GATE 2026 Statistics (ST) Paper Analysis: Difficulty, Weightage & Expected Cutoffs
In-depth Review of Feb 8 ST Paper, Section-wise Marks Distribution, and Safe Scores for IIT M.S./Ph.D.
Updated: just now
Categories: GATE 2026, Paper Analysis, Statistics.
GATE 2026 Statistics (ST) In-Depth Analysis
Exam Date: Feb 8, 2026 | Session: Afternoon
Overall Difficulty & Question Trend
The GATE 2026 ST paper was rated Moderate to Difficult. The paper saw a rise in Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) that tested theoretical properties of estimators. The Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions in Regression and Stochastic Processes required high accuracy, often involving calculations up to three decimal places.
MSQs: Increased (~10-12 Qs)
NATs: Calculation Heavy (~15-18 Qs)
Logic: High Conceptual Depth
Subject-Wise Marks Weightage Analysis
| Subject Domain | Approx. Weightage | High-Yield Topics (2026 Trends) |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical Inference | 18-20 Marks | UMVUE, Consistency, Likelihood Ratio Tests, Neyman-Pearson. |
| Probability & Distributions | 15-18 Marks | Joint/Marginal Distributions, Characteristic Functions, CLT. |
| Linear Models & Regression | 12-14 Marks | Gauss-Markov Theorem, Multicollinearity, ANOVA/ANCOVA. |
| Multivariate Analysis | 8-10 Marks | Wishart Distribution, Hotelling’s T-square, PCA. |
| Stochastic Processes | 6-8 Marks | Markov Chains, Transition Probabilities, Poisson Process. |
| Calculus & Linear Algebra | 12-15 Marks | Matrix Rank, Eigenvalues, Multiple Integrals. |
Expected Qualifying Cutoff 2026
Compared to the 2025 cycle, the qualifying marks are expected to see a slight drop due to the increased difficulty of the Inference and Multivariate sections.
| Category | 2026 (Expected) | 2025 (Actual) | 2024 (Actual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (GEN) | 24.5 - 26.5 | 25.0 | 25.0 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 22.0 - 23.8 | 22.5 | 22.5 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 16.2 - 17.5 | 16.6 | 16.6 |
Target Scores for Top Institutions
IIT Kanpur / IIT Bombay
Score: 780+ | Marks: 58-65
IIT Guwahati / IIT Tirupati
Score: 680+ | Marks: 50-55
IISc Bangalore (Ph.D.)
Score: 850+ | Marks: 70+
Group Discussions
No forum posts available.
