GATE 2026 PSU OBC Cutoff: Company-Wise Relaxed Qualifying Marks

GATE 2026 PSU OBC category cutoff is expected to range from 33 to 52 marks out of 100 depending on the company and engineering branch, with PSUs offering OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students a relaxation of approximately 5 marks below the General category threshold.

Public Sector Undertakings that recruit through GATE 2026 scores set their own minimum qualifying marks for each category. The expected figures below are based on GATE 2025 and GATE 2024 trends; official PSU notifications will confirm the final thresholds after GATE 2026 results are declared by IIT Guwahati.

• GATE 2026 total marks: 100; the official GATE qualifying cutoff for OBC is roughly 10% below the General category mark.
• PSU-level OBC cutoff is significantly higher than the GATE qualifying cutoff and varies by company, branch, and vacancy count.
• Top PSUs with highest expected OBC cutoffs: PGCIL (EE: ~52), NTPC (EE: ~52, ME: ~48), HPCL (ME: ~45).
• OBC students must hold a valid OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate issued by a competent authority at the time of application.
• GATE 2026 was conducted by IIT Guwahati; individual PSU notifications with cutoffs are published on company-specific recruitment portals.

---

GATE 2026 Official OBC Qualifying Cutoff (Paper-Wise)

IIT Guwahati sets the minimum qualifying cutoff for each GATE 2026 paper. OBC (NCL) students receive a 10% relaxation below the General category threshold. These qualifying marks determine scorecard eligibility — PSU-specific cutoffs are far higher and listed separately below.

Figures are based on GATE 2025 trends; IIT Guwahati releases the official GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff on the official portal after results are declared.

---

How OBC Relaxation Works in PSU Recruitment

PSUs follow government reservation guidelines when fixing category-wise GATE score thresholds. Understanding the mechanism helps you plan your score target before official notifications are published.

• Application stage: OBC students may apply if their GATE score meets the relaxed OBC minimum — typically 5 marks below the General category PSU cutoff.
• Shortlisting stage: OBC candidates compete within the reserved seat pool ranked by GATE score; a strong score within the OBC pool secures a shortlist even if it falls below the General cutoff.
• NCL certificate requirement: The OBC NCL certificate must be issued by an SDM or equivalent authority and must be valid in the financial year of the PSU application.
• Degree eligibility: Most PSUs require OBC students to hold at least 60% marks or a 6.5 CGPA in their qualifying engineering degree.
• Selection process: After the GATE score screen, most PSUs conduct a Group Discussion or Personal Interview. The GATE score typically carries 85% weight in the final merit calculation.

---

Company-Wise GATE 2026 PSU OBC Cutoff (Expected)

The table below lists projected OBC-NCL cutoffs for the major PSUs recruiting through GATE 2026 scores, sorted by company and branch. All figures are expected values based on GATE 2025 and GATE 2024 recruitment patterns and will be updated after official notifications are published.

---

Branch-Wise OBC Cutoff Range Across PSUs

Use the branch-level overview below to benchmark your GATE 2026 score against the OBC pool of all major PSUs. All figures are expected values based on GATE 2025 trends.

---

Factors Affecting GATE 2026 PSU OBC Cutoff

The actual OBC cutoff can differ from expected figures once official notifications are released. Students should watch for these variables when planning their PSU applications.

• Number of OBC reserved vacancies: Fewer reserved seats in a cycle raise competition within the OBC pool and push the cutoff higher.
• GATE 2026 paper difficulty: An easier paper lifts average scores across students; PSUs then move the cutoff upward to preserve selectivity.
• Total valid OBC applicants: A larger pool of OBC students with high GATE scores compresses the gap between General and OBC cutoffs.
• PSU package and brand value: Premium PSUs such as NTPC and PGCIL attract more applicants, sustaining higher cutoffs compared to companies with fewer applicants.
• Government reservation directives: Any change in OBC reservation percentage or relaxation norms via official gazette notifications directly affects the cutoff calculation.
• Degree eligibility screen: Students with GATE scores above the OBC cutoff but below the minimum degree percentage criterion are disqualified, effectively tightening the final shortlist.