GATE Agriculture Engineering (AG) Syllabus 2026

The GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus 2026 is intended to test the candidates’ understanding of the fundamentals of agricultural engineering and their ability to apply their knowledge to real-world problems. GATE is one of India’s most competitive engineering entrance exams. It is conducted by the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The syllabus is one of the disciplines for which the exam is conducted. It includes various topics pertaining to the field of agriculture engineering.

Read more: GATE Syllabus 2024, IISC Bangalore GATE Subject Wise Syllabus

 

Sections of the GATE 2026 Agriculture Engineering syllabus
GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus 2026 is divided into:

• Farm Machinery and Power
• Engineering Mathematics 
• Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 
• Soil and Water Conservation Engineering 
• Agricultural Processing Engineering
• Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Engineering Mathematics 

Below are the topics of the Engineering Mathematics section of GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus 2026: 

Linear Algebra: 

The topics of this section are
1. Matrices and Determinants
2. Cayley Hamilton Theory
3. Linear and Orthogonal Transformations
4. Solutions of linear equations
5. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors. 

Calculus:
The topics included in the section are

1. Continuity and Differentiability 
2. Limit 
3. Partial Derivatives 
4. Homogenous functions- Euler’s theorem of homogenous functions
5. Maxima and minima of function with several independent variables
6. Total differentiation,  sequences and series – Infinite series, test of convergence, Fourier, Taylor and MacLaurin series, 
7. Interpretations-line, surface and volume integrals, Stokes, Gauss and Green theorems. 

Vector Calculus: 

This section covers scalar and vector point functions, vector differentiation, vector differential operators (Del, gradient, divergence, and curl), physical interpretations (line, surface, and volume integrals), and Gauss and Green’s theorems. 

Differential Equations:
This section covers linear and non-linear first-order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE), higher-order linear ODEs with constant coefficients, homogenous differential equations, Laplace transforms and their inverse, Partial Differential Equations—Laplace, and heat and wave equations.

Numerical Methods: The topics of this section are solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations, numerical integration- Trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule, numerical solutions of ODEs.

Farm Machinery:
The topics in this section are: 
1. Forces acting on a tillage tool
2. Soil tillage, functional requirements, hitch systems, and hitching of tillage implement
3. Principles of working, construction and operation of manual, animal and power-operated equipment for sowing, tillage, fertilizer application, planting, inter-cultivation, spraying, mowing, chaff cutting,
4. Harvesting and threshing calculation of performance parameters- Field capacity, efficiency, application rate and losses, cost analysis of implementation and tractors

Farm Power:
Sources of Power: Sources of power on the farm- Human, Animal, Mechanical, Electrical , Wind, Solar and Biomasss, Biofuels

Farm Power:
The topics of this section are: 

1. Thermodynamic Principles of I.C. Engines
2. I.C. Engine Cycles
3. Engine Components 
4. Fuels and Combustion 
5. Lubricants and their properties 
6. I.C. Engine Systems- Fuel, Cooling, Lubrication, Ignition, Electrical, Intake and Exhaust 
7. Selection, Operation, maintenance and repair of I.C. Engines 
8. Power efficiencies and measurement 
9. Calculation of power, torque, fuel consumption 
10. Heat load and Power losses 
11. Performance Index 
12. Cost Analysis of implements and tractors 

Tractors and Power Tillers: 

The topics in this section of Tractors and Power tillers are: 

1. Type, Selection, maintenance and repair of tractors and power tillers 
2. Tractor clutches and brakes 
3. Power Transmission Systems- Gear trains, differential, final drives and power take-off 
4. Mechanics of tractor chassis 
5. Traction theory
6. Three point hitches- Free link and restrained link operations 
7. Steering and hydraulic control systems used in tractors 
8. Tractor tests and performance
9. Human Engineering and Safety considerations in design of tractor and agricultural implements.

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
Fluid Mechanics:
The topics included in this section are: 

1. Fluid Mechanics: Ideal and real fluids, properties of fluids, hydrostatic pressure and its measurement, continuity equation, kinematics and dynamics of flow 
2. Bernoullli’s Theorem 
3. Laminar and Turbulent flow in pipes 
4. Darcy- Weisbach and Hazen-William Equations 
5. Moody’s Diagram
6. Flow through orifices, weirs and notches 
7. Flow in open channels 
8. Dimensional Analysis – Concepts of geometric dimensionless numbers

Soil Mechanics:
The topics included in this section are: 

1. Engineering properties of soils 
2. Fundamental definitions and relationships 
3. Index properties of soils 
4. Permeability and seepage analysis 
5. Shear strength 
6. Mohr’s circle of stress 
7. Active and Passive earth pressures
8. Stability of slopes 
9. Terzaghi’s one-dimensional soil consolidation theory.
   

Hydrology:
The sections of Hydrology are: 

1. Hydrological cycle and measurement of its components 
2. Meteorological parameters and their measurement 
3. Analysis of precipitation data 
4. Runoff estimation 
5. Hydrograph analysis 
6. Unit hydrograph theory and application 
7. Streamflow measurement 
8. Flood routing 
9. Hydrological reservoir and channel routing 
10. Infiltration- Indices and Equations 
11. Drought and its classification. 

Surveying and Levelling: This sections deals with topics like chain surveying, measurements of distance and area, instruments for surveying and levelling, methods of traversing, plane table surveying, measurement of angles and bearings. Types of levelling, plane table surveying, theodolite traversing, total station, contouring, computation areas and volume and introduction to GPS survey.

Soil and Water Erosion: The topics of this section are mechanics of soil erosion- wind and water erosion, soil loss estimation, factors affecting erosion, biological and engineering measures to control erosion, vegetative waterways, terraces and bunds, gully control structures, earthen dams and drop, drop inlet and chute spillways. 

Watershed Management: Land use capability classification, watershed characterization, water budgeting in watershed, check dams and farm ponds and rainwater harvesting. 

Irrigation and Drainage Engineering: 

Soil-Water- Plant Relationship: The topics covered under this section are measurement of infiltration, water requirement of crops, consumptive use and evapotranspiration, soil moisture and irrigation water infiltration. 

Agricultural Drainage: The topics covered in this section are leaching requirement and salinity control, drainage coefficient, planning, design and layout of surface and sub-surface drainage systems, irrigation and drainage water quality and reuse and non-conventional drainage system. 

Groundwater Hydrology: The topics included in this section are; groundwater occurrence, Darcy’s Law, groundwater exploration techniques, steady and unsteady flow in confined and unconfined aquifers, artificial recharge techniques and overview of groundwater recharge estimation.

Wells and Pumps: The topics of this section include steady flow through wells, types of wells, design and construction of water wells, classification of pumps, pump selection and installation and pump characteristics.

Agriculture Process Engineering:

Evaporation and Drying:
The topics covered in this section are: 

1. Concentration and drying of liquid foods- Evaporators, tray, drum and spray dryers 
2. Hydrothermal treatments
3. Drying and Milling of cereals, pulses and oilseeds 
4. Drying Kinetics 
5. Psychrometry- Properties of air-water vapour mixture 

Size Reduction and Material Handling:
Engineering Properties of agriculture produce: The topics of this section are physical, thermal frictional, rhelogical and electrical properties.

Size Reduction and Material Handling:
The topics covered in this section are: 

1. Mechanics and Energy requirement in size reduction of agriculture produce 
2. Particle size analysis for comminuted solids 
3. Size separation by screening 
4. Fluidization of granular solids-pneumatic, bucket, screw and belt conveying 
5. Cleaning and grading 
6. Effectiveness of Separation 
7. Centrifugal separation of liquids, solids and gases 
8. Homogenization 
9. Filtration and membrane separation 

Processing of Agriculture Produce: The topics covered in this section are seeds, spices, fruits and vegetables, and value addition of agricultural produce.
Storage Systems: The topics of this section on storage systems are controlled and modified atmosphere storage, perishable food storage, bins and grain silos, godowns, packaging material, and machines. 

Dairy and Food Engineering:
Preservation of  Food:
The topics covered in this section are the Kinetics of microbial death- pasteurisation and sterilisation of milk and other liquid foods, refrigeration and cold storage basics, and applications and preservation of food by cooling and freezing.

Heat and Mass Transfer:
The topics included in this section are:

1. Steady-state heat transfer in conduction 
2. Convection and Radiation 
3. Transient heat transfer in simple geometry 
4. Working principles of heat exchangers 
5. Diffusive and Convective mass transfer 
6. Simultaneous heat and mass transfer in agricultural processing operations 
7. Material and Energy balances in food processing systems 
8. Water activity, Sorption and desorption isotherms. 

Preservation of Food:
The topics included in this section are:
Kinetics of microbial death– Pasteurisation and sterilisation of milk and other liquid foods
Preservation of Food by cooling and Freezing
Refrigeration and cold storage basics and applications

GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus Exam Pattern 

Particulars	Details
Duration	3 hours
Mode of Examination	Computer-based online
General Aptitude	15 marks
Subject Marks	85 marks
Total	100 marks
Total no of questions	65
Exam date	5th, 6th, 12th and 13th February

Question Paper Pattern of GATE Agriculture Engineering Exam 

Sections	Questions	Marks	Negative
General Aptitude (MCQ)	Q1-Q5 Q6-Q10	1 2	-⅓ -⅔
Agriculture Engineering Subject (MCQ)	Q11-Q20	1	-⅓
Agriculture Engineering Subject (NAT)	Q21- Q35	1	No negative
Agriculture Engineering Subject (MCQ)	Q36-Q46	2	-⅔
Agriculture Engineering Subject (NAT)	Q47- Q65	2	No negative

Frequently asked Questions for GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus 

`1. How can I prepare for GATE Agricultural Engineering? 

You need to know the GATE Exam Syllabus and choose the best reference books and make your own notes. Also, practice a few mock test papers. 

Read more: GATE Exam Preparation – What Is The Best Time To Start Preparing For GATE Exam?

2. What are the sections of the GATGE Agricultural Engineering syllabus? 

The GATE Agricultural Engineering syllabus is divided into seven sections: 

Section 1: Engineering Mathematics 

Section 2: Farm Machinery 

Section 3: Farm Power 

Section 4: Soil and Water Conservation Engineering 

Section 5: Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 

Section 6: Agriculture Process Engineering 

Section 7: Dairy and Food Engineering 

3. What are the recommended books to prepare for the GATE Agriculture Enginerring Syllabus? 

The best books which cover the GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus: 

1. Engineering Principles of Agricultural Machines- Ajit K Srivastava 
2. Applied Hydrology- Ven Chow 
3. Elements of Agriculture Engineering – J Sahay
   

4. How should I prepare for the GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus? 

To prepare for the GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus, the students should follow the below-mentioned tips: 

1. Make notes on important topics 
2. Practice mock tests
3. Prepare a calendar on a weekly basis for revision

5. What is the sectional weightage of GATE Agriculture Engineering syllabus? 

The section-wise weightage of the GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus is as follows:
General Aptitude- 15 marks
Engineering Mathematics & Agriculture Engineering – 85 marks

6. Can you describe the level of difficulty of the GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus? 

The level of difficulty of GATE Agriculture Engineering Syllabus is determined by the preparation of the student. Before appearing for the exam, the student should finish all the topics on the syllabus.