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Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026) is a highly anticipated national-level exam in India for students who have completed their graduation in engineering, science, or humanities. It is conducted every year by one of the IITs in rotation. GATE opens doors to various opportunities such as admission to M.Tech programs, recruitment in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and research positions. This article will give you all the important details about GATE 2026 to help you prepare in a smart and effective way.
GATE 2026 Notification Highlight
The GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a well-known national-level exam held for students who want to join postgraduate courses like M.E., M.Tech, or Ph.D., and also for those aiming to get jobs in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). The official notice for GATE 2026 is likely to be released in August 2025. This notification will provide important information such as how to register, exam dates, who can apply, and the syllabus.
| GATE 2026 Overview | |
| Exam Name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | IIT Guwahati (Tentative) |
| Level of Exam | National |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based Test – CBT) |
| Expected Notification | August 2025 |
| Exam Date | February 2026 (Expected) |
| Duration of Exam | 3 Hours (180 minutes) |
| Number of Papers | 30 (Expected) |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Technology/Science/Architecture, etc. |
| Score Validity | 3 Years |
| Official Website | https://www.iitg.ac.in/ (Tentative) |
GATE 2026 Important Dates
GATE 2026 examination is expected to be organized by IIT Guwahati. The official notification is anticipated in the last week of July 2025, with registration likely beginning in August 2025. Below is a list of all the tentative dates for GATE 2026:
| GATE 2026 Important Dates (Expected) | |
| Notification Availability | 1st Week of August 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 2nd Week of October 2025 |
| Application Correction Window | 3rd Week of November 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | 1st Week of January 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Exam Dates | 1st Week of February 2026 |
| Response Sheet Availability | 2nd Week of February 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | 4th Week of February 2026 |
| Result Declaration | 2nd Week of March 2026 |
| Scorecard Availability | 4th Week of March 2026 |
| COAP Counselling Portal Opens | 3rd Week of March 2026 |
GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To appear for GATE 2026, candidates must meet certain academic qualifications, irrespective of age. The exam is open to Indian citizens and foreign nationals with recognized degrees. Importantly, there is no age limit or cap on the number of attempts for GATE, allowing candidates the flexibility to appear whenever they meet the required qualifications.
| Qualifying Degree | Eligibility |
| B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm. | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
| B.Arch. / B.Planning | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
| B.Sc. (Research) / B.S. | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
| M.Sc. / M.A. / MCA or Equivalent | 1st year or higher / Completed |
| Int. M.E./M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.) (4-year) | 1st year or higher / Completed |
| Int. M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm. (5-year) | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
| Int. M.Sc. / Int. B.S.-M.S. | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
| B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com. (3-year) | Final year or Completed |
| Pharm D. (6 years after 10+2) | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
| MBBS / BDS / BVSc | 5th/6th/7th semester or higher / Completed |
| Professional Society Exams (e.g., AMIE, AMICE) | Completed Section A or Equivalent |
| B.Sc. in Agriculture/Forestry/Horticulture | 3rd year or higher / Completed |
GATE 2026 Application Form
The GATE 2026 application form will be available only on the official GOAPS portal. Candidates will need to complete the entire process online — this includes registering, filling out the form, uploading documents, and paying the fee. The application process is likely to begin in the fourth week of August 2025. A direct link and step-by-step instructions to apply will be provided in this article.
GATE 2026 Application Fees
The application fee for GATE 2026 varies based on the candidate’s category and the number of papers they are applying for. The fee must be paid online through the GATE portal using net banking, UPI, credit, or debit card. It is non-refundable under normal circumstances.
| Category | Fee | Fee (Extended Period) |
| SC / ST / PwD / Female Candidates | ₹ 900 | ₹ 1400 |
| General / OBC / EWS Candidates | ₹ 1800 | ₹ 2300 |
| Foreign Nationals | ₹ 1800 | ₹ 2300 |
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format and is designed to assess a candidate’s conceptual understanding, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities in engineering, science, and humanities subjects. The exam pattern is standardized across all 30 papers, with slight variations for multidisciplinary subjects like XE, XH, and XL. The test consists of 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks, to be completed in 3 hours.
| GATE 2026 Exam Pattern | |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (Online) |
| Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Total Questions | 65 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Sections | General Aptitude (15 Marks) + Subject Questions (85 Marks) |
| Types of Questions | MCQ (1 or 2 marks), MSQ (Multiple correct), NAT (Numerical Answer Type) |
| Negative Marking | Only for MCQs: -1/3 for 1-mark Qs, -2/3 for 2-mark Qs |
| Partial Marking | Not allowed in any question type |
GATE 2026 Paper Codes and Branches
GATE 2026 will offer 30 subject papers, each identified by a unique paper code. Candidates can choose to appear for one or two papers, provided the combination is allowed as per the official guidelines. Each paper tests domain-specific knowledge along with General Aptitude, which is common across all papers.
| Paper Code | Branches |
| AE | Aerospace Engineering |
| AG | Agricultural Engineering |
| AR | Architecture and Planning |
| BM | Biomedical Engineering |
| BT | Biotechnology |
| CE | Civil Engineering |
| CH | Chemical Engineering |
| CS | Computer Science and Information Technology |
| CY | Chemistry |
| DA | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence |
| EC | Electronics and Communication Engineering |
| EE | Electrical Engineering |
| ES | Environmental Science and Engineering |
| EY | Ecology and Evolution |
| GE | Geomatics Engineering |
| GG | Geology and Geophysics |
| IN | Instrumentation Engineering |
| MA | Mathematics |
| ME | Mechanical Engineering |
| MN | Mining Engineering |
| MT | Metallurgical Engineering |
| NM | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering |
| PE | Petroleum Engineering |
| PH | Physics |
| PI | Production and Industrial Engineering |
| ST | Statistics |
| TF | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science |
| XE | Engineering Sciences (Multisubject) |
| XH | Humanities and Social Sciences (Multisubject) |
| XL | Life Sciences (Multisubject) |
GATE 2026 Syllabus – Subject-Wise Details
The GATE 2026 Syllabus is designed to test candidates’ understanding of undergraduate-level subjects across engineering, science, architecture, and humanities streams. It consists of two main components in each paper:
- General Aptitude (GA) – Common to all papers (15 Marks)
- Subject-Specific Syllabus – Varies based on the selected paper (85 Marks)
GATE Electrical Engineering (EE) 2026 Syllabus
| Section | Topics Covered |
| Engineering Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Complex Variables, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Methods, Transform Theory |
| Electric Circuits | Node and mesh analysis, Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems, superposition, maximum power transfer, time-domain analysis of RLC circuits, resonance, transient analysis |
| Electromagnetic Fields | Coulomb’s and Gauss’s laws, electric field and potential, Ampere’s and Faraday’s laws, Maxwell’s equations, transmission lines, wave propagation |
| Signals and Systems | Time and frequency domain analysis of continuous and discrete-time signals, Laplace and Fourier transforms, sampling, Z-transform, LTI systems |
| Electrical Machines | Single and three-phase transformers, DC machines, induction motors, synchronous machines – operation, characteristics, performance and testing |
| Power Systems | Power generation, transmission lines, per unit system, power flow, fault analysis, protection devices (relays, circuit breakers), stability analysis |
| Control Systems | Modeling of physical systems, transfer functions, block diagrams, time and frequency response, stability criteria, Bode and root locus plots, PID controllers |
| Electrical and Electronic Measurements | Measurement of voltage, current, power, energy; PMMC, moving iron, digital meters, oscilloscopes, instrument transformers, bridges |
| Analog and Digital Electronics | Diodes, BJTs, FETs, OP-AMPs and applications, oscillators, feedback, logic gates, combinational and sequential circuits, flip-flops, ADC/DAC |
| Power Electronics | Diodes, thyristors, power transistors, rectifiers, choppers, inverters, AC voltage controllers, basics of converters, and their control techniques |
GATE Civil Engineering (CE) 2026 Syllabus
| Section | Topics Covered |
| 1. Engineering Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Methods, and Transform Theory |
| 2. Structural Engineering | Mechanics, Bending Moment and Shear Force Diagrams, Stress-Strain Relationships, Mohr’s Circle, Shear and Bending Stresses, Deflection, Columns |
| 3. Geotechnical Engineering | Soil Properties, Classification, Permeability, Seepage, Effective Stress Principle, Shear Strength, Earth Pressure, Bearing Capacity, Foundations |
| 4. Water Resources Engineering | Fluid Properties, Hydrostatics, Kinematics, Bernoulli’s Equation, Flow through Pipes, Open Channel Flow, Hydraulic Machines, Hydrology, Irrigation |
| 5. Environmental Engineering | Water and Wastewater Quality, Treatment Methods, Air and Noise Pollution, Municipal Solid Waste, Environmental Impact Assessment |
| 6. Transportation Engineering | Highway Planning, Geometric Design, Traffic Engineering, Pavement Design (Flexible and Rigid), Railway and Airport Engineering |
| 7. Geomatics Engineering | Principles of Surveying, Levelling, Theodolite, Total Station, Remote Sensing, GPS, GIS, Map Reading, Photogrammetry |
| 8. Construction Materials & Management | Concrete and Steel Properties, Mix Design, Construction Equipment, Project Planning, CPM, PERT, Cost Estimation, Quality Control |
| 9. Structural Analysis | Determinate and Indeterminate Structures, Trusses, Arches, Moment Distribution, Slope Deflection, Influence Lines, Matrix Methods |
| 10. Design of Steel Structures | Working Stress and Limit State Design, Connections, Tension and Compression Members, Beams, Plate Girders, Columns |
| 11. Design of Concrete Structures | Working Stress and Limit State Methods, Beams, Slabs, Columns, Footings, Retaining Walls |
GATE Mechanical Engineering (CE) 2026 Syllabus
| Section | Topics Covered |
| 1. Engineering Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Complex Variables, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Methods, Transform Theory |
| 2. Applied Mechanics & Design | Engineering Mechanics (free-body diagrams, equilibrium), Strength of Materials, Stress-Strain Analysis, Bending, Torsion, Theories of Failure, Design of Machine Elements |
| 3. Fluid Mechanics | Properties of Fluids, Fluid Statics, Control Volume Analysis, Bernoulli’s Equation, Flow through Pipes, Boundary Layer Theory, Dimensional Analysis |
| 4. Heat Transfer | Modes of Heat Transfer – Conduction, Convection, Radiation; Heat Exchangers, Thermal Resistance, Transient Heat Conduction, Fins, Boiling and Condensation |
| 5. Thermodynamics | Laws of Thermodynamics, Entropy, Availability, Thermodynamic Cycles (Carnot, Rankine, Otto, Diesel, Brayton), Properties of Pure Substances, Psychrometry |
| 6. Applications of Thermodynamics | Air and Gas Compressors, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Cycles, IC Engines, Combustion, Fuel Properties |
| 7. Manufacturing Engineering | Metal Casting, Forming Processes, Welding, Machining and Machine Tools, Metrology and Inspection, Manufacturing Automation, CNC, Additive Manufacturing |
| 8. Industrial Engineering | Operations Research, Linear Programming, Inventory Control, Queuing Theory, Forecasting, Project Management (CPM & PERT), Work Study, Production Planning |
| 9. Materials Science | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials, Heat Treatment, Stress-Strain Behavior, Failure Theories, Corrosion, Phase Diagrams |
| 10. Mechatronics and Robotics (basic) | Sensors and Actuators, Signal Processing, Basic Control Systems Concepts (if included in electives) |
GATE 2026 Score Validity and Benefits
The GATE 2026 scorecard is much more than just a rank—it’s a gateway to multiple academic and career opportunities across India and abroad. Whether you aim for higher education, public sector jobs, or research positions, a valid GATE score can open the door. The GATE 2026 score will be valid for 3 years from the date of result declaration. This means candidates can use their score until March 2029 for admissions and job applications. The score is valid only for the paper in which the candidate has appeared.
Some of the Benefits of GATE Score 2026 are:
- 1. Postgraduate Admissions (M.Tech/M.E./M.S./Ph.D.)
- 2. Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) Recruitment
- 3. Research Fellowships
- 4. Higher Studies Abroad
- 5. Private Sector Advantage
- 6. Scholarships and Financial Aid
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