GATE CSE Cutoff Marks For IIT And Nit: Branch-Wise Scores, Category-Wise Trends & Counselling Dates 2026
GATE CSE Cutoff Marks for IIT and NIT: The 2026 qualifying cutoff for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is 30 marks for the General category, 27 for OBC/EWS, and 20 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify for the GATE 2026 examination, making candidates eligible for M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitments. While the GATE 2026 qualifying cutoffs have been released, admission cutoffs for specific IITs and NITs are typically higher and will be updated post-release of counselling rounds.
GATE 2026 Examination Schedule
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted across two weekends in February, with results announced in March.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| GATE Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14, 15 |
| GATE Result Announcement | March 19 |
GATE CSE 2026 Qualifying Cutoffs by Category
The official qualifying cutoff marks for GATE 2026 Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) determine eligibility for further admission processes.
| Category | GATE CSE 2026 Qualifying Marks (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| General | 30 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 27 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 20 |
GATE 2026 COAP & CCMT Counselling Timeline
Admission to M.Tech programs in IITs and NITs is facilitated through COAP and CCMT counselling, respectively, with key dates for 2026 outlined below.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| COAP Registration Starts | March 27 |
| COAP Round 1 Counselling | May 11 – 13 |
| CCMT Registration Starts | May 15 |
Branch-wise Admission Cutoffs for Top IITs (2025 — Latest, 2026 Awaited)
For M.Tech CSE admissions, top IITs like IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, and IIT Delhi typically have high GATE scores, with 2025 figures providing the latest trends.
| Institute | Branch | General (Score out of 1000) | EWS (Score out of 1000) | OBC (Score out of 1000) | SC (Score out of 1000) | ST (Score out of 1000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay (Mumbai) | Computer Science and Engineering | 860 | 820 | 800 | 650 | 600 |
| IIT Madras (Chennai) | Computer Science and Engineering | 840 | 800 | 780 | 650 | 550 |
| IIT Delhi (New Delhi) | Computer Science and Engineering | 820 | 800 | 740 | 600 | 550 |
Branch-wise Admission Cutoffs for Top NITs (2025 — Latest, 2026 Awaited)
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) also consider GATE scores for M.Tech CSE admissions, with 2025 data indicating competitive scores for leading institutions.
| Institute | Branch | General (Minimum GATE Score out of 1000) |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) | Computer Science & Engineering | 777 |
| NIT Warangal (Warangal) | Computer Science & Engineering | 761 |
| MNNIT Allahabad (Prayagraj) | Computer Science & Engineering | 711 |
| NIT Calicut (Kozhikode) | Computer Science & Engineering | 731 |
| NIT Delhi (New Delhi) | Computer Science & Engineering | 668 |
| NIT Suratkal (Mangaluru) | Computer Science & Engineering | 712 |
| NIT Rourkela (Rourkela) | Computer Science & Engineering | 610 |
| VNIT Nagpur (Nagpur) | Computer Science & Engineering | 602 |
| MNIT Jaipur (Jaipur) | Computer Science & Engineering | 595 |
FAQs
Q: What is considered a good GATE CSE score for IITs and NITs?
A. For top IITs, a GATE score of 700+ is generally considered competitive for CSE admissions, while for NITs, a score of 600+ is often sufficient for popular CSE programs.
Q: Do IITs and NITs release separate GATE CSE cutoff lists?
A. Yes, while the GATE conducting body releases a common qualifying cutoff, individual IITs and NITs publish their own admission cutoffs (often as GATE scores or ranks) for various M.Tech programs after each counselling round.
Q: How do GATE CSE cutoffs vary for different branches within IITs?
A. Within IITs, Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) generally has the highest cutoffs due to high demand. Specialized branches like Data Science or Artificial Intelligence may also have very competitive scores, while other interdisciplinary programs might have slightly lower cutoffs.
Q: Is the GATE qualifying cutoff the same as the admission cutoff for IITs and NITs?
A. No, the GATE qualifying cutoff is the minimum mark to pass the exam and receive a scorecard. The admission cutoff, released by individual institutes like IITs and NITs, is significantly higher and represents the minimum score required to secure a seat in a particular M.Tech program.
Q: What factors influence the GATE CSE cutoff marks each year?
A. Several factors influence GATE CSE cutoffs, including the difficulty level of the exam, the total number of candidates who appeared, the overall performance of test-takers, the number of available seats, and the specific demand for the CSE branch at each institute.
