GATE aspirants can check here the GATE 2026 cut off ME and the expected cut off.
Check Expected Marks & Previous Year Cut off Trends
GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME: The GATE expected cut off for ME for General category candidates is expected to be around 34-40, while for candidates belonging to OBC it is expected to be 28 to 33, while for SC/ST candidates it can range between 23 to 26.
Latest on GATE 2026: GATE 2026 Result OUT Live: scorecard link, branch-wise cutoff, toppers list, final answer key
The cutoff for GATE 2026 is divided into types: qualifying cutoff, and admission cutoff. The qualifying cutoff of GATE determines if students have passed the exam, and admission cutoff varies by institute based on competition and seat availability. Candidates can check here the cut off of GATE 2026 ME to know minimum marks required to crack the exam, as well as past year cut off trends of GATE ME.
Also check:
What is the GATE exam for Mechanical Engineering?
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for Mechanical Engineering (ME) is held annually to shortlist candidates for admission into PG programs (M.Tech/Ph.D.) at IITs/NITs and top technical jobs (PSUs) like IOCL, NTPC, and BHEL.
As per the GATE exam pattern, the test will be held for a 3-hour time duration. Based on the GATE question papers, the test will have 65 questions (100 marks total). The questions will be based on subjects such as - General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and core Mechanical Engineering subjects (thermodynamics, mechanics, manufacturing, etc.
Also read: What is GATE Login 2026
- GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME - Key Insights
- Expected GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME
- GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME - Factors Influencing Cutoff
- Past year Cut off trends - GATE ME Official Qualifying Cutoff (2021–2025)
GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME - Key Insights
- The GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering cutoff determines candidates' possibility of getting admission for M.Tech admissions at premier institutes like IITs and IISc, or direct recruitment into PSUs.
- The GATE 2026 cutoff for ME is generally influenced by the difficulty level of the question paper, the total number of applicants who appeared in the exam.
- Based on recent stats, it is being noticed that the registrations has recently surged across core branches such as Computer Science, Civil, Mechanical, Electronics and Data Analytics.
- The qualifying cutoff is determined by IIT Guwahati and ensures candidates eligibility, however the admission cutoff varies significantly by institute and specialization, requiring much higher scores for competitive fields like Thermal or Design Engineering.
Also read: GATE EE Syllabus 2026
Expected GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME
Based on past year trends, we can expect a similar score for 2026. From following table, candidates can find the GATE 2026 ME cut off (expected) -
| Category |
Expected Cutoff Range (Marks) |
|---|---|
| General (GEN) |
34 - 40 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS |
29.5 - 33 |
| SC / ST / PwD |
23 - 26.5 |
Also read: GATE 2026 DA Syllabus
GATE 2026 Cutoff for ME - Factors Influencing Cutoff
Final marks will be released by IIT Guwahati on its portal tentatively in March 2026. However, students can check here the key factors that can be considered while determining the cut off of GATE 2026 ME :
| Factor |
Details |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level of exam |
Tougher papers lead to low qualifying marks. If paper is tricky, the cutoff may drop by 1-3 marks. |
| Candidate Volume |
A higher number of registered applicants increases competition, driving cutoff upward. |
| Seat Availability |
While it doesn't affect passing marks, fewer seats in top programs lead to much higher admission-based scores. |
| Normalization |
For papers with multiple sessions, marks are normalized to ensure no candidate is disadvantaged by a tougher session slot. |
Also read: GATE 2026 EE Question Paper
Explore colleges based on GATE
Past year Cut off trends - GATE ME Official Qualifying Cutoff (2021–2025)
From the following table students can check cut off marks in each category out of 100. These trends will help students appearing in the 2026 exam.
| GATE Year |
General (GEN) |
OBC-NCL / EWS |
SC / ST / PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
35.8 |
32.2 |
23.8 |
| 2024 |
28.6 |
25.7 |
19.0 |
| 2023 |
28.4 |
25.5 |
18.9 |
| 2022 |
28.1 |
25.2 |
18.7 |
| 2021 |
33.0 |
29.7 |
22.0 |
After analyzing the previous five years GATE ME cut off marks it has been revealed that there is a fluctuating trend in ME cutoffs since it is a core subject. This often reflects shifts in the difficulty level of the question paper and number of candidates who registered in the exam.
Last year in 2025, the GATE cutoff saw a significant jump, and recorded a multi-year high specifically for the General category. The above shared table indicates that while the 2022–2024 period remained stable around the 28-mark range, the 2025 peak suggests a more competitive landscape or a relatively higher-scoring paper.
Also read: MTech Exams other than GATE
GATE Cut off marks of other popular streams
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Student Forum
Answered 17 hours ago
If you are seeking admission in NIT Surathkal MTech, then GATE is mandatory. Students applying for non-MTech programmes do not need to appear for GATE. For M.Tech however, GATE followed by the centralised counselling is mandatory.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 18 hours ago
No, students can not get admission in IIT Roorkee MSc with GATE scores. The institute accepts IIT JAM score only. No other tests including GATE are accepted. Students also have to appear for the centralised counselling to get a seat.
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IISc Bangalore GATE cutoff 2026 for the ECE course for the General AI category was 650 in round 1. For the OBC AI category, the round 1 cutoff for the same course was 600. This difference in the score says that the competiton for the General AI category was higher than the OBC AI quota.
To know the
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IISc Banglore GATE COAP cutoff 2026 was declared for admission to the M.Tech course for various All India categories up to Round 1. For the General AI category, the round 1 cutoff ranged from 480 to 800, wherein M.Tech. in Instrumentation Systems and M.Tech. in Microelectronics and VLSI Design were
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Contributor-Level 10
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Yes, you can get a seat at IISc Banglore with a GATE score of 542, if you belong to the General AI category. Students can refer to the table beow to know which courses are available with this score based on the IISc Banglore GATE cutoff 2026 for round 1.
| Course | Round 1 |
|---|---|
| M.Tech. in Instrumentation Systems | 480 |
| M.Des. in Product Design and Manufacturing | 500 |
| M.Tech. in Smart Manufacturing | 500 |
| M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 525 |
For the OBC AI category, the courses availble
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
IISc Bangalore GATE COAP cutoff 2026 was released for admission to the M.Tech course and its various branches for several All India categories.
For the General AI category, the round 1 cutoff ranged from 480 to 800, wherein MTech in Instrumentation Systems and MTech in Microelectronics and VLSI Desi
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
IIT Bombay GATE cutoff 2026 was released till round 1 for admission to the M.Tech course for various All India categories.
For the General AI category, the round 1 cutoff ranged from 325 to 650. Hence, a score of at least 325 is required to be eligible for admission in the first round. Students can
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, you can get a seat at IIT Bombay for the M.Tech programme with a COAP cutoff of 442 if you belong to the General AI category.
General AI category students can refer to the table below to know which courses are up for grabs with a score of 442 based on the IIT Bombay GATE COAP cutoff 2026 for ro
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Answered a week ago
Yes, you can secure a seat in M.Tech course at IcfaiTech by taking the IMET. This is the school's own entrance test for those who do not have a GATE score. If you pass the IMET and personal interview, you are eligible for admission.
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Contributor-Level 9
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Yes, students can get admission in Atharva School of Engineering and Technology M.Tech without GATE. The college also accepts PERA CET or Atharva University All India Entrance Test scores.
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