GATE CS Cut Off: Previous Year Qualifying Marks

The GATE CS cut off is the minimum mark, out of 100, that a candidate needs in the Computer Science and Information Technology paper to qualify and receive a GATE scorecard. It is decided after the exam, it differs by category, and it changes from year to year. This page lists the official qualifying marks for recent years and explains how to use them when you set a target for GATE 2027.

Keep one distinction in mind. The qualifying cut-off only decides whether you clear GATE. Admission to M.Tech programmes and recruitment by public sector organisations depend on separate cut-offs set by each institute or employer. The GATE 2027 cut-off will appear on the official website after the results, which are scheduled for 19 March 2027.

GATE CS Cut Off 2026

These are the qualifying marks for the CS paper in GATE 2026, as published on the official GATE 2026 cut-off page. Of the 259,922 candidates registered for CS, 211,020 appeared.

GATE CS Cut Off

The table compares the last four cycles. The 2025 figures match the official GATE 2025 website.

Over these four years the General cut-off has stayed between 27.6 and 32.5 marks. A swing of a few marks from one year to the next is normal, so use the range as your benchmark and not a single year.

How the Cut-Off Is Decided

The General category cut-off depends on how candidates perform in the paper, and it is kept between 25 and 40 marks. The OBC-NCL/EWS cut-off is 90 percent of the General figure, and the SC/ST/PwD cut-off is two-thirds of it. The 2026 numbers fit this pattern: 30, 27 and 20. Three things move the number:

• Paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers the marks most candidates score.

• Candidate strength: CS is one of the largest GATE papers, so the level of competition shapes the cut-off.

• Normalisation: When a paper is held in more than one session, marks are normalised, so raw marks and the final score can differ.

Qualifying Cut-Off Versus Admission Cut-Off

Clearing the qualifying mark gives you a scorecard and nothing more. Institutes and recruiters shortlist on GATE score, and their cut-offs are usually much higher and vary by programme, category and counselling round. The organisers state that qualifying does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or a job, so read the notification of every institute or organisation you are targeting.

How to Set Your Target Score

1. Treat the qualifying mark as the floor: Aim for a safe margin above the highest recent General cut-off of 32.5, not a score that only just clears the line.

2. Work backwards from your goal: For an M.Tech seat or a PSU job, note the cut-offs in that institute's or employer's notification and set your target above them.

3. Test the target with mocks: A target means little until timed scores support it. Track marks and accuracy across several full-length tests, and remember that a wrong MCQ costs 1/3 or 2/3 mark.