GATE 2026 PSU cutoff for SC and ST category is expected to range from 22 to 55 marks out of 100 depending on the company and branch, based on GATE 2025 PSU shortlist trends.
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) set their own shortlisting cutoffs above the GATE 2026 qualifying marks released by IIT Guwahati. For SC and ST students, each PSU applies relaxed cutoff norms in line with government reservation policy. The SC category cutoff typically runs 5 to 8 marks higher than the ST category bar for the same PSU and branch.
- GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati; qualifying marks for SC/ST/PwD are set at two-thirds of the General category cutoff for each paper.
- PSU-specific cutoffs are decided independently by each company based on vacancy count, applicant pool size, and branch-wise demand.
- Recruiters like Power Grid (EE), BEL (ECE), and IOCL (ME/CH) have higher SC/ST cutoffs due to large applicant volumes.
- Government reservation mandates 15% seats for SC and 7.5% seats for ST across public sector recruitments.
- All figures below are expected based on GATE 2025 PSU shortlist cutoff trends and will be updated once PSUs release official shortlists.
| Direct Link to GATE 2026 Official Portal (ACTIVE) gate2026.iitg.ac.in |
GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for SC and ST: Overview
PSUs that recruit through GATE 2026 maintain two separate cutoff thresholds: the GATE qualifying marks set by IIT Guwahati and the PSU shortlisting cutoff set by each company. SC and ST students must clear the qualifying marks first, then the higher company-specific bar. The table below shows how the two thresholds compare across categories.
| Category | GATE Qualifying Marks Range (out of 100) | Typical PSU Shortlisting Range (out of 100) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 25 – 52 | 45 – 75 |
| OBC-NCL | 22 – 47 | 40 – 68 |
| SC | 17 – 35 | 28 – 55 |
| ST | 17 – 35 | 22 – 48 |
GATE 2026 Qualifying Marks for SC and ST Category
IIT Guwahati sets the minimum qualifying score for SC/ST/PwD at two-thirds (2/3) of the General category cutoff for each paper. The table below lists expected GATE 2026 qualifying marks for major branches based on GATE 2025 data.
| Paper (Branch) | General Category (Expected 2026) | SC / ST / PwD (Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science (CS) | 49 – 51 | 32 – 35 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 33 – 36 | 22 – 25 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 34 – 37 | 22 – 25 |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 28 – 31 | 18 – 21 |
| Electronics and Communication (ECE) | 29 – 32 | 19 – 22 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 34 – 37 | 22 – 25 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 31 – 34 | 20 – 23 |
These figures are expected based on GATE 2025 qualifying marks. Official GATE 2026 qualifying cutoffs are released by IIT Guwahati alongside the results.
GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for SC Category: Company-Wise (Expected)
The table below lists the expected GATE 2026 shortlisting cutoff for SC category students across major PSUs and key branches. These figures are based on GATE 2025 PSU shortlist cutoff trends and assume comparable vacancy counts in 2026.
| PSU | ME | EE | CE | ECE | CH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONGC | 37 – 40 | 35 – 38 | 27 – 30 | 31 – 34 | 38 – 41 |
| IOCL | 41 – 44 | 38 – 41 | 29 – 32 | 32 – 35 | 40 – 43 |
| BHEL | 39 – 42 | 37 – 40 | 31 – 34 | 34 – 37 | — |
| NTPC | 44 – 47 | 42 – 45 | 32 – 35 | — | — |
| GAIL | 39 – 42 | 36 – 39 | 28 – 31 | — | 38 – 41 |
| Power Grid (PGCIL) | — | 51 – 55 | 35 – 38 | 42 – 45 | — |
| HPCL | 38 – 41 | 34 – 37 | 28 – 31 | — | 38 – 41 |
| BEL | 37 – 40 | 42 – 45 | — | 47 – 50 | — |
| NHPC | 34 – 37 | 37 – 40 | 32 – 35 | — | — |
| Coal India | 34 – 37 | 32 – 35 | 25 – 28 | — | — |
| AAI | — | 40 – 43 | 32 – 35 | 44 – 47 | — |
All figures above are expected based on GATE 2025 PSU shortlist cutoff trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs will vary based on final vacancy counts and the applicant score distribution.
GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff for ST Category: Company-Wise (Expected)
ST category cutoffs are typically 5 to 8 marks lower than SC category cutoffs for the same PSU and branch. The table below shows expected GATE 2026 cutoffs for ST students based on 2025 patterns.
| PSU | ME | EE | CE | ECE | CH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONGC | 31 – 34 | 29 – 32 | 22 – 25 | 26 – 29 | 32 – 35 |
| IOCL | 35 – 38 | 32 – 35 | 24 – 27 | 27 – 30 | 34 – 37 |
| BHEL | 33 – 36 | 31 – 34 | 26 – 29 | 28 – 31 | — |
| NTPC | 37 – 40 | 35 – 38 | 26 – 29 | — | — |
| GAIL | 33 – 36 | 30 – 33 | 23 – 26 | — | 32 – 35 |
| Power Grid (PGCIL) | — | 44 – 48 | 29 – 32 | 36 – 39 | — |
| HPCL | 32 – 35 | 28 – 31 | 23 – 26 | — | 32 – 35 |
| BEL | 31 – 34 | 36 – 39 | — | 40 – 43 | — |
| NHPC | 28 – 31 | 31 – 34 | 27 – 30 | — | — |
| Coal India | 28 – 31 | 26 – 29 | 20 – 23 | — | — |
| AAI | — | 34 – 37 | 27 – 30 | 38 – 41 | — |
All figures above are expected based on GATE 2025 PSU shortlist cutoff trends. Official 2026 cutoffs will be released by each PSU after shortlisting is complete.
Factors Affecting GATE PSU Cutoff for SC and ST Students
Several variables determine where the SC and ST cutoff lands for a given PSU in any recruitment cycle:
- Vacancy count: Fewer vacancies in a branch push the cutoff higher because more students compete for limited seats.
- Number of GATE qualifiers in the category: A larger pool of SC or ST qualifiers in a paper directly raises the shortlisting bar for that paper.
- Reservation percentage: Government mandates 15% reservation for SC and 7.5% for ST across public sector recruitments, which fixes the minimum seat share per category.
- GATE paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers raw scores across the board and can reduce absolute cutoffs even when relative competition remains constant.
- PSU pay scale and brand: Higher-paying PSUs like Power Grid and BEL attract more applicants, raising their SC and ST cutoffs above those of smaller recruiters like NHPC or Coal India.
- Branch demand: EE and ME attract far more PSU recruiters than niche branches, making competition for SC and ST seats sharper in these disciplines.
GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff SC ST FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum GATE 2026 score for SC and ST students to apply for PSU recruitment?
Ans. SC and ST students must first clear the GATE 2026 qualifying marks set by IIT Guwahati, expected at around 18 to 35 marks out of 100 depending on the paper. Beyond that, you must also meet the higher PSU-specific shortlisting cutoff, which is expected to range from 22 to 55 marks depending on the company and branch.
Ques. Is the GATE PSU cutoff for SC and ST students the same across all companies?
Ans. No. Each PSU sets its own shortlisting cutoff based on vacancies, branch, and the score distribution of applicants. Power Grid typically has higher EE cutoffs than NHPC or Coal India, even for the same SC or ST category.
Ques. How much lower is the ST cutoff compared to the SC cutoff in PSU recruitment?
Ans. Based on GATE 2025 PSU recruitment data, the ST category cutoff is typically 5 to 8 marks lower than the SC category cutoff for the same PSU and branch.
Ques. Which branch has the highest GATE PSU cutoff for SC and ST students?
Ans. Electrical Engineering (EE) consistently records the highest SC and ST PSU cutoffs, particularly for Power Grid and BEL. ECE also sees high cutoffs at BEL and AAI. Branches like Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering tend to have lower cutoffs because fewer PSUs recruit from them.
Ques. When will GATE 2026 PSU shortlist cutoffs be officially announced?
Ans. PSUs release official shortlist cutoffs after completing their shortlisting process, usually between April and August 2026. Check each PSU’s official recruitment portal for the exact announcement date and shortlist PDF download link.
Ques. Do SC and ST students need to appear in a separate exam or are they part of the same GATE 2026 merit list?
Ans. SC and ST students appear in the same GATE 2026 examination as all other categories. There is no separate test. PSUs prepare category-wise merit lists after the GATE results and apply relaxed cutoffs to shortlist SC and ST students for further recruitment rounds.
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