GATE DA Cutoff 2024–2026: Category-Wise Analysis
Understand how GATE DA qualifying cutoffs are calculated, what category-wise relaxation applies, and how to set a realistic target score for IIT MTech admission.
All qualifying cutoff data sourced from the official GATE results pages of IISc Bangalore (2024), IIT Roorkee (2025), and IIT Guwahati (2026). Formula and category relaxation as published in the GATE Information Brochure.
In short
GATE DA has two types of cutoffs: the qualifying cutoff (minimum to get a scorecard) and admission cutoffs (minimum GATE score for IIT/NIT programmes). The General qualifying cutoff is calculated as max(25, min(40, μ + σ)) — bounded between 25 and 40 marks. The General qualifying cutoff has trended downward: 37.1 (2024) → 29.0 (2025) → 26.4 (2026) as the candidate pool has grown. OBC-NCL and EWS candidates qualify at 90% of the General cutoff; SC/ST/PwD at two-thirds. Admission cutoffs for specific institutions are separate and vary widely — check COAP data for current figures.
Two Types of GATE DA Cutoffs
Qualifying Cutoff
Minimum marks to receive a valid GATE scorecard. Calculated as max(25, min(40, μ + σ)) for the General category, with relaxation for reserved categories.
Admission Cutoff
Minimum GATE score for IIT/NIT/IIIT MTech admission. Varies by institute, programme, category, and year. Much higher than qualifying cutoff.
How the Qualifying Cutoff Is Calculated
GATE uses a standard formula applied uniformly across all papers including GATE DA.
Qualifying Mark (General) = max( 25, min( 40, μ + σ ) )
μ (mu)
Mean (average) marks of all candidates who appeared
σ (sigma)
Standard deviation of marks of all candidates
Category-Wise Relaxation
General
No relaxation (base qualifying mark)
OBC-NCL / EWS
90% of the General qualifying mark (per GATE Information Brochure & FAQ)
SC / ST / PwD
Two-thirds (⅔) of the General qualifying mark
GATE DA Qualifying Cutoffs: 2024–2026
Official qualifying marks from the respective organizing IITs.
| Year | Organizing IIT | General | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC/ST/PwD | Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | IIT Guwahati | 26.4 | 23.7 | 17.5 | 69,242 |
| 2025 | IIT Roorkee | 29.0 | 26.1 | 19.3 | 57,054 |
| 2024 | IISc Bangalore | 37.1 | 33.3 | 24.7 | 39,210 |
All values are from the official GATE results pages. EWS candidates have the same qualifying mark as OBC-NCL (90% of General), as stated in the GATE 2026 FAQ. SC/ST/PwD qualifying mark is two-thirds of the General cutoff.
Sources: GATE 2024 (IISc) · GATE 2025 (IIT Roorkee) · GATE 2026 (IIT Guwahati)
Setting a Realistic Target Score
Just qualify (scorecard)
Score above the qualifying cutoff (26.4 marks in 2026 for General). This gives you a valid GATE scorecard usable for 3 years.
Competitive score
40–55+ marks gives you a strong GATE score, making you eligible to apply to a wide range of M.Tech programmes accepting GATE DA.
High score
60+ marks places you among the top percentile. Required for the most selective programmes. Admission depends on institution-specific processes (interviews, written tests).
PSU recruitment
A valid GATE score qualifies you. Individual PSU cutoffs vary by organization and year — check specific PSU recruitment notifications.
Important note on admission cutoffs
Qualifying cutoff ≠ admission cutoff. Admission to specific IIT/NIT programmes depends on your GATE score (normalized, out of 1000), available seats, and institution-specific selection processes (which may include interviews or written tests). GATE DA is a new paper (started 2024) and admission cutoff trends are still stabilizing. Check COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) data and individual institutional websites for the most current admission cutoffs.
Factors That Affect GATE DA Cutoffs
Paper difficulty
Harder papers lead to lower qualifying cutoffs (lower mean & topper score).
Number of candidates
More test-takers can push up competition for limited IIT seats.
Topper's marks
The qualifying cutoff formula uses the highest marks obtained — a very high topper score raises the cutoff.
Seat availability
New DA/DS programmes at IITs increase seats, potentially lowering admission cutoffs.
Category reservation
SC/ST/PwD/OBC candidates benefit from relaxed qualifying marks and reserved seats.
Year-over-year trends
As GATE DA matures, cutoffs may stabilize — but early years show more variance.
Aim above the cutoff — start preparing strategically
The ML Hub's GATE DA course is built by toppers (AIR 9, AIR 90) to help you score well above the qualifying cutoff and compete for top IIT seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GATE DA qualifying cutoff?+
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum marks needed to receive a valid GATE scorecard. For the General category, it is calculated as max(25, min(40, μ + σ)) — where μ is the mean and σ is the standard deviation of all candidates' marks — bounded between 25 and 40. OBC-NCL and EWS candidates qualify at 90% of the General cutoff; SC/ST/PwD at two-thirds.
Is the GATE DA cutoff different from GATE CS cutoff?+
Yes. GATE DA and GATE CS are separate papers with different candidate pools and difficulty levels. Their qualifying cutoffs and IIT admission cutoffs are calculated independently.
What GATE DA score is needed for IIT MTech admission?+
IIT admission cutoffs depend on the specific institute, programme, year, category, and number of applicants. They are significantly higher than the qualifying cutoff. Check COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) closing scores for the most accurate data.
How is the GATE score different from GATE marks?+
GATE marks are your raw marks out of 100. GATE score is a normalized score (0–1000) computed using the topper's marks, mean, and standard deviation. IITs use the GATE score (not raw marks) for admissions.
Do GATE DA cutoffs change every year?+
Yes. Cutoffs change based on paper difficulty, number of candidates, and the highest score achieved. Since GATE DA is relatively new (started 2024), cutoffs may fluctuate more as the candidate pool stabilizes.
What category-wise cutoff relaxation applies in GATE DA?+
GATE uses standard category relaxation: OBC-NCL and EWS both qualify at 90% of the General cutoff, and SC/ST/PwD qualify at two-thirds (⅔) of the General cutoff. This is consistent across all GATE papers including DA.