This article will focus on the GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff: Check Branch-wise Cutoff for IITs, NITs, IIITs and College Predictor. The qualifying score needed by applicants for postgraduate admission to IITs, NITs, and GFITs as well as PSU Recruitments through GATE 2026, is known as the GATE Cutoff 2026. The deadline will be made public by IIT Guwahati following the preliminary announcement of the GATE Result 2026 in March 2026. Each subject and category’s GATE 2026 cutoff will change depending on the exam’s difficulty level, the number of applicants, and the availability of seats. The GATE anticipated cutoff dates for the General category in 2026 are 27–29, while the OBC and SC/ST categories are 24–25 and 18–20, respectively.
Also learn: GATE Score vs Marks vs Rank 2026
GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff: Check Branch-wise Cutoff for IITs, NITs, IIITs and College Predictor
In GATE 2026, there are two different kinds of cutoffs: the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff. While the admission cutoff is determined by the institutions throughout the counseling and admissions process, the qualifying cutoff is the lowest score required to pass the exam. PSUs also announce their own hiring deadlines. To learn more about the GATE 2026 Cutoff, continue reading.
GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff
The anticipated GATE Cutoff for 2026 is predicated on patterns from prior years. The GATE anticipated cutoffs should not be regarded as final; they are merely indicative. The cutoffs for admission and GATE are different. For admission to IITS, NITS, IIITs, and GFTIS, candidates with a higher GATE cutoff can take part in the counseling procedure. The paper-wise GATE anticipated cutoff for 2026 is shown below.
| GATE Paper Code | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | 34.3 | 30.9 | 22.7 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 26 | 23.5 | 17 |
| Architecture and Planning | 42.5 | 38.3 | 28.6 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 25 | 22.7 | 17.3 |
| Biotechnology | 39.9 | 35.9 | 26.7 |
| Civil Engineering | 29.3 | 26.4 | 19.5 |
| Chemical Engineering | 27 | 24.3 | 17.9 |
| Computer Science and Information Technology | 27.6 | 24.8 | 18.4 |
| Chemistry | 25.5 | 22.9 | 16.9 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 37.2 | 33.4 | 24.8 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | 26 | 23.4 | 17.6 |
| Electrical Engineering | 25.6 | 23 | 17 |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | 27.9 | 25.1 | 18.6 |
| Ecology and Evolution | 35.4 | 31.8 | 23.6 |
| Geomatics Engineering | 41.2 | 37 | 27.4 |
| Geology and Geophysics | 42 | 37.8 | 28 |
| Geology and Geophysics | 47 | 42.3 | 31.3 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 28.6 | 25.7 | 19 |
| Mining Engineering | 26 | 23.5 | 17.3 |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 42 | 37.8 | 28 |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | 26.1 | 23.5 | 17.4 |
| Petroleum Engineering | 42.6 | 38.3 | 28.4 |
| Physics | 32 | 28.8 | 21.3 |
| Production and Industrial Engineering | 31.5 | 28.3 | 21 |
| Statistics | 26.6 | 23.9 | 18.4 |
| Textile Engineering | 20.1 | 18 | 13.4 |
| Engineering Sciences | 37.1 | 33.3 | 24.8 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics) | 37 | 33.3 | 24.6 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (English) | 47 | 42.3 | 31.3 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (Linguistics) | 49.7 | 44.7 | 33.1 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (Philosophy) | 39.3 | 35.3 | 26.2 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology) | 52.7 | 47.4 | 35.1 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology) | 36 | 32.4 | 24 |
| Life Sciences | 29.3 | 26.4 | 19.5 |
GATE 2026 College Wise Score: Expected Cutoff
| Rank | Institute | Expected GATE 2026 Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Bombay | 780 to 850+ |
| 2 | IIT Delhi | 750 to 820 |
| 3 | IIT Madras | 720 to 790 |
| 4 | IISc Bangalore | 740 to 810 |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur | 680 to 760 |
| 6 | IIT Kanpur | 650 to 730 |
| 7 | IIT Roorkee | 600 to 680 |
| 8 | NIT Trichy | 520 to 620 |
| 9 | NIT Surathkal | 520 to 620 |
| 10 | NIT Warangal | 520 to 620 |
Factors Influencing the 2026 GATE Cutoff
The GATE cutoff 2026 will be influenced by a number of significant factors. These include the total number of seats available, the number of candidates taking the test, and the degree of difficulty of the question paper. Certain fields, such as computer science and electronics, draw more applicants, which typically results in higher deadlines for those courses. Since reserved categories typically have lower cutoffs than the general category, the candidate’s category also matters a lot. Furthermore, based on seat intake and applicant performance, each institution releases its own admittance cutoff. Examine the elements listed below that affect the GATE 2026 Cutoff.
- Number of Candidates Showing Up: More candidates mean more competition, which raises the threshold.
- Seat Availability: At prestigious universities, a higher entrance cutoff may result from fewer seats.
- Exam Difficulty Level: Lower cutoffs may result from harder papers, and vice versa.
- Candidate Category: Cutoff scores differ for PwD, SC, OBC, General, and ST categories.
- Popularity by Branch: High demand branches frequently have higher cutoffs.
Distinction between the 2026 Admission Cutoff and the GATE Qualifying Cutoff
The distinction between the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff must be understood by candidates taking the GATE exam. The GATE admission cutoff is the minimal score required to gain admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFITs, whereas the GATE qualifying cutoff is the eligibility cutoff for the admissions process. The table below allows candidates to view the differences.
| GATE Qualifying Cutoff | GATE Admission Cutoff |
|---|---|
| cutoff point for eligibility to take part in the admissions process. It is the minimal score required to pass the admissions exam. | This admission threshold is published by participating institutions as the opening and closing rank. |
| The qualifying cutoff is not used to choose applicants. | The admission threshold is the basis for choosing candidates. |
| The qualifying threshold is set prior to the GATE result announcement. | After every round of counseling sessions, the admissions cutoff is announced. |
| The GATE exam’s conducting authority makes the announcement. | The involved institutes release it. |
| The qualifying scores for every paper are part of the qualifying cutoff. | Opening and closing ranks for participating institutions are included in the admissions cutoff. |
FAQs on the GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff
What is the anticipated Computer Science GATE 2026 cutoff?
For candidates in the general category, the anticipated GATE 2026 cutoff score for computer science is probably going to be between 27 and 29. It can be between 18 and 20 points for SC/ST candidates and between 24 and 25 points for OBC candidates.
When is the GATE 2026 deadline going to be announced?
The results, which are anticipated to be revealed in March 2026, will be accompanied by the GATE 2026 cutoff. The cutoff is available to candidates on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. However, an official announcement will reveal the precise date.
Does each category have a different GATE 2026 cutoff?
Yes, each category will have a separate GATE 2026 cutoff. The SC, ST, and PwD categories have lower cutoffs than the General category, which often has the highest cutoff. According to government regulations, the cutoffs are loosened for candidates in the reserved category.
Who will announce the GATE 2026 deadline?
IIT Guwahati will formally announce the GATE 2026 cutoff. Following the results announcement, it will be accessible on the official website. Subject-wise and category-wise cutoffs will apply.
How is the cutoff for GATE 2026 determined?
The GATE 2026 cutoff is determined by a number of variables, including the number of applicants, the degree of difficulty, the availability of seats, and previous year patterns. For multi-session papers, the exam authority also employs a normalization procedure.
What kinds of GATE 2026 cutoffs are there?
The GATE 2026 cutoff is divided into two categories: qualifying and admission. The minimum score needed to pass the GATE exam is known as the qualifying cutoff. The score needed to be admitted to IITs, NITs, or other institutions is known as the entrance cutoff.
Does PSU hiring require the GATE 2026 cutoff?
Indeed, a lot of PSUs shortlist applicants for interviews using the GATE 2026 cutoff. Depending on its recruitment policies, each PSU establishes its own cutoff. The PSU’s merit list and interview results determine the final choice.
