Electrical Engineering GATE Cutoff 2026: Qualifying Marks, Category-Wise Analysis & Counselling Schedule
From a qualifying mark of 18.4 for SC/ST/PwD categories to a competitive admission score often exceeding 700 for top IITs, the Electrical Engineering GATE Cutoff 2026 spanned a significant range for aspirants. This Electrical Engineering GATE Cutoff 2026 is the minimum qualifying mark released by IIT Guwahati, which stood at 27.7 for the General category, determining eligibility for M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitment.
Key Dates for GATE 2026 Electrical Engineering Aspirants
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 for Electrical Engineering followed a structured timeline, from application to result declaration and subsequent counselling.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Process (without late fee) Closed | October 7, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | January 13, 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | March 19, 2026 |
| Official Cutoff Release | March 19, 2026 |
GATE 2026 Electrical Engineering Qualifying Cutoffs by Category
The official qualifying marks for Electrical Engineering (EE) in GATE 2026 were released by IIT Guwahati, varying across different reservation categories.
| Category | Qualifying Marks (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| General (GEN) | 27.7 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 24.9 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 18.4 |
Electrical Engineering GATE Qualifying Cutoff Trends (2021-2026)
Analyzing the GATE Electrical Engineering qualifying cutoffs over recent years provides insight into the exam’s consistent difficulty and competitive landscape.
| Year | General (Out of 100) | OBC-NCL / EWS (Out of 100) | SC / ST / PwD (Out of 100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27.7 | 24.9 | 18.4 |
| 2025 | 25.0 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| 2024 | 25.7 | — | — |
| 2023 | 25.0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 30.7 | — | — |
| 2021 | 30.3 | — | — |
GATE 2026 M.Tech Counselling Timelines (COAP & CCMT)
Post-GATE results, qualified candidates participate in centralized counselling processes like COAP for IITs and CCMT for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
| Counselling Event | Platform | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| COAP 2026 Registration Commenced | COAP | March 27, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Main Offer Rounds | COAP | May 11 – June 10, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Round 1 Offer Window | COAP | May 11 – May 13, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Round 2 Offer Window | COAP | May 17 – May 20, 2026 |
| CCMT 2026 Registration Commenced | CCMT | May 15, 2026 |
| CCMT 2026 Registration Last Date | CCMT | June 5, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Decisive Rounds (Round 5 onwards) | COAP | June 13 – July 12, 2026 |
FAQs
Q? What is considered a good GATE score for Electrical Engineering?
A. A GATE score between 76-84 is generally considered good for Electrical Engineering, potentially leading to admissions in top IITs, NITs, and GFTIs. Scores ranging from 85-95 are regarded as excellent.
Q? What is the difference between GATE qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
A. The GATE qualifying cutoff is the minimum mark required to pass the exam and receive a scorecard, typically ranging from 25-35 marks for the General category. The admission cutoff, however, is a much higher score set by individual institutes (like IITs and NITs) for M.Tech admissions, varying significantly based on the program’s popularity and seat availability.
Q? What factors influence the GATE Electrical Engineering cutoff?
A. Several factors determine the GATE Electrical Engineering cutoff, including the difficulty level of the exam paper, the total number of candidates who appeared, the number of available M.Tech seats in participating institutions, and previous year’s cutoff trends.
Q? What are the eligibility criteria for GATE Electrical Engineering 2026?
A. Candidates must have completed or be in the third year or higher of an undergraduate degree program (B.E./B.Tech) or a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities. There is no age limit for appearing in GATE 2026.
Q? How long is the GATE score valid?
A. The GATE score remains valid for three years from the date of the announcement of the results.
Q? When will the GATE 2026 Electrical Engineering admission cutoffs for IITs and NITs be released?
A. While the GATE 2026 qualifying cutoffs have been released, the specific admission cutoffs for M.Tech programs at IITs and NITs are typically released after each round of COAP and CCMT counselling, respectively. These are usually higher than the qualifying marks.
