The TANCET 2026 category-wise rank list, released by Anna University on July 12, 2026, shows BC students need approximately 38–55 marks, MBC students 28–45 marks, SC students 18–35 marks and ST students 12–28 marks out of 100 to secure a competitive rank in their respective lists for ME/M.Tech admission.
Anna University publishes separate rank lists for each social reservation category under Tamil Nadu’s 69% statutory reservation policy. Your category rank — not your raw score — determines which college and branch you can target during TANCET 2026 counselling. A score that appears modest on the open category list can fetch a strong rank within the BC, MBC, SC or ST list, giving you better admission prospects than the overall merit position suggests.
- TANCET 2026 is conducted by Anna University, Chennai for ME/M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan, MBA and MCA admissions.
- The test is scored out of 100 marks; separate rank lists are published for each reservation category.
- Tamil Nadu follows a 69% reservation policy: BC (26.5%), BCM (3.5%), MBC and DNC (20%), SC (15%), SCA (3%), ST (1%).
- Category rank, not overall score, decides your seat in reserved category counselling rounds.
- Based on 2025 trends, the expected BC cutoff for popular ME/M.Tech branches is 38–55 marks out of 100.
| Direct Link – TANCET 2026 Category-Wise Rank List (OUT) |
TANCET 2026 Category-Wise Rank List – Overview
Anna University releases the TANCET rank list separately for each social category as part of Tamil Nadu’s reservation framework. The rank list maps your TANCET 2026 score to a category rank used for seat allotment in government-quota seats across Tamil Nadu engineering colleges. The table below summarises reservation shares and expected minimum scores by category for ME/M.Tech programs.
| Category | Reservation Share | Full Form | Expected Min. Score (out of 100, ME/M.Tech) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OC | 31% | Open Category (General) | 50–70 |
| BC | 26.5% | Backward Class | 38–55 |
| BCM | 3.5% | Backward Class Muslim | 32–50 |
| MBC and DNC | 20% | Most Backward Class and Denotified Communities | 28–45 |
| SC | 15% | Scheduled Caste | 18–35 |
| SCA | 3% | Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyar | 16–30 |
| ST | 1% | Scheduled Tribe | 12–28 |
Score ranges are expected figures based on 2025 TANCET trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs may vary by branch and college.
TANCET 2026 BC Category Rank List and Score Range
The BC (Backward Class) category holds 26.5% reservation — one of the largest reserved pools in Tamil Nadu. BC students scoring between 38 and 55 marks out of 100 can expect a rank between 1,000 and 5,000 in the TANCET 2026 BC rank list, based on 2025 trends. High-demand branches such as Computer Science and Electronics Engineering typically require scores at the upper end of this range, while Civil and Agricultural Engineering branches carry lower effective cutoffs.
| Score Range (out of 100) | Expected BC Rank | Seat Prospects (ME/M.Tech) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 and above | 1 – 500 | Top government colleges, popular branches (CSE, ECE) |
| 45 – 54 | 501 – 2,000 | Good government colleges, most branches |
| 38 – 44 | 2,001 – 5,000 | Regional government colleges, less competitive branches |
| 30 – 37 | 5,001 – 10,000 | Aided colleges and self-financing options |
| Below 30 | 10,001 and above | Limited government quota seats |
All rank estimates are expected figures based on 2024–2025 TANCET counselling data.
TANCET 2026 MBC Category Rank List and Score Range
The MBC (Most Backward Class) and DNC (Denotified Communities) combined category holds 20% reservation. MBC students scoring 28–45 marks out of 100 are expected to rank between 1 and 5,000 in the TANCET 2026 MBC rank list, based on 2025 data. District-level seat availability also matters — choosing colleges in your home district often reduces effective competition within the MBC applicant pool.
| Score Range (out of 100) | Expected MBC Rank | Seat Prospects (ME/M.Tech) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 and above | 1 – 500 | Top government colleges, CSE/ECE/Power Electronics |
| 35 – 44 | 501 – 2,500 | Good government and aided colleges |
| 28 – 34 | 2,501 – 5,000 | Regional colleges, most branches available |
| 20 – 27 | 5,001 – 9,000 | Self-financing and aided colleges |
| Below 20 | 9,001 and above | Limited seats in self-financing colleges |
All rank estimates are expected figures based on 2024–2025 TANCET counselling data.
TANCET 2026 SC Category Rank List and Score Range
SC (Scheduled Caste) students benefit from a 15% reservation plus a 3% SCA sub-quota for the Arunthathiyar community. SC students scoring 18–35 marks out of 100 are expected to rank within the top 4,000 in the TANCET 2026 SC rank list, based on 2025 trends. The lower threshold means SC students with moderate scores can still access quality government engineering colleges for ME/M.Tech programs.
| Score Range (out of 100) | Expected SC Rank | Seat Prospects (ME/M.Tech) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and above | 1 – 300 | Top government colleges, all branches |
| 25 – 34 | 301 – 1,500 | Government and good aided colleges |
| 18 – 24 | 1,501 – 4,000 | Regional colleges, wide branch availability |
| 12 – 17 | 4,001 – 7,000 | Self-financing colleges |
| Below 12 | 7,001 and above | Limited options in self-financing sector |
All rank estimates are expected figures based on 2024–2025 TANCET counselling data.
TANCET 2026 ST Category Rank List and Score Range
The ST (Scheduled Tribe) category carries a 1% reservation share — the smallest quota — but the applicant pool is proportionally small as well. ST students scoring 12–28 marks out of 100 are expected to rank between 1 and 1,000 in the TANCET 2026 ST rank list, based on 2025 data. If ST seats go unfilled in any college after the ST counselling round, those seats are de-reserved and offered to SC students in subsequent rounds as per Tamil Nadu government policy.
| Score Range (out of 100) | Expected ST Rank | Seat Prospects (ME/M.Tech) |
|---|---|---|
| 28 and above | 1 – 100 | Top government colleges, choice branches |
| 20 – 27 | 101 – 400 | Good government and aided colleges |
| 12 – 19 | 401 – 1,000 | Regional colleges, most branches |
| Below 12 | 1,001 and above | Aided and self-financing options |
All rank estimates are expected figures based on 2024–2025 TANCET counselling data.
TANCET Category-Wise Cutoff Trends: 2023 to 2025
Three years of TANCET category-wise data shows a steady upward trend of 1–3 marks per year across most categories. Use the table below to benchmark your 2026 score against previous cycles and gauge your admission prospects.
| Category | Approx. Min. Score 2023 | Approx. Min. Score 2024 | Approx. Min. Score 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OC | 48 | 50 | 52 |
| BC | 36 | 38 | 40 |
| BCM | 30 | 32 | 34 |
| MBC and DNC | 26 | 28 | 30 |
| SC | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| SCA | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| ST | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Figures are approximate minimum qualifying thresholds based on previous year counselling data. TANCET 2026 cutoffs are expected to follow the same upward trajectory of 1–3 marks.
Factors Affecting TANCET 2026 Category-Wise Cutoffs
Category-wise cutoffs shift each year based on several variables. Understanding these helps you estimate your chances before the official TANCET 2026 rank list is published.
- Number of applicants per category — a larger pool in any category increases competition and raises the cutoff mark.
- Paper difficulty level — an easier TANCET 2026 paper means more students score high, pushing cutoffs up; a tougher paper lowers them across all categories.
- Total seat intake — new colleges added to the counselling roster or increased intake at existing colleges can ease competition in a given cycle.
- Branch popularity — high-demand branches (CSE, ECE, Power Electronics) carry higher effective cutoffs within every category compared to less-popular branches.
- Year-on-year trend — TANCET category cutoffs have risen by 1–3 marks annually since 2022; the 2026 cycle is expected to continue this pattern.
TANCET 2026 Category-Wise Rank List FAQs
Ques. What is the TANCET 2026 category-wise rank list?
Ans. The TANCET 2026 category-wise rank list is a merit list published separately by Anna University for each reservation category — OC, BC, BCM, MBC and DNC, SC, SCA and ST. Your rank in your own category list determines your eligibility for government-quota seats during TANCET 2026 counselling.
Ques. What is the expected minimum score for BC students in TANCET 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 TANCET trends, BC students are expected to need a minimum of approximately 38 marks out of 100 to secure a rank in the BC category rank list for ME/M.Tech admission. Actual cutoffs will depend on the 2026 paper difficulty and the total number of applicants in the BC pool.
Ques. Is the MBC cutoff lower than the BC cutoff in TANCET?
Ans. Yes. MBC and DNC category cutoffs are generally lower than BC cutoffs. Based on 2025 trends, MBC students need approximately 28–30 marks out of 100 compared to 38–40 marks for BC students for ME/M.Tech programs.
Ques. How can I check the TANCET 2026 category-wise rank list?
Ans. The TANCET 2026 category-wise rank list is published on the official Anna University TANCET portal at tancet.annauniv.edu. Log in with your TANCET 2026 application number and date of birth to view and download your category rank.
Ques. What happens to unfilled ST seats in TANCET 2026 counselling?
Ans. If ST seats in a college or branch remain unfilled after the ST counselling round, those seats are de-reserved and offered to SC students in the subsequent round, in line with Tamil Nadu government reservation rules.
Ques. Does a good score guarantee admission for SC or ST students in TANCET 2026?
Ans. A higher score significantly improves your chances, but admission also depends on the number of seats available in your preferred college and branch, your district preference, and the size of the SC or ST applicant pool that year. Your category rank is the deciding factor during TANCET 2026 counselling rounds.
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