GATE Data Science And AI Cutoff 2026: Qualifying Marks, Admission Scores & Key Dates

From 17.5 (SC/ST) to 26.4 (General), the GATE Data Science and AI Cutoff 2026 for qualifying marks spanned across categories. This cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify the examination, with results announced on March 19, 2026. The official GATE 2026 cutoff for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence was released on March 28, 2026, by IIT Guwahati (Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati).

GATE 2026 Important Dates: Application & Examination Schedule

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 followed a structured timeline for applications and examinations.

Event Date
Online Registration Opens August 25, 2025
Online Registration Closes (without late fee) September 25, 2025
Online Registration Closes (with late fee) October 6, 2025
Admit Card Available January 13, 2026
GATE 2026 Examination Dates February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
Result Announcement March 19, 2026
Official Cutoff Release March 28, 2026

GATE Data Science and AI Qualifying Cutoff 2026

The GATE Data Science and AI (DA) qualifying cutoff for 2026 varied by candidate category, determining eligibility for further admission processes.

Category Qualifying Marks (Out of 100)
General 26.4
EWS 23.7
OBC-NCL 23.7
SC 17.5
ST 17.5

Expected GATE DA Admission Scores 2026 for Top Institutes

Admission to postgraduate programs in Data Science and AI at premier institutions often requires scores significantly higher than the qualifying cutoff.

Institute / Category Expected GATE Score (Out of 1000)
IISc Bangalore 850+
IIT Bombay (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai) 800+
IIT Kharagpur (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur) 760+
IIT Guwahati (Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati) 750+
Other IITs, Top NITs 650-720
Newer IITs, Good NITs 550-650

FAQs

Q: What is considered a good GATE Data Science and AI score for IIT admissions?

A. A GATE score of 700+ is generally considered safe for admission to most IITs for Data Science and AI programs, with top IITs often requiring 800+ scores.

Q: How is the GATE Data Science and AI cutoff determined?

A. The GATE Data Science and AI cutoff is determined based on factors such as the number of candidates appearing, the difficulty level of the exam, and the previous year’s cutoff trends.

Q: Does qualifying the GATE DA exam guarantee admission to an M.Tech program?

A. No, qualifying the GATE DA exam does not guarantee admission. It makes candidates eligible to participate in the counselling processes like COAP and CCMT, where admission cutoffs are applied by individual institutes.

Q: Are there different cutoffs for various specializations within Data Science and AI?

A. While the GATE DA paper has a single qualifying cutoff, individual institutes may have varying admission cutoffs for specific M.Tech specializations within Data Science and AI, depending on program popularity and seat availability.

Q: What is the validity period of a GATE score?

A. A GATE score remains valid for a period of three years from the date of the announcement of the results.

Nishit Kumar
Written by

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms. He was instrumental in building Collegedunia from the ground up, shaping its product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection, content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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