PGECET 2026 OC (Open Category) qualifying marks are 30 out of 120, i.e., 25% of the total marks. Students who score 30 or above receive a rank and become eligible for PGECET 2026 counselling.
PGECET 2026 is conducted by the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) for admission to ME, M.Tech, M.Pharmacy, and Pharm.D (PB) programs at universities and colleges across Telangana. The qualifying marks threshold has remained stable at 30 out of 120 for OC students for five consecutive years. However, securing a rank is only the first step — actual admission depends on college-wise and branch-wise OC closing ranks released after each counselling round.
- PGECET total marks: 120 (120 objective-type questions, 1 mark each, no negative marking)
- OC category qualifying marks: 30 out of 120 (25%)
- BC category qualifying marks: 30 out of 120 (25%) — same as OC
- SC and ST students: no minimum qualifying marks required
- Expected OC closing rank for CSE at top government colleges: within 100–200 (based on 2025 trends)
- Official PGECET 2026 cutoffs will be released by TSCHE after each counselling round
| Direct Link to PGECET 2026 Official Portal | pgecet.tsche.ac.in |
PGECET 2026 OC Category Qualifying Marks Out of 120
PGECET 2026 is a 120-mark paper with 120 objective-type questions worth 1 mark each. There is no negative marking. For OC students, the minimum qualifying marks are 25% of 120, which comes to 30 marks. Students scoring below 30 will not receive a rank and are ineligible for PGECET 2026 counselling.
Securing 30 marks guarantees a rank — but it does not guarantee a seat. OC category seats at highly sought-after colleges and branches go to students with significantly higher scores. Based on 2025 trends, a score above 60 out of 120 is generally needed to be competitive for government college seats under OC category.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Total Questions | 120 (objective type / MCQ) |
| Marks per Question | 1 mark |
| Negative Marking | None |
| OC Category Qualifying Marks | 30 out of 120 (25%) |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Mode | Online (Computer Based Test) |
PGECET 2026 Category-Wise Qualifying Marks
PGECET 2026 qualifying marks vary by reservation category. OC and BC students share the same 25% minimum, while SC and ST students have no minimum qualifying requirement. The table below shows category-wise minimum qualifying marks for PGECET 2026.
| Category | Qualifying Percentage | Qualifying Marks (out of 120) |
|---|---|---|
| OC (Open Category / General) | 25% | 30 marks |
| OC-EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 25% | 30 marks |
| BC-A, BC-B, BC-C, BC-D, BC-E | 25% | 30 marks |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | No minimum | — |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | No minimum | — |
| PH (Physically Handicapped) | No minimum | — |
PGECET 2026 Expected OC Category Cutoff Ranks by Branch
The following table shows expected PGECET 2026 OC closing ranks by branch at government colleges, based on 2024 and 2025 counselling trends. CSE, AI and Data Science, and VLSI branches are the most competitive, while core engineering branches like Civil and Mechanical typically have higher (less competitive) closing ranks for OC students.
All figures below are expected based on previous year trends and are subject to change after official PGECET 2026 counselling rounds.
| Branch / Specialisation | Expected OC Closing Rank — Govt. Colleges | Expected OC Closing Rank — Private Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| M.Tech Computer Science (CSE) | 1 – 200 | 1 – 1,500 |
| M.Tech AI and Data Science | 1 – 100 | 1 – 800 |
| M.Tech VLSI System Design | 1 – 80 | 1 – 600 |
| M.Tech Electronics and Communication (ECE) | 1 – 500 | 1 – 2,000 |
| M.Tech Electrical Engineering (EEE / Power Systems) | 1 – 800 | 1 – 2,500 |
| M.Tech Mechanical Engineering | 1 – 1,200 | 1 – 3,000 |
| M.Tech Civil Engineering | 1 – 1,500 | 1 – 3,500 |
| M.Tech Chemical Engineering | 1 – 900 | 1 – 2,500 |
| M.Pharmacy | 1 – 700 | 1 – 2,000 |
| Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) | 1 – 500 | 1 – 1,500 |
PGECET 2026 Expected OC Cutoff Ranks at Top Colleges
Government universities and autonomous colleges in Hyderabad attract the strongest competition. The table below shows expected OC category closing ranks for top PGECET-participating colleges in Telangana, based on 2025 counselling data. These are estimates and the official cutoffs are released after each counselling round by TSCHE.
| College | Branch / Specialisation | Expected OC Closing Rank (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Osmania University, Hyderabad | M.Tech CSE | 1 – 153 |
| Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad | M.Tech CSE | 1 – 30 |
| Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad | M.Tech Power Systems and Power Electronics | 1 – 200 |
| Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) | M.Tech AI and Data Science | 1 – 50 |
| CMR College of Engineering and Technology | M.Tech VLSI System Design | 1 – 30 |
| JNTUH, Hyderabad | M.Tech CSE | 1 – 250 |
| JNTUH, Hyderabad | M.Tech ECE | 1 – 500 |
| JNTUH, Hyderabad | M.Tech Mechanical Engineering | 1 – 1,200 |
Factors Affecting PGECET 2026 OC Category Cutoff
The PGECET 2026 OC category cutoff is not fixed — it shifts each year based on several variables. Understanding these helps you estimate your chances at a preferred college and branch before counselling begins.
- Total applicants — a higher number of students appearing increases competition and pushes OC closing ranks lower
- Seat availability — colleges with more approved M.Tech seats tend to have higher (less competitive) OC closing ranks
- Exam difficulty — a tougher paper results in lower overall scores, which can compress rank distribution at the top and ease pressure on mid-rank students
- Branch popularity — CSE, AI and Data Science, and VLSI specialisations attract the most applicants, resulting in the tightest OC closing ranks
- New AICTE approvals — additional seats approved for new colleges or branches increase total seat supply, which can push OC closing ranks higher
- Year-on-year trends — cutoffs for established colleges and branches typically vary within a narrow band unless there is a major change in seat intake or applicant volume
How to Check PGECET 2026 Cutoff Ranks
TSCHE releases official OC cutoff ranks after each round of PGECET 2026 counselling. The opening and closing ranks for every college and branch are published on the official portal. Follow these steps to check your cutoff status.
- Visit the official PGECET portal at pgecet.tsche.ac.in
- Click on the Counselling or Seat Allotment section on the homepage
- Select the relevant counselling round (Round 1, Round 2, or Spot Admission)
- Choose OC category, your preferred branch, and college from the dropdown menus
- The page will display the opening and closing ranks for OC seats at that college and branch
- Compare your PGECET 2026 rank against the closing rank to assess your admission chances
Cutoff data is updated after each counselling round. Always use the official TSCHE portal for the latest opening and closing rank data.
PGECET 2026 OC Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What are the PGECET 2026 qualifying marks for OC category?
Ans. OC (Open Category) students must score at least 30 out of 120 marks in PGECET 2026, which equals 25% of the total. Scoring below 30 means no rank is assigned and you will not be eligible for PGECET 2026 counselling.
Ques. Is scoring 30 marks in PGECET 2026 enough to get a seat under OC category?
Ans. No. Scoring 30 marks only qualifies you for a rank — it does not guarantee a seat. For top colleges like Vasavi or CBIT under OC category, closing ranks are typically within 30–50. Even for government university seats, students generally need to be within the top 150–300 ranks, which requires well above the minimum qualifying score.
Ques. What is the total marks for the PGECET 2026 exam?
Ans. PGECET 2026 is a 120-mark exam with 120 objective-type questions, each worth 1 mark. There is no negative marking. The exam duration is 2 hours and it is conducted in online (computer-based) mode.
Ques. When will official PGECET 2026 OC cutoff ranks be released?
Ans. TSCHE releases official OC cutoff ranks after each round of PGECET 2026 counselling. Opening and closing ranks for every college and branch are published on the official portal at pgecet.tsche.ac.in following seat allotment for each round.
Ques. Are PGECET OC qualifying marks the same as BC qualifying marks?
Ans. Yes. Both OC (Open Category) and BC (Backward Class) students must score a minimum of 30 out of 120 (25%) to qualify for a rank. The difference lies in seat allocation during counselling — BC students compete within reserved BC quota seats, which typically have higher (less competitive) closing ranks than OC general seats.
Ques. Which PGECET 2026 branch has the lowest OC closing rank?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, M.Tech VLSI System Design and M.Tech CSE at top autonomous colleges have the lowest (most competitive) OC closing ranks, often within 30–50. M.Tech AI and Data Science follows closely. Core branches like Civil and Mechanical Engineering have higher closing ranks, making admission relatively easier for OC students with mid-range ranks.
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