GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

GATE 2026

Notification | Eligibility | Exam Dates | Application Form | Exam Pattern | Syllabus | Admit Cards | Result |

 Selection Process |Instructions

The GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a highly competitive national-level examination that serves as a gateway for admission into prestigious postgraduate programs. Aspiring candidates can opt for programs such as M. Tech, M.E., and direct Ph.D. courses at top institutes across India, including the IITs and IISc. Additionally, GATE scores are widely recognized by several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) for recruitment purposes as well, making the exam a pivotal milestone for engineering graduates aspiring for advanced studies or lucrative career opportunities in the public sector.

GATE 2026 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and is expected to cover 30 different papers, in the field of Engineering and Science. The exam will test candidates on their general aptitude, engineering mathematics, and subject-specific knowledge through a mix of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. With a duration of three hours and a total of 65 questions, GATE 2026 demands thorough preparation and a strategic approach from aspirants aiming for top scores and subsequent academic or professional advancement. Hence, the GATE 2026 will witness a much tougher competition among its candidates.

GATE Sample Question Papers 

GATE 2026: New Changes Introduced this Year

GATE 2026  Online Registration:

GATE is conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee, on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE. This exam is for those aspirants who are seeking admission to the following programs listed below.

• 2-year full-time PG program (M. Tech/ M.E.) at IITs and IISc. and other top institutes that accepts GATE scores.
• Candidates can also pursue direct PhD courses.

GATE 2026 Notification:

GATE 2026 online application submissions will start on 1st July or 1st week of August 2025. The last date for the submission of online applications is till 2nd week of October 2025 (without late fees) and 3rd week October 2025 (with late fees). GATE 2026 Exam will be conducted on 1st and 2nd weekends of February 2026. However, no official dates are announced by the authorities yet.

GATE 2026 Important Dates:

GATE 2026 Application Form:

• The candidate must visit the official GATE website and register themselves by providing a valid email address, mobile number, and creating a password.
• After registration, candidates will need to fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and select the preferred GATE paper and examination city.
• The candidate is required to upload scanned copies of a recent photograph, signature, and other necessary documents such as category or PwD certificates, if applicable.
• The application fee must be paid online through net banking, credit card, debit card, or other available digital payment methods.
• Once the form is submitted and the fee is paid, the applicant should download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
• Corrections (if required) can be made during the specified correction window announced by the examination authorities.

GATE 2026 Application Process:

Requirements:

1. Candidates must have a valid email id and phone number for ease of communication.
2. Candidates will be required to provide their personal and academic details.
3. Candidates will have to provide with a recent photograph.

Steps to Apply for GATE 2026:

Online Mode:

• The GATE 2026 application process is entirely online and involves several structured steps through the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS).
• The candidate must visit the official GATE website and register themselves by providing a valid email address, mobile number, and creating a password.
• After registration, candidates will need to fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and select the preferred GATE paper and examination city.
• The candidate is required to upload scanned copies of a recent photograph, signature, and other necessary documents such as category or PwD certificates, if applicable.
• The application fee must be paid online through net banking, credit card, debit card, or other available digital payment methods.
• Once the form is submitted and the fee is paid, the applicant should download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
• Corrections (if required) can be made during the specified correction window announced by the examination authorities.

 GATE 2026 Registration and Application Form

GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria:

2 Year Technology & Engineering Program (M. Tech/M.E.):

• Candidates must be in the third year or higher of any undergraduate degree (such as B.E., B. Tech, B. Arch, B.Sc., B.A., B. Com, etc.) or must have already completed the qualifying degree from a recognized institution.
• Acceptable qualifications include – Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Humanities, or Master’s degrees in relevant fields.
• Professional society certifications (like AMIE, AMICE, AMIETE) recognized by UGC/AICTE are also valid.
• There is no age limit for appearing in GATE 2026.
• Both Indian and foreign nationals are eligible to apply, provided they meet the academic requirements.
• There is no limit in the number of attempts for the GATE exam by the authorities.
• Candidates with backlogs in their qualifying degree can also apply, but must upload a copy of their final year mark sheet or a provisional certificate during the application process.

GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern:

• The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) in English at designated centers.
• The exam duration is of 3 hours (180 minutes).
• There are 30+ subject papers. Candidates can choose to appear for one or two papers from allowed combinations.
• The exam consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
• Each paper contains 65 questions (10 from General Aptitude and 55 from the subject), totalling 100 marks.

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern

Sections and Weightage:

• General Aptitude (GA): 15 marks (compulsory for all papers)
• Subject-specific (and Engineering Mathematics for some papers): 85 marks (or 72 marks subject + 13 marks Engineering Mathematics for select papers).

Marking Scheme:

• MCQs will have 1 or 2 marks each while negative marking of 1/3 for 1-mark MCQs and 2/3 for 2-mark MCQs will be allotted.
• MSQs & NAT: No negative marking will be there.

Only a virtual scientific calculator will be provided on-screen; no physical calculators or electronic devices are allowed.

GATE 2026 Admit Card:

1. Candidates will be provided with admit cards in the 1st week of January 2026.
2. Admit card is mandatory hence without this document no candidate will be allowed to appear for the exam.
3. Candidates will be able to download their hall tickets/admit cards from the official website by providing their official login ID and password.

GATE 2026 Syllabus:

The GATE 2026 syllabus is structured into three main sections – General Aptitude (GA), Engineering Mathematics (for most papers), and Core Subject (specific to the chosen discipline.

The syllabus for each paper has been detailed and can be downloaded in a PDF format from the official GATE 2026 website once it is released. The core subject section varies for each of the 30 papers, hence candidates should refer to the specific syllabus for their chosen discipline.

Following is the list of the topics and marks weightage that are essential for the GATE 2026 exam.

GATE 2025 Syllabus

Scholarship Details:

AICTE GATE Scholarship:

• Provides financial support of ?12,400 per month for up to 24 months for students admitted to AICTE-approved full-time M. Tech programs with a valid GATE score.
• Eligibility excludes management quota or sponsored candidates and has category restrictions (SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/PH candidates must provide valid certificates).
• Application is through the AICTE PG Scholarship portal with required documents like GATE scorecard, bank passbook, Aadhaar, and caste certificate if applicable.
• Scholarship disbursement depends on academic progress and is limited to 24 months or program completion.
• Candidates who have previously received similar fellowships cannot reapply.

GATE Scholarship Test 2026:

• An online national-level exam offering scholarships on GATE coaching programs.
• Scholarships range from 20% to 75% fee waivers based on rank in the test (e.g., 1st position gets 75% off).

GATE 2026 Results:

GATE 2026 results will be announced jointly by IISc and the IITs in the 2nd week of March 2026, i.e. shortly after the GATE 2026 exam is conducted in the 1st and 2nd weekends of February 2026 (tentatively).

Candidates will be provided with preliminary answer keys in between 2nd to 4th week of February 2026. Candidates will then be able to challenge those answer keys if they have any objections although the portal will be available to them for a short period of time. By the 1st week of March 2026, the final answer keys will be released by the official authorities.

 GATE Exam Result

GATE 2026 Selection Process:

• After the GATE 2026 results are declared, the selection process for admissions and PSU recruitment will involve several structured steps.
• Candidates need to download their GATE scorecard from the official website after result declaration.
• Candidates need to check their eligibility for the desired M. Tech, Ph.D., or PSU positions that are based on the score and institute/company requirements.
• Candidates will then have to register on the relevant counselling portals – For IITs, candidates must register on the COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal). For NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, registration is done through the CCMT (Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan/M.Des) portal.
• Candidates will be required to apply separately to institutes that do not participate in centralized counselling and follows their individual application procedures.
• Candidates need to participate in counselling rounds by filling in choices, checking seat allotments, and strictly following deadlines.
• If allotted a seat, candidates can pay the seat acceptance fee within the stipulated time to confirm the provisional admission.
• In the next step, candidates need to upload and verify documents online or offline as per the institute’s requirements.
• Complete the final admission process by paying tuition fees and fulfilling any remaining formalities at the allotted institute.
• For PSU recruitment, candidates must apply directly to the respective PSUs using the GATE score as per each company’s recruitment notification and process.

GATE 2026 Instructions:

1. Candidates should upload their photograph in the portal which is clearly visible.
2. Candidates need to carry the admit card/hall ticket to the exam centre. Candidates will be prohibited from entering the exam hall without this document.
3. Candidates will also be required to carry a valid ID proof such as – Voter ID Card/ Aadhaar Card/ PAN Card/ Driving License, etc.
4. It is advisable for all candidates to enter the designated exam hall before time for a smooth security process before the beginning of exam.
5. Any candidate violating the rules will be strictly dealt as per the norms of the exam centre.
6. Any candidate pursuing any unfair means in the exam hall will be dealt with as per the rules and regulations of the test centre.