CHECKOUT IMPORTANT DATES
The GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a highly competitive national-level examination that serves as a gateway for admission into prestigious postgraduate programs. Aspiring candidates can opt for programs such as M. Tech, M.E., and direct Ph.D. courses at top institutes across India, including the IITs and IISc. Additionally, GATE scores are widely recognized by several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) for recruitment purposes as well, making the exam a pivotal milestone for engineering graduates aspiring for advanced studies or lucrative career opportunities in the public sector.
GATE 2026 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and is expected to cover 30 different papers, in the field of Engineering and Science. The exam will test candidates on their general aptitude, engineering mathematics, and subject-specific knowledge through a mix of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. With a duration of three hours and a total of 65 questions, GATE 2026 demands thorough preparation and a strategic approach from aspirants aiming for top scores and subsequent academic or professional advancement. Hence, the GATE 2026 will witness a much tougher competition among its candidates.
GATE is conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee, on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE. This exam is for those aspirants who are seeking admission to the following programs listed below.
GATE 2026 online application submissions will start on 1st July or 1st week of August 2025. The last date for the submission of online applications is till 2nd week of October 2025 (without late fees) and 3rd week October 2025 (with late fees). GATE 2026 Exam will be conducted on 1st and 2nd weekends of February 2026. However, no official dates are announced by the authorities yet.
Event
Tentative Dates for 2026
GATE 2026 Official Notification Release
Last week of July / 1st week of August 2025
GATE Online Application Portal (GOAPS) Opens
4th week of August 2025
Last Date to Apply (without late fee)
2nd week of October 2025
Last Date to Apply (with late fee)
3rd week of October 2025
Application Correction Window
1st to 3rd week of November 2025
Release of Admit Card
1st week of January 2026
GATE 2026 Exam Dates
1st and 2nd weekends of February 2026 (tentatively February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026)
Response Sheet Availability
2nd to 3rd week of February 2026
Release of Answer Key
4th week of February 2026
Last Date to Submit Objections/Challenges
Final Answer Key Release
1st week of March 2026
GATE 2026 Result Declaration
2nd week of March 2026
Scorecard Availability
4th week of March 2026
COAP Counselling Portal Opens
3rd week of March 2026
Requirements:
Online Mode:
2 Year Technology & Engineering Program (M. Tech/M.E.):
Sections and Weightage:
Marking Scheme:
Only a virtual scientific calculator will be provided on-screen; no physical calculators or electronic devices are allowed.
The GATE 2026 syllabus is structured into three main sections – General Aptitude (GA), Engineering Mathematics (for most papers), and Core Subject (specific to the chosen discipline.
The syllabus for each paper has been detailed and can be downloaded in a PDF format from the official GATE 2026 website once it is released. The core subject section varies for each of the 30 papers, hence candidates should refer to the specific syllabus for their chosen discipline.
Following is the list of the topics and marks weightage that are essential for the GATE 2026 exam.
Section
Details & Topics Covered
Marks Weightage
General Aptitude (GA)
Verbal Aptitude (grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension), Quantitative Aptitude (data interpretation, numerical computation, statistics, geometry), Analytical & Spatial Aptitude (logic, reasoning, shape transformation)
15
Engineering Mathematics
Topics vary by branch (e.g., Linear Algebra, Calculus, Probability, Differential Equations, Numerical Methods, etc.)
13–15 (most papers)
Core Subject
Discipline-specific topics (e.g., CSE: Algorithms, Data Structures, DBMS, OS, Networks; ME: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, SOM, etc.)
70
AICTE GATE Scholarship:
GATE 2026 results will be announced jointly by IISc and the IITs in the 2nd week of March 2026, i.e. shortly after the GATE 2026 exam is conducted in the 1st and 2nd weekends of February 2026 (tentatively).
Candidates will be provided with preliminary answer keys in between 2nd to 4th week of February 2026. Candidates will then be able to challenge those answer keys if they have any objections although the portal will be available to them for a short period of time. By the 1st week of March 2026, the final answer keys will be released by the official authorities.