GATE 2026 PSU cutoff marks are expected to range between 25 and 38 out of 100 for qualifying, while PSU shortlisting typically requires a GATE score of 720–800 (out of 1000) for General category students in top PSUs like IOCL, NTPC, GAIL and BHEL.
Public Sector Undertakings recruit engineering graduates through GATE 2026 scores. IIT Guwahati conducted GATE 2026 in February 2026 and released results in March 2026. PSUs set their own category-wise score thresholds each year based on vacancies and the applicant pool. Reserved categories including OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS receive score relaxation, making PSU recruitment accessible across all categories.
- GATE 2026 is scored on two scales — raw marks out of 100 (for qualifying) and GATE Score out of 1000 (for PSU shortlisting)
- Expected General category qualifying marks: 24–38 out of 100, depending on the paper
- Expected GATE score for top PSU shortlisting (General): 720–800 out of 1000
- OBC-NCL and EWS students receive approximately 30–40 points relaxation in GATE score over the General cutoff
- SC and ST students typically receive 120–180 points relaxation in GATE score
- All figures are expected based on GATE 2025 and GATE 2024 trends — each PSU releases its own official cutoff separately
| Direct Link — GATE 2026 Official Portal (ACTIVE) | gate2026.iitg.ac.in |
GATE 2026 Qualifying Cutoff Marks Category-Wise
Before PSU recruitment begins, students must clear the GATE 2026 minimum qualifying marks set by IIT Guwahati. Only students who clear this threshold receive a valid GATE score, which PSUs then use for shortlisting. The table below shows expected qualifying marks for major GATE papers, based on GATE 2025 trends.
| GATE 2026 Paper | General / EWS (Expected) | OBC-NCL (Expected) | SC / ST / PwD (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 27–30 | 24–27 | 18–20 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 31–36 | 27–32 | 20–24 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 24–28 | 21–25 | 16–18 |
| Electronics and Communication (EC) | 23–27 | 20–24 | 15–18 |
| Computer Science and IT (CS) | 27–32 | 24–28 | 18–21 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 33–38 | 29–34 | 22–25 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 28–33 | 25–29 | 18–22 |
| Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) | 28–34 | 25–30 | 18–22 |
All qualifying cutoff values are expected figures based on GATE 2025 data. IIT Guwahati announces the official GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff along with results.
GATE 2026 PSU Score Cutoff Category-Wise
PSUs shortlist students based on the GATE score out of 1000, which is normalized across all test sessions. A higher score significantly improves your chances. The table below shows expected category-wise GATE score ranges required for PSU shortlisting in 2026, based on GATE 2025 recruitment trends.
| Category | Expected GATE Score (out of 1000) | Relaxation Over General |
|---|---|---|
| General | 720–800 | — |
| EWS | 690–770 | ~30 points below General |
| OBC-NCL | 680–760 | ~40 points below General |
| SC | 580–660 | ~130–140 points below General |
| ST | 540–620 | ~170–180 points below General |
| PwD | 530–610 | ~180–190 points below General |
These are expected score ranges based on GATE 2025 PSU recruitment patterns. Actual cutoffs vary by PSU, branch and number of vacancies.
PSU-Wise Expected GATE 2026 Score Cutoff
Each PSU sets its own GATE score cutoff depending on the number of seats and the applicant pool for that recruitment cycle. Top-tier PSUs with limited vacancies tend to set higher score thresholds. The table below shows expected GATE 2026 score cutoffs for major PSUs, category-wise, based on GATE 2024 and GATE 2025 recruitment data.
| PSU | General | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOCL | 760–790 | 730–760 | 720–750 | 620–650 | 570–600 |
| GAIL | 755–785 | 725–755 | 715–745 | 615–645 | 565–595 |
| HPCL | 745–775 | 715–745 | 705–735 | 605–635 | 555–585 |
| NTPC | 740–770 | 710–740 | 700–730 | 600–630 | 550–580 |
| BPCL | 735–765 | 705–735 | 695–725 | 595–625 | 545–575 |
| ONGC | 720–750 | 690–720 | 680–710 | 580–610 | 530–560 |
| BHEL | 710–740 | 680–710 | 670–700 | 570–600 | 520–550 |
| Power Grid (PGCIL) | 700–730 | 670–700 | 660–690 | 560–590 | 510–540 |
| AAI | 695–725 | 665–695 | 655–685 | 555–585 | 505–535 |
All PSU score cutoffs above are expected figures based on GATE 2025 and GATE 2024 recruitment data. Each PSU publishes its own official cutoff when it releases the shortlist.
Factors Affecting GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff
Several variables influence where a PSU sets its final cutoff each year. Understanding these helps you interpret the expected ranges above and set realistic preparation targets.
- Number of vacancies: More vacancies in a given branch lower the effective cutoff; fewer vacancies push it higher.
- Paper difficulty: A harder GATE 2026 paper depresses raw marks and typically leads to lower qualifying cutoffs, though normalized scores may remain stable.
- Total applicant pool: A larger number of students appearing in a particular paper increases competition and often raises the PSU score cutoff.
- Category-wise reservation norms: PSUs follow government reservation policy — 27% OBC, 15% SC, 7.5% ST and 10% EWS — which determines how many seats each category competes for separately.
- Branch-specific demand: Branches like ME, EE and CE with high applicant numbers and limited seats tend to see higher cutoffs than less-contested disciplines like PI or IN.
- GATE score normalization: GATE 2026 is held in multiple sessions. Scores are normalized using a statistical formula, so two students with identical raw marks may receive different GATE scores if they appeared in different sessions.
GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected GATE 2026 PSU cutoff for General category students?
Ans. General category students are expected to need a GATE score of 720–800 out of 1000 to be shortlisted by top PSUs like IOCL, GAIL and NTPC in 2026. The exact cutoff varies by PSU, branch and number of vacancies announced.
Ques. What GATE score is expected for OBC students to qualify for PSU recruitment in 2026?
Ans. OBC-NCL students are expected to need a GATE score of 680–760 out of 1000, roughly 40 points below the General cutoff. EWS students can expect a threshold of 690–770, which is about 30 points below the General cutoff.
Ques. Are GATE 2026 PSU cutoffs based on marks out of 100 or GATE score out of 1000?
Ans. PSU recruitment cutoffs are based on the GATE score out of 1000, not raw marks. You must first clear the minimum qualifying marks (out of 100) set by IIT Guwahati. Only students with a valid GATE score are eligible for PSU shortlisting.
Ques. What are the expected GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff marks for SC and ST students?
Ans. SC and ST students are expected to need qualifying marks of approximately 15–25 out of 100 depending on the GATE paper. For PSU shortlisting, SC students typically need a GATE score of 580–660 and ST students need 540–620, based on GATE 2025 trends.
Ques. When will official GATE 2026 PSU cutoffs be released?
Ans. Each PSU releases its own cutoff separately. Most major PSUs like IOCL, BHEL and NTPC publish shortlists and cutoffs 2–4 months after GATE 2026 results are declared. Students should check each PSU’s official careers portal for exact dates and notifications.
Ques. Which PSU has the highest GATE score cutoff for General category students?
Ans. Based on GATE 2025 trends, IOCL and GAIL tend to have the highest GATE score cutoffs for General category students, typically in the range of 760–790. These PSUs offer higher pay packages and attract more applicants, which keeps their cutoffs high.
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