GATE Syllabus

Honestly, textbooks are not enough for GATE preparation (especially if you are targeting IITs and top colleges). 

Besides your college books, look out for top GATE books recommended by toppers, mentors, and professors. Pick at least one standard book for each subject and start studying it side by side. Apart from that, also practice solving GATE question papers of last 5 to 10 years to get hands on the question difficulty and pattern. 

Stay consistent, prepare a practical timetable and religiously follow it. At the end, it's all upto how you prepare for the exam. 

The GATE Energy Science syllabus can be checked below -

• Energy resources and conversion technologies - fossil energy resources, nuclear energy resources, biomass, hydropower, etc.
• Energy storage, economics, environment, and efficiency - energy storage systems, energy management, environmental impacts of energy use, etc. 

The GATE paper code of Energy Science is GATE XE-I. 

The step-by-step process to download the GATE 2026 syllabus from the website is as follows -

• Visit the official website of GATE 2026
• Select the GATE papers and click on the drop-down menu
• Choose the syllabus option and select your branch
• Download the syllabus and start preparing for the exam.

No, there is no change in the GATE 2026 syllabus. However, a new sectional paper has been added under Engineering Sciences. The paper name is Energy Science and the GATE paper code is XE-I. Candidates can download the GATE syllabus 2026 PDF from the official website. 

The GATE 2026 exam pattern for CS, EC, EE, and ME can be checked below. The general aptitude section (GA) carries 15 marks, while the subject-based questions carries 85 marks, out of which engineering mathematics section consists of 13 marks. The GATE question paper will be in English language and the time duration is three hours. 

The GATE paper code for metallurgical engineering is MT. The eligible two-paper combination for metallurgical engineering is Engineering Sciences (XE). Candidates who want to opt for the MT paper must check the paper code carefully before applying. To apply for secondary paper, candidate must select from the drop-down menu available in the application form. 

Yes, candidates can change their GATE paper code after submitting their application form. However, this facility will be available at time of form correction window, where the candidate has to pay a certain amount of fee to change their GATE paper code/subject. 

The GATE paper code of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is DA. Here are the eligible paper combinations for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence -

• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (CS)
• Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Mathematics (MA)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Physics (PH)
• Statistics (ST)
• Engineering Sciences (XE)

There is no ideal time to start the GATE preparation. Start early (from the first year itself). It is mainly because your bachelor's topics and chapters have the most weightage in the GATE question paper. The topics that are taught in your third year are the backbone. If you are clear with the fundamentals and concepts (taught in classes), then you do not require extra time to prepare for GATE. Just revise and practice questions. That's enough. 

So, start preparing for GATE right from the first year. Your brain is fresh with the concepts and formulas, thus making it easy to solve the questions and prepare for the exam.