GATE 2026: Branch-Wise Exam Dates (Soon), Admit Card, Pattern, Status, and Question Paper details

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 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. 

IIT Guwahati will conduct GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15 in two shifts. The exam timings are Forenoon - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Branch-wise dates will be updated at gate2026.iitg.ac.in

The official website of GATE is gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The website carries complete details regarding the GATE examination, such as dates, registration process, pattern, syllabus, fees, and more. It is advised to go through all the details carefully before applying. Registrations for GATE are now OPEN on the website. The last date to apply without late fees was October 7 and with late fees was October 13. 

The GATE admit card 2026 will be released on January 2, as mentioned in information brochure. Only registered candidates will be eligible to download their hall ticket. Applicants can download GATE admit card using their enrollment ID and password.

In case, there is an error in the GATE exam hall ticket 2026, then candidates are advised to contact the GATE helpline number. Applicants can also email, mentioning their query. The helpline number is available from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (on Government Working Days only). 

The GATE admit card has details regarding the exam and the applicant like name, photo, signature, GATE paper code, exam date and time, centre code, guidelines, etc. Candidates must check details carefully before printing. If there is any discrepancy, applicants must immediately contact GATE helpline number. 

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. 

The GATE exam is conducted for 30 subject papers. In 2024, the GATE Data Science and Artificial Intelligence was introduced. Each subject or branch is determined by a paper code which applicant must note carefully. While filling out the application form, candidates must check the GATE branch and paper codes and add them. 

Candidates can download GATE syllabus from the official website - gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The syllabus is available in PDF format. Before downloading, check the GATE paper code and branch name. The GATE exam syllabus is available for 30 papers.

Yes, the GATE General Aptitude syllabus is common for all branch papers in GATE. Candidates must check the GATE syllabus PDF carefully before starting their preparation. The GATE GA syllabus includes the following -

• Verbal aptitude (basic English grammar and vocabulary)
• Quantitative Aptitude - Data interpretation and numerical computation and estimation
• Analytical Aptitude and Spatial Aptitude

The GATE previous years question paper are available on the official website - gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates who are appearing for GATE exam must attempt the question paper to understand what sort of questions are asked in the exam. Candidates can download them for free. However, they must check the paper code carefully before downloading PDF.

So, if you are planning to appear for GATE this year, then it is very important to solve the GATE old question paper, as they come with tons of benefits. 

• First and foremost, the GATE old question paper allows students to understand the GATE exam structure and pattern, with which you can tally and filter out the GATE subject-wise weightage, and which questions are asked more frequently.
• Also, solving the GATE previous year's paper gives you an upper hand in improving your time management skills and accuracy. 
• Besides that, the GATE old question paper also gives you a clear understanding of the difficulty level. 

Therefore, it is advised to keep a habit of solving GATE old question papers. Try to solve atleast one full-length paper per day. 

The IIT Guwahati has released the GATE application form on August 28 at the GOAPS portal. The registration window is now active on the official website of IIT Guwahati GATE. The last date to apply has been revised to October 7 - without late fees. Incase, you've missed out the deadline, you can still submit the application form till October 13, but you need to pay a late fee during this timeline. 

This year, IIT Guwahati has revised the GATE 2026 registration fees. The fee details are mentioned on the official website and information bulletin. The details regarding the GATE application fees can be checked below -

• The GATE fee for SC, ST, and PwD applicants is INR 1000 during the regular period and INR 1500 during the extended period.
• For other candidates, including foreign nationals, the fee is INR 2000 (during the regular period) and INR 2500 during the extended timeline. 

Accepted payment modes include- Netbanking, UPI, Credit Card, Debit Card, and UPI. After the payment, candidates are advised to keep a copy of the payment receipt for future reference.

The GATE 2026 application form can be filled online. To apply, candidates can check the following steps below -

• Visit the official website of GATE - gate2026.iitg.ac.in
• Click on the application form portal (GOAPS)
• Register to generate enrollment ID and password
• Login using credentials and fill out the details. 
• Upload the documents as per specifications. 
• Pay the GATE application form fees
• Confirm the declaration and submit the application form

Candidates are advised to keep multiple printout of the application form for future reference. 

Yes, candidates having qualifying degree in B.Com can apply for GATE exam to get admission to the master's programmes in IITs and IISc. Candidates must go through the GATE information brochure carefully before applying. Also, students in 3rd year or final year in commerce are also eligible for GATE. 

Attempting two papers in GATE allows students to broaden their skills and career options in different disciplines. Implemented in 2021, the GATE two paper combination can be chosen from the given list of paper combinations (already set by the authorities). With the GATE two paper combination list, also, you have better chances of qualifying the examination. 

No, applicants cannot opt for any paper from the combination list. Candidates can only select from the options provided by the GATE authorities in the GATE 2026 paper combination list. For example, a CS student has the free will to choose from the following set of exam papers: DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, and ST. 

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. 

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

Candidates can choose at least three exam centres while filling their GATE 2026 application form. The list of GATE exam cities (zone-wise) is available on the website. Besides that, it has to be noted that the three centres must be from the same zone. Thus, based on the availability, the centre will be allotted to the candidate for appearing the GATE 2026 exam. 

The GATE scorecard 2026 is valid for three years, which means the scorecard can be used till 2029. Candidates can download the scorecard using their enrollment ID and password. Candidates can use the scorecard for M.Tech or PhD admissions, or PSU recruitment. 

Candidates who have qualified in GATE can download the GATE scorecard. The scorecard will be available from March 27 onwards at the GOAPS portal. To download the scorecard, candidates can follow the steps below -

• Visit the official website of GATE
• Click on the "application form portal link/GOAPS portal"
• Log in using enrollment ID and password
• The scorecard will be displayed on the screen. 
• Take a printout of the scorecard for future references. 

The GATE counselling process starts after the announcement of results. The GATE counselling is conducted by COAP and CCMT. The COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) is the counselling portal that offers admission to IITs. While CCMT (Centralised Counselling for MTech/M.Arch/M.Plan) is the counselling portal that offers admission to NITs, IIITs, and other GFTIs. The GATE CCMT/COAP counselling usually starts in the second or third week of May. 

The GATE counselling is done by the CCMT and COAP to offer admission to M.Tech and research programmes in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other prestigious institutions. To participate in the GATE counselling process, candidates need to qualify for the GATE exam. The steps involved in the GATE counselling process are as follows -

• Online registration at the respective portal.
• Choice filling and payment of fees
• Choice locking 
• Seat acceptance and downloading the seat allotment letter. 
• Reporting to the allotted institute for document verification. 

NOTE: Candidates must note that the GATE counselling process will be conducted in two to three rounds, followed by additional rounds depending on the availability of seats. 

The GATE cutoff is the minimum mark to be obtained by the candidate to qualify for the exam. The cutoff mark varies every year depending on the various factors, such as the total number of candidates registered, difficulty level of the paper, etc. Based on the previous year's cutoff trends, the GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff may range from 25 to 50 out of 100 for various branches. The cutoff for GATE 2026 will be released after the announcement of the results. 

The following are the most registered subjects/papers in the GATE examination -

• Computer Science and Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electronics and Communication Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering

Every year, Lacs of candidates register for the above subjects, making the respective branch competitive. 

There are two shift timings for the GATE exam. Candidates can find the details of the shift timing on the official website. The GATE shift timings are as follows -

• Forenoon  - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
• Afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Candidates can also find the exam timing details mentioned in the GATE admit card. Candidates are advised to appear for the GATE 2026 exam on the date prescribed in the hall ticket. 

The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted in more than 200 cities across eight zones in India. There are no international centres. Candidates who wish to appear for the exam must travel to India. The details regarding the test city and address will be mentioned in the GATE admit card. 

This year, IIT Guwahati is conducting the GATE 2026 exam. IIT Guwahati conducted the GATE exam in 2018. Based on the GATE 2018 and past year paper format, the GATE 2026 is expected to be moderately difficult. The question paper is expected to have higher weightage on concept-based questions, blending numerical and practical analysis. Candidates are advised to practice the previous year's question paper as many times as possible to understand the difficulty level of the question paper. 

The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, has released the GATE 2026 exam dates on the official website. Candidates can check the GATE 2026 dates below -

The GATE enrollment ID is generated after registration. The enrollment ID is different for each applicant. It is used for accessing GATE related activities like form filling, hall ticket download, result and scorecard download, etc.

No, the GATE enrollment ID is created during the registration process. The enrollment ID is used as a login credential. On the other hand, the GATE registration number is a unique number allotted to the student, which serves as an identity proof (for appearing for the exam). The GATE registration number will be mentioned in the admit card (and is not applicable for login purposes). 

While filling the GATE application form 2026, candidates have to enter their personal, communication, educational qualification, and documents (photo, signature and ID proof). Reserved category had to submit their caste certificate and PwD applicants had to submit their disability certificate.

Yes, candidates can change their category at the time of application form correction facility. Additional fee is charged for changing category. The last date to modify details is November 10. Candidates can submit their changes at GOAPS portal using their enrollment ID and password.

The IITs and IISc prepare GATE question paper to test candidates skills and knowledge in their relevant discipline. Questions in GATE exam 2026 will be prepared under the following category - recall, comprehension, application, and analysis.

GOAPS is also known as the GATE online application portal system used for performing GATE-related activities. With the help of GATE GOAPS portal, candidates can do the following -

• GATE registration
• Downloading admit card
• Checking and raising GATE answer key
• Downloading scorecard
• Checking cutoff scores

To access the GOAPS portal, candidates need to create an enrollment ID and password. 

No, physical calculators will not be allowed in the GATE exam 2026. Candidates will be provided with a virtual calculator on their screen to attempt the questions. Candidates are advised to be well acquainted with the virtual calculator to solve questions with accuracy and speed. 

Candidates can download their GATE scorecard at GOAPS portal. The credentials needed are enrollment ID and password. The scorecard of GATE is valid for three years.

No, on the spot scribe facility is not available during the GATE exam day. Candidates have to apply or avail the GATE scribe assistance facility while filling the GATE application form 2026. Also, the applicant has to upload the relevant document in PDF format to proof his/her eligibility for scribe. 

Many PSUs accept the GATE score for recruitment. Here are some top PSUs that accept GATE scores for jobs -

• Airports Authority of India (AAI)
• Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
• Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)
• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

Most of the PSUs accept the current GATE scorecard for recruitment. Therefore, it is important to stay updated with the recruitment notifications. 

Yes, candidates have the facility to change their exam city/centre, but during the application form correction window. The form correction facility will be available once the registration process is over. However, applicant can only change their exam centre from the same zone only (as mentioned earlier while filling the application form). 

A compensatory time of 60 minutes is given to candidates who have opted for scribe facility in GATE exam. To avail this facility, candidates have to choose option while filling GATE form. 

No, soft copy of the GATE 2026 admit card will not be accepted to the exam centre. Applicant must carry a hard copy of the hall ticket. Candidates must print the admit card on a A4 size paper using a printer in colored format. The GATE admit card will be released on January 2 (as per the official notification). 

GATE normalisation process is done to provide fairness to all applicants who are appearing for examination. It is because GATE is conducted in multiple sessions. In such case, raw marks are converted into normalised marks using the formula.

As per the official notification, there is nothing as such mentioned regarding the old or new SC/ST certificate. However, it is better to upload an updated caste certificate in PDF format. The document must be uploaded at the time of form filling process.