The GATE cut off for XE for the 2026 session is expected to be released soon. The cut off will be released after the results are out. Meanwhile, candidates can check here the expected GATE 2026 cut off XE.
Expected Marks for 2026 Session & Past Year Trends
GATE 2026 Cutoff for XE: The GATE 2026 Engineering Sciences (XE) cutoff for General category candidates is expected to be around 35-37, for OBC-NCL/EWS candidates it is expected to be around 31-33, while for SC/ST/PwD the cut off is based to be around 23-25. These figures are calculated based on pre-exam analysis, paper difficulty. Like previous year 2025 the cutoff can be similar to 35.4. The GATE exam for XE was conducted on Feb 7, 2026 in first shift and the exam was of moderate to difficult level. Although some questions were lenghty, good attempts were still 55-56 questions.
It is important for students who appeared in GATE 2026, to understand GATE 2026 Cutoff for Engineering Science (XE). Knowing cut off marks of GATE 2026 for XE will help them know the minimum marks required to get admission into IITs, NITs, and IIITs, along with as Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). For the GATE 2025 Engineering Sciences (XE) paper. Check GATE branch wise dates for the 2026 session. Candidates can check here the cut off of GATE 2026 XL to know the minimum marks required to crack the exam.
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. Qualifying cutoff of GATE determines if you have passed exam, and admission cutoff varies by institute based on competition and seat availability. After analysing past year cut off trends for XE paper, it has been noticed that different combinations (Materials Science vs. Atmospheric Science) can vary in difficulty. IIT Guwahati will utilize normalization formula to level playing field before finalizing cutoff.
Also read:
- Key Insights - GATE 2026 Engineering Science (XE)
- Expected GATE 2026 XE Qualifying Cutoff
- GATE Cut off 2026 - Factors Influencing Cutoff
- Past year Cut off trends - GATE XE Official Qualifying Cutoff (2021–2025) - Category-wise out of 100 marks
Key Insights - GATE 2026 Engineering Science (XE)
- Most XE students apply for interdisciplinary programs.
- Top IITs (IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur) conduct written tests OR interviews for XE candidates.
- GATE score serves as 70% weightage, remaining 30% depends on interview.
- For NITs, the Centralized Counselling for M.Tech handles the admission process
- XE candidates find seats in Thermal, Fluid, or Materials streams with scores ranging from 450 - 600.
Also read: GATE EE Syllabus 2026
Expected GATE 2026 XE Qualifying Cutoff
| Institute |
Specialisation |
Expected GATE Score (General) |
|---|---|---|
| IISc Bangalore |
Materials Engineering / Computational Science |
750 - 850 |
| IIT Bombay |
Energy Science / Materials Science |
700 - 800 |
| IIT Madras |
Industrial Tribology / Ocean Engineering |
650 - 750 |
| IIT Delhi |
Energy Studies / Atmospheric Sciences |
680 - 780 |
| IIT Kanpur |
Materials Science / Fluid & Thermal Sciences |
650 - 750 |
| IIT Roorkee |
Disaster Mitigation / Polymers |
600 - 700 |
| IISc Bangalore |
Materials Engg / Computational Science |
780 - 860 |
| IIT Kharagpur |
Cryogenic Engg / Water Resources |
600 - 700 |
Also read: GATE 2026 DA Syllabus
GATE Cut off 2026 - Factors Influencing Cutoff
| Factor |
Impact on Cutoff |
Key Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Difficulty |
Inverse Relationship |
High difficulty leads to lower cutoffs (2022 session); easier papers push cutoffs higher. |
| Candidate Volume |
Direct Competition |
An increase in applicants for a paper like XE typically raises qualifying threshold. |
| Overall Performance |
Statistical Shift |
Calculated via Mean & Standard Deviation; top 10% of performers set baseline. |
| Category Reservation |
Proportional Decrease |
OBC/EWS cutoffs are usually 90% and SC/ST/PwD are 66.6% of General cutoff. |
| Historical Trends |
Consistency Benchmark |
IITs aim for standard consistency; historical data helps predict likely range. |
| Seat Availability |
Admission Specific |
Affects COAP and CCMT requirements; fewer seats in top IITs drive up admission scores. |
Explore colleges based on GATE
Past year Cut off trends - GATE XE Official Qualifying Cutoff (2021–2025) - Category-wise out of 100 marks
| Exam Year |
Organizing Institute |
General (UR) |
OBC-NCL / EWS |
SC / ST / PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
IIT Roorkee |
35.4 |
31.8 |
23.5 |
| 2024 |
IISc Bangalore |
36.2 |
32.5 |
24.1 |
| 2023 |
IIT Kanpur |
37.9 |
34.1 |
25.2 |
| 2022 |
IIT Kharagpur |
40.3 |
36.2 |
26.8 |
| 2021 |
IIT Bombay |
37.0 |
33.3 |
24.6 |
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Student Forum
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, candidates can get admission based on their GATE scores in M.Tech at Ramaiah Institute of Technology. Aspirants can also get a seat in M.Tech course based on Karnataka PGCET scores. The seats are allotted via KEA Counselling.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 4 days ago
If you belong to the ST AI or SC AI category and have a score of 3000 in GATE CCMT, you could get admission at NIT Agartala in the first round.
For the ST AI category, the NIT Agartala GATE CCMT cutoff 2026 for Round 1 ranged between 251 and 334. See below to know which specialisations are availabl
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Candidates can check below the seat allocation rule followed for admission in M.Tech of DTU for the GATE qualifying students:
The total number of seats (out of 18) should be-
- 60 % (~11) for (aa) i.e B.E/B.Tech. in Engineering
- 40% (~7) for (ab) i.e M.Sc. and (ac) i.e MCA.
- During the spot round, all seats
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
For the OBC AI category, the NIT Agartala M.Tech cutoff 2026 ranged from 321 to 488 in the first round.
As per this range, the most competitive M.Tech course specialisation was Artificial Inteligence, with the cutoff being 488. On the other hand, the least competitive branch was Chemical Engineering
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The NIT Agartala M.Tech cutoff 2026 ranged from 353 to 518 in the first round for the General AI category. The NIT Agartala CCMT cutoff 2026 was released for the first round for various All India categories.
See the table below to know the round 1 cutoff range for all other categories.
| Category | NIT Agartala M.Tech cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 353 - 518 |
| OBC | 321 - 488 |
| SC | 174 - 411 |
| ST | 251- 334 |
| EWS | 321 - 516 |
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, students cannot get admission in Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering M.Tech without GATE. Admission is entrance-based. Candidates are shortlisted for the M.Tech programme based on entrance scores in GATE. Candidates who qualify in the admission process are eligible to secure their seat i
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering does accept GATE for admission to its M.Tech programme. The college offers seats through both MHT CET and GATE scores. Students have to check and apply online for both. The college may reserve some of its intake for students having GATE score.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
At KIIT School of Electronics Engineering, GATE-qualified students follow the same general timeline for the M.Tech application. But, their selection process might move faster if they have a high GATE score, as they are then exempt from the entrance exam.
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
At KIIT School of Electronics Engineering, the M.Tech selection process gives strong preference to GATE-qualified candidates. If an applicant has a GATE score of 400 or higher, they are exempt from the entrance examination. This recognizes their national-level competency and simplifies admission jou
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
IIIT Ranchi considers the score of GATE exam for M.Tech admission. However, it is not compulsory. The M.Tech admission will be through online/offline counselling based on the GATE score and/or written test and/or interview by the respective departments at IIIT Ranchi.
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Contributor-Level 10
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