GATE Cutoff Last 5 Years: Branch-Wise Trends, Category Ranks & Admission Analysis
How tight was GATE Cutoff Last 5 Years? The GATE cutoff last 5 years is the minimum qualifying marks required for admission to M.Tech programs and PSU recruitment, with the General category for Computer Science Engineering (CSE) settling at 30 marks in 2026. This marks a slight increase from 27.6 in 2024, reflecting varying exam difficulty and candidate performance. Over the past five years, qualifying marks have generally fluctuated between 25 and 35 for core engineering branches across different categories.
GATE 2026 Examination Schedule
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted in February, with results and cutoffs released in March. Below are the key dates for the GATE 2026 examination cycle.
| Event | Date (2025-2026) |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Start | August 28, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply (without late fee) | October 7, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply (with late fee) | October 13, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | January 13, 2026 |
| Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | March 19, 2026 |
| Cutoff Release | March 28, 2026 |
GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoffs: Branch-wise Overview
The GATE 2026 qualifying cutoffs have been released, indicating the minimum marks required for various engineering and science disciplines. For some branches, only the General category cutoff is explicitly available.
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 30 | 27 | 20 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | — | — |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | — | — |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) | 26.4 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 25.2 | — | — |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 34.8 | — | — |
| Engineering Sciences (XE) | 36.2 | — | — |
GATE Qualifying Cutoff Trends: General Category (2022-2026)
Analyzing the General category qualifying marks over the last five years reveals fluctuations influenced by factors such as exam difficulty and the number of candidates.
| Branch | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 30 | 29.2 | 27.6 | 32.5 | 25 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 | 28.6 | 28.6 | 28.4 | 28.1 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 30.7 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) | 26.4 | 25 | 25 | 29.9 | 25 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.7 | 29.2 | 28.3 | 26.6 | 30.4 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 34.8 | 25.6 | 34.8 | 34.8 | 42.2 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 25.2 | 25 | 25 | 32.1 | 25.3 |
GATE Category-wise Cutoffs: Key Branches (2025, 2024, 2023)
The category-wise qualifying cutoffs for GATE demonstrate the varying thresholds for different reservation categories across popular branches in recent years.
GATE 2025 Category-wise Qualifying Marks
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 29.2 | 26.2 | 19.4 |
| Computer Science Engineering (CS) | 29.2 | 26.2 | 19.4 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (EC) | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 25.6 | 23 | 17 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 35.8 | 32.2 | 23.8 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | 29 | 26.1 | 19.3 |
GATE 2024 Category-wise Qualifying Marks
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28.3 | 25.4 | 18.8 |
| Computer Science Engineering (CS) | 27.6 | 24.8 | 18.4 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| Biotechnology (BT) | 38.9 | 35 | 25.9 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) | 37.1 | 33.3 | 24.7 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 28.6 | 25.7 | 19 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 26 | 23.5 | 17.6 |
GATE 2023 Category-wise Qualifying Marks
| Branch | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PWD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CS) | 32.5 | 29.2 | 21.6 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (EC) | 29.9 | 26.9 | 19.9 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 28.4 | 25.5 | 19 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 26.6 | 23.9 | 17.7 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 34.8 | 32.3 | 24.2 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 32.1 | 28.8 | 21.4 |
| Engineering Sciences (XE) | 37.9 | 34.1 | 25.2 |
FAQs
Q: What is a good GATE score for IIT admissions?
A: A GATE score of 700+ is generally considered safe for admission to most M.Tech programs at IITs, although this can vary by branch and specific institute.
Q: How is the GATE cutoff determined?
A: The GATE cutoff is determined by several factors, including the difficulty level of the exam, the total number of candidates who appeared, the overall performance of test-takers, and the availability of seats in participating institutions.
Q: Does the GATE cutoff vary by college?
A: Yes, the GATE cutoff varies significantly by college and program. While a common qualifying cutoff is released, each IIT, NIT, and other participating institute sets its own admission cutoff based on various internal criteria.
Q: What is the difference between qualifying and admission cutoff in GATE?
A: The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to pass the GATE exam and receive a scorecard. The admission cutoff, on the other hand, is the minimum score or rank required for actual admission to a specific M.Tech program or PSU recruitment, which is typically higher than the qualifying cutoff.
Q: Can I get a PSU job with a low GATE score?
A: While a high GATE score generally improves chances for PSU recruitment, some PSUs may consider candidates with relatively lower scores depending on the specific vacancy, category, and additional selection processes like interviews or group discussions.
Q: When will the GATE 2027 exam be held?
A: The GATE exam is typically held annually in February. The official dates for GATE 2027 are usually announced by the conducting IIT in the preceding year, around August-September.
