GATE Exam 2026 Date: Branch Wise Dates & Schedule
GATE Exam Date 2026: The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted by IIT Guwahati in February 2026 for 30 papers. The GATE exam dates and schedule will be spread over the first and second week of February 2026. The GATE exam allows aspirants to take admissions at IITs, IISc, and other universities for postgraduate programs. PSUs in India also recruit candidates based on the GATE cutoffs.
The official website provides all essential details, including the admit card, answer key, results, and scorecard. The application and registrations for the GATE 2026 are expected to begin in July or August 2025 and admit cards will be available for download in January 2026. It is crucial to stay updated with the latest information and adequately prepare for the GATE exam to increase your chances of securing a good score. You can get the correct information from this article.
Important Dates for GATE 2026 Exam (Tentative)
| Particulars | Tentative Dates |
| Activation of GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) | August 2025 |
| Last Date for Registration for GATE 2026 (Without Late Fee) | October 2025 |
| Last Date for Registration for GATE 2026 (With Late Fee) | October 2025 |
| Admit Card Release Date | January 2026 |
| GATE Exam Date 2026 | February 2026 |
| Availability of Response Sheet | February 2026 |
| Answer Key Release Date | February 2026 |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | February 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Result Announcement | March 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Scorecard Availability | March 2026 |
Branch Wise GATE Exam Date for 2026 (Tentative)
Find the tentative schedule for the GATE 2026 exam below based on the GATE 2025 reference. Once IIT Guwahati announces the exam date for all branches, it will be updated here.
| Date | Shift | Paper |
| February, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | AR, CY, DA, ES, PI |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm | GE, ME, PH | |
| February, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | BM, CE1, CH, EY, GG, XH |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm | CE2, IN, MA, MN, PE | |
| February, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | AE, AG, BT, CS1, MT, NM, TF |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm | CS2, ST, XE, XL | |
| February, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | EC |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm | EE |
Note: Civil Engineering (CE) and Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) will be multi-session papers.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for the GATE Exam?
Those candidates who are pursuing their 3rd year or higher of any undergraduate degree program or those who have completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities are eligible to appear for the GATE 2026 exam.
| Degree / Program | Qualifying Degree / Examination | Who is Eligible Candidate |
| 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 years degree program, consisting of internship or residency training, from 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 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 degree in any branch of Science / Arts / Commerce (3 year program) | Currently in the 3rd year or 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 already completed |
Students who are enrolled with professional bodies and institutions as per MHRD OM (No. 11-15/2011-AR (TS.II)) with permanent recognition until May 31, 2013, are also recognized. For more details, please review circular No. 13/56/PC/ODL-Mode/AICTE/2020, dated November 23, 2020.
How Much is the Fee for GATE Exam 2026?
For GATE Exam 2026, the application fee is neither refundable nor transferrable. The fee can be paid through various payment gateways, including UPI, net banking, debit cards, credit cards, and E-wallets.
| Category | Regular Period | During the Extended Period |
| Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates (Per test paper) | ₹ 900 | ₹ 1400 |
| All other candidates, including foreign nationals (Per test paper) | ₹ 1800 | ₹ 2300 |
What is the Syllabus for the GATE Exam 2026?
The GATE Syllabus 2026 for all 30 subjects has been released on the official website. Aspiring candidates can review the important topics and chapters.
Read More: GATE Marking Scheme 2026: Subject Wise Paper Pattern | GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering | GATE Mock Test
What is the Marking Scheme for the GATE Exam?
PwD candidates with a disability benchmark greater than 40% are eligible for one hour of extra time. Candidates with a disability below 40% who have difficulty writing can also get extra time if they provide a required certificate: Appendix-I of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Compulsory Section | Subject Marks | Total Marks | Total Time (Minutes) |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF.
The subjects and topics cover Engineering Mathematics, allocating 13 marks to paper-specific questions. |
15 | – | 85 | 100 | 180 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | – | 85 | 100 | 180 |
| AR
Section A is mandatory for everyone. Applicants must choose between Section B1 or Section B2 when taking the exam. Option B1 is for Architecture, and option B2 is for Planning. |
15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| GE
Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B1 or B2 can be selected during the Exam. B1 – Surveying and Mapping or B2 -Image Processing and Analysis. |
15 | 55 | 30 | 100 | 180 |
| GG
Part A is Common and Compulsory for all. Part B can either be Geology (B1) or Geophysics (B2) — which must be chosen at the time of Application. |
15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XE
Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory for all. Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam |
15 | 15 | 2 x 35 | 100 | 180 |
| XH
Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory for all. Applicants must select any 1 additional Section at the time of Application |
15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XL
Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory for all. Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam. |
15 | 25 | 2 x 30 | 100 | 180 |
How to Download GATE 2026 Admit Card
When you register for the GATE 2026 exam in July or August, you can get your admit card on the GOAPS portal. To view your admission card, enter your enrollment ID and password. The GATE admission card is an important document that you must have on the day of the exam. To make downloading the admission card easier, follow the steps below.
- Visit the GATE 2026 official website- gate2024.iisc.ac.in
- Click on GATE GOAPS Login
- Enter the enrollment number and password
- Click on the IISc Bangalore GATE admit card download link
- Admit Card will be downloaded in the pdf format
- Save it and take a printout to be carried while appearing for the exam
Why GATE 2026 Matters?
A strong GATE score unlocks multiple opportunities:
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Postgraduate Admissions: Entry into M.Tech, M.E., and PhD programs at premier institutions like IITs, IISc, NITs, and IIITs.
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Public Sector Recruitment: Many PSUs (e.g., BHEL, NTPC, IOCL) use GATE scores for junior engineer positions.
Keep Track of Updates
To make sure you don’t miss crucial announcements related to the GATE examination:
- Bookmark the official GATE site by IIT Guwahati or GOAPS: Regularly checking the official websites is the most reliable way to stay informed about important updates, notifications, and deadlines.
- Subscribe to email alerts or follow official GATE social accounts: Opting into email notifications from the official GATE body or following their verified social media channels can provide timely alerts directly to your preferred platforms.
- Consider adding mentor-based reminders or live session prompts: Engaging with mentors or attending live sessions specifically designed for GATE aspirants can offer valuable insights and ensure you’re aware of key developments. This can also include setting personal reminders based on information shared in such sessions.
Tips to Amplify Your Preparation:
- Master the Exam Pattern: Get a grip on the exam pattern, seriously. If you’re walking into GATE without knowing what kind of questions they throw at you (MCQ, MSQ, those annoying NAT ones), you’re just setting yourself up for a headache. And don’t sleep on the marking scheme—yeah, negative marking is a thing, and it can mess you up if you’re just guessing. Basically, know your enemy before you show up.
- Time-Tested Preparation Strategy: As for prep—don’t just wing it. Break your study sessions up, mix subjects around so your brain doesn’t get bored, and, for the love of all that is holy, take mock tests. It’s the only way you’ll figure out where you actually stand (spoiler: it’s usually not as good as you think). Oh, and keep going back to what you’ve already studied, or it’ll vanish from your head faster than you can say “exam stress.” Consistency is your friend here.
- Download and Check Admit Card Early: Don’t wait till the night before—grab your GATE Admit Card the moment it drops. Trust me, you don’t want to be that person scrambling around at the last minute. Double-check everything on there: your name, photo, signature, test center, date, time—the whole shebang. If something looks off, holler at the authorities ASAP. No point sweating over avoidable mistakes, right?
- Regularly Revisit GOAPS Portal: Make it a habit to regularly revisit the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) portal. This is your primary source for staying updated on critical information, including exam day procedures, important announcements, release of response sheets, and ultimately, the declaration of results.
- Optimize GATE Preparation: GATE preparation needs more than just knowing your subjects well. You also need discipline and good planning. This means sticking to your study schedule, staying healthy, and managing stress during your preparation.
To stay up-to-date with the latest information on the GATE Exam 2026, candidates are advised to visit the website regularly for updates on upcoming events. It is important to have a preparation strategy and study accordingly to crack the GATE 2026 exam. Candidates should also be well-versed in the GATE syllabus and exam pattern. Keep in mind the important tips for better outcomes of your efforts.
