Exam dates and application windows change every year. Details here can go out of date — always confirm on the official website, or ask Sahayak below for the latest guidance.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
Information last verified: September 2026 · Always verify on the official portal before payment.
Entrance exam for M.Tech admissions and PSU (public sector) recruitment.
Conducted by
Organising IIT/IISc (rotates every year)
Age Limit
No age limit.
Education
3rd-year or higher UG student, or completed degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce or Arts. Final-year students eligible.
Application Fee
Roughly Rs. 1,000–2,000 (slabs by gender/category; higher outside India). Check the year's GATE brochure.
Documents Needed
- Degree/provisional certificate or 3rd-year proof
- Photo + signature per specs
- Category/PwD certificate if applicable
- Valid ID
How to Apply
- Apply on the year's GATE portal (host IIT rotates — search 'GATE 2026 official website')
- Choose 1–2 papers from ~30 subjects
- Pay fee, submit, download confirmation
Selection Process
- Single CBT (usually February)
- Score valid 3 years
- M.Tech admission via COAP/CCMT + PSU recruitment using GATE score
Exam Pattern
65 questions, 100 marks, 3 hours. General Aptitude 15 marks + subject 85. MCQ (+1/+2, negative 1/3 and 2/3), MSQ and NAT (no negative).
Correction Window
Limited paid corrections per the year's brochure.
Admit Card
Online on the year's GATE portal, ~January. Never by post.
Download admit card — candidate loginResult
Scorecards on the portal (~March pattern); counselling via COAP (IITs) and CCMT (NITs).
Check result — candidate loginWho can apply
Bachelor's degree in engineering/technology/science (final year students can also apply).
How the yearly cycle usually works
- Notification usually released around August.
- Exam is typically held in February.
- Result is usually declared around March.
Note: The organising institute changes every year, so the exact website changes too -- search 'GATE exam official website' for the current year to be sure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for GATE 2026 online?▾
Register on gate2026.iitr.ac.in (or the IIT organising GATE 2026) via the GOAPS portal, fill personal + academic + paper-choice details, upload photo/signature/degree certificate, pay the fee and download the confirmation. Applications open around August–September.
What is the GATE eligibility?▾
You must have completed (or be in the final year of) a Bachelor's degree in Engineering / Technology / Architecture, or a Master's in Science / Maths / Statistics / Computer Applications. No age limit. From 2024, 3-year BSc graduates are also eligible.
How is the GATE score used?▾
For M.Tech / MS admissions in IITs, NITs and IIITs (via CCMT / COAP). For PhD in institutes like IISc / IITs. For PSU recruitment (ONGC, IOCL, NTPC, BHEL etc. — some hire directly through GATE scores). Score is valid for 3 years.
What is the GATE exam pattern?▾
Single 3-hour computer-based test with 65 questions (MCQ + MSQ + NAT) totaling 100 marks. General Aptitude (15 marks) + subject paper (85 marks). Negative marking applies for MCQs only.
Can I appear for two GATE papers in the same year?▾
Yes — since 2021 GATE, candidates can appear in TWO papers (from a permitted combination). Choose carefully as scores are computed separately for each paper.