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GATE Exam 2026: Exam Date, Registration Fees & Important Details

Komal Jain Jun 10, 2025 1K Reads

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is an examination for candidates who wish to pursue a Master's of Engineering, Master of Technology, or a PhD from government universities, including Institutes of Technology, National Institutes of Technology, and Institutes of Information Technology. This exam is jointly conducted by the Indian Institute of Science and Seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordinating Board (NCB). The exam will be held in February 2026.

The GATE exam format is that it will be in English and Computer Based Test that will be conducted in the centers of the selected cities. The exam duration of the GATE is three hours with Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Select Questions, and Numerical Answer Type questions that are compulsory to attempt. The students will receive the results of GATE within a month of the exam.

If you are someone who is taking the GATE exam for a master's or PhD but are unable to clear it, then you do not need to worry because there is an alternative option, the online DBA, which is equivalent to a PhD. It means that once you complete this program in the specific field, you will be recognized with the Dr. title, similar to a PhD. Furthermore, the student who has completed a bachelor's and wants to pursue a DBA must have work experience of at least 2 to 3 years.

GATE Exam 2026 Exam Key Highlights

Before giving the exam, the students must know the pattern. Here are the important key highlights and format of the GATE for reference.

Particulars	Details
Examination Mode	Computer-Based Test
Exam Duration	3 Hours
Number of Subjects (Papers)	30
Exam Date	February 2026
Sections	General Aptitude Candidates Selected Subjects
Types of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions Multiple Selected Questions Numerical Answer Type
Questions for Testing These Abilities	Recall Comperhension Applicaton Analysis and Synthesis
Number of Questions	10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions
Distribution of Marks in all Papers except papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL	Total: 100 Marks General Aptitude:15 Marks Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks Subject Questions:72 Marks
Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL	Total: 100 Marks General Aptitude: 15 Marks Subject Questions: 85 Marks
Exam Conducting Language	English
Marketing Scheme	Each Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks For a wrong answer in an MCQ, ⅓ marks will be deducted. For 2 wrong MCQs, ⅔ marks will be deducted.

What is the GATE exam for?

The GATE exam is a national-level entrance exam that is for students who want to take admission in the Government Universities to complete a Master's or Phd in the engineering field. This exam is an All-India examination administration that is conducted in eight zones across the country by the GATE Committee comprising faculty from IISc, Bangalore, and seven other IITs on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The candidate will get 30 papers from which they need to select the papers accordingly, and they can also take one or two of them in an approved combination.

Every year, more than a thousand students appear in the GATE. The details of the number who appeared in the exam in 2025 are mentioned below.

Number of Students Appeared for GATE 2025

Paper Code	Appeared Students
ME	61015
CE	79951
EE	67701
EC	81475
IN	11993
CS	170825
DA	57054
CH	14843
XE	11156

GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026

Before enrolling in GATE, students must verify the eligibility criteria to ensure they can take the exam without any issues. The student must have completed their Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, or Architecture. Any applicant who is giving the GATE exam will go through the eligibility criteria that is set by the Indian Institute of Technology is mentioned for reference.

Degree / Program	Qualifying Degree / Examination	Description of Eligible Candidates
B.E./B.Tech./B. Pharm.	Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc. / Diploma in Engineering / Technology)	Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed
B. Arch.	Bachelor’s degree of Architecture (5-year course) / Naval Architecture (4-year course) / Planning (4-year course)	Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed
B.Sc. (Research) / B.S.	Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma / 4 years after 10+2)	Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed
Pharm. D.(after 10+2)	6-year degree program, consisting of internship or residency training, during the third year onwards	Currently in the 3rd/ 4th/ 5th/ 6th year or already completed
M.B.B.S. / B.D.S. / B.V.Sc.	Degree holders of M.B.B.S. / B.D.S. / B.V.Sc and those who are in the 5th/ 6th/ 7th semester or higher semester of such a programme.	5th/ 6th/ 7th or higher semester, or already completed
M. Sc. / M.A. / MCA or equivalent	Master’s degree in any branch of Arts / Science / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer Applications or equivalent	Currently in the first year or higher, or already completed
Int. M.E. / M.Tech.(Post-B.Sc.)	Post-B.Sc Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering / Technology (4-year program)	Currently in the 1st/ 2nd/ 3rd/ 4th year or already completed
Int. M.E. / M.Tech. / M.Pharm or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2)	Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering / Technology (5-year program)	Currently in the 3rd/ 4th/ 5th year or already completed
B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com.	Bachelor's degree in any branch of Science / Arts / Commerce (3-year program)	Currently in the 3rd year or have already completed
Int. M.Sc. / Int. B.S. / M.S.	Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S.- M.S. program	Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed
Professional Society Examinations* (equivalent to B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Arch.)	B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognized by MoE / UPSC / AICTE (e.g., AMIE by the Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India, and so on)	Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry)	4-years program	Currently in the 3rd/ 4th year or have already completed

Note: The eligibility criteria might have changed, so kindly refer to the official website before enrolling in the exam.

Total Marks and Cut Off List of GATE Exam 2025

GATE Branch	Total Marks	General Cutoff	OBC-NCL/EWS Cutoff	SC/ST/PwD Cutoff
Aerospace Engineering	100	33.3	29.9	22.1
Agricultural Engineering	100	25.0	22.5	16.6
Architecture and Planning	100	41.5	37.3	27.6
Biomedical Engineering	100	25.0	22.5	16.6
Biotechnology	100	38.9	35.0	25.9
Civil Engineering	100	28.3	25.4	18.8
Chemical Engineering	100	25.0	22.5	16.6
Computer Science and Information Technology	100	27.6	24.8	18.4
Chemistry	100	25.2	22.6	16.7
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	100	37.1	33.3	24.7
Electronics and Communication Engineering	100	25.0	22.5	16.6
Electrical Engineering	100	25.7	23.1	17.1
Environmental Science and Engineering	100	37.9	34.1	25.2
Ecology and Evolution	100	35.8	32.2	23.8
Geomatics Engineering	100	41.1	36.9	27.4
Geology	100	42.0	37.8	28.0
Geophysics	100	49.0	44.1	32.6
Instrumentation Engineering	100	32.7	29.4	21.8
Mathematics	100	25.0	22.5	16.6
Mechanical Engineering	100	28.6	25.7	19.0
Mining Engineering	100	25.0	22.5	16.6
Metallurgical Engineering	100	41.0	36.9	27.3
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering	100	25.1	22.5	16.7
Petroleum Engineering	100	42.6	38.3	28.4
Physics	100	32.0	28.8	21.3
Production and Industrial Engineering	100	30.5	27.4	20.3
Statistics	100	26.6	23.9	17.7
Textile Engineering and Fibre Science	100	28.1	25.2	18.7
Engineering Sciences	100	36.2	32.5	24.1
Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics)	100	37.0	33.3	24.6
Humanities and Social Sciences (English)	100	48.0	43.2	32.0
Humanities and Social Sciences (Linguistics)	100	49.7	44.7	33.1
Humanities and Social Sciences (Philosophy)	100	39.3	35.3	26.1
Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology)	100	52.7	47.4	35.1
Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology)	100	36.0	32.4	24.0
Life Sciences	100	29.3	26.3	19.5

Source: GRADUATE APTITUDE TEST IN ENGINEERING 2025

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern

A three-hour computer-based test (CBT) with a maximum score of 100 marks will be the format of the GATE 2026 exam. There will be 65 questions in the test, including Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Choice (MCQ), and Multiple Select (MSQ) questions. The test will cover thirty different subject papers and be administered in English.

Particulars	Details
Sections	General Aptitude Candidates Selected Subjects
Types of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions Multiple Selected Questions Numerical Answer Type
Questions for Testing These Abilities	Recall Comperhension Applicaton Analysis and Synthesis
Number of Questions	10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions
Distribution of Marks in all Papers except papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL	Total: 100 Marks General Aptitude:15 Marks Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks Subject Questions:72 Marks
Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL	Total: 100 Marks General Aptitude: 15 Marks Subject Questions: 85 Marks
Exam Conducting Language	English
Marketing Scheme	Each Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks For a wrong answer in an MCQ, ⅓ marks will be deducted. For 2 wrong MCQs, ⅔ marks will be deducted.

What is the Syllabus for the GATE Exam?

Preparing for the GATE exam will open the doors for students who want to complete their postgraduate programs at the Government universities. This exam is for testing the knowledge of the candidates of core subjects, general aptitude, and engineering mathematics. Here is the GATE syllabus for reference, which includes the main topics that will be covered in each subject.

Discipline	Subjects
General Aptitude	Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, English Grammar, Vocabulary
Engineering Mathematics	Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Methods, Complex Variables
Civil Engineering (CE)	Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Water Resources
Mechanical Engineering (ME)	Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Strength of Materials, Manufacturing Processes, Dynamics, Vibrations
Electrical Engineering (EE)	Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems, Power Electronics, Signals and Systems, Electromagnetic Fields
Electronics and Communication (EC)	Analog Circuits, Digital Circuits, Communication Systems, Electromagnetic Theory, Signal Processing
Computer Science and IT (CS)	Algorithms, Data Structures, Computer Networks, Operating Systems, Databases, Software Engineering, Theory of Computation
Chemical Engineering (CH)	Process Calculations, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer, Chemical Reaction Engineering
Instrumentation Engineering (IN)	Transducers, Signal Conditioning, Process Control, Industrial Instrumentation, Sensors, Analog and Digital Circuits
Biotechnology (BT)	Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Process Engineering, Plant and Animal Biotechnology
Aerospace Engineering (AE)	Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Structures, Flight Mechanics, Space Dynamics
Environmental Science and Engineering (ES)	Environmental Chemistry, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Air Pollution Control, Environmental Impact Assessment
Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)	English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Public Administration
Mathematics (MA)	Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Algebra, Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations, Probability

Note: The syllabus might vary, so it is recommended to check it on the official website.

Preparation Tips for GATE Exam

The students must understand the exam format and syllabus, which helps them in making proper time for the GATE preparation. The candidates must practice with the mock test and solve the previous years' question papers.

It is very important to select the appropriate study materials. Some tips for the preparation are mentioned below:

Understand the GATE exam format.
Practice with the mock test papers.
Solve the previous year's questions.
Stay focused on the day of the exam.

GATE Exam Registration Process

The students who want to give the GATE exam must know the process. The registration procedure is easy, you just need to visit the official website and follow the instructions that are highlighted below:

Navigate to the official website of GATE.
First, the students need to create an account by using their email or mobile number.
Once the account is created then you will get the enrollment ID that will be sent to your email.
Now log in to your account, and then fill out all the required information, including academic qualifications, and the subject you'll be appearing for.
Upload the documents, photos, and signature by scanning them.
Complete the online payment and then tap on the Submit and Print option.

GATE Exam Fees 2026

The GATE exam fees depend on the candidate category and application timing. For the female students, the exam fees will be approximately ₹900 if they submit the form within the regular period, and if they extend the date, then they need to pay at least ₹1400. All other applicants need to submit approximately ₹1800 within the regular period, and during the extended period, they need to pay at least ₹2300. The fees might vary; you can check the fees on the official website. Furthermore, if the student needs to make any changes to the application, then there will be some charges that are provided for reference.

Description of Changes/Modifications	Fees Charges (Per Paper in ₹ )
Change in Name	500
Change in Date of Birth	500
Change in choice of examination cities	500
Change of existing paper	500
Add a second paper (from the given combinations concerning the primary paper)	500 (plus application fee for the additional paper)
Change of gender to female	500
Change of gender from female to any other gender	500(For female candidates or PwD candidates) 500 + 900 = 1400(For all other candidates)
Change of category to SC/ST	500
Change of category from SC/ST to any other category	500(For female candidates or PwD candidates) 500 + 900 = 1400(For all other candidates
Change from Non-PwD/Dyslexic to PwD/Dyslexic	500
Change from PwD/Dyslexic to Non-PwD/Dyslexic	500(For female candidates or PwD candidates) 500 + 900 = 1400(For all other candidates)
Any other change in category (not mentioned above)	500

Which colleges accept the GATE score?

Many top Engineering colleges accept GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) for admission for students who want to pursue a Master’s in Engineering. Here is the list of the universities that accept GATE.

The list of IITs participating in the GATE 2025 admission process:

NIRF Ranking 2024	IITs participating in GATE 2025
1	IIT Madras
2	IIT Delhi
3	IIT Bombay
4	IIT Kanpur
5	IIT Kharagpur
6	IIT Roorkee
7	IIT Guwahati
8	IIT Hyderabad
10	IIT ISM Dhanbad
16	IIT Indore
18	IIT Gandhinagar
22	IIT Ropar
28	IIT Jodhpur
31	IIT Mandi
34	IIT Patna
54	IIT Bhubaneswar
61	IIT Tirupati
62	IIT Jammu
64	IIT Palakkad
73	IIT Bhilai

Here is the list of NITs participating in the GATE 2025 admission process.

NIRF Ranking 2024	NITs participating in GATE 2025
9	NIT Trichy (Tiruchirapalli)
12	NIT Suratkal (Mangalore)
19	NIT Rourkela
21	NIT Warangal
25	NIT Calicut
43	NIT Jaipur
40	NIT Silchar
39	NIT Nagpur
44	NIT Durgapur
46	NIT Jalandhar
49	NIT Allahabad
55	NIT Patna
81	NIT Kurukshetra
59	NIT Surat
71	NIT Raipur
79	NIT Srinagar

Here is the list of the IIITs that accept GATE 2025 scores

NIRF 2024 Rankings	Participating IIITs in GATE 2025
55	IIIT Hyderabad
74	IIIT Bangalore
75	IIIT Delhi
89	IIT Allahabad

Alternative Options

The students who want to pursue a Phd but are not able to clear their GATE exam, then for them there is an online DBA ( Doctor of Business Administration) program that is equivalent to Phd. This program is affiliated with foreign countries, but Indian can take classes for that. If you are worrying about whether this degree will be valid in India or not, then yes, it is valid here, but the University must be AIU, WES, AACSB, or WSCUC approved. DBA is a doctoral program for working professionals who do not want to quit their jobs and need to enhance their careers. Once you complete this course then you will have reached the top positions of the organization like CEO, CXO, and more.

Here is the list of the Universities that are approved and offering DBA:

University	Program	Fees (INR)
Birchwood Online University	DBA Online	₹6,00,000
Golden Gate University	DBA Online	₹8,14,000
Rushford Business School	DBA Online	₹8,12,500
ESGCI International School of Management Paris	DBA Online	₹8,14,000
EIMT	DBA Online	₹5,50,000
Swiss School of Business Management	DBA Online	₹7,50,000
Edgewood College	DBA Online	₹7,00,000

Note: Fees might be very so it is advisable to check the fees on the official website of the university.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

IIT Guwahati will take the GATE exam in 2026. In 2025, IIT Roorkee will conduct this exam. GATE is the part of the rotational pattern in which the exam will be conducted in IITs and IISc.

The students can apply for the GATE exam 2026 in the fourth week of August 2025. It is expected that the form will be released on the official website of IIT Ghuwati. It is recommended to check the official website.

The students can give the GATE exam every year as there is no limit. The candidates can appear in the exam as many times as they want.

No, CGPA is not needed for GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering). However, many institutions have set their own CGPA requirements for M.Tech or MS admissions.

The exam of GATE exam is approximately INR 900 for female, SC, ST, PwD students, and for all other candidates, the fees will be at least INR 1400. The students can also check the fees on the official website.

The GATE Exam comes with Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Select Questions, and Numerical Answer Type questions that are compulsory to attempt.

The GATE exam is a computer-based test in which students will get 65 questions for 100 marks.

The GATE exam is for students who want to take admission in the Government Universities to complete a Master's or Phd in the engineering field. This exam is an All-India examination administered that is conducted in eight zones across the country by the GATE Committee, comprising faculty.

By Komal Jain

5 Years of Experience / Storyteller / Research-driven Writer

Passionate about digital marketing with a creative flair for content creation.Experienced Always eager to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact in the digital space.