GATE 2026: Apply from August 25 – Know Eligibility, Pattern & All Details 

GATE 2026 Papers & Streams Offered

GATE 2026 offers a total of 30 subject papers encompassing Engineering, Technology, Science, Architecture, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary fields. A candidate can appear in up to two papers (selected from allowed combinations only). Major streams include:

• Engineering & Technology: Aerospace (AE), Agricultural (AG), Biomedical (BM), Biotechnology (BT), Civil (CE), Chemical (CH), Computer Science (CS), Data Science & AI, Electrical (EE), Electronics & Comm. (EC), Environmental (ES), Geomatics (GE), Instrumentation (IN), Mechanical (ME), Metallurgical (MT), Mining (MN), Naval Architecture (NM), Petroleum (PE), Production & Industrial (PI), Textile & Fibre Science (TF), Engineering Sciences (XE), Life Sciences (XL).
• Architecture & Planning: AR, Planning (PL)
• Science: Chemistry (CY), Physics (PH), Mathematics (MA), Ecology (EY), Geology & Geophysics (GG), Statistics (ST)
• Humanities/Social Sciences: XH (incl. Economics, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology)
• Check GATE Official Portal for the full subject and code list.

GATE 2026 Application Process (Step-by-Step)

1. Go to the official GATE website: gate2026.iitg.ac.in
2. Click on the “GOAPS 2026” registration portal (available from August 25, 2025).
3. Register using a valid email address and mobile number.
4. Fill in the personal, educational, and contact details accurately.
5. Upload scanned documents: photograph, signature, eligibility proof (marksheet/certificate), and category/PwBD/EWS certificate if applicable (as per official specifications).
6. Pay the prescribed fee online (debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI).
7. Preview all entries, accept the declaration, and submit the form.
8. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.

Tip: Ensure all documents are legible and your name matches ID proofs to avoid rejection or issues at later stages.

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern: Format, Marking & Duration

GATE 2026 Question Distribution

*Not applicable in XH/XL/other papers – Refer official syllabus for details.

GATE 2026 Syllabus: What to Study?

• The GATE syllabus covers core topics and key theoretical/mathematical concepts of each subject area. All exam takers must attempt “General Aptitude,” which includes verbal ability, numerical ability, analytical reasoning, and basic English (worth 15 marks in every paper).
• Engineering Mathematics (15 marks) is present in most technical papers (Electronics, CS, Civil, EE, Mechanical, Chemical, etc.) covering calculus, probability, linear algebra, differential equations, statistics, etc.
• Domain/subject section covers detailed technical syllabus per stream (e.g., Fluid Mechanics in ME, Digital Circuits in ECE, Algorithms in CS, Thermodynamics in CH, etc.).
• Interdisciplinary and newly added papers (Data Science, AI, XH, XL) have unique, tailored syllabi. Download the latest PDFs from the official GATE 2026 website or check previous GATE handbooks for structure and topic weights.
• Tip: Download previous year GATE question papers for your stream and solve them regularly for high scoring.
• See GATE 2026 Syllabus (All Papers) for specifics.

GATE 2026 Results, Score & Admission/Recruitment Use

• Results will be announced online on March 19, 2026. Candidates can download scorecards from the GOAPS portal.
• Score validity: 3 years for post-graduation; many PSUs may require a current year score/cutoff.
• Use of Score:
  • Admission to M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./PhD in IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc, and Central universities via COAP/CCMT counseling.
  • Shortlisting for PSU jobs in IOCL, ONGC, NTPC, HPCL, PGCIL, and more. Each PSU releases its own cutoff and selection notice.
  • Scholarships and Junior Research Fellowships in CFTIs/Univ/PSUs.
  • Recruitment/PG opportunities in select foreign universities (like NUS, NTU Singapore, some German institutes, etc.)
• Though a qualifying GATE score is common to all, admission cut-offs vary by institute/program/PSU. Always check exact requirements of your target institutions/organizations.

Pro-Tips for GATE Aspirants & Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Who should write GATE?
  A: Any student aiming for PG studies at top institutes, PSU jobs, research roles, or seeking to test expertise in technical subjects for career advancement.
• Q: I’m from a 3-year B.Sc. (or B.A.) stream, can I Apply?
  A: Yes, third year and above B.Sc./B.A./B.Com./BCA students from recognized universities can now apply for many GATE papers. Always check paper-specific eligibility rules[6][10].
• Q: How many attempts are allowed in GATE?
  A: No restriction on attempts or age.
• Q: Can foreign students apply?
  A: Yes. Eligibility varies by country. Please read the international applicants section in the brochure[6].
• Q: What is a good score or rank?
  A: For IITs: AIR in top 500 in core engineering, NITs/PSUs may go higher. Always check last year’s cutoffs.
• Q: Is there a cutoff in the exam?
  A: Yes, each paper has minimum qualifying marks (different for Gen/OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwBD) and individual institutes/PSUs announce their own cutoffs for offers/scholarships.
• Q: Which papers can I select as a 2nd option?
  A: Only allowed combinations (based on previous years) – see official table at the time of filling form.
• Q: Is there a separate exam for PSUs recruitment?
  A: Most central PSUs (IOCL, BPCL, etc.) accept direct GATE scores. Shortlisting and further tests/interviews are handled by the respective PSU.

Official Links & Downloads for GATE 2026