India
First Class, Distinction and Division Cutoffs in India
The widely used Indian degree classification is: First Class with Distinction at 75% and above, First Class at 60%, Second Class at 50%, and Pass at 40% — but these are conventions, not a single national law. The UGC provides guidelines while each university sets its own rules, and the CGPA equivalent of a cutoff depends on which conversion formula your university uses.
The common classification bands
| Classification | Typical percentage | Approx. CGPA (÷10 schools) | Approx. CGPA (×9.5 schools) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class with Distinction | 75%+ | ≈ 7.5+ | ≈ 7.9+ |
| First Class | 60%+ | ≈ 6.0+ | ≈ 6.3+ |
| Second Class | 50%+ | ≈ 5.0+ | ≈ 5.3+ |
| Pass | 40%+ | ≈ 4.0+ | ≈ 4.2+ |
The CGPA column depends on your university's official conversion: KTU and VTU-style schools publish CGPA×10-family formulas, while many UGC-pattern universities use the ×9.5 convention — see the CGPA to percentage guide. Some universities also require distinction to be earned in the first attempt (no backlogs).
Why your university's rule is the one that counts
- Not nationally standardised: institutions tweak cutoffs and conditions (first-attempt rules, credit weighting, professional-course variations).
- Institute-specific classes: IITs classify differently (e.g. CGPA-based First Class norms such as 6.0+ at some institutes) — see the IIT grading comparison.
- Transcripts rule: for jobs and higher study, the classification printed by your university (or computed by its published formula) is authoritative, not a generic table.
India GPA Calculators
Use the calculator for your university after checking the conversion or grading guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage is First Class with Distinction in India?
Commonly 75% and above (with some universities requiring it in the first attempt with no backlogs). The exact rule is set by each university.
What CGPA is First Class?
Roughly 6.0+ at CGPA×10 universities and about 6.3+ under the ×9.5 convention — always apply your own university's published conversion formula.
Is 60% a good score at Indian universities?
60% is the traditional First Class boundary — a meaningful threshold for many government jobs and postgraduate admissions that specify "First Class" as a requirement.