Gate 2026
IMPORTANT DATES
|
Activity |
Day |
Date* |
|
Opening Date of GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) |
Monday |
August 25, 2025 |
|
Closing Date of REGULAR online registration/application process (Without Late Fee) |
Thursday |
September 25, 2025 |
|
Closing Date of EXTENDED online registration/application process (With Late Fee) |
Monday |
October 06, 2025 |
|
GATE 2026 Examinations |
Saturday |
February
07, 2026 |
*All dates are liable to change
GATE 2026 TEST PAPERS & SYLLABUS
GATE 2026 will be conducted for 30 test papers. The following table shows the list of papers with codes. Please click the Paper/Code to download the syllabus.
A candidate is allowed to appear either in ONE or UP TO TWO test papers. Please see the page Two-Paper Combination for more details.
|
GATE Test Paper |
Code |
GATE Test Paper |
Code |
The test papers will be in English. Each GATE 2026 paper is for a total of 100 marks, General Aptitude (GA) is common for all papers (15 marks), and the rest of the paper covers the respective test paper syllabus (85 marks). Click here for detailed pattern of the question papers.
|
XE Paper Sections |
Code |
XH Paper Sections |
Code |
XL Paper Sections |
Code |
|
Engineering Mathematics |
Reasoning and Comprehension |
Chemistry |
|||
|
Any TWO optional Sections |
Any ONE
optional Section |
Any TWO
optional Sections |
|||
Candidates must familiarize themselves with the paper code as it is required both during application and examination.
Each candidate should fill only one application. If they wish to appear in second paper (from the two-paper combination), they can add respective paper in their original application. in case of multiple applications, only one will be accepted and remaining applications will be rejected without any refund for the paid fee.
QUESTION PAPER PATTERN
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Mode of Examination |
Computer Based Test (CBT) |
|
Language of examination |
English |
|
Duration |
3 Hours* |
|
Number of papers (Subjects) |
30 test papers |
|
Sections |
General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subject(s) |
|
Type of Questions |
(a) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) |
|
Testing of abilities |
(a) Recall |
|
Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL |
General Aptitude: 15 marks |
|
Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL |
General Aptitude: 15 marks |
|
Marking Scheme |
Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks |
|
Negative Marking |
For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative
marking. |
|
Paper Code |
General Aptitude (GA) Marks |
Subject: Compulsory Section |
Subject: Optional Section(s) |
Total Marks |
Total Time* (Minutes) |
|
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF; Subject marks in these papers include questions on Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper-specific. |
15 |
85 |
-- |
100 |
180 |
|
CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST |
15 |
85 |
-- |
100 |
180 |
|
AR: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 - Architecture or B2 - Planning |
15 |
60 |
25 |
100 |
180 |
|
GE: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 - Surveying and Mapping or B2 - Image Processing and Analysis |
15 |
55 |
30 |
100 |
180 |
|
GG: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 must be chosen at the time of application. B1 - Geology or B2 - Geophysics |
15 |
25 |
60 |
100 |
180 |
|
XE: Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. |
15 |
15 |
2 x 35 |
100 |
180 |
|
XH: Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any ONE of the other sections at the time of application. |
15 |
25 |
60 |
100 |
180 |
|
XL: Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. |
15 |
25 |
2 x 30 |
100 |
180 |
*PwD candidates with benchmark disability greater than 40% are eligible for compensatory time of one hour. PwD candidates with less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing are eligible for compensatory time subject to production of a certificate as stated in Appendix-I of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Before filing an application, candidates are advised to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria for GATE 2026.
Candidates who are currently studying in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program or who have completed any government approved degree program in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Commerce/Arts/Humanities are eligible to appear for GATE 2026.
Some Professional Societies*/Institutions, which conduct examination in various fields of engineering, are given below.
- The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE)
- The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
- The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI)
- The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, including Polymer and Environmental Group (IIChE)
- The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM)
- The Indian Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIIE)
Candidates who possess certification from any such professional societies must ensure that those examinations are approved by MoE/AICTE/UGC/ UPSC as being equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch./B.Planning, etc.
Candidates who have obtained/are pursuing their qualifying degree from countries other than India: Candidates must be currently in the 3rd or higher years or must have completed their Bachelor’s degree (of at least three years duration) in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Commerce/ Arts/Humanities.
Any candidate fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria is eligible to appear for GATE 2026.
More details of eligibility criteria are given below.
NOTE
- Candidates pursuing any higher degree or in possession of a degree higher than that mentioned in the table below, will be allowed to appear for GATE 2026.
- Candidates
with B.Sc./B.A./B.Com. degrees (3-year program) desirous of seeking
admission to Master’s programs in IITs and IISc.
|
Degree/Program |
Qualifying Degree/Examination |
Description of Eligible Candidates |
|
B.E./B.Tech./B. Pharm. |
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./Diploma in Engineering/Technology) |
Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
|
B. Arch. |
Bachelor’s degree of Architecture (5-year course)/Naval Architecture (4-year course)/Planning (4-year course) |
Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
|
B.Sc. (Research)/B.S. |
Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/4 years after 10+2) |
Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
|
Pharm. D. (after 10+2) |
A Professional Pharmacy doctoral program of 6 years duration after 10+2 which includes 1 year of internship or residency |
Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th/6th year or already completed |
|
M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc. |
Professional Medical degree programs - M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc. |
5th/6th/7th or higher semester or already completed |
|
M.Sc./M.A./MCA or equivalent |
Master’s degree in any branch of Arts/Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent |
Currently in the 1st year or higher or already completed |
|
Int. M.E./M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.) |
Post-B.Sc. Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering/Technology (4-year program) |
Currently in the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th year or already completed |
|
Int. M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm. or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) |
Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5-year program) |
Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th year or already completed |
|
B.Sc./B.A./B.Com. |
Bachelor’s degree in any branch of Science/Arts/Commerce (3-year program) |
Currently in the 3rd year or already completed |
|
Int. M.Sc./Int. B.S./M.S. |
Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S. - M.S. program |
Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
|
Professional Society* Examinations (equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch.) |
B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognized by MoE/UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India and so on) |
Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses |
|
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) |
4-year program |
Currently in the 3rd/4th year or already completed |
*Students
enrolled with the professional bodies and institutions as per MHRD OM (No.
11-15/2011-AR (TS.II)) with permanent recognition upto May 31, 2013, stand
recognized. Please see circular No. 13/56/PC/ODL-Mode/AICTE/2020, Dated November 23,
2020 for more details.
EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
|
Day, Date |
Time (IST) |
|
Saturday, February 07, 2026 |
9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) |
|
2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) |
|
|
Sunday, February 08, 2026 |
9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) |
|
2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) |
|
|
Saturday, February 14, 2026 |
9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) |
|
2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) |
|
|
Sunday, February 15, 2026 |
9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) |
|
2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) |
APPLICATION FEES
|
Category |
Regular Period (Aug. 25 to Sept. 25, 2025) |
Extended Period (Sept. 26 to Oct. 06, 2025) |
|
Female / SC / ST / PwD* Candidates (per test paper) |
1000 |
1500 |
|
All other candidate including foreign nationals (per test paper) |
2000 |
2500 |
*PwD means Persons with Benchmark Disability.
- The above Application fees are for a single test paper. Candidates opting for two papers would have to pay twice the above-mentioned fees.
Official Website: https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/