Explore GATE 2026 reservation criteria for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories. Know the eligibility, required documents, and how reservation applies in M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitment.
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The GATE Reservation Criteria 2026 is set by the conducting authorities to promote equal opportunity to reserved category candidates in MTech admission across participating institutions. GATE reservation criteria 2026 is released in the information brochure available on the official website at gate2026.iitg.ac.in
To ensure social equity, a certain percentage of seats and job openings are reserved for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories. Understanding these reservation policies is crucial for eligible candidates to maximize their chances in M.Tech admissions and PSU selection.
GATE 2026 Category-Wise Reservation
The GATE 2026 reservation policy is based on the norms set by the government of India for students belonging to SC and ST during admission and recruitment through GATE 2026. The table below shows the GATE 2026 category-wise reservation criteria:
|
Category |
Reservation Percentage |
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) |
15% |
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
7.5% |
|
Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) |
27% |
|
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) |
10% |
|
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) |
5% horizontal reservation across all categories |
Who Is Eligible to Claim Reservation in GATE 2026?
Candidates will be required to meet certain eligibility criteria such as family income, percentage of disability, etc to claim the reservation benefits in GATE 2026. Given below is the details on who can claim the reservation in GATE 2026 and the required documents:
|
Category |
Eligibility Criteria |
Required Certificate |
Issuing Authority |
|
SC (Scheduled Caste) |
Must belong to SC category as per Central List |
SC Certificate |
District Magistrate / Tehsildar / Competent Authority |
|
ST (Scheduled Tribe) |
Must belong to ST category as per Central List |
ST Certificate |
District Magistrate / Tehsildar / Competent Authority |
|
OBC-NCL |
Must be from the OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) category |
OBC-NCL Certificate (issued after April 1, 2025) |
District Magistrate / Revenue Officer |
|
EWS |
General category with family income < ₹8 lakh/annum |
EWS Certificate (FY 2025–26) |
Tehsildar / Revenue Officer |
|
PwD |
Minimum 40% benchmark disability |
Disability Certificate |
Medical Board designated by Central/State Govt |
How GATE Reservation Works in M.Tech Admissions?
The GATE reservation policy is applicable only during the time of admission and does not really matter during the GATE registration process. The admission to IITs will be based on the COAP portal and admission to NITs, IIITs and NITs will be based on the Centralized Counselling for M.Tech (CCMT).
|
Institution Type |
Reservation Mode |
|
IITs (via COAP) |
Category-based reservation per institute seat matrix |
|
NITs (via CCMT) |
Category reservation + 50% Home State Quota |
|
IIITs & GFTIs |
Varies by institute (central/state funded) |
How GATE Reservation Works in PSU Recruitment?
The GATE reservation criteria is applicable in PSU recruitment through GATE scores 2026. Some of the top PSU’s in India such as BHEL, ONGC, IOCL, NTPC, etc recruit candidates based on their GATE score.
The actual benefit in the reservation policy for PSU through GATE vary based on the company’s individiual policies. However reserved category candidates may receive:
- Relaxation in cutoff scores
- Relaxation in upper age limit
- Reserved vacancies
Documents Required to Claim Reservation in GATE 2026
To claim the GATE reservation policy during the admission and recruitment process, candidates must submit valid documents in the prescribed format. Here is the list of documents required to claim GATE reservation benefits 2026:
|
Candidate Category |
Required Documents |
Details |
|
SC/ST |
Caste Certificate |
Must be in GOI-prescribed format |
|
OBC-NCL |
OBC-NCL Certificate |
Must be issued after April 1, 2025 |
|
EWS |
Income & Asset Certificate |
Valid for FY 2025–26 |
|
PwD |
Disability Certificate |
Must specify ≥40% disability |
|
General (No reservation) |
Not applicable |
No certificate required |
Female Reservation in GATE Admission 2026
The GATE conducting authority does not provide any reservation policy specifically for female candidates during admission or recruitment process however it may vary depending on the participating colleges. Following are the benefits offered to female candidates during GATE admission process:
- 5% to 20% of seats may be reserved for female candidates in select institutes.
- These are additional seats, not deducted from general quota.
- This initiative aims to improve gender diversity in postgraduate technical education.
Conclusion
The GATE 2026 reservation criteria are designed to provide equal opportunities to all sections of society in higher education and government job sectors. If you belong to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, or PwD categories, understanding and properly utilizing the reservation system can significantly boost your chances during admissions and recruitment.
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