GATE 2026 Notification: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 has officially been announced by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), which is the Organising Institute this year.
GATE is a prestigious national-level examination that opens doors for M.Tech/M.E./Ph.D. admissions, scholarships, and PSU recruitments. In 2026, the exam will introduce a new sectional paper on Energy Science (XE-I).
If you are planning to appear for GATE 2026, here’s the complete guide covering important dates, eligibility, exam pattern, fees, and opportunities.
📅 GATE 2026 Important Dates
Here are the official dates as per the notification:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | August 25, 2025 (Monday) |
| Last Date for Application (Regular Period) | September 25, 2025 (Thursday) |
| Last Date for Application (Extended with Late Fee) | October 6, 2025 (Monday) |
| Last Date for Category/Paper/Exam City Change | November 6, 2025 (Thursday) |
| Admit Card Release Date | January 2, 2026 (Friday) |
| Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 (Two Sessions: Forenoon 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Afternoon 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM) |
| Result Announcement | March 19, 2026 (Thursday) |
| Score Card Download (Free) | March 27 – May 31, 2026 |
| Score Card Download (Paid ₹500) | June 1 – December 31, 2026 |
👉 Note: Dates are subject to change as per official updates.
📝 Eligibility Criteria for GATE 2026
- Minimum Qualification:
- Candidates in the 3rd year or higher of undergraduate programs in Engineering/Technology/Science/Arts/Commerce/Humanities/Architecture.
- Candidates with completed degrees in these fields are also eligible.
- Medical streams: MBBS/BDS/B.V.Sc/B.Sc (Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture) students in 5th/6th/7th semester or higher are eligible.
- Recognised Professional Society Exams: AMIE, ICE, IETE, AeSI, IIChE, IIM, IIIE (approved by MoE/AICTE/UPSC/UGC).
- No Age Limit – Candidates of any age can apply.
👉 Check the full degree-wise eligibility list in the brochure for clarity.
💰 GATE 2026 Application Fees
| Category | Regular Period | Extended Period |
|---|---|---|
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | ₹1000 | ₹1500 |
| All Other Candidates (including foreign nationals) | ₹2000 | ₹2500 |
🔹 For two papers, fees = 2 × single paper fee.
🔹 Fees must be paid online (UPI, Net Banking, Debit/Credit Cards).
📚 GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Language: English
- Duration: 3 Hours (PwD candidates get 1 hour extra)
- Total Papers: 30 (with a new Energy Science (XE-I) paper)
- Question Types:
- MCQs – 1 or 2 marks (negative marking: 1/3 for 1-mark, 2/3 for 2-mark)
- MSQs – Multiple correct answers (no negative marking)
- NAT – Numerical Answer Type (no negative marking)
Marks Distribution (General Case):
- General Aptitude (GA): 15 marks
- Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks (in most technical papers)
- Subject Questions: 72 marks
- Total: 100 marks
📋 List of GATE 2026 Test Papers & Codes
Here’s the official subject list with codes for GATE 2026:
| Test Paper | Code | Test Paper | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | AE | Geology & Geophysics | GG |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG | Instrumentation Engineering | IN |
| Architecture & Planning | AR | Mathematics | MA |
| Biomedical Engineering | BM | Mechanical Engineering | ME |
| Biotechnology | BT | Mining Engineering | MN |
| Civil Engineering | CE | Metallurgical Engineering | MT |
| Chemical Engineering | CH | Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering | NM |
| Computer Science & IT | CS | Petroleum Engineering | PE |
| Chemistry | CY | Physics | PH |
| Data Science & AI | DA | Production & Industrial Engineering | PI |
| Electronics & Communication Engg. | EC | Statistics | ST |
| Electrical Engineering | EE | Textile Engg. & Fibre Science | TF |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | ES | Engineering Sciences | XE |
| Ecology & Evolution | EY | Humanities & Social Sciences | XH |
| Geomatics Engineering | GE | Life Sciences | XL |
🔹 New Paper in GATE 2026 – Energy Science (XE-I) under Engineering Sciences (XE).
👉 Candidates can appear for one or two papers (from approved combinations).
🎯 Benefits of Qualifying GATE 2026
- Postgraduate Admissions
- M.Tech, M.E., M.S., and Ph.D. at IITs, IISc, NITs, and CFTIs.
- Scholarships/assistantships provided as per MoE guidelines.
- PSU Recruitments
- GATE scores are used by PSUs like NTPC, ONGC, IOCL, BHEL, GAIL, SAIL, PowerGrid and more.
- Government Jobs
- Recruitment for certain Group-A posts in the Cabinet Secretariat (e.g., Senior Field Officer, Research Officer).
- International Opportunities
- Some foreign universities and fellowships consider GATE scores.
📌 Key Highlights of GATE 2026
- Organised by IIT Guwahati
- 30 papers, including a new Energy Science paper
- Online-only application (No hard copies)
- Exam centres: 200+ cities in India
- Score validity: 3 years
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