Students’ Speak: Want to ace GATE 2020? These are the books you must refer to
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
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1 Jun '26 - 31 Dec '26
By: Swapnaneel Bhuiya
The initiative to prepare for Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) has to start early. This helps in preparing the right study plan and get hold of the material you need to refer to.
Early preparation will also ensure that you get enough time to strategise and to study various concepts and topics present in the syllabus. Ensure that no day is left wasted and make use of each and every minute while also prioritising your health and sleep.
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The first step once you begin your preparation is to find topics that are top-scoring. Knowledge about the topic distribution in the question paper is a good strategy to adapt for preparation purposes. You can go through the previous year question papers to see how the topics and concepts were divided for the examination. By having an idea of the weightage, you can concentrate on those topics which seem to have more questions and distribution in the question paper. Knowing your topic-wise distribution is a great way to start your preparation for the examination.
Creating a Study Plan
After checking the syllabus and topic weightage, the next step in how to prepare for GATE 2020 is to create an individual study plan. A personalised study plan will help you to divide the study sessions subject-wise according to your preference. By preparing a study plan, you will be able to equally give your time to an allotted chapter or topic while squeezing in time for mock tests, sample paper practice and also some rest. The following points can be remembered while preparing the study plan:
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- Daily, weekly and monthly targets should be kept.
- You should remember to evenly divide the difficult, moderate and easy topics.
- Topics should be divided in such a way as to not make it monotonous.
- Give more importance to those topics which have more chances of having high weightage in the examination.
- Make sure to give adequate time for mock tests and sample papers.
- Break times should be placed strategically so that you remain fresh during studies.
Similarly, the following points should be avoided while the study plan is being prepared:
- Do not overcrowd a single slot with tough or difficult topics.
- Do not forget to make time for revision after finishing a particular chapter.
- Do not follow another person’s schedule. Make your own personalized study plan since it will fit your taste and help you in a better way.
How to source correct study material and books for your stream/branch?
A lot of books are often named for reference by previous year toppers for GATE preparation. While the textbooks can be used for studying, it is recommended that extra books should also be looked into to give that extra boost. The following table can be referred to know the best books for preparation of GATE 2020.
| GATE Preparation Books for ME |
Author |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Vibration |
GK Grover |
| Design Of Machine Elements |
VB Bhandari |
| Engineering Mechanics |
SS Bhavikatti |
| Fluid Mechanics |
RK Bansal |
| Heat & Mass Transfer |
PK Nag |
| Engineering Thermodynamics |
Cengel & Boles |
| Internal Combustion Engine |
V Ganesan |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning |
CP Arora |
| Material Science |
UC Jindal |
| Production Engineering |
Amitabh Ghosh |
| Industrial Engineering
|
OP Khanna
|
| GATE Preparation Books for CSE |
Author |
| Algorithms |
Cormen |
| Operating System |
Galvin |
| Theory of Computation |
Ullman |
| Computer Networks |
Tanenbaum |
| Computer Organisation |
Carl Hamacher |
| Database System |
Korth |
| Compiler Design |
Aho & Ull Man |
| Digital Logic |
Morris Mano |
| Software Engineering |
Pressman |
| GATE Preparation Books for EE |
Author |
|---|---|
| Network Analysis |
Val Valken Burg |
| Solution of Network Analysis |
GK Publications |
| Engineering Circuit Analysis |
Hayt & Kemmerly |
| Graph Theory |
Narsing Das |
| Circuit Theory |
Chakravarthy |
| Control System |
Nagrath Gopal |
| Electrical machines |
PS Bimbhra |
| Power Electronics |
UA Bakshi |
| Power Systems |
Nagrath Kothari |
| Signals & Systems |
Oppenheim Wisky |
| GATE Preparation Books for ECE |
Author |
| Network Analysis |
Van Valken Burg |
| Solutions of Network Analysis |
GK Publications |
| Engg. Circuit Analysis |
Hayt and Kemmerly |
| Network Analysis |
Soni and Gupta |
| Graph Theory |
Narsing Deo (Cutset and Others) |
| Circuit Theory |
Chakravarthy |
| Electric Circuits |
Schaum’s Series |
| Network Theory |
Prof Yoganarasimhan |
| Electronic Devices Circuits |
Boylested and Neshelsky |
| Microelectronic Circuits |
Sedra and Smith |
| Electronic Devices Circuits |
Millman and Halkias (Black Pad) |
| Microelectronics |
Millman and Grabel |
| Integrated Electronics |
Millman and Halkias |
| Electronic Circuits |
Schilling and Belove |
| Switching and Finite Automatic Theory |
Kohavi |
| Digital Logic and Computer Design |
Mano |
| Digital Electronics |
Malvino and Leach |
| Digital Systems, Principles and Applications |
Tocci |
| Microprocessor and its Applications |
Goankar |
| Microprocessors |
B Ram |
| Automatic Control Systems |
BC Kuo |
| Control Systems |
Nagarath and Gopal |
| Modern Control Systems |
Ogata |
| OP Amps and Linear Integrated Circuits |
Gayakwad |
| Electrical and Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation |
AK Sawhney |
| DC Machines Measurements and Measuring Instruments |
GB Bharadhwajan |
| Electrical Machines |
PS Bimhra |
| Electrical Technology |
Hughes |
| The performance and Design of AC Machines |
MG Say |
| Electrical Engg. (Problems and Solutions) |
Natesan |
| Electrical Machines |
Mukherjee & Chakravarthy |
| Elements of Power System Analysis |
William D Stevenson |
| Modern Power System Analysis |
Nagrath and Kothari |
| Electrical Power Systems |
Wadhwa |
| Power Systems |
VK Mehta (For basics of PS) |
| GATE Preparation Books for Civil Engineering |
Author |
|---|---|
| Gate 2020: Civil Engineering Solved Papers |
Made Easy |
| Gate Guide Civil Engg. 2020 |
Gkp |
| Gate Tutor 2020 Civil Engineering |
Prasant Dixit |
| Gate 2020: Civil Engineering Chapterwise Solved Papers: 20 Years |
Hitesh Aggarwal |
| Gate 2020 Civil Engineering |
Vani Institute |
| Civil Engineering Gate 2020 30 Years Solution |
IES Master |
| Gate Guide Civil Engineering 2020 |
Hitesh Aggarwal |
| Gate Guide Civil Engg. 2020 |
GKP |
| Gate Paper Civil Engineering 2020 (Solved Papers 2000-2016) |
GKP |
| Engineering Branch |
GATE Reference Books 2020 |
|---|---|
| GATE 2020 Bio-Technology |
Lehning M Prescott, Eldon John, Lehninger |
| GATE 2020 Marine Engineering |
RK Rajput, RK Bansal, |
| GATE 2020 Paint Technology |
PK Nag |
| GATE 2020 Chemical Engineering |
Cengel & Boles |
| GATE 2020 Instrumentation & Control |
Natesan, Mukherjee & Chakravarthy |
| GATE 2020 Architecture |
The Road Ahead, GATE Architecture |
| GATE 2020 Oil Engineering |
RK Bansal, RK Rajput |
About the Author:
Swapnaneel Bhuiya is a fourth-year student in Mining Engineering at Indian Institute of Engineering Science And Technology (IIEST), Shibpur. He appeared for JEE in 2016 and scored 140 in his first attempt.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
No, students cannot get admission in Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering M.Tech without GATE. Admission is entrance-based. Candidates are shortlisted for the M.Tech programme based on entrance scores in GATE. Candidates who qualify in the admission process are eligible to secure their seat i
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering does accept GATE for admission to its M.Tech programme. The college offers seats through both MHT CET and GATE scores. Students have to check and apply online for both. The college may reserve some of its intake for students having GATE score.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
At KIIT School of Electronics Engineering, GATE-qualified students follow the same general timeline for the M.Tech application. But, their selection process might move faster if they have a high GATE score, as they are then exempt from the entrance exam.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 6 days ago
At KIIT School of Electronics Engineering, the M.Tech selection process gives strong preference to GATE-qualified candidates. If an applicant has a GATE score of 400 or higher, they are exempt from the entrance examination. This recognizes their national-level competency and simplifies admission jou
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 6 days ago
IIIT Ranchi considers the score of GATE exam for M.Tech admission. However, it is not compulsory. The M.Tech admission will be through online/offline counselling based on the GATE score and/or written test and/or interview by the respective departments at IIIT Ranchi.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, many private colleges like VIT, SRM, Manipal, Amity, and LPU offer M.Tech without GATEas they conduct their own entrance tests. BITS Pilani offers a work-integrated M.Tech for professionals.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Candidates are offered seat in M.Tech based on GATE scores at NIT Goa. The seats are allotted via CCMT Counselling. In case the seats remain vacant, Non-GATE aspirants can also get admission by passing the written test conducted by the institute.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
If you are seeking admission in NIT Jamshedpur 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. Unless a student is applying through the self-financed/ sponsored ca
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Non-GATE candidates are offered admission in M.Tech based on institute-level examination. NIT Srinagar conducts an entrance test to fill up self-sponsored/ sponsored category and vacant seats after the CCMT Counselling is over. Such candidates have to apply on the institute's website and appear for
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 weeks 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