
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is used for M.Tech admissions as well as serves as a major recruitment gateway for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India. Every year, many government-owned companies hire engineering graduates based on their GATE scores and ranks.
For candidates aiming for PSU careers, understanding what rank is needed for PSU jobs through GATE is crucial. The required rank varies depending on factors such as engineering discipline, category, number of vacancies, and the PSU itself.
Several major government companies recruit engineers using GATE scores. Candidates who meet the PSU cutoff marks are usually shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment process, which may include interviews, group discussions, or document verification.
Some of the well-known PSUs that recruit through GATE include:
IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited)
NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation)
ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation)
BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited)
HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited)
BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited)
SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited)
GAIL
Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL)
NHPC
HAL
NLC
RITES
DRDO
BSNL JTO
DMRC
NALCO
AAI
RVNL
CRIS
Each of these organizations releases separate recruitment notifications and cutoff criteria based on their hiring requirements.
Read: GATE 2027 Preparation Strategy
The rank required for PSU recruitment depends on discipline, category, and company-specific requirements. In general, candidates aiming for PSU jobs should target a high rank in GATE, as PSU recruitment is highly competitive.
Some PSUs shortlist candidates within the top few hundred to a few thousand ranks depending on the branch.
Candidates must also remember that GATE cutoff ranks differ every year, depending on the number of applicants and available vacancies.
NTPC is one of the major PSUs that recruit engineers using GATE scores. The cutoff ranks and marks vary across disciplines and categories. Below are the NTPC GATE Cut Off (Previous Years):
|
NTPC GATE Cut Off (Previous Years) |
||||||
|
Year |
Branch |
General |
EWS |
OBC |
SC |
ST |
|
2021 |
Electrical |
76.67 |
72.33 |
72.33 |
73.00 |
66.33 |
|
Mechanical |
84.81 |
82.28 |
81.54 |
73.03 |
72.79 |
|
|
Electronics |
64.00 |
62.67 |
60.67 |
48.00 |
51.67 |
|
|
Instrumentation |
70.33 |
65.33 |
65.67 |
51.67 |
50.67 |
|
|
2020 |
Electrical |
70.00 |
65.00 |
64.67 |
59.00 |
60.67 |
|
Mechanical |
~71.55 |
~70.36 |
~71.35 |
~61.36 |
~57.26 |
|
|
Electronics |
72.00 |
68.33 |
66.00 |
58.33 |
56.67 |
|
The GATE rank required for PSU jobs is influenced by several factors:
Number of Vacancies: If a PSU announces more vacancies, the cutoff rank may go slightly lower.
Number of Applicants: A larger number of applicants usually increases competition, raising the cutoff.
Engineering Discipline: Different streams such as Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Electronics have different cutoff trends.
Category Reservation: Cutoff ranks vary across General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD categories according to government reservation policies.
PSU Recruitment Policy: Some PSUs shortlist candidates purely on GATE scores, while others include interviews or group discussions.
Elevate your GATE readiness with Physics Wallah’s top-tier and budget-friendly GATE Online Courses . PW GATE Online Coaching offers comprehensive live sessions tailored to the syllabus, invaluable study materials, practice tests, and much more. Explore Now!