The GATE examination of 2026 will be organized by IIT Guwahati. This examination will be conducted in different cities all across India’s on February 7th , 8th ,14 and 15th 2026. The registration window to apply in this examination was opened in late August 2025 and has been extended in early October 2025 to accommodate more applicants.
This examination will be conducted as a computer-based examination across 30 different papers with the option to appear in two papers from the approved combination. It will have to maintain established MCQ, MSQ and NAT formats with paper specific distributions. The application portal has outlined standard requirements on eligibility, documents, fees, corrections and site selection to ensure uniform processing and frictionless admit card issuance in January 2026.
Overview and Governance
The graduate aptitude test in engineering has dual objectives. First, it provides pathways to postgraduate admissions and research so that students can enrol themselves in various institutions. It also provides the opportunity of screening for public sector opportunities that reference a good score. For the 2026 cycle, IIT Guwahati is the organizing institute and the official portal manages the end-to-end process along with registration, form submission, scrutiny, admit cards, response sheet, answer keys as well as results. This examination assesses the comprehension, application, analytical, synthesis and recalling capacity of an individual within the syllabus of each paper. It also includes a general aptitude section which is common to all candidates.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates in the third year or beyond of approved undergraduate programs, and graduates across Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, and Humanities streams, are eligible in line with paper-wise norms and degree pathways stated by the organizing institute. Recognized professional qualifications are admissible where they meet the notified criteria and completion status, subject to documentary compliance during scrutiny. There is no upper age limit to appear in GATE, and paper selection must align with eligibility and approved combinations, particularly for dual‑paper candidates.
Papers, Pattern, and Marking
GATE is a three-hour CBT per paper with 65 questions for 100 marks comprising MCQ, MSQ, and NAT items, administered in English. Negative marking applies only to MCQs, with one‑third penalty for 1‑mark MCQs and two‑third penalty for 2‑mark MCQs, while MSQ and NAT have no negative marking. Most engineering papers carry a distribution of 15 marks General Aptitude, 13 marks Engineering Mathematics, and 72 marks subject content, whereas certain papers follow GA 15 plus 85 marks in subject without a separate mathematics component.
Two‑Paper Option and Combinations
The two‑paper option remains available using the official combination matrix to ensure coherent overlap and manageable scheduling, thereby widening academic and recruitment pathways for interdisciplinary profiles. Combinations must be selected strictly from the permitted pairs to ensure validity and to avoid session clashes that may arise from ad hoc pairing.
Application Fees and Categories
The fee is charged per paper and varies by category and submission period, with lower regular fees and higher extended-window fees applied uniformly across the system. The notified structure indicates regular fees for female and SC/ST/PwD candidates with a modest late-fee uplift, and standard fees for all other candidates with a defined late-fee differential during the extended window.
Application Process: Step-by-Step
- Registration: You are required to create an enrolment ID on the portal by providing your name, e-mail, mobile number and other details. This data will activate your account for subsequent steps across the coming cycle.
- Form details: Enter personal information, academic history, paper selection (single or two‑paper option as permitted), and select preferred exam cities based on zonal guidelines.
- Document upload: Upload recent photograph and signature in the prescribed format, and attach category/PwD certificates, if applicable, ensuring legibility and file-size compliance.
- Fee payment: Complete online payment per paper within the regular or extended window; an application remains incomplete until payment is successfully acknowledged.
- Verification and submission: Review all entries carefully, accept declarations, and submit; post‑submission edits are restricted to specific fields during the correction window with applicable charges.
City Selection and Scheduling
Candidates must select three preferred exam cities under the zonal rules to facilitate allotment and minimize travel risks, noting that center allocation reflects capacity and logistical constraints. The final session, venue, and reporting instructions appear on the admit card, and candidates should not assume traditional day/slot placement for any specific paper before official confirmation.
Admit Card, Response Sheets, and Answer Keys
Admit cards will be downloadable from January 2, 2026, and must be presented with an approved photo ID in original at the examination venue as per instructions. Response sheets and provisional answer keys are published after the test, with a defined objection window for candidates to raise challenges supported by documentary evidence and per‑question fees. Final keys inform the result declaration, and subsequent scorecard access follows the announced free and paid download timelines.
Recent Updates and Clarifications
The institute has confirmed that this examination will be conducted for 30 papers and will be given 2 paper option. It will be conducted via computer-based test format, provided or clarified fee schedule and a four-day examination plan across 2 weekends. The registration for applying for the same has been extended to 6th October 2025 (regular) and the 9th October 2025 along with late fee. Session management is distributed to reduce congestion, with detailed paper-wise scheduling conveyed through the portal and hall tickets rather than historical precedent.
Compliance Checklist Before Submission:
- Eligibility alignment: Ensure degree pathway and paper selection are admissible under the official eligibility matrix and approved combinations for dual‑paper candidates.
- Assets readiness: Prepare compliant photograph and signature files, and scan category/PwD certificates to the correct specifications to avoid scrutiny delays.
- City choices: Select three cities carefully; post‑submission city changes are constrained and may incur fees if permitted within the correction window.
- Fee confirmation: Pay within the regular window to avoid higher charges; if using the extended period, verify category-wise fee before payment to minimize transactional issues.
- Records retention: Save the application PDF, acknowledgment, and payment receipt, and plan ID verification for the day of the test per admit card instructions.
Preparation and Attempt Strategy (Policy-Aligned)
A structured approach that protects marks from negative penalties while leveraging MSQ/NAT formats typically outperforms volume-driven attempts. General Aptitude can be stabilized through routine practice to secure a predictable base, while paper strategy should prioritize high-yield topics and frequent item formats visible in official pattern guides. Mock attempts should simulate shift conditions and emphasize time management, question triage, and numerical accuracy for NAT inputs.
Post-Result Use of Scores
Scorecards may be used for M.Tech/M.S./Ph.D. admissions, institute-specific financial assistance, and PSU processes that publish independent notifications referencing valid GATE scores. Candidates should observe the validity period of scorecards and track individual institute and PSU calendars to align applications with the score release and document deadlines.
Guidance for Institutions and Employers
Stakeholders referencing GATE 2026 should align timelines with the official result and scorecard windows, maintain clarity on cut-off frameworks, and communicate documentation expectations early to reduce candidate escalation during peak cycles. For interdisciplinary programs, publishing preferred paper combinations and minimum sectional expectations improves funnel quality and reduces post‑offer attrition.
Conclusion:
With the notification active under IIT Guwahati, a four‑day schedule in February 2026, extended registration through October 9, 2025, and a standardized CBT framework across 30 papers, GATE 2026 presents a predictable yet rigorous pathway for advanced study and recruitment use-cases. By aligning early on eligibility, paper selection, documents, fee windows, and city preferences, applicants can minimize administrative corrections and focus on disciplined preparation aligned to format and marking policies.
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