GATE CSE Syllabus 2026: Exam Dates (OUT), Check Pattern, Books, PSUs, and More
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Exam On - 7 Feb '26
IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 syllabus for computer science and information technology. The syllabus consists of a total of 11 sections, including 9 Computer Science Engineering topics, Engineering Mathematics, and General Aptitude. Candidates can download the GATE 2026 CS syllabus PDF here, along with the preparation tips and pattern. Read below for more.
GATE 2026 Computer Science and Information Technology Syllabus
GATE CSE Syllabus 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has released the GATE syllabus for CSE. Candidates who are preparing to take the GATE exam can check the syllabus of the GATE Computer Science syllabus on this page. The GATE syllabus CSE will help the aspirants know the topics to study for the exam. The link to download the GATE Syllabus 2026 for CSE PDF is on the page below. The GATE 2026 CS exam dates is February 8 (shift 1 and 2).
Apart from the syllabus, candidates should also check the GATE exam pattern as it will help them in making the GATE preparation strategy. Detailed information about topics and chapters in the GATE CSE syllabus is below.
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES HERE: GATE 2026 ADMIT CARD LINK LIVE UPDATES
What is GATE Computer Science and Information Technology?
Computer science and information technology an engineering discipline that delves into the theory, computation, and algorithms of computer systems and networks for business fields. The GATE CSE 2026 exam syllabus comprises topics and subjects such as programming, algorithms, engineering mathematics, Boolean algebra, discrete mathematics, data structures, etc.
Computer science and information technology are among the most demanding courses, with massive career opportunities. Last year (2025), 207851 candidates registered for the GATE CS, out of which 170825 candidates appeared for the exam.
| Important Links For GATE 2026 | |
|---|---|
| GATE Syllabus | GATE Previous Year Question Papers |
- Click here to download the GATE 2026 CS Syllabus PDF
- GATE 2026 CS1 and CS2 Syllabus: Exam Pattern
- Last Year's GATE Cutoff for CS and IT
Click here to download the GATE 2026 CS Syllabus PDF
GATE 2026 Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) Syllabus
The GATE 2026 exam dates have been released. The GATE 2026 exam will take place on February 7, 8, 14, and 15. The entrance test will be held in two sessions - Morning (9:30 am to 12:30 pm) and Afternoon (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm).
The GATE 2026 computer science and information technology paper will be held in CS1 and CS2. The paper-wise GATE exam dates have been announced on the official website.
Candidates appearing for the exam must carry their GATE CSE admit card and a valid photo identity proof. Candidates can download their hall ticket using the GATE enrollment ID and password.
The GATE 2026 Computer Science and Information Technology syllabus details all the sections. Candidates can check below -
Section I - Engineering Mathematics
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Discrete Mathematics |
Propositional and first-order logic | sets, relations, functions, partial orders and lattices | Monoids | Groups | Graphs: connectivity, matching, and colouring | Combinatorics: counting, recurrence, relations, generating functions |
| Linear Algebra |
Matrices | Determinants | Systems of Linear Equations | Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors | LU decomposition |
| Calculus |
Limits | Continuity and Differentiability | Maxima and Minima | Mean Value Theorem | Integration |
| Probability and Statistics |
Random variables | Uniform, Normal, Exponential, Poisson and Binomial Distributions | Mean, median, mode and standard deviation | Conditional Probability and Baye’s Theorem |
GATE 2026 CSE Syllabus (Subject-Specific)
| Section |
Topics |
|---|---|
| Digital logic |
Boolean Algebra | Combinational and Sequential Circuits | Minimization | Number Representations and Computer Arithmetic (fixed and floating point) |
| Computer Organization and Architecture |
Machine Instructions and Addressing Modes | ALU | Data-Path and Control-Unit | Instruction Pipelining | Pipeline Hazards | Memory Hierarchy: Cache, Main Memory, and Secondary Storage | I/O interface (interrupt and DMA mode) |
| Programming and Data Structures |
Programming in C | Recursion | Arrays | Stacks | Queues | Linked Lists | Trees | Binary Search Trees | Binary Heaps | Graphs |
| Algorithms |
Searching | Sorting | Hashing | Asymptotic Worst Case Time and Space Complexity | Algorithm Design Techniques | Greedy, Dynamic Programming, and Divide-Conquer | Graph Traversals | Minimum Spanning Trees | Shortest Paths |
| Theory of Computation |
Regular Expressions and Finite Automata | Context-Free Grammars and Push-Down Automata | Regular and Context-Free Languages | Pumping Lemma | Turning Machines and Undecidability |
| Compiler Design |
Lexical Analysis, Parsing, Syntax-Directed Translation | Runtime Environments | Intermediate Code Generation | Local Optimisation | Data Flow Analyses: Constant Propagation, Liveness Analysis, Common Sub Expression Elimination |
| Operating System |
System Calls, Processes, Threads, Inter-Process Communication, Concurrency and Synchronisation Deadlock | CPU and I/O Scheduling | Memory Management and Virtual Memory | File Systems |
| Databases |
ER-Model | Relational Model: Relational Algebra, Tuple Calculus | SQL | Integrity Constraints | Normal Forms | File Organization | Indexing (e.g B and B+ Trees) | Transactions and Concurrency Control |
| Computer Networks |
Concept of Layering: OSI and TCP/IP Protocol Stacks, Basics of Packet, Circuit and Virtual Circuit-Switching | Data Link Layer: Framing, Error Detection | Medium Access Control | Ethernet Bridging | Routing Protocols: Shortest Path, Flooding, Distance Vector, and Link State Routing | Fragmentation and IP Addressing | IPv4 | CIDR Rotation | Basics of IP Support Protocols (ARP, DHCP, and ICMP) | Network Address Translation (NAT) | Transport Layer: Flow Control and Congestion Control | UDP, TCP, Sockets | Application Layer Protocols: DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, and Email |
GATE 2026 CS1 and CS2 Syllabus: Exam Pattern
The GATE 2026 examination will take place on February 7, 8, 14, and 15 for 30 test papers. GATE CSE 2026 will be conducted on Feb 8 in two shifts. Candidates can check the GATE exam pattern below -
- The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) will be conducted online, and the question paper will be in English.
- The test paper duration is three hours, and the total marks for the GATE 2026 question paper are 100.
- The general aptitude section carries 15 marks, and the engineering mathematics section carries 13 marks.
- GATE 2026 CSE question paper will have subject-specific questions of 72 marks.
- The marking scheme of the questions is 1 or 2 marks. For a one-mark question, 1/3rd mark will be deducted, and for a two-mark question, 2/3rd mark will be deducted.
- There is no negative marking for multiple-choice questions and numerical-aptitude test questions.
This year, IIT Guwahati is conducting GATE 2026, and two things have been modified -
- The GATE fees have been revised for all categories
- A new sectional paper has been introduced, called Energy Science (under Engineering Sciences).
The details are available on the official website as well as in the information brochure.
The GATE zones are the authorities that perform any operations related to the GATE examination. These are managed by the GATE offices of IISc and IITs. The list of GATE zones is as follows-
- IISc Bengaluru
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Guwahati
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Madras
- and IIT Roorkee
Eligible Two-Paper Combinations for GATE 2026 CSE Paper
The GATE two-paper combination allows candidates to choose one or two papers to gain a broader scope and showcase their proficiency in two disciplines. The allowed two-paper combinations for GATE 2026 Computer Science and Information Technology are as follows -
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA)
- Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC)
- Geomatics Engineering (GE)
- Mathematics (MA)
- Physics (PH)
- Statistics (ST)
GATE 2026 CSE Syllabus: Recommended Books
Here are some GATE computer science and information technology books for GATE 2026 preparation-
| Book Name |
Author |
|---|---|
| Digital Logic and Computer Design |
M. Morris Mano |
| Computer Organization |
Carl Hamachar |
| Fundamentals of Data Structure |
Sartaj Sahni |
| Fundamentals of Computer Algorithms |
Rajasekaran, Sahni, and Horowitz |
| Principles of Compiler Design |
Alfred Aho and Jeffery Ullman |
| Data Communication and Networking |
Behrouz A. Farouzon |
| An introduction to formal languages and automata |
Peter Linz |
| Data Structures and Algorithms MADE EASY |
Narasimha Karumanchi |
PSUs That Accept GATE 2025 CSE Scores
The PSUs that consider GATE CS scores for recruitment are as follows -
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
- Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- POWERGRID
GATE Previous Year's Question Papers
Candidates can download the GATE Computer Science and Information Technology old question papers below -
| Year | Download Link |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Download Here |
| 2015 | Download Here (CS1) | Download Here |
| 2022 | Download Here |
| 2023 | Download Here |
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Candidates can get the GATE Sample and the Previous Year's Question Paper here
Last Year's GATE Cutoff for CS and IT
The qualifying marks will be available after the declaration of the GATE result. Till then, students can check last year's GATE qualifying marks in the table below:
| Paper Code |
Highest Score |
Highest Marks (out of 100) |
Avg. Marks (out of 100) |
Cut-off Marks (out of 100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE |
1000 |
84.00 |
15.40 |
26.30 |
| AG |
1000 |
61.33 |
11.93 |
25.00 |
| AR |
1000 |
79.67 |
28.95 |
40.90 |
| BM |
1000 |
64.00 |
15.43 |
25.00 |
| BT |
1000 |
75.33 |
18.00 |
30.00 |
| CE* |
1000 |
95.56 |
15.30 |
29.20 |
| CH |
1000 |
89.67 |
19.40 |
35.10 |
| CS* |
1000 |
87.81 |
14.00 |
26.10 |
| CY |
996 |
91.33 |
20.90 |
36.20 |
| EC |
1000 |
82.00 |
12.63 |
25.00 |
| EE |
974 |
85.33 |
17.26 |
30.30 |
| ES |
966 |
88.00 |
23.90 |
39.60 |
| EY |
1000 |
78.00 |
23.50 |
35.70 |
| GG (Geology) |
945 |
72.67 |
25.60 |
38.90 |
| GG (Geophysics) |
1000 |
68.67 |
28.85 |
44.80 |
| IN |
933 |
79.00 |
20.94 |
36.00 |
| MA |
1000 |
68.33 |
19.20 |
29.00 |
| ME* |
979 |
93.22 |
16.60 |
33.00 |
| MN |
1000 |
77.67 |
16.80 |
31.00 |
| MT |
923 |
87.67 |
28.70 |
48.50 |
| PE |
947 |
88.67 |
31.20 |
51.40 |
| PH |
1000 |
69.67 |
22.00 |
32.80 |
| PI |
939 |
83.67 |
19.40 |
35.70 |
| ST |
1000 |
51.67 |
11.30 |
25.00 |
| TF |
945 |
79.67 |
24.50 |
41.80 |
| XE |
1000 |
90.33 |
22.00 |
37.00 |
| XH-C1 (Economics) |
1000 |
62.67 |
17.80 |
29.40 |
| XH-C2 (English) |
986 |
77.67 |
27.00 |
41.70 |
| "XH-C3 (Linguistics) |
1000 |
65.67 |
21.76 |
35.30 |
| XH-C4 (Philosophy) |
1000 |
71.00 |
23.40 |
37.90 |
| XH-C5 (Psychology) |
1000 |
77.33 |
32.60 |
48.50 |
| XH-C6 (Sociology) |
1000 |
66.00 |
21.18 |
34.30 |
| XL |
983 |
74.33 |
23.90 |
36.00 |
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The MCQ, MSQ, and NAT are the types of questions asked in the GATE examination.
- MCQs are the multiple-choice questions
- MSQs are the multiple select questions
- and NAT are numerical answer type questions
Each question type has a different marking scheme, which the candidates must go through the information brochure carefully.
The GATE general aptitude (GA) section is common for all branch papers. The section carries 15 marks in the question paper.
The GATE GA syllabus include: verbal aptitude, quantitative aptitude, analytical aptitude, and spatial aptitude.
Bonus tip - If you prepare and attempt the general aptitude section, it can help you fetch good marks in the GATE exam.
Candidates can check GATE 2026 exam pattern below -
| Mode | Computer-based test |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Time duration | 3 hours |
| Total number of branches | 30 |
| Sections | General Aptitude and Selected Subject |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Negative marking | Applicable only for MCQs |
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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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
Candidates need to graduate from BTech at IIT Dhanbad with a minimum GPA of 8.0 or above to qualify for M.Tech admissions without GATE. Only the candidates who clear BTech from IIT Dhanbad are allowed admissions without GATE into M.Tech at II Dhanbad with the aforementioned score.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
No, the GATE 2026 has already been concluded for IIT Dhanbad M.Tech admissions. The GATE 2026 registrations are closed in the month of October. Candidates who have appeared for GATE will need to wait for all merit-lists to be revealed.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The PhD admissions to the Institute Assistantship courses at IIT Guwahati require candidates to appear for the GATE or CEED.
However, PhD admissions to the other categories of PhD courses at IIT Guwahati are not decided on the basis of the aforementioned entrance exams scores.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
No, GATE is not a mandatory entrance exam for Plaksha University MS in AI admissions. Candidates also have the option to appear for other entrance exams to qualify for MS in AI admissions such as GRE, CAT and GMAT.
However, candidates who have cleared their UG level course from top institutes such as
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The GATE paper will be divided into sections like engineering mathematics, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, etc.
Here's the GATE 2026 Syllabus for Civil Engineering
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 6 days ago
Bachelor's degree holder from IITs with a CGPA of 8.0 or above can get direct admission in M.Tech programme of IIT Dhanbad without GATE. The respective department reviews such applications and seats for such aspirants are supernumerary.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, you can get M.Tech admission without a GATE in Bangalore colleges through institute specific entrance exams. The seats are sponsored in IITs and NITS. Private and state universities also offer direct admissions via their own tests or merit.
Source: External site and may vary.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, Chandigarh University conducts an interview process for students who wish to avail the GATE Exam 2026 fellowship. Clearing the interview is a compulsory step, even for candidates with strong GATE scores. The interview is designed to assess the student's subject knowledge, communication skill,
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered a week ago
No, the GATE cutoffs for IIT Patna 2025 admissions are currently unknown. The only availabe cutoff data for MSc admissions at IIT Patna comes from IIT JAM. The GATE cutoffs may differ from the IIT JAM however, the difficulty of both exams is relatively the same. Hence, candidates can expect similar
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can join M.Tech admission in M.Tech colleges in Mumbai without GATE through university-specific entrance exams like VITMEE, BITS HD, SRMJEEE PG, or through direct admission for IIT/NIT graduates with high CGPA, sponsored seats, or management quota, with options in private colleges like BITS
T
Contributor-Level 10
Introduced in 2021, the two paper combination in GATE is a new approach by the conducting authorities that allows candidates to atleast two papers in the examination. The main objective of the GATE 2026 two paper combination facility is to broaden the skill set and techniques of the aspirants in the relevant field they are applying for.
IIT Guwahati has released the GATE two paper combination list for 2026 exam. Aspirants can choose two papers from the given combination while filling the application form. The first paper is termed the primary paper, and the second paper is termed as the secondary paper. However, it must be noted it is not mandatory to opt for two papers.