GATE 2026 Competition Expected to Rise in EC, CS, and EE Streams: Check Rising Trends and Insights
GATE 2026 is set to see increased competition, especially in EC, CS, and EE streams. With nearly 12 lakh aspirants expected, the race for top M.Tech seats and PSU jobs is intensifying. The growing demand for roles in AI, VLSI, and chip design has pushed EC and CS into the spotlight. Premium packages from IITs, touching 1 crore, are also driving interest. Meanwhile, ME remains steady, and Chemical Engineering may rise in demand soon. Read below for more.
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has launched the GATE's 2026 website and dates . However, the GATE application form 2026 will be made available on August 25 onwards. The GATE 2026 exam will be held on February 7,8,14, and 15. Looking at the past five years' stats, experts predict that the GATE 2026 is expected to experience a surge in competition, especially in the popular streams like Electronics and Communication (EC), Computer Science and Information Technology (CS), and Electrical Engineering (EE). With nearly 2 lakh candidates likely to appear in each stream, the race for top MTech institutes and PSUs is becoming intense.
| GATE 2023 Stats | CS | EC | EE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | 99,555 | 70,361 | 58,342 |
| Appeared | 76,679 | 45,833 | 55,292 |
| Qualified | 14,797 | 8817 | 6213 |
| Mean marks of top 0.1% in Top 10 category | 81.32 | 74.08 | 57.24 |
| Average marks | 20.03 | 17.36 | 10.90 |
GATE 2024 Stats
| GATE 2024 Stats | CS | EC | DA | EE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | 152,652 | 78,157 | 52,493 | 73,728 |
| Appeared | 123,967 | 63,092 | 39,210 | 59,599 |
| Qualified | 21,949 | 13,260 | 8377 | 12,596 |
| Mean marks of top 0.1% in Top 10 category | 78.03 | 61.95 | 76.99 | 67.48 |
| Average marks | 14.92 | 16.02 | 23.43 | 16.18 |
GATE 2025 Stats
| GATE 2025 Stats | CS | EC | DA | EE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | 207,851 | 97,394 | 75,854 | 83,355 |
| Appeared | 170,825 | 81,475 | 57,054 | 67,701 |
GATE 2026 Paper Predictions: What to expect in the competition and difficulty?
Let's check the GATE 2026 paper trends across the popular branches below -
GATE 2026 Electronics and Communication (EC)
The EC stream is likely to see higher competition in GATE 2026 compared to previous years. With the booming demand in VLSI design, Digital Signal Processing, AI, communication systems, and semiconductor technology, aspirants are eyeing roles in chip designing and core electronics domains. Institutes like IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru are offering premium M.Tech packages, going as high as ₹1 crore per annum, making EC a highly sought-after discipline this year.
GATE 2026 Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)
The CS stream continues to dominate GATE 2026 registrations due to the popularity of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and coding-based roles. Since 2022, this stream has seen a steady rise in aspirants aiming for tech-driven careers. With top IITs and IIITs offering lucrative placements, GATE CS 2026 is expected to be highly competitive.
GATE 2026 Electrical Engineering (EE)
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering has come a long way since its inception. The entrance test was first introduced in 1983 and was conducted offline (in pen and paper format) only for engineering and science streams. However, over the years, the pattern of the GATE examination has changed in several factors, such as the following -
Giving more emphasis on numerical ability and reasoning questions.
More case-based questions are included to understand the candidate’s ability and approach towards practical knowledge.
Changing the exam mode from offline to a computer-based test for faster evaluation, improved accuracy, and a more secure examination process.
Introducing more elaborated syllabi and disciplines to align with the industry demands and technological advancements.
Overall, the GATE has grown beyond being a gateway for postgraduate studies. It is now a recognised criterion for recruitment in over 50 PSUs, such as ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC. Candidate can check GATE exam pattern here: GATE 2025 Exam Pattern.
Closely related to EC, the GATE EE stream is gaining momentum, especially for those targeting the government sector and PSUs. The number of candidates appearing for EE may reach close to 1 lakh in 2026. With increased relevance in power systems, electronics, and core government roles, EE is considered a stable and promising stream.
GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering (ME)
The GATE ME stream has remained consistent over the years, with not much change expected in the number of applicants. While PSU opportunities are higher than those in the private sector, competition is relatively stable for the GATE ME 2026 paper.
GATE 2026 Chemical Engineering (CH): Emerging Scope in next 5 years
While not among the top-registered streams yet, GATE Chemical Engineering is expected to gain demand in the next 2 to 3 years due to growing industrial and sustainability-focused roles.
GATE 2026 will offer 65 questions carrying 100 marks, but the real challenge lies in rising competition, especially in EC, CS, and EE. With M.Tech admissions gaining popularity and tech roles offering record-breaking packages, aspirants must prepare strategically to secure top ranks.
Also read:
| Explore important events of GATE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dates | Application Form | Overview |
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GATE papers have three major sections; General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics & Specific Subject. There are 65 questions asked for 100 marks in GATE exam.
General aptitude questions are asked for 15 marks, Engineering mathematics in some paper codes, 13 marks and the rest 72 marks from the chosen subject.
In some paper codes engineering mathematics will be excluded only 15 marks general aptitude questions and rest 85 marks will be of chosen subject.