GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Reporting Time, What to Carry, and Hall Instructions
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2027 ( GATE )
GATE 2027 Registration Last Date With Late Fee
15 Oct '26 - 16 Oct '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 is valid for three years, which means the scorecard can be used till March 31, 2030. Candidates can download their scorecard using their enrollment ID and password.
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)
No, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering examination takes place once a year. Every year, different IITs and IISc conduct exam on rotational basis. GATE is conducted online for three hours for 30 branch papers.
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 |
Commonly asked questions
GATE paper code is engineering branch code. Candidates must check paper code carefully while filling application form. The details are available at GATE's official website- gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
The GATE exam is conducted for 30 subject papers. Each subject or branch is determined by a paper code which applicant must note carefully.
Qualifying GATE offers the following benefits to the students -
- Admission to the master's programmes in top institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs, etc.
- Jobs at PSUs like AAI, NHAI, GRID-India, ONGC, BHEL, etc. with high salary and perks
- Stipend of INR 12,400 monthly to adjust expenses.
- Research fellowships at top government organisations.
The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, will be conducting the GATE 2026 exam. The dates are OUT now. IIT Guwahati last conducted the GATE exam in 2018. Candidates who want to apply for M.Tech or any research programmes can apply for GATE. The application window is available till October 7 without late fees (revised), till October 13 (with late fee) and the exam will be conducted on February 7, 8, 14, and 15.
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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.
Commonly asked questions
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati conducted GATE 2026 exam. The exam dates along with branch-wise exam dates was released on official website - gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The entrance test was held in two shifts -
- Forenoon - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
GATE qualification is relatively low compared to other postgraduate engineering entrance exams. On average, acceptance rate falls between 15 - 20%.
Last year, as per statistical report, out of 936019 registered candidates, 747319 candidates appeared, and 8761 students qualified.
Overall, general cutoff usually remains around 25 -30 marks out of 100 marks. However, for PSUs 75 to 85 marks are considered as a safe qualifying rate.
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
7 Mar '27
31 Mar '27
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 |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
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 Yesterday
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 3 weeks 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 4 weeks 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 a month 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
Answered a month ago
No
Every one need to pay fee
A
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a month ago
NIT Silchar has a moderate overall engineering placement record with average packages around INR 12–14 LPA, but core CSE/IT departments claim a major share of these high-paying software offers.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No GATE score is required for admission to BITS Pilani Dubai MEng course. For admission to the MEng course, Indian students are required to submit a Bachelor's degree in the relevant field with minimum 60% marks. Students can apply for the MEng course by filling out the application form.
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, GATE application form window is now open for GATE 2027 registration. Candidates can apply via DigiLocker now.
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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,
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