These are two distinct thresholds: 1. Qualifying Marks (Pass Marks) are the minimum marks required to be 'GATE Qualified,' usually ranging between 25-35 marks depending on the paper's difficulty and category (OBC-NCL/EWS need 90% of General, SC/ST/PwD need 66.6% of General). 2. Admission Cut-offs are the minimum scores/ranks required by specific institutes like IITs or NITs for a particular branch. While you might qualify GATE at 30 marks, a top IIT might require a score of 70+ marks for admission. Qualifying GATE makes you eligible for a stipend, but it does not guarantee a seat or a PSU job.