GATE 2026 Overview

Key Highlights

• New Paper Introduced: Energy Science (XE-I) under Engineering Sciences.

• Application Dates: 28th Aug – 28th Sept 2025 (late fee till 9th Oct 2025).

• Exam Dates: 7th, 8th, 14th & 15th February 2026.

GATE 2026 Important Dates

GATE 2026 Application Fee

GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification: Candidates in 3rd year/final year or completed UG degree in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Commerce/Arts are eligible.

• Age Limit: No upper age limit.

• Nationality: Open for Indian & International candidates.

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern

• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

• Duration: 3 Hours

• Total Questions: 65

• Total Marks: 100

• Question Types: MCQ, MSQ, NAT

• Sections:

  • General Aptitude (15 marks)

  • Engineering Mathematics (for most papers)

  • Subject-specific questions

• Marking Scheme:

  • 1-mark MCQ → -1/3 negative marking

  • 2-mark MCQ → -2/3 negative marking

  • No negative marking for MSQ & NAT

GATE 2026 Syllabus

• Total Papers: 30 (including CSE, ECE, ME, CE, EE, and new Energy Science XE-I).

• Sections:

  • General Aptitude (15 marks)

  • Engineering Mathematics (varies by paper)

  • Subject-specific syllabus

• Detailed syllabus available in official brochure → Click Here.

Examination Centres (IIT Guwahati Zone)

24 Exam Centres (Tentative):

• Arunachal Pradesh: Itanagar

• Assam: Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur

• Bihar: Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea

• Jharkhand: Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad

• Manipur: Imphal

• Meghalaya: Shillong

• Mizoram: Aizawl

• Nagaland: Dimapur, Kohima

• Sikkim: Gangtok

• Tripura: Agartala

• West Bengal: Asansol, Durgapur, Burdwan, Kalyani, Siliguri

GATE 2026 Score Usage

• Validity: 3 years (till March 2029).

• Admissions: IITs, NITs, IISc & other institutes for M.Tech/Ph.D. programs.

• Recruitment: PSUs like ONGC, NTPC, IOCL, HPCL, BHEL, DRDO.

How to Apply for GATE 2026?

1. Visit gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

2. Register on GOAPS portal.

3. Fill in personal, academic & contact details.

4. Upload documents (photo, signature, ID, certificates).

5. Pay application fee online.

6. Download confirmation page.

Why Apply for GATE 2026?

• Higher Education: Admission into premier IITs, NITs, IISc.

• PSU Jobs: Direct recruitment opportunities.

• Career Growth: Score valid for 3 years.

Preparation Tips

• Go through the official syllabus & exam pattern.

• Solve previous years’ question papers.

• Focus on General Aptitude + Subject Core.

• Apply before 28th September 2025 to avoid late fees.