GATE Cutoff For General Category: Qualifying Marks, Branch-Wise Trends & Counselling Schedule 2026
The GATE Cutoff for General Category in 2026 saw qualifying marks for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) settle at 30, while Electrical Engineering (EE) required 27.7 marks. This cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify for admission to M.Tech, M.Sc, and PhD programs across participating institutes, with some branches like Humanities and Social Sciences (English) having a higher threshold of 40 marks. The overall exam difficulty and number of test-takers significantly influence these benchmarks annually.
GATE 2026 Examination Schedule
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted across two weekends in February.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Exam Date (Weekend 1) | February 7 & 8 |
| Exam Date (Weekend 2) | February 14 & 15 |
GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoffs for General Category
Here’s a snapshot of the minimum qualifying marks for various engineering and science disciplines for the General category in GATE 2026.
| Test Paper | General Category Cutoff (Marks out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) | 30 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) | 26.4 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 |
| Data Science & AI (DA) | 29 |
| Statistics (ST) | 30.4 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (English) | 40 |
GATE 2026 Category-wise Qualifying Cutoffs
The qualifying cutoffs for GATE 2026 vary significantly across different reservation categories for popular branches.
| Test Paper | General Category (Marks) | OBC-NCL/EWS Category (Marks) | SC/ST/PwD Category (Marks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) | 30 | 27 | 20 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | 22.7 | 16.8 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | 24.9 | 18.5 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | 25.8 | 19.1 |
GATE 2026 Counselling Schedule: COAP & CCMT
The Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) and Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan Admissions (CCMT) outline the key dates for postgraduate admissions.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| COAP Registration Start | March 27 |
| COAP Main Offer Rounds | May 11 – June 10 |
| COAP Round 1 Decision Window | May 11 – May 13 |
| COAP Round 2 Decision Window | May 17 – May 20 |
| COAP Round 3 Decision Window | May 24 – May 27 |
| CCMT Registration Start | May 15 |
| CCMT Last Date for Registration | June 5 |
| CCMT Normal Rounds | June |
| CCMT Special Rounds | July |
| CCMT National Spot Round | August |
FAQs
Q: What is considered a good GATE score for the General category in 2026?
A: A GATE score of 700+ is generally considered safe for admission to top IITs, while 600+ marks are typically sufficient for CSE, ME, and ECE subjects in NITs for the General category.
Q: How is the GATE cutoff for OBC-NCL/EWS categories calculated?
A: The GATE cutoff for OBC-NCL/EWS categories is generally calculated as 9/10ths (90%) of the qualifying marks for the General category in a particular paper.
Q: Does qualifying the GATE exam guarantee admission to an IIT or NIT?
A: No, qualifying the GATE exam makes a candidate eligible for the admission process, but it does not guarantee admission. Admission cutoffs for specific institutes and programs are often higher than the minimum qualifying marks.
Q: What are the options available to candidates during COAP counselling rounds?
A: During COAP counselling, candidates can typically choose between “Accept and Freeze,” “Retain and Wait,” or “Reject and Wait” in the initial rounds. From Round 5 onwards, options are usually limited to “Accept and Freeze” or “Reject.”
Q: How do GATE cutoffs for core engineering branches compare to other disciplines?
A: Core engineering branches like CSE, ME, EE, and CE generally have competitive cutoffs due to high demand. Some papers like Humanities and Social Sciences (English) can have higher qualifying cutoffs, reaching 40 marks for the General category.
