A GATE Economics cutoff is usually quoted as marks out of 100. An institute may shortlist applicants using the GATE score out of 1,000. Before comparing two figures, check which one you are looking at.
On this page
Official qualifying cutoffs, 2024–2026
Scroll sideways to see all columns →
| Exam year | General: marks out of 100 | OBC-NCL / EWS: marks out of 100 | SC / ST / PwD: marks out of 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37.0 | 33.3 | 24.6 |
| 2025 | 40.0 | 36.0 | 26.6 |
| 2026 | 35.7 | 32.1 | 23.8 |
Sources: GATE 2024 cutoffs, GATE 2025 statistical report, GATE 2026 cutoffs. The Economics row is XH-C1 in these years.
These are thresholds for the whole 100-mark paper, including aptitude and reasoning. They are not marks required out of the 60-mark Economics section.
The General cutoff moved from 37 to 40 to 35.7 over these three years. The 2027 qualifying cutoff will be known with the results.
Marks, score and rank
| Figure | What it tells you | What to compare it with |
|---|---|---|
| Marks out of 100 | Your examination performance under the marking scheme | The qualifying marks for your paper, year and category |
| GATE score out of 1,000 | The score calculated under GATE's official formula | A programme's published GATE-score requirement |
| All India Rank | Your position in the relevant paper/section result | An admission rank only where the institute actually publishes one |
A score of 600 does not mean 60 marks. The GATE brochure explains how the score is calculated.
How many seats are available through GATE Economics?
There is no single national seat total for “GATE Economics”. Each participating programme decides which papers it accepts and how it allocates seats.
A clear example is IIT Madras. Its 2026 admission brochure, Table 3.1, lists:
| IIT Madras programme | 2026 seats relevant to an Economics applicant | Admission detail |
|---|---|---|
| MA Economics, HS3 | 25 | Accepts XH-C1 Economics |
| MA Development Studies, HS2 | 5 allocated to XH-C1 | Other seats in the programme are allocated to other XH sections |
| MA Public Policy, HS4 | 25 shared across eligible XH sections | These are not 25 seats reserved for Economics applicants |
These are 2026 admission figures. The 2027 programme notice will determine the next intake and accepted score years.
An admission cutoff example: IIT Bombay MPP
IIT Bombay's 2026 MPP Teaching Assistantship (TA) category accepted all GATE papers. Its published minimum scores were:
| Category | Minimum GATE score out of 1,000 |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 500 |
| OBC-NCL | 450 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 333 |
These were minimum scores for consideration, not the score of the last admitted student. Applicants also had to meet the degree requirements and clear the selection process. Official 2026 MPP cutoffs, MPP selection process
Our admissions guide covers the master's and PhD options at other institutes too.