GATE 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern & Free Mock Tests

GATE is a national-level examination that tests comprehensive understanding of undergraduate subjects in engineering, science, humanities and commerce. It is jointly conducted by the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and the seven older Indian Institutes of Technology on rotation, on behalf of the National Coordination Board under the Ministry of Education.

A GATE score serves two distinct purposes. It is the primary route to postgraduate admission — M.Tech, M.E. and direct PhD programmes at the IITs, IISc, NITs and other institutions, with MHRD scholarships attached. It is also used by a large number of public sector undertakings as the shortlisting criterion for engineer and executive trainee recruitment.

GATE is popular because a single examination opens two completely different paths — postgraduate admission at the IITs and IISc with a monthly stipend, and direct recruitment into public sector undertakings at packages well above typical campus placements.

The dual utility is unmatched. A strong GATE score can lead to an M.Tech at an IIT with a monthly stipend, or straight into an Engineer Trainee role at a major PSU on a substantial package, from the same three-hour paper. Candidates frequently pursue both options in parallel.

There is also no age limit and no cap on attempts, and the score remains valid for three years. That flexibility makes GATE accessible to working professionals and to candidates who want to improve a score across cycles, which few competitive examinations permit.

• One exam opens both PSU recruitment and IIT/IISc postgraduate admission
• No age limit and no restriction on number of attempts
• Score valid for three years from the date of announcement
• MHRD scholarship stipend attached to M.Tech admission

Expected schedule based on the usual GATE annual cycle; the organising institute rotates each year.gate.iisc.ac.in — Official GATE Portal

To appear for GATE 2026 a candidate must be currently studying in the third year or higher of any undergraduate degree programme, or have already completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce or Arts — with no age limit and no restriction on attempts.

Educational Qualification

Currently studying in the third year or higher of any undergraduate degree programme, OR having already completed any government-approved degree programme in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce or Arts.

• There is no minimum percentage requirement to appear for GATE.
• Candidates who have obtained or are pursuing qualifications from professional societies recognised as equivalent to B.E., B.Tech, B.Arch or B.Plan are also eligible.
• A candidate may appear in one or two papers, but only from a permitted two-paper combination specified in the information brochure.
• The GATE score is valid for three years from the date of announcement of the result.

Age Limit

There is no age limit for GATE. There is no age limit for GATE and no restriction on the number of attempts. A candidate may appear as many times as they wish, in as many cycles as they wish.

Nationality

• Indian nationals are eligible.
• International candidates from selected countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates may also appear, as specified in the information brochure.

GATE is a three-hour computer-based test of 65 questions worth 100 marks, split between 15 marks of General Aptitude and 85 marks of subject content, with three question types — MCQ, which carries negative marking, and MSQ and NAT, which do not.

1. 1Online registration on the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS).
2. 2Selection of one or two papers from the permitted combinations.
3. 3Computer Based Test of three hours at the allotted centre.
4. 4Response sheet and answer key release, with a challenge window.
5. 5Result declaration with GATE score, All India Rank and qualifying status.
6. 6Scorecard used for PSU recruitment applications and postgraduate admissions separately.

The GATE syllabus covers General Aptitude common to all 30 papers, Engineering Mathematics in most engineering papers, and the core undergraduate curriculum of the chosen subject — with the subject portion accounting for roughly 72 of the 100 marks.

GATE does not itself carry a salary — it is a qualifying score. A strong score leads either to an M.Tech at an IIT, IISc or NIT with a monthly MHRD stipend, or to direct recruitment as an Engineer or Executive Trainee at a public sector undertaking on a substantially higher package.

Allowances and Benefits

• PSU recruitment: dearness allowance, HRA, medical cover and performance-related pay
• M.Tech: monthly MHRD stipend for the programme duration
• PhD: Junior and Senior Research Fellowship stipends
• GATE score remains valid for three years, allowing multiple applications
• Fellowship and contingency grants for research scholars

The decisive GATE strategy is to exploit the asymmetry between question types — MSQ and NAT carry no negative marking at all, so every one of them should be attempted, while MCQs deserve genuine selectivity.