GATE Cutoff 2025 Category Wise: 2026 Qualifying Marks, Branch-Wise Trends & Counselling Dates
GATE Cutoff 2025 Category Wise: The 2026 qualifying cutoff for Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) General category is 30 marks, with Electrical Engineering (EE) at 27.7 marks, and Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) at 26.4 marks for General category — reflecting the minimum scores required for M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitment. This GATE cutoff 2025 category wise data is the minimum score needed to qualify the examination, with the official 2026 cutoffs released by IIT Guwahati on March 28, 2026.
GATE 2026 Examination and Counselling Schedule
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted across two weekends in February, with counselling processes commencing in May.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| GATE Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14, 15 |
| Admit Card Release | January 13 |
| Result Declaration | March 19 |
| Official Cutoff Release | March 28 |
| COAP 2026 Registration Begins | May 11 |
| CCMT 2026 Registration Begins | May 15 |
| COAP Main Offer Rounds Conclude | June 10 |
GATE Qualifying Cutoffs 2026 & 2025: Branch and Category-wise
The GATE cutoff marks vary significantly by engineering discipline and candidate reservation category, with 2026 data now available for key branches.
| GATE Paper / Subject | General (2026) | OBC-NCL / EWS (2026) | SC/ST / PwD (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) | 30 | 27 | 20 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | – | – |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | – | – |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) | 26.4 | – | – |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | – | – |
| Aerospace Engineering (AE) | 28.9 (2025) | 26.0 (2025) | 19.2 (2025) |
| Agricultural Engineering (AG) | 25.0 (2025) | 22.5 (2025) | 16.6 (2025) |
| Architecture & Planning (AR) | 40.0 (2025) | 36.0 (2025) | 26.6 (2025) |
| Biomedical Engineering (BM) | 29.2 (2025) | 26.2 (2025) | 19.4 (2025) |
| Biotechnology (BT) | 28.0 (2025) | 25.2 (2025) | 18.6 (2025) |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 27.7 (2025) | 24.9 (2025) | 18.4 (2025) |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | 29 (2025) | 26.1 (2025) | 19.3 (2025) |
| Chemistry (CY) | 25 (2025) | 22.5 (2025) | 16.6 (2025) |
| Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) | 26.1 (2025) | 23.4 (2025) | 17.4 (2025) |
| Mathematics (MA) | 25 (2025) | 22.5 (2025) | 16.6 (2025) |
| Mining Engineering (MN) | 30.6 (2025) | 27.5 (2025) | – |
| Metallurgical Engineering (MT) | 40 (2025) | 36 (2025) | – |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 25.6 (2025) | 23 (2025) | – |
GATE Qualifying Cutoff Trends: 2023-2026
Analyzing GATE qualifying cutoffs over recent years reveals fluctuations across different categories and papers.
| GATE Paper / Category | 2023 Cutoff | 2024 Cutoff | 2025 Cutoff | 2026 Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science (General) | 32.5 | 27.6 | 29.2 | 30 |
| Computer Science (OBC/EWS) | 29.2 | 24.8 | 26.2 | 27 |
| Computer Science (SC/ST/PwD) | 21.6 | 18.4 | 19.4 | 20 |
| Statistics (General) | 25.0 | 26.6 | 30.2 | 30.4 |
FAQs
Q. What is a good GATE score for M.Tech admission to top NITs in 2026?
A. For top NITs like Trichy, Warangal, and Surathkal, a GATE score generally above 700 is considered competitive for popular M.Tech branches such as CSE. For mid-tier NITs, scores between 550-650 can secure admission.
Q. How is the GATE cutoff determined each year?
A. The GATE cutoff is determined by several factors, including the total number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam paper, the availability of seats in a particular course, and the candidate’s reservation category.
Q. What is the difference between GATE qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
A. The GATE qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to pass the GATE exam and receive a scorecard. The admission cutoff, released by individual institutes, is typically a higher score or rank needed to secure a seat in a specific M.Tech program.
Q. Can I apply for M.Tech admissions with a GATE 2025 score in 2026?
A. Yes, GATE scores are valid for three years from the date of result announcement. Therefore, a GATE 2025 score is valid for M.Tech admissions in 2026 through counselling processes like COAP and CCMT.
Q. What are COAP and CCMT in the GATE counselling process?
A. COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) is used for M.Tech admissions to IITs, while CCMT (Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan) is for admissions to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Both are online counselling platforms for GATE-qualified candidates.
Q. Are there special rounds in GATE counselling for vacant seats?
A. Yes, both COAP and CCMT counselling processes typically include regular rounds, followed by special rounds and sometimes national spot rounds to fill any remaining vacant seats in participating institutes.
