GATE 2026 statistical report out: 10.11 lakh registered, cutoffs detailed

IIT Guwahati released the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) Statistical Report 2026 on September 25, 2026. The complete report, accessible on gate2026.iitg.ac.in, aims to ensure complete transparency for candidates preparing for future GATE examinations.

The official document provides key examination details, including the number of registered and qualified candidates, the overall GATE qualification rate, and paper-wise cutoffs. This detailed statistical and performance report is routinely released by the respective organizing institute after the completion of the examination cycle.

GATE 2026 Participation and Performance Overview

For GATE 2026, a total of 1,011,719 candidates registered, and 797,434 candidates appeared for the examination. The IIT Guwahati report breaks down candidate participation, qualification percentages, paper-wise difficulty levels, category distribution, and normalization metrics across all test papers.

Computer Science (CS) emerged as the paper with the highest candidate density, recording over 2.59 lakh registrations and 2.11 lakh test-takers. Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA) also saw significant interest, with 91,764 applicants. Metallurgical Engineering (MT) achieved the highest theoretical score, with one candidate scoring 100 out of 100.

Qualification Rates and Admission Implications

The GATE 2026 report indicates that qualification rates across major engineering papers ranged between 15% and 20% of the appeared candidates. For Aerospace Engineering, specifically, 8,444 candidates registered, 6,591 appeared, and 1,188 qualified.

The report also provides insights into how raw scores translate to GATE scores and their implications for admissions. A raw score of 50 in Computer Science (CS), for instance, translates to a GATE score between 560 and 620. A raw score above 70 in CS yields a GATE score over 770. A General category score of 600 is considered to provide strong admission options at top National Institutes of Technology (NITs). Required NIT cutoffs drop by 50 to 70 points for OBC candidates and by 100 to 130 points for SC and ST candidates.

Report Release History and Future Context

The release of the GATE Statistical Report by the organizing institute is a consistent practice. For GATE 2025, IIT Roorkee released its statistical performance report on September 17, 2025. The organizing institute for GATE rotates annually among the IISc and IITs.

The GATE statistical report serves as a master reference for candidates, academic institutions, and public sector undertakings. IIT Madras is currently conducting GATE 2027, and candidates for this upcoming examination are required to complete their exam forms before the GATE 2027 registration deadline.

Further reading

• GATE topper salary: Maharatna PSUs offer up to 2.5 lakh per month, private sector up to 2 lakh
• GATE 2027: Register by Sep 27 for regular fees
• M.Pharm 2026: Apply with B.Pharm scores, GPAT, or CUET PG for Delhi NCR admissions
• NID Registration 2027: Application Link Soon at admissions.nid.edu
• KAU BTech Agricultural Engineering ICAR spot admission: Apply by Sep 25, 2026 Applications open
• GATE: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

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

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