IISER GATE Cutoff 2026: Admission Ranks, Qualifying Scores & Important Dates
The IISER GATE Cutoff 2026 saw a notable shift, with the qualifying score for Mechanical Engineering (General category) decreasing by approximately 30 percent, from 35.8 marks in 2025 to 25.2 marks in 2026. This cutoff is the minimum score required for admission to various postgraduate programs in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other centrally funded technical institutes, while Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) utilize their own IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) for undergraduate admissions. Official IISER IAT 2026 cutoffs are currently awaited following the June 7, 2026 examination.
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The key dates for the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026, which governs undergraduate admissions to IISERs, are outlined below.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | February 7 |
| Application Start | March 5 |
| Application Close | April 13 |
| Admit Card Release | May 26 |
| Exam Date | June 7 |
| Document Submission Deadline | June 21 |
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited) Category-wise Expected Cutoff Ranks
Based on 2025 trends, the expected category-wise closing ranks for IISER IAT admissions are as follows; 2026 cutoffs will be updated post-release.
| Category | IISER Pune Expected Closing Rank (2025) | Top IISERs Expected Closing Rank (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| General | Under 750 | 1,000 – 2,500 |
| OBC-NCL | 350 – 420 | — |
| SC | Under 290 | — |
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Seat Allotment & Reporting Dates
The anticipated schedule for IISER IAT 2026 counselling, based on previous year patterns, is provided below; 2026 dates will be updated post-release.
| Event | Date (2026 – Expected) |
|---|---|
| Counselling Registration | Late June – Early July |
| Seat Allotment Round 1 | Mid-July |
| Seat Allotment Round 2 | Early August |
| Last Date for Round 2 Admission | Early August |
GATE 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, conducted by IIT Guwahati, followed this schedule.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| GOAPS Application Portal Opens | August 25, 2025 |
| Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14, 15 |
| Result Declared | March 19 |
| Scorecard (Free Download) | March 27 – May 31 |
GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoff Marks: CSE, ME, EE, ECE & Civil Engineering
The minimum qualifying marks for GATE 2026 across various engineering disciplines for the General category are listed below.
| Test Paper | General Category Qualifying Marks (2026) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 30 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 25.2 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 27.7 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 26.4 |
| Civil Engineering | 28.7 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (English) | 40 |
GATE 2026 Counselling Schedule: COAP Registration & Seat Allocation Dates
The Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) schedule for GATE 2026 counselling, facilitating M.Tech admissions to IITs, is detailed below.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| COAP Registration & Seat Allocation Start | May 11 |
| COAP Seat Allocation Concludes | July 10 |
FAQs
Q. When will the IISER IAT 2026 cutoff be released?
The IISER IAT 2026 cutoff is expected to be released after the declaration of the IAT 2026 results and prior to the commencement of counselling rounds. The IAT 2026 exam was held on June 7, 2026.
Q. What is the difference between IISER IAT and GATE cutoffs?
IISER IAT cutoffs are for undergraduate (BS and BS-MS dual degree) admissions to the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, based on the IISER Aptitude Test. GATE cutoffs, on the other hand, are for postgraduate (M.Tech, PhD) admissions to IITs, NITs, IISc, and other institutes, based on the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering scores.
Q. Has the GATE 2026 cutoff been officially released?
Yes, IIT Guwahati, the organizing institute for GATE 2026, has officially released the branch-wise qualifying cutoffs for all 30 papers on March 19, 2026.
Q. Where can I find the category-wise cutoff for IISER IAT?
Official category-wise cutoffs for IISER IAT are typically released on the IISER admission portal. For 2026, these are awaited, but 2025 trends indicate varying ranks for General, OBC-NCL, and SC categories across different IISERs.
Q. What is a good GATE score for admission to top IITs in 2026?
For admission to top IITs through GATE 2026, a score of 700+ is generally considered safe for most papers, especially for highly demanded branches like CSE, ME, and ECE.
