GATE

The GATE exam 2026 dates are February 7, 8, 14, and 15. The exam will be conducted in two shifts. However, the branch-wise dates will be announced a few days before the exam. Candidates must check the official website carefully to get latest updates on the GATE examination. 

GATE Computer Science and Engineering (CS) and GATE Civil Engineering (CE) are conducted in multiple sessions. For such cases, the candidate will have to appear for the exam in only one of the sessions of the test paper. The details regarding the exam date and time will be mentioned on the GATE admit card. 

The GATE question paper consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), multiple-select questions (MSQs) and numerical aptitude questions (NATs). In MCQs, one out of four options will be correct. On the other hand, in MSQs, more than one out of four questions is correct. However, for NATs, the answer will be marked using the virtual keypad. 

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. 

Candidates can download the GATE syllabus 2026 on the official website- gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The syllabus is released for all 30 subjects. The steps to download the exam syllabus can be checked below -

• Visit the GATE official website
• Click on the GATE papers and select the subject/discipline you are applying for
• Download the syllabus PDF and start your preparation. 

Here is a brief overview of the GATE exam pattern 2026 -

• The GATE exam is conducted online only.
• The question paper is curated in English language
• The time duration of the exam is three years.
• The exam is conducted for 30 subject papers.
• The question paper of GATE is divided into two major sections - general aptitude and candidate's selected subject.
• Questions will be available in MSQ, MCQ, and NAT format
• The total marks of the GATE paper is 100 
• Negative marking is applicable for MCQs only.
• There is no partial marking in GATE MSQs.

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 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 6 - without late fees. Incase, you've missed out the deadline, you can still submit the application form till October 9, but you need to pay a late fee during this timeline.