GATE Cutoff For SC Category: 2026 Qualifying Marks & Admission Trends
M.Tech CSE under GATE Cutoff for SC Category had a qualifying mark of 20 in 2026, a key threshold for admissions to IITs and NITs. The GATE Cutoff for SC Category is the minimum score required for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category to qualify for postgraduate engineering programs. This qualifying cutoff for SC/ST/PwD categories is typically 30-35% lower than the General category, reflecting reservation policies. For admission to top IITs, SC/ST candidates with a GATE score of 500 often have good chances in popular branches like Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE).
GATE 2026 Examination Schedule
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted in February, with results announced in March. Below are the key dates for the GATE 2026 examination cycle.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Opens | August 28, 2025 |
| Online Registration Closes (without late fee) | September 28, 2025 |
| Online Registration Closes (with late fee) | October 09, 2025 |
| Admit Cards Available for Download | January 13, 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Examinations | February 07, 08, 14, 15, 2026 |
| Announcement of Results | March 19, 2026 |
| Qualifying Marks Released | March 28, 2026 |
Branch-wise GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoffs for SC/ST/PwD Category
The official GATE 2026 qualifying marks for SC/ST/PwD candidates have been released by IIT Guwahati, varying across different engineering and science disciplines.
| Paper Code | Test Paper | Cut-Off (SC/ST/PwD) |
|---|---|---|
| AE | Aerospace Engineering | 16.6 |
| AG | Agricultural Engineering | 16.6 |
| AR | Architecture and Planning | 26.6 |
| BM | Biomedical Engineering | 16.6 |
| BT | Biotechnology | 17.2 |
| CE | Civil Engineering | 19.1 |
| CH | Chemical Engineering | 16.6 |
| CS | Computer Science and Information Technology | 20 |
| CY | Chemistry | 16.6 |
| DA | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 17.5 |
| EC | Electronics and Communication Engineering | 16.6 |
| EE | Electrical Engineering | 16.6 |
| ES | Environmental Science and Engineering | 17.4 |
| EY | Ecology and Evolution | 26.3 |
| GE | Geomatics Engineering | 17.1 |
| GG1 | Geology and Geophysics (Geology) | 25.5 |
| GG2 | Geology and Geophysics (Geophysics) | 26.6 |
| IN | Instrumentation Engineering | 17 |
GATE Qualifying Cutoff Trends for SC/ST: 2025 vs 2026
Comparing the GATE qualifying cutoffs for the SC/ST/PwD category between 2025 and 2026 reveals minor shifts across various disciplines.
| Test Paper | 2026 Cut-Off (SC/ST/PwD) | 2025 Cut-Off (SC/ST/PwD) |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering (AE) | 16.6 | 19.2 |
| Agricultural Engineering (AG) | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Architecture and Planning (AR) | 26.6 | 26.6 |
| Biomedical Engineering (BM) | 16.6 | 19.4 |
| Biotechnology (BT) | 17.2 | 18.6 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 19.1 | 19.4 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 16.6 | 18.4 |
| Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) | 20 | 19.4 |
| Chemistry (CY) | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | 17.5 | 19.3 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) | 17.4 | 17.4 |
| Ecology and Evolution (EY) | 26.3 | 26.3 |
| Geomatics Engineering (GE) | 17.1 | 17.1 |
| Geology and Geophysics (Geology) (GG1) | 25.5 | 25.5 |
| Geology and Geophysics (Geophysics) (GG2) | 26.6 | 26.6 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 17 | 17 |
GATE COAP Counselling Dates 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) facilitates M.Tech admissions to IITs and IISc. While 2026 dates are awaited, the 2025 schedule provides an indication of the typical timeline.
| COAP Round | Dates (2025) |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | May 13 – May 15 |
| Round 2 | May 23 – May 25 |
| Round 3 | May 29 – June 01 |
| Round 4 | June 05 – June 07 |
| Round 5 | June 11 – June 13 |
| Round 6 | June 17 – June 19 |
| Round 7 | June 23 – June 25 |
| Round 8 | June 29 – June 30 |
| Round 9 | July 04 – July 05 |
| Round 10 | July 09 – July 10 |
FAQs
Q: What is a good GATE score for SC category candidates to get into IITs?
A: A GATE score of 500 or above for SC category candidates significantly improves admission chances into M.Tech programs at top IITs, especially in popular branches like EE, ME, and ECE.
Q: How is the GATE cutoff for SC category calculated?
A: The GATE cutoff for the SC category is determined by the organizing IIT based on factors like exam difficulty, number of applicants, available seats, and previous year trends. It is typically set lower than for General or OBC categories due to reservation policies.
Q: Do all IITs and NITs have the same GATE cutoff for SC candidates?
A: No, GATE cutoffs vary significantly across different IITs and NITs, as each institute sets its own admission criteria based on program demand, seat availability, and specific departmental requirements.
Q: What is the difference between GATE qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff for SC category?
A: The qualifying cutoff is the minimum mark required to pass the GATE exam and be eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff is a higher score needed to secure a seat in a specific M.Tech program at an institute, which is typically much higher than the qualifying cutoff.
Q: What happens after qualifying the GATE exam for SC category candidates?
A: After qualifying, SC category candidates must register for centralized counselling processes like COAP (for IITs/IISc) or CCMT (for NITs/IIITs) and apply to their preferred institutes and programs. They then participate in various counselling rounds for seat allotment.
