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India · 2026 Edition · Updated 2026-05-30
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GATE 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all-India entrance examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on behalf of the National Coordination Board. GATE scores are used for admission to postgraduate programmes (M.E., M.Tech., Ph.D.) in premier engineering and technology institutions across India, including IITs, NITs, and IISc. It also serves as a screening test for recruitment by several public sector undertakings (PSUs) such as ONGC, NTPC, and IOCL. GATE is conducted annually in online computer-based format across multiple disciplines of engineering and sciences.

Year
2026
Subjects
3
Topics
40
Cost
Free

Tracked daily from https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/. See 2026 calendar →

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📋 Exam Pattern

GATE examination consists of 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks. The question paper is divided into three sections: General Aptitude (15 marks, 10 questions), Mathematics (13-15 marks depending on the paper), and Subject-Specific Section (remaining marks). Questions are of two types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) carrying 1 or 2 marks each, and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each. There is negative marking for MCQs (1/3 mark for 1-mark questions, 2/3 mark for 2-mark questions) but no negative marking for NAT questions. The exam duration is 3 hours.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates with a bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, or science (B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm.) from a recognized university are eligible to appear for GATE. Candidates in the final year of such programmes may also apply provisionally. Holders of a Master's degree in mathematics, statistics, science, or equivalent are eligible. Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories are eligible for concession in eligibility norms. There is no age limit for GATE. Candidates with qualifications obtained through distance education or from open universities are also eligible provided the programme is recognized by the respective regulatory bodies.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 40 topics across 3 subjects

Engineering-Maths

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12 topics · Linear Algebra· Numerical Methods· Differential Equations + more

Subject-Specific

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20 topics · Thermodynamics — Laws and Applications· Thermodynamic Cycles and Steam Turbines· Heat Transfer — Conduction + more

General Aptitude

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8 topics · Number System and Simplification· Ratio, Proportion and Percentage· Time, Work and Distance + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — GATE

Everything you need to know about GATE. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

When will the GATE 2026 official syllabus be released and how should I verify authenticity?
The GATE 2026 syllabus for all 27 papers is published exclusively at gate.iitb.ac.in and gate.iisc.ac.in at least 3 months before the February 2026 exam window. The official PDF includes a "Last Updated" date and version number—compare this against any third-party aggregators before trusting their version. The IISc Bangalore portal (conducting authority for GATE 2026) hosts the authoritative version control log; if you notice a discrepancy between dates, the official portal takes precedence. Download the PDF directly and avoid sites that republish without version attribution. Source: gate.iisc.ac.in
How much weight does General Aptitude carry across GATE 2026 papers, and which topics must I cover?
General Aptitude (GA) accounts for 15 marks out of 100 in every GATE 2026 paper—making it a guaranteed 15% contribution regardless of your technical discipline. The section contains 5 one-mark MCQs and 5 two-mark MCQs (10 questions total). Core topics include verbal ability (English grammar, sentence completion), numerical ability (data interpretation, elementary statistics), and logical reasoning (syllogisms, blood relations). Since this component is identical across all 27 subject papers, mastering GA during November–December 2025 provides a stable score floor before diving into technical sections in January 2026. Source: gate.iitb.ac.in
Can a final-year B.Tech student register for GATE 2026, and what documents are required at counselling?
Candidates appearing in the final semester/year of their bachelor's degree in engineering/technology (4-year duration) or bachelor's degree in science (3-year) are eligible for GATE 2026—no age limit applies. At the time of counselling (CCMT/CSAB for IITs/NITs, MOS with IISc), you must produce a provisional certificate or a letter from your college principal confirming expected completion by July/August 2026. Failing to submit this documentary proof disqualifies your admission even if you score above the qualifying cutoff. Start collecting this letter from your examination cell now to avoid last-minute delays during the February exam. Source: gate.iitb.ac.in
What is the negative marking scheme for MCQ, MSQ, and NAT questions in GATE 2026?
GATE 2026 applies differential negative marking to MCQ questions only: 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong 1-mark MCQ and 2/3 mark for a wrong 2-mark MCQ. MSQ (multiple select questions, where you must select all correct options) and NAT (numerical answer type, where you type a number) carry zero negative marking—so attempting them is always neutral in penalty terms. This pattern incentivizes skipping high-uncertainty MCQs, particularly 2-mark ones where a wrong answer costs twice the marks of a correct skip. Strategic elimination (narrowing to two options) before guessing can reduce expected score loss by roughly 0.5–1 mark per question. Source: gate.iisc.ac.in
What qualifying cutoff should I target in GATE 2026 for admission to M.Tech programmes at IITs?
The GATE 2026 qualifying cutoff is paper-specific and determined after statistical normalization across all test sessions. General category (GE) candidates typically require 25–30 marks out of 100, while OBC-NCL receives a 10% relaxation and SC/ST-PwD receives a 25% relaxation on the cutoff. However, admission to top IITs (IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc) often requires scores in the 70–90+ range for competitive streams like Computer Science, Electronics, or Mechanical. Merely clearing the qualifying cutoff does not guarantee a seat—check the previous year (2025) opening and closing ranks on the JOSAA/CCMT portal for your target paper code to set a realistic January 2026 score target. Source: gate.iitb.ac.in

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How to Prepare for GATE

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Exam Name GATE
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects Engineering-Maths, Subject-Specific, General Aptitude
Total Topics 40
Official Source https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/
Last Updated 2026-05-30