GATE Eligibility

Candidates who have qualified GATE exam will be eligible for GATE COAP counselling. The counselling offer admission to IITs. The admission counselling registration is online and is done in multiple rounds depending on seat availability.

The eligible GATE 2026 two-paper combinations for XE, XH, and XL are as follows -

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.

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. 

You can fill out the GATE online application form 2026 from August 25 onwards on the GOAPS portal. The link will be available and activated on the GATE's 2026 website. Candidates are advised to keep all their information and documents ready before the registration begins. The last date to submit the form with regular fees is September 25 and with late fees is October 6. 

The GATE paper code of Electronics and Communication Engineering is EC. The eligible GATE paper codes of Electronics and Communication Engineering are as follows -

• Life Sciences (XL)
• Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)
• Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Instrumentation Engineering (IN)
• Physics (PH)

The eligible two-paper combinations for GATE 2026 Data Science (DA) Syllabus are as follows -

• Biomedical Engineering (BM)
• Civil Engineering (CE)
• Instrumentation Engineering (IN)
• Chemical Engineering (CH)
• Metallurgical Engineering (MT)
• Biotechnology (BT)
• Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
• Geomatics Engineering (GE)
• Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)
• Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Mathematics (MA)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Physics (PH)
• Statistics (ST)
• Engineering Sciences (XE)

Yes, any candidate who meets the GATE 2026 eligibility will be able to appear for the exam. The criteria include the following -

• Any undergraduate student in 3rd year or higher years of any government approved programme in any of the following disciplines, such as engineering/technology/architecture/science/commerce/arts/humanities are eligible for the GATE. 
• Apart from that, the candidate must hold Indian citizenship.
• There is no age-limit or pass percentage to appear for the examination.
• Candidates from Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates can apply for GATE 2026.

Candidates from Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates can apply for GATE 2026. However, candidates need to go through the GATE eligibility criteria carefully before applying.