GATE 2026 Seat Matrix: Total Intake for IITs & NITs, Reservation Criteria

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )

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GATE 2026 Scorecard by paying a fee of INR 500 per test paper

1 Jun '26 - 31 Dec '26

UPASANA
UPASANA PRADHAN
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on May 18, 2026 11:22 IST
With 8 lakh applicants (approx) registered, it is expected that the competition is going to get tough. Based on past trends, around 13000+ seats are mainly reserved for IITs and approx 22000+ seats for NITs and IIITs. Check complete GATE 2026 seat intake analysis, predictions, and expected cutoff details here.

GATE 2026 seat matrix: With GATE result 2026 out on March 19, and counselling is ongoing. Candidates appearing for GATE counselling can check complete details regarding the seat matrix below. Students must note that the GATE seat matrix 2026 is different for IITs and NITs. As per the reports, around 13000+ seats are reserved for IITs and 22000+ for CCMT counselling for NITs and IIITs. Read below for more. 

GATE Seat Matrix

GATE 2026 admission counselling registations are ongoing. IIT Guwahati declared GATE result 2026 on March 19, as per the official announcement. COAP and CCMT portals are responsible for GATE counselling 2026. COAP and CCMT counselling registrations are ongoing. NIT Agartala is conducting CCMT counselling this year. The seat matrix for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs is now available. Candidates can find direct link to check below. 

COAP 2026 counselling dates have been released, IIT Roorkee will be conducting the admission counselling for IITs and IISc. However, with the help of GATE seat matrix 2026, students can get an idea about how many seats are reserved across CCMT and COAP based on cutoff ranges, category, and other factors. 

Latest: CCMT counselling 2026 registrations and choice filling started, check details

For GATE, conducted for 30 test papers and hundreds of institutes participating for admission, understanding how seats are distributed across IITs, NITs, IIITs, and PSUs is important. In this article, we have discussed aspect in detail along with expected GATE qualifying mark, GATE 2026 marks vs rank, and other details. 

Latest Update

GATE 2026 result link out, check now GATE cutoff 2026 for IIITs

In addition, candidates can also get an idea of what is the safe score for GATE CSE, along with GATE 2026 cutoff for NITs and IITs

Also read:

Table of contents
  • GATE Result 2026 Date
  • How many students appeared GATE 2026 exam?
  • What is GATE 2026 Seat Matrix?
  • What are Groups in CCMT Counselling 2026?
  • GATE 2026 Branch-Wise Seat Matrix
  • What was the GATE CCMT 2025 seat matrix?
  • GATE Reservation Criteria: Seats Allocated for Admission
  • IISc Bangalore GATE 2026 Seat Matrix: Reservation Criteria & Seat Intake of Top Branches
View More

GATE Result 2026 Date

IIT Guwahati announced GATE exam result on March 19. Candidates can check their qualifying status at gate2026.iitg.ac.in at GOAPS portal. To check result, candidates need to provide their enrollment ID and password. 

DIRECT LINK TO CHECK SEAT MATRIX: Click Here

How many students appeared GATE 2026 exam?

The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati releases the stats of the number of registered candidates in GATE 2026 and appeared candidates. Once the GATE cutoff mark 2026 is released at gate2026.iitg.ac.in, students will be able to check the number of applicants appeared in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.

What is GATE 2026 Seat Matrix?

The GATE exam seat intake is the distribution of seats for admission to IITs, NITs, and other institutes. The seat availability for GATE counselling is mainly divided based on three major criteria: institute type, branch or specialisation, and GATE reservation criteria

Candidates must note that IIT Guwahati will not conduct the counselling process. Separate institutes conduct GATE counselling on a rotational basis similar to how the GATE exam is conducted. Now, the counselling process is again divided into parts: COAP and CCMT

  • COAP - Common Offer Acceptance Portal, this is a counselling portal dedicated for admission to IITs, and IISc Bengaluru. Students will be offered admission to the courses based on their GATE result/scores. While each IIT will release its respective seat matrix, the total intake for MTech programmes for IITs mainly exceeds 13000+. 

IIT Dhanbad has released its GATE COAP 2026 counselling seat matrix.

Download: COAP 2026 IIT Dhanbad GATE seat matrix

Note: This is an estimated number, the number of seats can increase or decrease, depending on the candidates quaified and other factors.

  • CCMT - Centralised Counselling for MTech/MArch/MPlan Admission portal handles admission for around 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and many GFTIs. Overall, the approx GATE 2026 CCMT seat availability exceeds 20000+. Check: CCMT GATE cutoff.
  • GATE 2026 seat matrix for PSU Recruitment - Many PSU companies like NTPC, IOCL, AAI, and BHEL do not provide seats in academics but recruits students based on their GATE rank. Based on past trends and experts analysis, a GATE rank under 200 is excellent, and under 1000 is generally considered safe for PSU jobs through GATE

What are Groups in CCMT Counselling 2026?

In CCMT counselling, Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on refer to different admission categories. They define specific combinations of qualifying degree and GATE papers that an institute allows for  MTech programme. There are a total of six groups in the CCMT, which are broadly classified for different categories -

Type of Institute Group-Wise Seat Intake
National Institute of Technology Group 1 - 10135 seats, Group 2 - 358 seats, Group 3 - 156 seats, Group 4 - 21 seats
IIITs Group 1 - 1218 seats, Group 2 - 17 seats, Group 3 - 5 seats, Group 4 - 21 seats, Group 5 -8 seats

Also read:

GATE 2026 cutoff for ME GATE 2026 cutoff for civil engineering (CE) GATE 2026 cutoff for EE
GATE 2026 CSE cutoff GATE Scholarships Admission to IITs without GATE scores
Is 500 marks enough to get MTech admission at IITs    

Predict Now using GATE College Predictor

GATE 2026 Branch-Wise Seat Matrix

The official GATE 2026 seat matrix is updated annually and changes every year, based on candiates appeared, competition level, etc. In this section, candidates can check the estimated GATE seat intake 2026 (IITs and NITs) for popular branches

GATE Branch

Estimated GATE 2026 seat matrix (IITs, NITs, IIITs)

Demanding specialisations

Computer Science (CSE)

3000+

AI, Data Science, and Cybersecurity

Mechanical Engineering (ME)

5500+

Thermal, Production Manufacturing, and Robotics

Electronics (ECE)

4500+

VLSI, Embedded Systems, and Communication

Electrical Engineering (EE)

3500 - 4500+

Power systems, Control and Automation

Civil Engineering (CE)

4000+

Geotechnical and Transportation

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I apply for CCMT offline?
A: 

No. Candidate can apply online only for CCMT. The candiadtes must visit the official website to apply for the counselling during the dates specified. Offline submission of CCMT application form is not allowed by the authority. Candidates must create a registration ID to access the CCMT result portal.

Q:   My score is 550/1000 in Mechanical Engineering. How much rank will I get in GATE?
A: 

A GATE score of 550 in mechanical engineering will fetch you a rank range of 1500 - 3000. Students with this GATE score range can opt for M.Tech at NIT Calicut, NIT Trichy, etc. 

Q:   How much GATE score is required for M.Tech at IIT?
A: 

A GATE score of 700 to 800 is mainly required for M.Tech admission at IIT (especially for top IITs). However, the score also depends on the IIT popularity, branch popularity, and other factors. For new IITs, a GATE score of 500 to 600 is mainly required. 

It is advised to check the past year's GATE cutoff trends before opting for counselling and admission. 

Q:   What is the expected GATE 2026 cutoff marks?
A: 

IIT Guwahati has released GATE 2026 cutoff mark on its official page. Candidates who have appeared exam, can check qualifying marks now. The GATE passing mark differs for each branch paper.

What was the GATE CCMT 2025 seat matrix?

Candidates can check last year's seat matrix of GATE below. This inlcudes, all NITs, IIITs (all branches, categories, and groups) -

Category Total number of seats
Open 5313
Open- PwD 274
EWS 1247
EWS-PwD 61
SC 1952
SC-PwD 90
ST 955
ST-PwD 44
OBC 3415
OBC-PwD 163
Total seats 12,494

GATE Reservation Criteria: Seats Allocated for Admission

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the rank for 40 marks in GATE?
A: 

40 marks in GATE will approximately give a rank between 2000 to 5000 depending on the paper difficulty level and the number of registered candidates in that particular branch.  Obtaining 40 marks is mainly considered average, opening chances to a few new IITs (less popular branches) and NITs.

However, rank for 40 marks in the Graduate Aptitude in Engineering can give a different rank value for different branches and disciplines. For example, 40 marks in GATE CSE can correspond to 9000 to 10000 rank. On the other hand, 40 marks in GATE ME, can correspond to 6000 - 7100 rank. 

Advice to students who secured 40 marks in GATE exam: Better to apply in some state-level colleges or new NITs. 

Q:   What is the highest GATE cutoff score for NIT M.Tech admission?
A: 

The highest GATE cutoff score for NIT M.Tech admission typically ranges from 800 to 850 in the first round. Some of the top NITs include NIT Surathkal, NIT Trichy, and NIT Warangal, accept admissions with GATE score 800 above for branches like EC, CS, ME, and EE.

Qualified candidates have to register at the CCMT portal to participate in the GATE counselling. The counselling process will begin in June/July.

Q:   When will IIT Guwahati release GATE 2026 cutoff?
A: 

Indian Institute of Technology released GATE cutoff 2026. The IITG GATE 2026 result has been declared. The conducting body releases the exam result and cutoff for all 30 subjects. The cutoff for GATE 2026 is available category-wise. Candidates securing the minimum cutoff will be eligible to participate in counselling. 

Note: The minimum qualifying cutoff is different for all subjects. 

Q:   What is the expected cutoff for GATE 2026?
A: 

IIT Guwahati has released GATE cutoff 2026 mark for all 30 papers. This year, for many papers, the general cutoff is mainly 25-30 marks. Candidates can check GATE passing mark here. 

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   Will GATE 2026 cutoff increase compared to last year, due to high competition?
A: 

Yes, it is expected that the GATE 2026 cutoff may increase compared to last year, for the following reasons -

  • Increase in the number of registered applicants.

  • Difficulty level of the question paper

  • Inclination towards newer branches, such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Quantum Tech, etc. 

  • Due to the introduction of new and innovative programmes, there can be slight increase in the cutoff trend, especially for CSE, EE, EC, DA, CE and ME

Q:   How much marks is 500 GATE score?
A: 

A GATE score of 500 can be roughly around 40 to 50 raw scores out of 100 marks. However, it can vary depending for each engineering discipline. For example, for CSE it can be around 45 to 56 marks, for mechanical engineering it can correspond around 46 - 55, and for ECE it can roughly correspond around 50 to 60 marks depending on the paper difficulty level. 

Q:   What is the GATE cutoff for CSE?
A: 

GATE 2026 CSE cutoff (category-wise) can be checked here -

General

OBC-NCL EWS

SC/ST and PwD

30

27

20

The cutoff is the minimum mark that is required for all candidates to qualify for the exam. IIT Guwahati announced GATE result 2026 on March 19. 

Q:   What was the last year GATE CCMT Round 1 cutoff for National Institute of Technology Delhi CSE?
A: 

The GATE CCMT cutoff for CSE (round 1) at NIT Delhi can be checked below -

  • Minimum GATE score - 668
  • Maximum GATE score - 741

Candidates can check an estimated GATE seat intake (as per reservation criteria) below -

Category

Reservation Criteria (%)

General (GN)

40.5%

OBC

27%

SC

15%

ST

7.5%

EWS

10%

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Has IIT Guwahati released GATE cutoff 2026?
A: 

Yes, IIT Guwahati released GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff marks for all subjects on March 28. Candidates can check passing mark of respective papers now.

Q:   What is the cutoff score in GATE?
A: 

The cutoff score in GATE is the minimum mark required to qualify for the exam. The conducting body releases the qualifying cutoff along with result. It determines, whether a candidate is eligible to participate in the counselling round or not. 

The cutoff score in GATE varies every year (category-wise), depending on the number of students registered, difficulty level of the question paper, and previous year's trends. The GATE cutoff score are mainly of two types - admission and qualifying cutoff.

Q:   Can commerce students apply for GATE exam?
A: 

Yes, candidates having qualifying degree in B.Com can apply for GATE exam to get admission to the master's programmes in IITs and IISc. Candidates must go through the GATE information brochure carefully before applying. Also, students in 3rd year or final year in commerce are also eligible for GATE. 

IISc Bangalore GATE 2026 Seat Matrix: Reservation Criteria & Seat Intake of Top Branches

The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has started GATE 2026 MTech and MDes admission process. In addition, the institute has also released GATE 2026 seat matrix for its counselling and seat allotment process. Online registrations are open and the last date to submit application form is March 23. Candidates can check IISc Bangalore GATE cutoff and selection process to analyse and make their decisions before COAP counselling begins. 

Also read:

GATE 2026 IISc Bangalore Seat Intake for Popular Branches

Discipline

GATE 2026 total seat intake

Category -wise seat intake

Computer Science (CSE)

62

Gen - 25 | OBC - 17 | SC- 9 | ST - 5 | EWS - 6

ECE

19

Gen - 8 | OBC - 5 | SC- 3 | ST - 1 | EWS - 2

EE

24

Gen - 10 | OBC - 6 | SC- 4 | ST - 2 | EWS - 2

CE

32

Gen - 13 | OBC - 9 | SC- 5 | ST - 2 | EWS - 3

ME

21

Gen - 9 | OBC - 6 | SC- 3 | ST - 2 | EWS - 1

As the GATE COAP/CCMT counselling 2026 will begin soon, candidates are advised to keep their documents ready along with GATE scorecard. The seat availability fluctuates every year and expected to remain vacant after round 3 of CCMT and often provide special round, allowing students with low GATE scores to get admission to top MTech colleges in India.

Also read:

How to get into IITs with GATE scorecard GATE cutoff for NITs GATE topper's list
How many students qualified for GATE exam Which IIT sets the toughest GATE paper? What is the salary of GATE topper in a month?
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About the Author
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UPASANA PRADHAN
Assistant Manager- Editorial

Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,

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