Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2012
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2012 is organized by Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD). It is an all India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordination Board-GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. 
GATE is conducted through constitution of eight zones; the zones and the administering institutes are mentioned below:
- Zone 1 - Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru
- Zone 2 - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Zone 3 - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Zone 4 - Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Zone 5 - Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Zone 6 - Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Zone 7 - Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Zone 8 - Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Eligibility:
Eligibility required for GATE 2012:
- Candidates who are bachelors' degree holders in Engineering/Technology/Architecture (4 years after 10+2) and those who are in the final year of such programmes.
- Candidates who are Master's degree holders in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final year of such programmes.
- Candidates in the second or higher year of the Four-year Integrated Master's degree programme (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology.
- Candidates in the fourth or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master's degree programme or Dual Degree programme in Engineering/Technology.
- Candidates with qualifications obtained through examinations conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by Institute of Engineers (India); AMICE by institute of Civil Engineers (India)) as equivalent to B.E/B.Tech.
Opportunities:
Successful completion of this exam provides ample opportunities to students.
- One can take admission to postgraduate programmes with MHRD and some other Government scholarships/assistantships in engineering colleges/institutes.
- Candidates with Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology / Architecture or Master's degree in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications, who qualify in GATE examination, are eligible for admission to Master's degree programmes in Engineering/Technology/ Architecture as well as for Doctoral programmes in relevant branches of Science with MHRD or other Government scholarships/assistantships.
Application Submission Process:
To apply for GATE 2012, apply online; application process is totally online and sale of application forms through banks/ GATE office counters has been discontinued. Details for applying online are also available on the websites of above mentioned 8 institutes. The application fee is Rs. 1000/- for General /OBC candidates and Rs. 500/- for SC/ST/PD category candidates.
Schedule of the Examination:
It will include both online and offline examination.
| Examination Type | Examination Date (Day) | Time |
| Online | 29th January, 2012 (Sunday) | 9.00a.m-12.00 p.m 14.00-17.00 p.m |
| Offline | 12th February, 2012 (Sunday) | 9.00a.m-12.00 p.m 14.00-17.00 p.m |
Some other Important Dates:
1. Commencement of Online Application submission - 12th September, 2011
2. Last date for:
a) Submission of Online Application Form (website closure) - 17th October, 2011
b) Receipt of printed version of online application at respective GATE offices - 24th October, 2011
3. Announcement of Results- 15th March, 2012
Good Luck!
Source: Richha Bhatnagar (Shiksha Team)
