Candidates appearing for the GATE exam must be aware of the GATE exam and shift timings. Candidates must check the reporting time, exam start time and duration of each shift before appearing for the exam. Read more to know about GATE exam.
GATE Exam and Shift Timings: Candidates appearing for GATE exam must be aware of the exam and shift timings. The GATE exam dates will usually be in February every year. The GATE exam will be conducted in multiple shifts. The exam will be conducted in a two-shift format of 3 hours each- forenoon and afternoon shifts. The forenoon shift timings are 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM, while the afternoon shift timings are 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM. Candidates must reach the exam centre as per the reporting time. The GATE reporting and exam timings are mentioned on the GATE admit card 2026.
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level exam for engineering and science graduates in India. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for the exam for admission to postgraduate courses or to apply for PSU recruitment. The GATE exam timing is an important detail that every aspirant should carefully check before appearing for the exam. Check the following article for more details on the GATE exam and shift timings.
Also Read:
| GATE 2026 CE Shift 1 Question Paper with Solutions | GATE 2026 ME Answer Key Solutions PDF |
| GATE 2026 EE Question Paper with Answer Key |
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- GATE Exam Timings
- Importance of Checking GATE Shift Timing
- Instructions for Candidates on Exam Day
- GATE Exam Dress Code for Male and Female Candidates
- How to Check GATE Exam Timing?
GATE Exam Timings
The GATE exam is conducted in two shifts per day- forenoon and afternoon shifts. Candidates are advised to reach the exam centre well before the reporting time to complete security checks and identity verification smoothly.
| Morning Shift Timing |
Afternoon Shift Timing |
|---|---|
| Reporting Time: 8 AM |
Reporting Time: 1 PM |
| Exam Start Time: 9:30 AM |
Exam Start Time: 2:30 PM |
| Last Entry Allowed: 10 AM |
Last Entry Allowed: 3 PM |
| Exam End Time: 12:30 PM |
Exam End Time: 5:30 PM |
Importance of Checking GATE Shift Timing
Knowing the correct shift timing is extremely important for candidates. Reaching the exam centre late may lead to disqualification, as entry is not allowed after the gate closing time. Shift timing details are mentioned on the GATE admit card, which candidates must download from the official website. Candidates should check:
- Exam date
- Shift (morning or afternoon)
- Reporting time
- Exam centre address
Must Check:
| GATE 2026 CSE Shift 1 Answer Key | |
Instructions for Candidates on Exam Day
On the day of the GATE exam, candidates must follow certain guidelines related to timing:
- Reach the exam centre at least 30-45 minutes before the reporting time
- Carry a printed copy of the admit card
- Bring a valid photo ID proof
- Do not carry prohibited items such as mobile phones, smart watches, or notes
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GATE Exam Dress Code for Male and Female Candidates
Male and female candidates must be aware of what they should wear at the GATE exam centre in order to avoid any issues in the scrutiny process. The GATE exam dress code is important because wearing the right kind of clothing during the GATE paper can save a lot of time and stress.
How to Check GATE Exam Timing?
Candidates can check their exact GATE exam timing by following these steps:
- Visit the official GATE website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in
- Log in using enrollment ID and password
- Download the GATE admit card
- Check the exam date, shift, and reporting time mentioned on the admit card

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Student Forum
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, SRMJEEE PG does accept GATE scores for admission. Candidates applying through GATE must provide their scores at the time of filling application form.
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
For the OBC category students, the GATE last round closing scores were between 289 and 504 for admission to M.Tech course at NIT Durgapur. Below given is the year-wise GATE cutoff comparison:
| Course | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Tech. in Biotechnology | 314 | 330 | 315 |
| M.Tech. in Geotechnical Engineering | 324 | 321 | 350 |
| M.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 447 | 514 | 504 |
| M.Tech. In Environmental Science and Technology | 302 | 309 | 289 |
| M.Tech. in Power Systems | 319 | 323 | 319 |
| M.Tech. in Power Electronics and Machine Drives | 332 | 323 | 334 |
| M.Tech. in Microelectronics and VLSI | 464 | 475 | 459 |
| M.Tech. in Operations Research | 324 | 389 | 355 |
| M.Tech. in Machine Design | 334 | 335 | 325 |
| M.Tech. in Instrumentation and Control | 332 | 329 | 325 |
| M.Tech. in Next generation communication and network | 324 | 342 | 333 |
| M.Tech. in AI and Data Analytics in Process Engineering | – / – | 427 | 353 |
| M.Tech. in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science | – / – | 499 | 500 |
| M.Tech. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence | – / – | 323 | 333 |
| M.Tech.7 in Sustainable Materials and Technology | – / – | 345 | 304 |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
During the NIT Durgapur cutoff 2026 for the General AI category, the GATE overall cutoff scores ranged between 351 and 548. Considering the CCMT last round cutoff 2026, the most competitive course for admission was M.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering, with cutoff score concluding at 548.
For
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, candidates can change their category during the rectification phase. A fnon-refundable fee of INR 500 must be paid to change to make modifications in application.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks ago
If the edit option is visible on dashboard, then it means you can edit. However, officials will open defect rectification window before result declaration giving another chance to upload correct photo and signature.
T
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 weeks ago
No, the correction link of GATE 2027 application is not activated yet. The link along with required details and instructions will be notified soon on the official website.
I
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
The syllabus of SRMJEEE PG and GATE is same, but the questions asked in SRMJEEE PG are moderate level. Most questions are basic and direct formula-based.
B
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
Yes, you can change or correct spelling mistakes in your name during the GATE Application Form Correction process by paying a fee of ₹500 and providing supporting documents.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, Alliance School of Business only accepts the scores of its own exam called ARAT for admitting candidates to its PhD course.
Candidates can also get direct admission into PhD courses if they completed UG level graduation with an aggregate over 75% in honors mode or in a UG course of four year dura
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The GATE total marks is 100. The marks in GATE question paper is distributed as follows:
- General Aptitude - 15 marks
- Engineering Mathematics - 13 marks
- Subject/Core Discipline - 72 marks
A
Contributor-Level 8