The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, is a national-level entrance exam for admission to postgraduate programs (M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D.), Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) recruitment, and select international universities. The registration process begins on August 25, 2025, via the official portal gate2026.iitg.ac.in, with an information brochure detailing eligibility, exam cities, and subject combinations already released. GATE 2026 will feature 30 test papers, including a new sectional paper, Energy Science (XE-I), under the Engineering Sciences (XE) category.
Key Points:
- IIT Guwahati organizes GATE 2026.
- Registration opens August 25, 2025, at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
- Impacts 3 lakh+ candidates annually for PG and PSU opportunities.
Important Dates for GATE 2026
The GATE 2026 timeline, as outlined by IIT Guwahati, is as follows:
| Activity | Day | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Opening of GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) | Monday | August 25, 2025 |
| Closing of Regular Registration (Without Late Fee) | Thursday | September 25, 2025 |
| Closing of Extended Registration (With Late Fee) | Monday | October 6, 2025 |
| GATE 2026 Examinations | Saturday, Sunday | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 |
| Announcement of Results | Thursday | March 19, 2026 |
Key Points:
- Regular registration: August 25–September 25, 2025.
- Extended registration with late fee: September 26–October 6, 2025.
- Exams scheduled over four days in February 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
GATE 2026 maintains broad eligibility to encourage diverse participation:
- General Criteria: Candidates in the 3rd year or higher of any undergraduate program or those who have completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities.
- Professional Society Exams: Certifications from societies recognized by MoE/AICTE/UGC/UPSC (e.g., AMIE, AMICE) equivalent to BE/BTech/BArch.
- Foreign Degree Holders: Students with or pursuing a minimum 3-year Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines from universities outside India.
- No Minimum Percentage: No CGPA or percentage cutoff required.
Key Points:
- Open to 3rd-year students and graduates across streams.
- International candidates with equivalent degrees eligible.
- Recognizes professional certifications for eligibility.
Application Process: Steps to Register
Candidates can register for GATE 2026 via the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Follow these steps:
- Visit gate2026.iitg.ac.in and click “New User? Register Here.”
- Create a login ID with your full name, email, and mobile number, and set a strong password.
- Log in, complete the application form with personal, academic, and exam details.
- Select primary paper and, if applicable, a second paper from approved combinations.
- Choose three exam cities within the same GATE zone.
- Upload required documents:
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPG/JPEG, 5KB–1MB, 3.5cm x 4.5cm, 60–70% face coverage).
- Signature (JPG/JPEG, 3KB–1MB, 1cm x 2.75cm–3.75cm, 70–80% area coverage).
- Valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, Voter ID, Driving License).
- Category certificate (SC/ST, PDF, 10KB–300KB), if applicable.
- PwD/UDID or dyslexic certificate, if applicable.
- Pay the application fee via UPI, credit/debit card, or net banking.
- Review, submit, and download the confirmation page for records.
Key Points:
- Register via GOAPS at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
- Upload high-quality images and valid IDs per specifications.
- Early registration avoids late fees and errors.
Application Fees
The revised GATE 2026 fees per paper are:
| Category | Regular Period (Aug 25–Sep 25, 2025) | Extended Period (Sep 26–Oct 6, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Female/SC/ST/PwD | ₹1000 | ₹1500 |
| Other Candidates (including Foreign Nationals) | ₹2000 | ₹2500 |
Note: Candidates opting for two papers pay double the fee. Compared to GATE 2025 (₹900/₹1800), fees have increased by ₹100/₹200.
Key Points:
- Female/SC/ST/PwD: ₹1000 (regular), ₹1500 (late).
- Others: ₹2000 (regular), ₹2500 (late).
- Double fees for two-paper candidates.
Subject Paper Combinations
GATE 2026 offers 30 test papers, including a new Energy Science (XE-I) sectional paper under Engineering Sciences (XE). Candidates can choose one or two papers from approved combinations. The primary paper must be selected first, followed by a second paper from the allowed list. Some approved combinations include:
| First Paper Code | Second Paper Code | First Paper Code | Second Paper Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE (Aerospace Engineering) | CE, ME, XE | GG (Geology and Geophysics) | GE |
| AG (Agricultural Engineering) | CE | IN (Instrumentation Engineering) | BM, EC, EE, ME |
| AR (Architecture and Planning) | CE, GE | MA (Mathematics) | CS, DA, PH, ST |
| BM (Biomedical Engineering) | BT, IN | ME (Mechanical Engineering) | AE, DA, IN, NM, PI, XE |
| BT (Biotechnology) | BM, XL | CS (Computer Science) | DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, ST |
| CE (Civil Engineering) | AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE | DA (Data Science & AI) | CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, ST, XE |
| CH (Chemical Engineering) | ES, PE, XE | EC (Electronics & Communication) | CS, DA, EE, IN, PH |
| CY (Chemistry) | XE, XL | EE (Electrical Engineering) | DA, EC, IN, PH |
| ES (Environmental Science) | CE, CH, GE | EY (Ecology and Evolution) | XL |
| GE (Geomatics Engineering) | AR, CE, CS, ES, GG | PH (Physics) | CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE |
| PI (Production & Industrial Engineering) | ME, XE | ST (Statistics) | CS, DA, MA, XH |
| XE (Engineering Sciences) | AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, PI | XH (Humanities & Social Sciences) | ST |
| XL (Life Sciences) | BT, CY, EY |
Notes:
- Exam centers for the second paper may differ within the same city due to scheduling constraints.
- Additional combinations may be added later, subject to infrastructure availability, with updates on gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
- If a combination is canceled, the second paper’s fee will be refunded.
Key Points:
- 30 papers, including new Energy Science (XE-I).
- Two-paper combinations must follow approved pairings.
- Check updates on gate2026.iitg.ac.in for new combinations.
Examination Schedule and Pattern
GATE 2026 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) over four days (February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026) in two sessions:
- Forenoon: 9:30 AM–12:30 PM.
- Afternoon: 2:30 PM–5:30 PM.
Each paper is 3 hours, with 65 questions totaling 100 marks:
- General Aptitude (GA): 15 marks (common to all papers).
- Subject-Specific: 85 marks.
- Question Types: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs, with negative marking), Multiple-Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Key Points:
- Exams on February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026, in two shifts.
- 100 marks: 15 for GA, 85 for subject-specific.
- Negative marking only for MCQs.
Examination Cities
GATE 2026 will be conducted across multiple cities under eight zonal coordinating institutes:
- IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee.
Candidates can select three cities within the same zone. IIT Guwahati may add or remove cities, and candidates may be allotted a non-preferred city if necessary. The full list is available at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
Key Points:
- Eight zonal institutes manage exam centers.
- Choose three cities in the same zone.
- Check gate2026.iitg.ac.in for city list.
What’s New in GATE 2026
- New Paper: Energy Science (XE-I) introduced under Engineering Sciences (XE).
- Updated Two-Paper Combinations: Revised pairings for dual-subject candidates.
- Eligibility Clarifications: Minor updates for international university candidates.
- Increased Fees: ₹1000/₹2000 (regular) vs. ₹900/₹1800 in GATE 2025.
Key Points:
- XE-I (Energy Science) new sectional paper.
- Revised combinations and fee hike implemented.
- International eligibility clarified for broader access.
