GATE
Gateway to M.Tech/ME/MS and direct PhD admissions at IITs, IISc, NITs and other institutes (with MoE scholarship), and to recruitment in many PSUs such as NTPC, IOCL, BHEL and PGCIL.
Eligibility
Candidates in the third or higher year of any undergraduate degree, or who have completed any government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce or Arts, are eligible. There is no age limit and no cap on attempts. A candidate may appear in up to two papers from the permitted combinations. Score is valid for three years.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
Computer-based test of 3 hours, 100 marks and 65 questions in each of 30 papers (GATE 2027 adds a new Robotics and Automation paper). General Aptitude carries 15 marks in every paper; the remaining 85 marks are subject questions. Question types are MCQ, Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). MCQs carry negative marking of 1/3 of the marks (1-mark) or 2/3 (2-mark); MSQ and NAT have no negative marking. A virtual on-screen calculator is provided.
Syllabus at a glance
Every paper has a common General Aptitude section (verbal, quantitative, analytical and spatial aptitude). The subject section covers the core UG curriculum of the chosen discipline (e.g. CS, EC, EE, ME, CE, DA, physics, mathematics, life sciences), with Engineering Mathematics included in most engineering papers. IIT Madras has revised the syllabus for GATE 2027 for the first time in five years, so download the new paper-wise syllabus from the official site.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application window (GOAPS), including extended late-fee period and special window | Late Aug to 16 Oct 2026 (closed) | confirmed |
| Application rectification window (scrutiny defects) | 14-31 Oct 2026 | confirmed |
| Application data correction window (candidate request, with fee) | TBA | tba |
| Exam city allotment notification | 4 Jan 2027 | confirmed |
| Admit card release | Early-mid Jan 2027 | expected |
| GATE 2027 examination | 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 Feb 2027 | confirmed |
| Result declaration | 19 Mar 2027 | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Previous Years' Solved Papers (branch-wise) – Made Easy Publications
- Higher Engineering Mathematics – B.S. Grewal
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
- Operating System Concepts – Silberschatz, Galvin & Gagne (CS)
- Engineering Mechanics – S.S. Bhavikatti / Strength of Materials – R.K. Bansal (ME/CE)
- Network Analysis – M.E. Van Valkenburg (EE/EC)
How toppers play it
- Secure General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics first: together they are worth roughly 28-30 of 100 marks and are the most predictable sections.
- Solve at least the last 15 years of PYQs for your paper; GATE repeats concepts heavily and NAT questions reward exact method.
- Attempt MSQ and NAT questions freely (no negative marking), but leave doubtful MCQs, which lose 1/3 or 2/3 of their marks.
- Do all numerical practice on the virtual calculator so you are not slowed down on exam day.
- Choose the second paper only if it overlaps strongly with your first, and re-check the revised 2027 syllabus for dropped or added topics.