GATE Cutoff For IIT 2026: Qualifying Marks, Admission Scores & Counselling Process
GATE Cutoff For IIT 2026: The minimum qualifying marks for Computer Science Engineering (CSE) General category is 30, while Electrical Engineering (EE) General is 27.7, with admission scores for top IITs typically ranging from 700-800. This cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and subsequently apply for M.Tech programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other premier institutions. IIT Guwahati released the official GATE 2026 cutoffs on March 28, 2026.
GATE Cutoff For IIT 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The table below outlines the key dates for the GATE 2026 examination cycle, from notification release to result announcement.
| Event | Date (2026 Cycle) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | August 5, 2025 |
| Application Start | August 28, 2025 |
| Application Close (without late fee) | September 28, 2025 |
| Application Close (with late fee) | October 9, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | January 13, 2026 |
| Exam Date | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 |
| Result Announcement | March 19, 2026 |
GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoff Marks: Branch-wise for General, OBC-NCL/EWS & SC/ST/PwD
The following table details the minimum qualifying marks for various engineering branches in GATE 2026 across different categories, as released by IIT Guwahati.
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 30 | 27 | 20 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | 24.9 | 18.5 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 26.4 | 23.8 | 17.6 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | 22.7 | 16.8 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | 25.8 | 19.1 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | 33.5 | 30.2 | 22.3 |
IIT M.Tech CSE Cutoff Trends: GATE Scores 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025 (General Category)
This section presents the GATE score trends for M.Tech Computer Science and Engineering admissions at top IITs and IISc Bangalore for the General category over recent years.
| Institute | 2023 Score | 2024 Score | 2025 Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| IISc Bangalore | 890 | 900 | 900+ |
| IIT Bombay | 750 | 750 | 750+ |
| IIT Madras | 760 | 845 | 852 |
| IIT Delhi | 700 | 725 | 750+ |
| IIT Kanpur | 730 | 740 | 740+ |
| IIT Kharagpur | 710 | 710 | 710+ |
FAQs
Q: When was the GATE 2026 cutoff released?
A: The official GATE 2026 cutoff was released by IIT Guwahati on March 28, 2026, along with the results.
Q: What is the difference between GATE qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff for IITs?
A: The GATE qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to pass the GATE exam and be eligible for M.Tech applications. The admission cutoff, which is significantly higher, is the minimum GATE score required by individual IITs for actual admission into specific M.Tech programs.
Q: What GATE score is considered good for admission to top IITs in 2026?
A: For admission to top IITs in 2026, a GATE score of 700-800 is generally considered competitive, with scores above 800 often being safe for premier institutes.
Q: Which IITs have the highest GATE cutoffs for M.Tech CSE?
A: Historically, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, and IISc Bangalore consistently have some of the highest GATE cutoffs for M.Tech Computer Science and Engineering programs.
Q: How can I check the GATE cutoff for specific IIT branches?
A: Specific IITs release their admission cutoffs (scores) for various M.Tech branches through the Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) during the counselling process. Candidates can also refer to the official GATE website for qualifying cutoffs.
Q: What is COAP counselling?
A: COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) is a centralized online platform through which GATE-qualified candidates can view and accept admission offers for M.Tech programs from participating IITs and IISc.
