GATE
Conducted by IITs (joint organisation, hosted by IIT Guwahati in 2026)
About GATE
GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) was conducted in February 2026 across 30 test papers. Results were declared on March 19, 2026. GATE scores are valid for 3 years and are used for admission to MTech, ME, and PhD programmes at IITs, NITs, IISc, and other universities through COAP/CCMT counselling. A GATE score is also the primary recruitment route for major Public Sector Undertakings — ONGC, BHEL, NTPC, DRDO, BARC, ISRO, OIL India, GAIL, IOCL, PGCIL — for engineering and technical officer positions.
For NE India students, GATE is particularly important: Oil India Limited (Duliajan, Assam) and ONGC (Nazira, Assam) actively recruit through GATE. IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar both offer MTech/ME programmes for GATE-qualified students with ₹12,400/month stipend at government institutes. GATE 2027 registration typically opens August–September 2026.
Eligibility
- Currently in the final year of BTech/BE/BSc Research/BS/BArch/BPharm, OR have completed these degrees
- MSc/MA/MCA students or those in the final year are also eligible
- No age limit, no limit on number of attempts
- International students from select countries can also appear
- No minimum marks required in graduation for GATE eligibility
Exam Pattern
Mode and Duration
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) — online at designated test centres
- Duration: 3 hours | Total marks: 100 | 65 questions
Question Types
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): 1 or 2 marks each | Negative marking: −1/3 for 1-mark, −2/3 for 2-mark
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQs): 1 or 2 marks each | No negative marking
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT): 1 or 2 marks | No negative marking | Answer entered via keyboard
Structure
- General Aptitude (compulsory in all papers): 10 questions worth 15 marks
Topics: Verbal Ability + Numerical Ability
- Engineering/Subject Questions: 55 questions worth 85 marks
Key GATE Papers (30 total)
- CS (Computer Science and IT), EC (Electronics), ME (Mechanical), CE (Civil), EE (Electrical)
- IN (Instrumentation), CH (Chemical), BT (Biotechnology), AG (Agricultural Engineering)
- XE (Engineering Sciences), XL (Life Sciences), GE (Geomatics), MN (Mining) and more
Scoring
- GATE Score (not raw marks) calculated on a normalised scale: typically 0–1000
- Cutoff for MTech admission and PSU recruitment varies by paper and organisation
Official Resources
Always verify exam dates and details from the official source before applying.
GATE — FAQs
What is GATE?+
GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) was conducted in February 2026 across 30 test papers. Results were declared on March 19, 2026. GATE scores are valid for 3 years and are used for admission to MTech, ME, and PhD programmes at IITs, NITs, IISc, and other universities through COAP/CCMT counselling. A GATE score is also the primary recruitment route for major Public Sector Undertakings — ONGC, BHEL, NTPC, DRDO, BARC, ISRO, OIL India, GAIL, IOCL, PGCIL — for engineering and technical officer positions.
For NE India students, GATE is particularly important: Oil India Limited (Duliajan, Assam) and ONGC (Nazira, Assam) actively recruit through GATE. IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar both offer MTech/ME programmes for GATE-qualified students with ₹12,400/month stipend at government institutes. GATE 2027 registration typically opens August–September 2026.
What is the eligibility for GATE?+
- Currently in the final year of BTech/BE/BSc Research/BS/BArch/BPharm, OR have completed these degrees
- MSc/MA/MCA students or those in the final year are also eligible
- No age limit, no limit on number of attempts
- International students from select countries can also appear
- No minimum marks required in graduation for GATE eligibility
What is the exam pattern of GATE?+
Mode and Duration
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) — online at designated test centres
- Duration: 3 hours | Total marks: 100 | 65 questions
Question Types
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): 1 or 2 marks each | Negative marking: −1/3 for 1-mark, −2/3 for 2-mark
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQs): 1 or 2 marks each | No negative marking
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT): 1 or 2 marks | No negative marking | Answer entered via keyboard
Structure
- General Aptitude (compulsory in all papers): 10 questions worth 15 marks
Topics: Verbal Ability + Numerical Ability
- Engineering/Subject Questions: 55 questions worth 85 marks
Key GATE Papers (30 total)
- CS (Computer Science and IT), EC (Electronics), ME (Mechanical), CE (Civil), EE (Electrical)
- IN (Instrumentation), CH (Chemical), BT (Biotechnology), AG (Agricultural Engineering)
- XE (Engineering Sciences), XL (Life Sciences), GE (Geomatics), MN (Mining) and more
Scoring
- GATE Score (not raw marks) calculated on a normalised scale: typically 0–1000
- Cutoff for MTech admission and PSU recruitment varies by paper and organisation
Which colleges accept GATE scores?+
Several top colleges in India accept GATE scores. Browse colleges accepting GATE on Gyan Sanchaar and apply for free.
Find colleges accepting GATE scores
Browse Colleges