GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Reporting Time, What to Carry, and Hall Instructions
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
CCMT 2026 Online Registrations (Round 1)
15 May '26 - 5 Jun '26
GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Candidates appearing for GATE 2026 must follow all the exam day guidelines and instructions issued by IIT Guwahati. GATE was conducted from Feb 7 to 15, in two shifts. The authorities conducted a scrutiny check to maintain discipline outside and inside GATE exam centre 2026. In addition, students must also be aware of the GATE 2026 reporting time, dresscode, documents required, etc. Knowing these details will help students reduce stress and perform well in the IITG GATE 2026 exam.
IIT Guwahati conducted GATE paper on scheduled dates February 7, 8, 14, and 15. The postgraduate engineering entrance exam for MTech/PhD admission and PSU recruitment took place in two shifts. Students appearing for GATE 2026 had to download their admit card from GOAPS and carefully go through GATE 2026 exam day guidelines mentioned in hall ticket.
Students must note that following GATE exam hall instructions is important because, if not then authorities have the right to cancel candidature.
| GATE 2026 CE Shift 1 Question Paper | GATE 2026 Exam EE Exam Answer Key Question Paper |
- Documents required on GATE 2026 exam
- GATE Exam Day Guidelines 2026: Hall Instructions and Reporting Time
- GATE 2026 Shift and Report Time
- Items prohibited at the GATE Exam Centre 2026
- GATE Dress Code for Male and Female Candidates
- How to plan travel and accommodation on GATE 2026 exam day?
- GATE College Predictor
Documents required on GATE 2026 exam
Candidates appearing GATE 2026 must carry the following documents along with them
- Valid ID proof (same as that uploaded during registration)
- GATE hall ticket printed on an A4 size paper
- Pen or pencil
- Transparent water bottle
NOTE:
Ensure that the barcode in the GATE admit card 2026 is not tampered. On a safer note, carry at least two to three copies of exam hall ticket, incase it gets tampered during traveling. Also, avoid laminating the admit card, as it cause issue at the time of document verification.
Latest update: GATE 2026: what to carry, list of prohibited items, exam day guidelines, and more
Commonly asked questions
Candidates who have applied for GATE 2026 must check event datesheet so they don't miss out on any dates. IIT Guwahati has released GATE 2026 exam dates along with branch-wise schedule at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
GATE scorecard 2026 is valid for three years, which means the scorecard can be used till March 31, 2029. Candidates can download their scorecard using their enrollment ID and password. It can be used for MTech, PhD, Research work admissions and PSU recruitment.
The GATE paper code of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is DA. Here are the eligible paper combinations for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence -
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (CS)
- Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC)
- Electrical Engineering (EE)
- Mathematics (MA)
- Mechanical Engineering (ME)
- Physics (PH)
- Statistics (ST)
- Engineering Sciences (XE)
GATE Exam Day Guidelines 2026: Hall Instructions and Reporting Time
- Candidates must carry a physical copy of the GATE admit card printed on a A4 size paper. Candidates can download hall ticket at GATE login.
- Valid ID proof. If quality of the photo in ID proof is unclear, then candidate must bring an additional recent photo ID.
- Students must report to centre at least 90 minutes before to complete GATE biometric and document verification process.
- GATE biometric verification will be done at the gate entry.
- Candidates cannot log in 30 minutes after start of exam.
- Students will be offered to take their allocated seat before exam time. 20 minutes will be provided to login and read instructions.
- While attempting the exam, GATE calculator will be installed in the system for doing calculations.
- A scribble pad will be provided inside the exam hall. Candidates have to write their name and registration number on the scribble pad before using it. Students can take only one pad at a time. If GATE scribble pad is filled, candidate has to return previous one and then ask for a new one.
- Once exam is over, candidate has to return scribble pad to the invigilator.
- Candidates cannot leave GATE 2026 exam centre before end time.
- Applicants appearing must follow code of conduct issued by authorities. No following any of rules, can lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Students will have to end exam in front of invigilator.
Important NOTE:
- Students with GATE exam centre code 2082 must download their revised admit card. Check how to download GATE admit card 2026
- IIT Madras introduced GATE Facial Registration 2026 for candidates' verification.
Also check:
| GATE 2026 XE Question Paper | GATE XE Answer Key 2026 with Solutions |
| GATE 2026 XE Cutoff | GATE 2026 XL Question Paper PDF |
| GATE XL Answer Key with Solutions | GATE 2026 CSE cutoff |
GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines for PwD Candidates
- PwD candidates are allowed to carry assistive devices (if any) and show them at the centre for personal scrutiny.
- PwD applicants will get one-hour compensatory time to finish exam.
Also Read:
GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines for Students with any Health Issues
- Candidates suffering from any airborne contagious diseases, such as chicken pox or measels can carry their own medications. Such students must inform their respective zonal centres at least a week before GATE exam.
- Such students must carry their medical fitness certificate to centre, and wear masks and gloves for precaution.
- Candidates with any other health issues must bring required medications. Asking for medications during exam day from outside is strictly prohibited.
GATE 2026 Shift and Report Time
As mentioned above, students must report to centre at least 3 hours before exam time. GATE 2026 exam date, shift and reporting time can be checked below -
| Shift |
Exam timings |
Reporting time |
|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 (forenoon session) |
9:30 am to 12:30 pm |
At least 90 mins (3 hours) before exam time |
| Shift 2 (afternoon session) |
2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
Explore colleges based on GATE
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
Items prohibited at the GATE Exam Centre 2026
Candidates must not carry any of following items to test centre -
- Personal calculators
- Mobile phones
- Watches of any kind
- Any electronic devices
- Charts, log tables, books or any text materials
- Heavy ornaments
GATE Dress Code for Male and Female Candidates
The organising institute does not issue any dress code guidelines. However, we advise students to wear light and comfortable clothing during exam day. To know what to wear and not, students can check GATE dress code details here.
How to plan travel and accommodation on GATE 2026 exam day?
Candidates whose GATE centre is far from their residence, can follow tips mentioned below-
| Tips to plan your travel on GATE exam | What to do? |
|---|---|
| Book your accommodation early | Look for a place that is close to exam centre to avoid last- minute issues |
| Check exam centre address carefully | Double-check your centre address details |
| Plan your travel route | Use a Google map or GPS to locate your centre and find access routes (short-cuts if any) |
| Plan your transport options | Use a public transport, such as cab or personal vehicle with a backup plan. |
| Keep your documents ready night before | Keep your documents and admit card ready. Carry at least two to three copies of admit card. |
| Stay calm and sleep early | Ensure to sleep well before exam day |
Students are advised to recheck GATE 2026 exam date of their respective paper and plan accordingly.
Explore more Engineering exams with upcoming dates
4 Jun '26
5 Jun '26
8 Jun '26
10 Jul '26
29 May '26 - 1 Jun '26
3 Jun '26
20 Jun '26
GATE College Predictor
After the completion of exam, students can refer to GATE college predictor to predict their rank and college for admission. To access, you need to have the following details ready -
- GATE programme/subject applied for
- GATE scores
- Gender
- Category and Domicile state
Also check:
| GATE 2026 ECE Answer Key Solutions with Questions | GATE 2026 Cutoff for ECE | GATE 2026 DA Question Paper |
| GATE 2026 DA Answer Key Solutions with Question Paper | GATE DA cutoff 2026 |
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
5 May '26 | JEE Main 2026 paper 2 result s... |
4 May '26 | JEE Main 2026 paper 2 final an... |
17 May '26 | TS EAMCET 2026 result |
12 May '26 | TS EAMCET 2026 Engineering ans... |
1 Jun '26 | AP EAPMCET Result 2026 |
25 May '26 | AP EAMCET 2026 Answer Key Rele... |
Jun '26 | OJEE result 2026 |
Jun '26 | Special OJEE registrations 202... |
May '26 | AISECT Joint Entrance Exam 202... |
Jun '26 | AISECT Joint Entrance Exam 202... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
With a GATE score of 423 (OBC), your chances for core branches at IIT Kharagpur are low. However, you may qualify for specialised or interdisciplinary programs.
Potential Options at IIT KGP:
Agricultural Systems: Cutoff ~434.
Chemical/Cryogenic Engineering: Cutoff ~350.
Earth System Science: Cutoff ~389
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
| Category | Potential Branches | Admission Chance |
| General | Interdisciplinary branches (Biomedical, Earth System Science, Aquacultural Engineering) | Moderate |
| OBC | Chemical, Cryogenic, or Functional Materials | Moderate to High |
| SC / ST | Core branches (Mechanical, Communication, Structural) | Very High |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
According to topper's and experts, the ideal number of questions to attempt correctly is 50 to 55, to obtain a GATE rank under 1000.
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Candidates who have qualified GATE exam are given preference for admission in M.Arch in BMS School of Architecture. But those who have qualified Karnataka PGCET are also considered for admission.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
hi,
With a GATE EC 2026 score of 609 under the EWS category, you have a strong profile for M.Tech in VLSI and related specializations. Along with IITs and NITs, Lovely Professional University is also a good option to consider for advanced studies in VLSI and Electronics. LPU offers industry-oriented
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, GATE qualified candidates will also have to appear for the PGET exam held on the scheduled date. The merit list will combine performance of both WBUT and GATE paper.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, WBUT PGET do accept GATE score for admission. The merit list will be prepared considering 70% weightage to GATE scores and 30% to PGET.
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates with GATE score of 2026, 2025 or 2024 are eligible for BITS HD 2026 entrance examination.
T
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, students can not get direct admission in Cluster Innovation Centre MSc. The college only accepts CUET PG score. Hence, having a GATE scorecard will not come in handy during admissions.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
If you are seeking admission in NIT Surathkal MTech, then GATE is mandatory. Students applying for non-MTech programmes do not need to appear for GATE. For M.Tech however, GATE followed by the centralised counselling is mandatory.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,
Read Full Bio