GATE CSE Cutoff For IIT SC Category: M.Tech Admission Scores, Counselling Dates & Trends
At a GATE score of 650, the GATE CSE Cutoff For IIT SC Category for M.Tech Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras (Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai) in 2025 was a competitive threshold for admission. This cutoff is the minimum GATE score required for admission to M.Tech CSE programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. While the GATE 2026 qualifying cutoffs have been officially released, the final admission cutoffs for IIT M.Tech programs for 2026 are still awaited as the Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) counselling progresses.
GATE 2026 Key Dates
Candidates aspiring for M.Tech admissions through GATE 2026 should be aware of the following important dates for the examination and subsequent counselling processes.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Starts | August 28, 2025 |
| Online Registration Closes (without late fee) | October 7, 2025 |
| Admit Cards Available for Download | January 13, 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Examinations | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 |
| Announcement of Results | March 19, 2026 |
| COAP 2026 Registration Starts | March 27, 2026 |
| CCMT 2026 Registration Starts | May 15, 2026 |
GATE CSE Qualifying Cutoff 2026 by Category
The GATE 2026 qualifying cutoffs for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) determine eligibility for M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitments, varying across different reservation categories.
| Category | Qualifying Marks (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| General | 30 |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 27 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 20 |
IIT CSE Admission Cutoffs for SC Category 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The following table provides an overview of the GATE CSE admission cutoffs for various Indian Institutes of Technology for the SC category in 2025, offering insights for the upcoming 2026 admissions.
| IIT (City) | CSE GATE Score (SC Category) |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay (Mumbai) | 635 |
| IIT Delhi (New Delhi) | 600 |
| IIT Madras (Chennai) | 650 |
| IIT Kanpur (Kanpur) | 600 |
| IIT Kharagpur (Kharagpur) | 550 |
| IIT Roorkee (Roorkee) | 500 |
| IIT Guwahati (Guwahati) | 500 |
| IIT Hyderabad (Hyderabad) | 550 |
| IIT BHU (Varanasi) | 500 |
| IIT Indore (Indore) | 500 |
COAP 2026 Main Counselling Rounds
The Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) facilitates M.Tech admissions to IITs, with multiple rounds for candidates to view and respond to offers.
| COAP Round | Time Window for Viewing Offers |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | May 11 (10:00 AM) – May 14 (09:00 AM) |
| Round 2 | May 17 (10:00 AM) – May 20 (09:00 AM) |
| Round 3 | May 24 (10:00 AM) – May 27 (09:00 AM) |
| Round 4 | May 31 (10:00 AM) – June 3 (09:00 AM) |
| Round 5 | June 7 (10:00 AM) – June 10 (09:00 AM) |
FAQs
Q: What is considered a good GATE score for IIT CSE admission for SC category?
A. A GATE score above 600-650 is generally considered very good for securing M.Tech CSE admission in top-tier IITs like Bombay, Delhi, and Madras for the SC category. For newer IITs, a score of 400-500 can be competitive.
Q: Does the GATE qualifying cutoff guarantee admission to IITs?
A. No, the GATE qualifying cutoff only makes a candidate eligible to apply for M.Tech programs and participate in counselling. Actual admission to IITs requires a significantly higher GATE score, known as the admission cutoff, which varies by institute and program.
Q: Which IITs have the lowest GATE CSE cutoff for SC category?
A. Generally, newer IITs such as IIT Jammu, IIT Goa, IIT Palakkad, and IIT Tirupati tend to have lower GATE CSE admission cutoffs for the SC category compared to the older, more established IITs.
Q: What is the difference between COAP and CCMT counselling?
A. COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) is the centralized platform for M.Tech admissions to IITs and IISc Bangalore. CCMT (Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan) is the counselling process for M.Tech admissions to NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs).
Q: Can I get into IIT CSE with a GATE score below 500 for SC category?
A. While challenging, it is possible to secure admission to some newer IITs or specialized interdisciplinary programs with a GATE score below 500 for the SC category, especially in later counselling rounds or spot rounds, depending on seat availability and competition.
Q: What factors influence the GATE CSE cutoff for IITs?
A. Several factors influence the GATE CSE cutoff for IITs, including the number of available seats, the total number of applicants, the difficulty level of the GATE exam, the specific M.Tech specialization, and previous year’s cutoff trends.
