Cut-off marks are the minimum marks a candidate must score to be eligible for admission or selection. A cut-off is not fixed in advance like a pass mark; it emerges from the number of seats, the number of applicants and how hard the exam proved to be, and it can differ by category and by round. Scoring at or above the cut-off means a candidate is in the running, not that a seat is guaranteed.
In Indian schools
When a college or course admits on cut-offs, admissions becomes a high-volume, fast-moving pipeline where every inquiry needs a quick, tracked response. Capturing each applicant once and moving them through clear stages keeps the office from losing qualified candidates to a faster rival.