GATE 2026 PSU cutoff for OBC students is expected to range between 620 and 740 (GATE Score out of 1000) across BHEL, ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC, based on 2024–25 recruitment trends.
Public Sector Undertakings use GATE scores to shortlist engineers for direct recruitment, and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students enjoy 27% reservation that places their cutoff approximately 30–60 points below the General category. With GATE 2026 results declared by IIT Guwahati, PSU notifications are expected through mid-2026. Knowing the expected OBC cutoff for each company helps you identify which PSUs match your score.
- GATE is scored out of 100; PSUs shortlist using the GATE Score (out of 1000), not raw marks.
- OBC (NCL) students receive 27% reservation in all central PSU recruitment through GATE.
- IOCL consistently has the highest OBC cutoff — expected around 718–740 for Electrical Engineering in 2026.
- BHEL typically has the most accessible OBC cutoff, expected around 660–680 for Electrical Engineering in 2026.
- All estimates below are expected figures based on 2024–25 trends; official cutoffs are published in each PSU’s recruitment notification.
OBC Reservation in GATE PSU Recruitment
BHEL, ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC are central government enterprises and follow the Government of India’s reservation policy for GATE-based recruitment. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students get 27% of vacancies reserved, and the shortlisting cutoff is typically 5–10% lower than the General category cutoff for the same discipline. Students must submit a valid NCL certificate issued within the current financial year to avail the reservation benefit.
PSUs shortlist based on GATE Score — a normalised figure out of 1000 computed by IIT Guwahati. Your GATE 2026 Score is valid for recruitment by all four PSUs simultaneously. Each PSU releases its own notification with discipline-wise vacancy counts and category-wise cutoffs separately.
| Category | Reservation | Typical Cutoff Gap vs General (GATE Score) |
|---|---|---|
| General / UR | — | Base cutoff |
| OBC (NCL) | 27% | 30–60 points lower |
| EWS | 10% | 20–40 points lower |
| SC | 15% | 100–150 points lower |
| ST | 7.5% | 120–170 points lower |
GATE PSU OBC Cutoff – Previous Year Data (2024–25)
The approximate OBC cutoffs from GATE 2024 and 2025 recruitment cycles are shown below. All figures are GATE Scores (out of 1000) and are indicative ranges based on publicly available trends from each PSU’s recruitment cycle. Actual cutoffs for individual PSUs vary by vacancy count, session, and recruitment stage.
| PSU | Discipline | OBC Cutoff 2024 (approx.) | OBC Cutoff 2025 (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHEL | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 635–645 | 650–660 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 615–630 | 630–645 | |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 595–615 | 610–630 | |
| ONGC | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 670–690 | 685–705 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 645–665 | 660–680 | |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 640–655 | 655–670 | |
| IOCL | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 695–710 | 705–720 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 675–695 | 690–705 | |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 645–665 | 660–675 | |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 660–680 | 675–690 | |
| NTPC | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 660–678 | 675–692 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 638–655 | 652–670 | |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 618–638 | 632–650 |
Expected GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for OBC Students
Based on the consistent upward movement from 2024 to 2025, GATE 2026 OBC cutoffs are expected to increase by 10–20 points across most disciplines. IOCL is projected to retain the highest cutoff while BHEL remains the most accessible among the four. All figures below are expected estimates based on 2024–25 trends and will be confirmed in each PSU’s official GATE 2026 recruitment notification.
| PSU | Discipline | Expected OBC Cutoff 2026 (GATE Score) |
|---|---|---|
| BHEL | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 660–680 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 640–662 | |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 620–645 | |
| ONGC | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 698–718 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 672–692 | |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 665–682 | |
| IOCL | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 718–740 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 700–722 | |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 670–690 | |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 688–708 | |
| NTPC | Electrical Engineering (EE) | 688–708 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 662–682 | |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 643–663 |
Factors Affecting GATE PSU OBC Cutoff
The OBC cutoff for PSU recruitment through GATE shifts from year to year. These key factors determine how high or low the cutoff settles for each PSU and discipline.
- Number of OBC vacancies announced: Fewer reserved seats mean stronger competition and a higher cutoff for that category.
- GATE paper difficulty: An easier GATE paper produces more high scorers across all students, pushing OBC and General cutoffs up together. A harder paper brings them down.
- PSU expansion and hiring intake: PSUs announcing more vacancies due to new projects or government-driven expansion typically see lower effective cutoffs across all categories.
- Discipline-wise demand: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering attract the most GATE qualifiers, so their OBC cutoffs consistently sit higher than Civil or Chemical Engineering cutoffs at the same PSU.
- Recruitment stage: The cutoff for written test shortlisting is lower than the cutoff at the final merit stage after group discussion or personal interview rounds.
- Year-on-year score inflation: As preparation quality improves, average GATE Scores rise gradually, pushing cutoffs upward each recruitment cycle.
GATE 2026 PSU OBC Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What GATE Score do OBC students need for IOCL shortlisting in 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, OBC students in Electrical Engineering need a GATE Score of approximately 705–720 for IOCL shortlisting. For GATE 2026, this is expected to rise to around 718–740. The official cutoff will be confirmed in IOCL’s GATE 2026 recruitment notification.
Ques. Is the OBC cutoff for BHEL lower than ONGC and IOCL?
Ans. Yes. BHEL typically has the lowest OBC cutoff among the four PSUs. For Electrical Engineering, BHEL’s expected OBC cutoff for 2026 is around 660–680, compared to 698–718 for ONGC and 718–740 for IOCL — making BHEL the most accessible option for OBC students with mid-range GATE Scores.
Ques. Do PSUs use GATE marks or GATE Score for OBC cutoffs?
Ans. PSUs use the GATE Score (out of 1000), not raw GATE marks (out of 100). The GATE Score is normalised across multiple exam sessions and papers by IIT Guwahati and is the standard shortlisting metric used by all central PSUs.
Ques. Can OBC students apply to all four PSUs with the same GATE 2026 score?
Ans. Yes. Your GATE 2026 Score is valid for applications to BHEL, ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC simultaneously. Most PSUs also accept GATE scores from the two preceding years, so scores from GATE 2024 or 2025 may qualify as well — check each PSU’s notification for the year validity clause.
Ques. What documents do OBC students need for PSU recruitment through GATE 2026?
Ans. You need a valid OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate issued within the current financial year, your GATE 2026 scorecard, a graduation degree or provisional completion certificate, and a valid photo ID. Document requirements vary by PSU — always check the official notification of each PSU for the complete list.
Ques. When will GATE 2026 PSU notifications with official OBC cutoffs be released?
Ans. PSU notifications are released independently by each company. BHEL and NTPC typically publish recruitment notifications between March and May; ONGC and IOCL typically follow between April and July. Refer to the official careers portal of each PSU for the latest announcement and notification date.
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