There is no sectional cutoff in the GATE ME (Mechanical Engineering) exam. The GATE exam follows a single cutoff pattern, which means that candidates are evaluated based on their overall performance rather than individual section scores. Let's delve into the details.

The GATE ME Exam
The GATE ME exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on a rotational basis. It is a national-level examination that assesses the candidates' understanding of various subjects in mechanical engineering.

Single Cutoff Pattern
In the GATE ME exam, there is no sectional cutoff. The exam consists of multiple sections, each focusing on different subjects within mechanical engineering. However, the evaluation is based on an overall cutoff score rather than individual section scores. This means that candidates need to achieve a minimum cutoff score in order to qualify the exam.

Evaluation Process
The GATE ME exam is evaluated using the normalization process. The raw scores obtained by the candidates are converted into normalized scores to account for variations in the difficulty levels across different sessions and different papers. The normalization process ensures that candidates are assessed fairly and their performance is not affected by the difficulty level of the paper they receive.

Importance of Overall Score
Since there is no sectional cutoff, it is crucial for candidates to perform well across all sections of the GATE ME exam. The overall score is used for ranking the candidates and determining their eligibility for admission to postgraduate programs (M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D.) in various institutes and universities in India. Therefore, candidates should aim for a strong overall performance rather than focusing on excelling in specific sections.

Conclusion
To summarize, the GATE ME exam does not have any sectional cutoff. Candidates are evaluated based on their overall performance, and there is no minimum requirement for individual section scores. It is essential for candidates to perform well across all sections to achieve a good overall score and increase their chances of qualifying for admission to prestigious postgraduate programs in mechanical engineering.