GATE Life Science Cutoff 2026: Qualifying Marks, Exam Dates & Counselling Schedule
The GATE Life Science Cutoff 2026 is the minimum score required for candidates to qualify for postgraduate admissions and research fellowships, with the General category cutoff settling at 36.3 marks. This qualifying threshold, released by IIT Guwahati on March 28, 2026, saw a notable increase from the 2025 cutoff of 31.3 marks for General candidates. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) Life Science (XL) exam was conducted on February 7, 2026, as part of the broader GATE 2026 examination schedule.
GATE Life Science Cutoff 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The table below outlines the key dates for the GATE Life Science 2026 examination process, from notification release to result announcement.
| Event | Date (2026 unless specified) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | August 25, 2025 |
| Application Start | August 25, 2025 |
| Application Close (without late fee) | September 25, 2025 |
| Application Close (with late fee) | October 06, 2025 |
| Correction Window Close | November 10, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | January 02, 2026 |
| Exam Date (Life Science XL) | February 07, 2026 |
| Result Announcement | March 19, 2026 |
GATE Life Science 2026 Category-wise Cutoff: General, OBC-NCL & SC/ST Qualifying Marks
The official qualifying marks for the GATE Life Science (XL) paper for 2026 across different categories are detailed below.
| Category | Qualifying Marks (2026) |
|---|---|
| General | 36.3 |
| OBC-NCL | 32.6 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 24.1 |
GATE Life Science Cutoff Trends: Qualifying Marks 2024 vs 2025 vs 2026 by Category
A comparative analysis of the GATE Life Science qualifying marks over the past three years highlights the evolving cutoff trends for various categories.
| Category | 2026 Qualifying Marks | 2025 Qualifying Marks | 2024 Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 36.3 | 31.3 | 29.3 |
| OBC-NCL | 32.6 | 28.1 | 26.3 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 24.1 | 20.8 | 19.5 |
GATE Life Science Cutoff 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Choice Filling & Seat Allotment Dates
The counselling process for GATE 2026, including registration and seat allotment for M.Tech admissions, follows a structured timeline through COAP and CCMT portals.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| COAP Registration Start (for IITs) | May 11 |
| CCMT Registration Start (for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs) | May 15 |
| COAP Round 1 Counselling | May 11-13 |
| CCMT Registration Close | June 05 |
| CCMT Choice Filling Close | June 08 |
| COAP Round 5 Counselling End | June 10 |
| CCMT Round 1 Seat Allotment | June 12 |
FAQs
Q: Has the GATE Life Science 2026 cutoff been released?
A: Yes, the GATE Life Science (XL) 2026 cutoff was officially released by IIT Guwahati on March 28, 2026.
Q: What was the GATE Life Science cutoff for the General category in 2026?
A: The GATE Life Science 2026 cutoff for the General category was 36.3 marks.
Q: How does the GATE Life Science 2026 cutoff compare to previous years?
A: The 2026 cutoff of 36.3 for General category shows an increase compared to 31.3 in 2025 and 29.3 in 2024.
Q: When did the GATE Life Science 2026 exam take place?
A: The GATE Life Science (XL) 2026 exam was conducted on February 7, 2026.
Q: What is the significance of the GATE Life Science cutoff?
A: The GATE Life Science cutoff determines eligibility for admission to M.Tech, Ph.D. programs in top institutions like IITs, IISc, and NITs, as well as for recruitment in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
Q: When does GATE 2026 counselling begin for Life Science qualified candidates?
A: COAP registration for IITs began on May 11, 2026, and CCMT registration for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs commenced on May 15, 2026.
