Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

GATE 2026 was conducted by IIT Guwahati for all 30 subject papers on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. As per the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in, the GATE 2026 results will be declared on 19th March, 2026. 

The GATE 2026 Response Sheet, Answer Key, and Question Paper has been released at GOAPS by IIT Guwahati. The candidates can download provsional answer key of GATE 2026 at gate2026.iitg.ac.in using their enrollment ID and password. The GATE exam answer key challenge process has also started from February 25, 2026. The last date to raise objections is February 28. 

Now, the IIT Guwahati will release the GATE Final Answer Key after reviewing all the raised queries in the objection window period by the candidates. 

Once the GATE results are released, you will have the option to choose between two GATE counselling processes: GATE CCMT and GATE COAP 2026.

• The GATE COAP counselling will be conducted for admission to M.Tech programs in IITs
• GATE CCMT 2026 counselling will be conducted for admission to M.Tech programs in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs & CFTIs.

GATE 2026 will also allow candidates to join Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) spread all across India. PSU uses the GATE exam score as a criterion for shortlisting the eligible candidates for recruitment. 

Check 

• GATE Marks Calculator using Response Sheet
• GATE College Predictor 2026: Predict your Admission Chances at IIT, NIT
• GATE 2026 Score Calculator

Also Check:

• GATE Cutoff 2026: Check Branch-wise Cutoff for IITs, NITs, Marks vs Ranks and College Predictor
• GATE 2026 Question Paper with Solutions PDF: Download Subject-wise Answer Keys
• GATE Score Calculation 2026, Formula, Calculation Method, Normalization, Marks vs Score vs Rank
• PSU Predictor through GATE 2026

What is the GATE 2026?

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and all 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

• IIT Guwahati organised the GATE 2026 for over 10 lakh students, and approximately 7-8 lakh candidates appeared for the exam.
• The GATE answer key is expected to be released in the last week of February 2026, with final results on March 19, 2026.
• As per the number of students, CS and EC are the most popular, with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) slowly improving.
• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will be using the GATE 2026 results of CE, CH, EC, EE, IN and ME test papers for recruitment.

GATE 2026 Statistics: Key Details

GATE 2026 has witnessed record-breaking registrations exceeding 10 lakh+ for the first time since 2014. This year, the GATE exam was driven by high demand in the Computer Science and Data Science fields.

• Total Registrations: Over 1 million (10 lakh+) registrations reported for 2026. Exact numbers are yet to be released.
• High-Volume Subjects: This year, GATE 2026 has experienced a major surge in applications for Computer Science (200,000+ candidates) and Data Science.
• Average Competition: While registrations are high, the intense competition is generally estimated to be among roughly 5,000–6,000 serious aspirants.
• According to past trends, IIT cutoffs for high-demand courses like CSE, ME, and EE would be in the range of 85-90
• NIT cutoffs would be low, in the range of 70-80, for General candidates, due to limited seats at IITs and high competition.

Also Read:

• GATE Result 2026: Check Scorecard, Good Score, Cutoff, Normalisation of Score
• GATE Score Calculation 2026, Formula, Calculation Method, Normalization

What After GATE Exam 2026?

The video below by “MARGDARSHAN PREP” shows the GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff for IIT admissions and PSU recruitment. The video also breaks down previous year trends, category-wise cutoff predictions (GEN, OBC, SC/ST), and explains how normalisation may affect your final score.

GATE Eligibility 2026 allows candidates from engineering, science, architecture, and humanities to apply, provided that they have passed their undergraduate program or in the 3rd year.

To be eligible for GATE, there is no age limit or minimum percentage required to appear for the GATE exam.

• Candidates from multiple degrees like B.E./B. Tech, M.Sc., B.Arch, B.Sc., and even foreign universities are also eligible for the GATE exam if their program is recognized and of appropriate duration, like a 4-year UG or 2-year PG.
• GATE has no qualifying percentage, but the institutes like IITs and PSUs will require 60-65% marks for admission or recruitment.

Candidates can also appear in one or two papers, based on allowed combinations. GATE scores are valid for 3 years, and there is no limit on the number of attempts.

GATE Eligibility Percentage 2026

GATE 2026 has no minimum percentage, anyone can give the exam. But for admission in M.Tech and recruitment in PSUs, most institutions need 60% (or 6.0 CGPA) for General/OBC and 55% (or 5.5 CGPA) for SC/ST/PwD students.

Top institutes like IITs might have higher cut-offs, sometimes even 75% or 7.5 CGPA, particularly for 3-year degree holders.

Hence, although GATE is accessible to all interested students, academic marks still have a bearing on final admissions and employment.

Is there a 75 criterion for GATE?

No, there is no 75% criteria to be eligible for GATE exam, even the candidates with the backlogs or pass class in their UG program are also eligible for the GATE 2026.

The CGPA , Marks,or even class division do not matter to be eligible for the GATE exam.

Some PSUs uss GATE scores and may appy their own academic cutoffs.

GATE 2026 Age Limit

In GATE 2026 there is no age limit, the exam is open for all age group and also the candidate can appears multiple times as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. To improve their GATE score.

GATE 2026 Score Validity Period

The GATE 2026 scores are valid for 3 years from the date of declaration of GATE result, by allowing candidates to use it for multiple admission cycles to take admission into M.Tech or research programs.

For PSUs the validity of GATE score is usually for 1 years, as most PSUs prefer the latest GATE score.

GATE Qualifying Marks 2026

The expected GATE Qualifying marks 2026 shows that the general category candidates will range from 25 to 42, varying by difficulty of exam and competition. The core branches like CSE, CE, and AI/DA will have the cutoffs around 29–31, while ECE, EE, CY, and ES will range between 25–28. Mechanical Engineering will have a higher expected cutoff of 36–38, and papers like Ecology & Evolution and Geology are expected to have the highest cutoffs at 40+

The OBC-NCL/EWS candidates are expected to have a 10% relaxation, while SC/ST/PwD are expecedt to have the relaxation of 30% with the cutoff between 17-21.

What are M.Tech Eligibility Criteria in Other Universities with GATE Scores?

For all IITs and NITs, candidates need to complete the registration process at the COAP portal, iitk.ac.in/coap2024. It will be a centralized counselling process for admission into MTech courses through GATE 2025 scores. However, candidates seeking to pursue MTech in institutes like BITS Pilani must obtain a minimum of 60% in the BTech curriculum.

Can Foreigners Take GATE 2025 Exam?

International students are also eligible to appear for GATE 2025 exam. Such candidates can be admitted into M.Tech and PhD courses offered at all IITs and IISCs, with the below-given criterias:

What are the Criteria for GATE Two Paper Combinations?

The “Two Paper Combinations” has been introduced by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru in 2024. Accordingly, candidates with their pre-chosen first papers can appear for other papers as well. The details for the two paper combinations are as follows:

Are Candidates Eligible for NITIE Programmes If Appeared for GATE PI Paper?

Students who have appeared in Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) in GATE exam can apply for NITIE programs. The National Institute of Industrial Engineering requires students to have a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in B.E./B.Tech courses. For reserved categories, a relaxation of 5% of the qualifying marks (i.e., 55%) is required.

What are GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Different PSUs?

If you are a job-seeker in PSUs with your GATE scores, it is possible by adhering to certain eligibility criterias, as follows:

Which PSU Companies Recruit with GATE Score Without a Group Discussion?

Certain PSUs offer to recruit students having GATE scores and PI (personal interviews). In such cases, no group discussion round is held. List of such PSUs are:

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

I Completed My Bachelor's Degree in five months. Can I Apply for PSUs with my GATE Scores?

Yes, students having bachelor’s degrees are eligible to fill out the application form for the post. It does not matter whether they have completed it in four or five years. The PSUs will consider other criterias like the age, percentage of marks obtained, and other skill-based questions. In case they are asked about the duration of completion of the undergraduate degree, they must answer with confidence and explain the reason. However, the candidates are not disqualified based on their course completion duration.

The IIT Guwahati has extended the GATE 2026 Application form correction window till 10^th November 2025, and the registered candidates can make the required changes, on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

The GATE 2026 Application form was released on 28th August 2025 and was active till 7th October, 2025, after an extension. The last date to register with a late fee is extended till 13th October, 2025.

The GATE Registration process 2026 will be conducted online on the official website of IIT Guwahati, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The GATE Registration Process 2026 started on 28th August 2025 and will continue till 7th October 2025.

Source: gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

GATE 2026 Official Website

The GATE 2026 Official Website is gate2026.iitg.ac.in, which is being managed by the conducting body, IIT Guwahati.

• On the GATE official website, candidates can complete the GATE application form, pay fees, download the admit card, and check the result.
• The GATE official website will release the official information brochure, syllabus, important dates, and exam guidelines.

GATE Application Form 2026

The GATE Application Form 2026 was released on 28th August, 2025, by IIT Guwahati on the official website. The GATE application & registration process will be conducted online by the GOAPS Portal, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Details of the Application Form:

• Mode of Application: Online
• Portal Used: GOAPS, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
• Information Required: Personal details, academic details, communication address, exam paper, and exam city preferences.
• Documents Required: Recent Photograph, Signature, Valid Photo ID, Category/PwD Certificate.
• Mode of Payments: Online (Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI).

How to Register for the GATE 2026 Exam?

To register for GATE 2026, candidates should log in on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in, and click on the “Application portal” for new candidate registration.

Source: gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

For GATE Registration 2026, candidates can simply complete the following steps:

GATE Registration Process 2026

The GATE Registration Process 2026 is being conducted entirely online by the GOAPS official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Candidates have to register, fill out the application form, upload the required documents, and pay the application fees.

GATE Registration 2026: Previous-Year Registration Statistics

The GATE Exam 2026 has seen a difference in candidates registered and appearing over the last 4 years. As the registered candidates have increased, it shows the growing interest of the candidates.

GATE Year-Wise Registered vs. Appeared Candidates (2025-2022)

• In the year 2025, the number of registered candidates has increased from 8,26,000 in 2024 to 9,36,000 in 2025, showing a major increase in the total candidates registered.
• In 2025, around 7,47,319 candidates appeared, of whom around 80% of the candidates registered for the exam.

GATE 2026 Registration Fees

IIT Guwahati has increased the GATE 2026 registration fees. For registration in GATE 2026, candidates will be required to pay the application fee.

The GATE Application fee structure varies for Indian nationals and foreign candidates, and it is necessary to pay it online via net banking, a credit card, or a debit card.

GATE 2026 Conducting Body

The IIT Guwahati will conduct GATE 2026, as per the rotational policy followed by GATE, which ensures equal distribution of responsibilities among top institutions.

GATE Conducting Bodies: Last 5 Years

Accepting GATE 2026 Registration Declaration - Form Submission

On the payment of the GATE 2026 exam fee, applicants will then be required to submit the application by accepting the declaration. The declaration includes:

• The applicant's assurance is that the application form is filled out completely and accurately.
• Applicant's claim to understand all forms of details and give correct information.
• Agreement to the GATE 2026 code of conduct.
• Acceptance that false information might result in the cancellation of candidature.
• Knowledge that submission of misleading or incorrect information may have legal consequences.

GATE 2026 Application Form Correction

If the applicants commit mistakes while filling out the GATE 2026 application form, they can correct some information via the application form correction window.

This correction procedure, organised by IIT Guwahati, is expected to commence in November 2025. Only selected fields will be made available for changes.

What is the registration fee for GATE 2026?

Getting the GATE 2026 Enrollment ID and Password

When the GATE 2026 Registration is completed successfully or the application has been submitted or filled out, candidates will receive exclusive GATE 2026 login credentials, including an enrollment ID and password.

In case of loss or forgetting these credentials, one must follow the steps below for recovery:

• Go to the homepage of GOAPS.
• Click 'Forget GATE 2026 Enrollment / Registration ID’
• In case the registered email ID is remembered but not the enrollment/registration ID, then press 'Request for OTP.'
• If the user already has an OTP, select 'Already have an OTP?' to recover the password.

The GATE 2026 Exam Pattern has been released by IIT Guwahati on the official GATE 2026 website (https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in). A total of 30 test papers including a new sectional test paper on Energy Science (XE-I) in Engineering Sciences (XE) paper] in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for 100 marks (65 questions) each will be conducted, and the duration will be 3 hours (180 minutes).

• GATE 2026 will have a new sectional test paper on Energy Science (XE-I) in Engineering Sciences (XE) paper.
• The test paper will be divided into two main sections- General Aptitude (GA) and Candidate’s Selected Subject(s).
• There will be three types of questions- MCQs, MSQs and NATs.
• There will be 1/3rd negative marking for MCQs of 1 mark and 2/3rd negative marking for MCQs of 2 marks. No negative marking for MSQs and NATs.

The Test Papers including Engineering Mathematics (AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, and TF) will have General Aptitude (GA) section of 15 marks, Engineering Mathematics section of 13 marks and the Subject Component of 72 marks.

XE has a common and compulsory section, namely, XE-A (Engineering Mathematics), which carries 15 marks, GA of 15 marks and remaining 70 marks from the Subject Component.

The Test Papers without Engineering Mathematics (AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL) will have a GA section of 15 marks and the remaining 85 marks are devoted to the Subject Component.

To watch the complete GATE 2026 Exam Pattern, click

GATE 2026 Distribution of Marks and Questions

The question and marks distribution for different Test papers are different, but all carry 65 questions with a total of 100 marks. Refer table below for GATE 2026 question distribution.

GATE 2026 Paper wise Question Distribution

Detailed GATE exam pattern 2026 and distribution of questions is discussed in the table below.

Source: https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in

Que. What is the total number of questions and marks in GATE 2026?

GATE Exam Pattern 2026

Ques. How will the exam be conducted?

Also Read:

• GATE Syllabus
• GATE Preparation

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme

The IIT Guwahati has also released the GATE 2026 Marking scheme along with the GATE Exam Pattern and other important information. The GATE Marking Scheme includes Paper Codes and Section-wise marks division as well.

GATE Subject-Wise Marking Scheme

Ques. What is the maximum mark for the GATE exam?

Ques. What is the passing mark for GATE exam?

Ques. Does GATE have 5-mark questions?

Also Read:

GATE Score Calculation

GATE Exam Pattern 2026: Paper-wise detailed Paper Pattern

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 varies for each paper depending on the sections and the marks distribution.

• General Aptitude is a common section in all GATE papers. The section comprises 15% of the weightage of the total marks.
• The questions in GA are based on verbal, numerical and quantitative ability. There are a total of 10 questions with 5 questions carrying 1 mark each and 5 questions carrying 2 marks each.

• As for the papers with codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, 15% marks weightage will be given to General Aptitude, 13% to Engineering Mathematics and remaining 72% to subject paper.
• Papers with codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks are for the subject paper

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST

For paper codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST there are three sections in the question paper. These are:

Apart from 10 questions in the General Aptitude section, there will be 55 questions from core discipline and engineering mathematics. 25 questions will carry 1 mark each while 30 questions will carry 2 marks each.

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for CY, DA, EY, MA, PH and ST

Each of GATE papers with code CY, DA, EY, MA PH and ST have two sections- General Aptitude and Core Discipline.

Detailed marking scheme for GATE AR, CY, EY, MA and PH papers has been tabulated below:

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Architecture and Planning (AR)

The GATE Exam Pattern for Architecture and Planning paper has been revised this year. According to the revised exam pattern, there will be three sections of the paper- GA (General Aptitude), Part A and Part B. Part A of the paper is a mandatory section for all candidates while Part B is further divided into Section B1 (Architecture) and B2 (Planning). Students need to choose one of the sections during the exam.

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Geomatics Engineering (GE)

Geomatics Engineering is a new paper introduced in GATE 2022. According to the exam pattern for Geomatics Engineering, the question paper consists of three sections- GA, Part A and Part B.

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Geology and Geophysics (GG)

GATE GG paper consists of three sections namely General Aptitude, Part A and Part B. Part B is further divided into Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). General Aptitude section and Part A are compulsory to attempt while candidates are required to choose either Section1 or Section 2 from Part B.

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)

Naval Architecture and Maine Engineering is another paper that was added to GATE exam last year. The paper will consist of two sections- GA and Main Subject.

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Engineering Sciences (XE)

GATE XE paper is divided into three sections. General Aptitude and Section A (Engineering Mathematics) are compulsory sections while candidates must choose any TWO from Section B-I of GATE XE paper.

• General Aptitude- 10 questions carrying 15 marks in total
• Section A for Engineering Mathematics- 11 questions carrying 15 marks in total
• Section B-I- 22 questions carrying 35 marks each in total. The various subjects under these sections include:
• XE-B – Fluid mechanics
• XE-C – Material Science
• XE-D – Solid mechanics
• XE-E – Thermodynamics
• XE-F – Polymer Science and Engineering
• XE-G – Food technology
• XE-H – Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• XE-I – Energy Science (New Section)

The detailed marking scheme for XE paper is tabulated below:

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)

GATE XH paper was introduced in 2021 allowing students with a humanities background to apply for GATE. The paper consists of three sections. General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are compulsory sections to attend, while candidates need to choose any ONE from C1-C6. The subjects under C1-C6 include:

• XH–C1: Economics
• XH–C2: English
• XH–C3: Linguistics
• XH–C4: Philosophy
• XH–C5: Psychology
• XH–C6: Sociology

Detailed marks distribution for GATE XH has been tabulated below:

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Life Sciences (XL)

GATE XL paper consists of three sections. General Aptitude and Section P (Chemistry) are compulsory for a candidate to attempt while candidates must choose any TWO from Section Q- U.

• XL-Q – Biochemistry
• XL-R – Botany
• XL-S – Microbiology
• XL-T – Zoology
• XL-U – Food Technology

Detailed marking scheme for GATE XL paper has been tabulated below:

GATE Exam Pattern 2026: Types of Questions

Questions in GATE 2026 are broadly divided into three categories:

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
  • In MCQs, candidates are provided with 4 choices out of which one answer is correct.
  • A candidate has to mark the correct choice by clicking the button against the option.
  • 1/3rd negative marking for 1 mark question and 2/3rd for 2 marks question.
• Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)
  • These questions are objective in nature and each question has a choice of four answers, out of which, one or more than one choice(s) are correct.
  • There is no negative marking for a wrong answer in MSQs.
  • However, there is no partial credit for choosing partially correct combinations of choices or any single wrong choice.
• Numerical Answer Type (NAT)
  • NAT includes questions with a value of signed real number which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor.
  • There won’t be any choices for these questions.
  • The answer can be an integer in decimals
  • The questions will be mentioned with up to which decimal places the candidates need to present the answer.
  • As correct answers for NATs, an appropriate range will be considered to avoid penalty due to round-offs.

Also Read:

GATE Book

Ques. Is GATE 2026 MCQ or written?

Ques. What is the syllabus of GATE 2026?

How to Attempt Online GATE Exam 2026?

Candidates about to appear for GATE 2026 can follow the steps below to know how to attempt the GATE exam 2026 online. Students are also advised to attempt the GATE mock tests to know how to attempt the GATE examination.

• Once the GATE exam starts, candidates can find the list of questions on their right side of the screen.
• Students can directly navigate to any question number by clicking on the serial number of that question.
• After clicking on any question number, the question will be displayed on the screen.
• To answer that question, students must select one option from 4 options in case of MCQs.
• In case of MSQs, students can select more than one option, and for NAT questions, students must type in the answer for the question using the virtual keyboard on the screen.
• To deselect options in GATE questions, students can click on the already selected options or tap on the “Clear Response” option to deselect the options.
• To save the question and move to the next GATE question, students can tap on the “Save and Next” option on the screen.
• Students can mark GATE questions for review if they feel unsure. This can be done by selecting the “Mark for Review and Next” option on the screen.
• Students must keep an eye on the timer on the screen. Once the time for the GATE exam is over, all the GATE answers will be auto-submitted.

GATE 2026 Paper Codes and Combinations

Source: https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in

The GATE 2026 Syllabus has been released along with the information bulletin by IIT Guwahati on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The GATE 2026 now includes a total of 30 subjects, with a proper list available on the GATE Syllabus PDF.

• In GATE 2026, New Subjects like Geomatics Engineering, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering have been added, increasing the subject count to 30.
• The GATE 2026 will be of 100 marks,15 marks will be from the general aptitude section and 85 marks from a specific-subject section as per the GATE Syllabus.
• From the GATE Syllabus, the GA Section will test candidates' logical reasoning, verbal ability, and numerical skills, and in the subject-based section, the undergraduate-level engineering topics will be covered.

You can select 2 subjects from the officially released subjects, which will allow you to increase your academic and career aspects as well.

Along with the GATE Syllabus, you should also stay aware of the question weightage and give priority to high-weightage topics.

GATE Syllabus 2026 PDF

You can download the official GATE 2026 updated syllabus from the table given below.

GATE Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise

The GATE Syllabus will include 30 subjects, divided into Engineering, Science and other interdisciplinary areas. Each Exam will test the candidates' conceptual knowledge, numerical ability and analytical reasoning skills.

Below is the topic-wise syllabus for all papers, including General Aptitude (GA) and Engineering Mathematics, which are common to most

GATE Previous Year Question Paper

GATE Syllabus 2026: Important Books

For GATE Preparation, the selection of proper books is important for GATE Preparation. The Reference books are required for conceptual clarity, and the previous year papers will help in practical knowledge and clarity in the exam pattern.