GATE 2026 Cutoff IIT Nit: Branch-Wise Scores, Counselling & Admission Trends
How tight was GATE 2026 Cutoff IIT NIT? The qualifying cutoff for Computer Science Engineering (CSE) General category was 30 marks, while top IITs like IIT Bombay saw M.Tech CSE admission scores reach 860 for General candidates in 2025. The GATE 2025 Cutoff IIT NIT is the minimum score required for admission to various M.Tech programs across IITs and NITs, with 2026 qualifying cutoffs showing a slight increase for most major branches compared to 2025. While 2026 qualifying cutoffs are released, detailed institute-specific admission cutoffs for 2026 are still awaited, with 2025 data providing the latest insights into competitive scores.
GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoffs by Branch and Category
The table below outlines the minimum qualifying marks for various engineering branches in GATE 2026 across different categories.
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC / ST / PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 30 | 27 | 20 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | — | — |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | — | — |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) | 26.4 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | — | — |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (English) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
GATE 2026 Counselling Schedule at a Glance
Key dates for the COAP and CCMT counselling processes for GATE 2026 admissions are provided below.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| COAP 2026 Registration Begins | March 27, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Round 1 Counselling | May 11 – 13, 2026 |
| CCMT 2026 Registration Begins | May 15, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Round 5 Counselling Ends | June 10, 2026 |
GATE 2025 Admission Cutoffs for Top IITs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The following table presents the M.Tech admission cutoffs for Computer Science Engineering and related programs at leading IITs for 2025.
| Institute | Program | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | M.Tech CSE | 860 | 820 | 800 | 650 | 600 |
| IIT Madras | M.Tech CSE | 840 | 800 | 780 | 650 | 550 |
| IIT Delhi | M.Tech CSE | 820 | 800 | 740 | 600 | 550 |
| IIT Delhi | M.Tech Computer Technology | 700 | 680 | — | — | — |
| IIT Delhi | M.Tech Cyber Security | 720 | 700 | 690 | 500 | 500 |
GATE 2025 Admission Cutoffs for Top NITs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
Here are the CCMT Round 1 admission cutoffs for popular M.Tech programs at top NITs in 2025.
| Institute | Program | Max GATE Score | Min GATE Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | Computer Science & Engineering | 892 | 777 |
| NIT Warangal | Computer Science & Engineering | 856 | 761 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | Computer Science & Engineering | 757 | 711 |
| MNIT Jaipur | Electronics & Communication Engineering | 530 | 463 |
| NIT Delhi | Electronics & Communication Engineering | 510 | 483 |
GATE Qualifying Cutoff Trends: 2021-2025
Observe the shifts in GATE qualifying marks for the General category across key branches over the last five years.
| Branch | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 26.1 | 25 | 32.5 | 27.6 | 29.2 |
FAQs
Q? What is considered a good GATE score for IITs and NITs?
A. For IITs, a GATE score of 700+ is generally considered safe for admission to most M.Tech programs. For NITs, a score of 600+ is often sufficient for popular branches like CSE, ME, and ECE.
Q? How does the GATE cutoff differ between qualifying and admission cutoffs?
A. The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to pass the GATE exam and receive a scorecard, making you eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff, released by individual institutes, is typically much higher and represents the minimum score needed to secure a seat in a specific program.
Q? Are there different counselling processes for IITs and NITs based on GATE scores?
A. Yes, admissions to M.Tech programs in IITs are primarily conducted through the Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP), while NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs use the Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Des (CCMT) process.
Q? Can a low GATE score still lead to admission in an IIT or NIT?
A. While highly competitive branches in top IITs and NITs require high scores, lower GATE scores might still secure admission in less competitive branches, newer institutes, or through later counselling rounds like spot rounds, especially in NITs.
Q? What factors influence the GATE cutoff each year?
A. Several factors determine the GATE cutoff, including the difficulty level of the exam paper, the total number of candidates who appeared, the availability of seats in various programs, and the specific category of the candidate.
