have different cutoffs for their M. Tech and related programs. This cutoff is higher than the qualifying cutoff depending upon the branch and category.
What is GATE 2026 Minimum score for Scorecard?
There is no separate score required for the scorecard, every GATE qualified candidate will receive the GATE scorecard. The score card is valid for admission into M.Tech and PSUs requirement for three years from the date of announcement of result.
GATE 2026 Minimum Expected Marks for IITs and NITs
This is the expected minimum marks required for admission in top IITs and NITs. The actual cutoff may vary from this depending upon the branch and difficulty level of the exam.
- For top IITs you should target a score of 70+ which can be different for different branches.
- For admission into lower IITs and Top NITs you need to score in the range of 50-65+.
- These expected scores are for the General category, for the reserved categories, you may expect 5 to 10 marks less.
| Branch | Expected for IITs | Expected for NITs |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science(CS) | 65-70+ | 50-60 |
| Mechanical Engineering(ME) | 55-65 | 45-55 |
| Civil Engineering(CE) | 55-60 | 45-50 |
| Electrical Engineering(EE) | 50-60 | 45-50 |
| Electronics & Communication(EC) | 55-60 | 45-50 |
| Chemical Engineering(CH) | 50-55 | 40-50 |
| Mathematics(MA) | 55-60 | 45-50 |
| Physics(PH) | 60-65 | 50-55 |
| Chemistry(CY) | 50-55 | 40-50 |
| Biotechnology(BT) | 50-55 | 40-50 |
| Aerospace Engineering(AE) | 55-60 | 45-50 |
Related Articles:
- IIT GATE Cutoff 2026, Previous Year Category-wise Opening and Closing Ranks for IIT
- GATE NIT Cutoff 2026- Check Previous Year Opening and Closing score (2025-2021)
Ques: How much score should I target to get into IIT?
Ans: You should target a score of 70+ in GATE for admission into IITs. If you have a slightly below score then you can go for top NITs and lower IITs.
GATE 2026 Minimum Expected Marks for PSUs
This is branch wise expected scores for top PSUs, mid level PSUs and borderline PSUs. These expected marks can be different as it is taken from the past year trends.
- For top PSUs like ONGC, IOCL, NTPC, Power Grid, and BHEL you need to target a safe score in the range 70-85+.
- At 65-75, you can target mid-level PSUs such as BPCL, HPCL, NLC India and others.
- For borderline PSUs at 60-65 score. Their calls heavily depend on vacancies and branches. These are good to gain experience if top PSUs are missed.
| Branch | Top PSUs | Mid-level PSUs | Borderline PSUs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science(CS) | 75-85+ | 70-75 | 65-70 |
| Mechanical Engineering(ME) | 72-82+ | 65-72 | 60-65 |
| Civil Engineering(CE) | 68-78+ | 60-68 | 55-60 |
| Electrical Engineering(EE) | 70-80+ | 63-70 | 58-63 |
| Electronics & Communication(EC) | 72-82+ | 65-72 | 60-65 |
| Chemical Engineering(CH) | 65-75+ | 58-65 | 52-58 |
| Mathematics(MA) | 58-70+ | 52-58 | 45-52 |
| Physics(PH) | 60-72+ | 55-60 | 50-55 |
| Chemistry(CY) | 60-70+ | 55-60 | 50-55 |
| Biotechnology(BT) | 60-70+ | 55-60 | 50-55 |
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Ques: Which mid-level PSUs can I target with 65-75 marks in GATE 2026?
Ans: With 65-75 marks, you can target mid-level PSUs such as BPCL, HPCL, NLC India, and GAIL. Branches like ME, EE, EC, and CS often see good shortlisting in this range for these companies. Borderline cases may get calls if vacancies are higher.
Ques: Is 60-65 marks enough for any PSU in GATE 2026?
Ans: Yes, 60-65 marks can qualify for borderline or lower-tier PSUs, such as some state-level, but calls heavily depend on vacancies, branch demand, and category reservations. These are good backup options for gaining experience if top/mid PSUs don't work out.
Ques: When and how do PSUs recruit through GATE 2026?
Ans: Most PSUs start notifying about vacancies and shortlisting after GATE results(usually March-April 2026). You can apply directly on their websites. Selection often includesthe GATE score(weightage 70-85%) and interviews.
Ques: When can I download the GATE 2026 scorecard?
Ans: After the declaration of result you can download the GATE scorecard from its official website. The GATE scorecard is released after a few weeks of the result announcement.
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