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GATEexam guide

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

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Notification status

Registration closed

Registration for GATE 2027 is closed. The last window ended on 16 October 2026. The exam is on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027. Results are due on 19 March 2027.

Last checked 28 October 2026.

Official GATE 2027 website

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national computer-based exam. IIT Madras conducts GATE 2027. A valid score is mainly used to get admission to master’s and Ph.D. programmes, and some public sector companies have used it to hire people.

This guide is based on the official brochure (revised 17 October 2026) and the GATE 2027 website. Where the two disagree, we show both and tell you. Dates and paper combinations can change, so check the official site before you rely on anything important.

  1. Applications Done

    2 September 2026 to 16 October 2026

  2. Exam Next

    6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027

  3. Results Later

    19 March 2027

Up next

In 59 days

Exam cities announced4 January 2027

At a glance

GATE key facts.

  • Notification

    Brochure is out (latest version: 17 October 2026)

    OfficialSource

  • Organising institute

    IIT Madras

    OfficialSource

  • Exam dates

    6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027

    OfficialDates can change.Source

  • Test format

    Computer-based, 3 hours, 65 questions, 100 marks

    OfficialSource

  • Test papers

    30 papers; you can take one or two

    OfficialSource

  • Registration

    Closed (the last window ended 16 October 2026)

    OfficialFixing errors found in applications: 14 to 31 October 2026.Source

  • Results

    19 March 2027

    OfficialDates can change.Source

  • Age limit

    No age limit

    OfficialSource

  • Score validity

    Three years from the result date

    OfficialSource

Test papers

Find your paper.

GATE 2027 has 30 papers. You can take one or two. If you take two, choose a main paper first, then a second paper from the list allowed for it below.

How the 100 marks are divided

Typical engineering paper, such as CS, EE or ME: 100 marks
  • 15General Aptitude
  • 13Engineering Mathematics
  • 72Subject
Marks split by paper
PapersGeneral AptitudeSubject marks
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI1585 (13 for Engineering Mathematics + 72 for the subject)
CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST1585 for the subject (no separate 13-mark maths part is listed)
AR, RA15Part A 60 + Part B 25
GE15Part A 55 + Part B 30
GG15Part A 25 + Part B 60
XE15XE0 15 + two sections of 35
XH15XH0 25 + one section of 60
XL15XL0 25 + two sections of 30

Papers that have parts or sections

  • AR. Part A is the same for everyone. In the exam you choose Part B1 (Architecture) or B2 (Planning).
  • GE. Part A (Engineering Mathematics and Basic Geomatics) is the same for everyone. In the exam you choose B1 (Surveying and Mapping) or B2 (Image Processing and Analysis).
  • GG. Part A is the same for everyone. You choose B1 (Geology) or B2 (Geophysics) when you apply, and you cannot change it in the exam hall.
  • RA. Part A is the same for everyone. In the exam you choose B1 (Electrical) or B2 (Mechanical).
  • XE. XE0 Engineering Mathematics (15 marks) is compulsory. In the exam you choose up to two of: XE1 Fluid Mechanics; XE2 Materials Science; XE3 Solid Mechanics; XE4 Thermodynamics; XE5 Polymer Science and Engineering; XE6 Food Technology; XE7 Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; XE8 Energy Science; XE9 Textile Engineering and Fibre Science. Each is worth 35 marks.
  • XH. XH0 Reasoning and Comprehension (25 marks) is compulsory. When you apply, you choose exactly one of: XH1 Economics; XH2 English; XH3 Linguistics; XH4 Philosophy; XH5 Psychology; XH6 Sociology. It is worth 60 marks.
  • XL. XL0 Chemistry (25 marks) is compulsory. In the exam you choose up to two of: XL1 Biochemistry; XL2 Botany; XL3 Microbiology; XL4 Zoology; XL5 Food Technology. Each is worth 30 marks.

All 30 papers, and which two you can combine

Showing 30 of 30 papers

  • AEAerospace Engineering
    Can pair with
  • AGAgricultural Engineering
    Can pair with
  • ARArchitecture and Planning
    Can pair with
  • BMBiomedical Engineering
    Can pair with
  • BTBiotechnology
    Can pair with
  • CECivil Engineering
    Can pair with
  • CHChemical Engineering
    Can pair with
  • CSComputer Science and Information Technology
    Can pair with
  • CYChemistry
    Can pair with
  • DAData Science and Artificial Intelligence
    Can pair with
  • ECElectronics and Communication Engineering
    Can pair with
  • EEElectrical Engineering
    Can pair with
  • ESEnvironmental Science & Engineering
    Can pair with
  • EYEcology and Evolution
    Can pair with
  • GEGeomatics Engineering
    Can pair with
  • GGGeology and Geophysics
    Can pair with
  • INInstrumentation Engineering
    Can pair with
  • MAMathematics
    Can pair with
  • MEMechanical Engineering
    Can pair with
  • MNMining Engineering
    Can pair withNo second paper
  • MTMetallurgical Engineering
    Can pair with
  • NMNaval Architecture and Marine Engineering
    Can pair with
  • PEPetroleum Engineering
    Can pair with
  • PHPhysics
    Can pair with
  • PIProduction and Industrial Engineering
    Can pair with
  • RARobotics and Automation
    Can pair with
  • STStatistics
    Can pair with
  • XEEngineering Sciences
    Can pair with
  • XHHumanities & Social Sciences
    Can pair with
  • XLLife Sciences
    Can pair with
  • This list is tentative. IIT Madras may add or remove combinations depending on exam-centre facilities and scheduling.
  • Both papers are held in the same city, but the exam centre can be different for each.
  • If a combination you paid for is removed, you get a refund of the second paper’s fee.

Syllabus

What to study.

Every paper has General Aptitude. The full CS and DA syllabus is shown below. The other 28 papers have their syllabus on the official site.

General Aptitude (all papers)

Verbal Aptitude

  • Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech
  • Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, and phrases in context
  • Reading and comprehension
  • Narrative sequencing

Quantitative Aptitude

  • Data interpretation: data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2-and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables
  • Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series
  • Mensuration and geometry
  • Elementary statistics and probability

Analytical Aptitude

  • Logic: deduction and induction
  • Analogy
  • Numerical relations and reasoning

Spatial Aptitude

  • Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, and grouping
  • Paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions

CS: Computer Science and Information Technology

Engineering Mathematics: Discrete Mathematics

  • Propositional and first order logic
  • Sets, relations, functions, partial orders and lattices
  • Monoids, Groups
  • Graphs: connectivity, matching, colouring
  • Combinatorics: counting, recurrence relations, generating functions

Engineering Mathematics: Linear Algebra

  • Matrices
  • Determinants
  • System of linear equations
  • Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
  • LU decomposition

Engineering Mathematics: Calculus

  • Limits
  • Continuity and differentiability
  • Maxima and minima
  • Mean value theorem
  • Integration

Engineering Mathematics: Probability and Statistics

  • Random variables
  • Uniform, normal, exponential, Poisson and binomial distributions
  • Mean, median, mode and standard deviation
  • Conditional probability and Bayes theorem

Digital Logic

  • Boolean algebra and minimization: algebraic technique, Karnaugh map, tabular method
  • Design of combinational and sequential circuits
  • Number representation and arithmetic (fixed and floating point)

Computer Organization and Architecture

  • Instruction set and addressing modes
  • Design of arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
  • Design of control unit: hardwired and microprogrammed
  • Memory interfacing and hierarchy: performance, cache memory mapping
  • I/O interface (interrupt and DMA)
  • Instruction pipelining, pipeline hazards

Programming and Data Structures

  • Programming in C
  • Recursion
  • Arrays
  • Stacks
  • Queues
  • Linked lists
  • Trees
  • Binary search trees
  • Binary heaps
  • Graphs

Algorithms

  • Searching, sorting, hashing
  • Asymptotic worst case time and space complexity
  • Algorithm design techniques: greedy, dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer
  • Graph traversals
  • Minimum spanning trees
  • Shortest paths

Theory of Computation

  • Regular expressions and finite automata
  • Context-free grammars and push-down automata
  • Regular and context-free languages
  • Pumping lemma
  • Turing machines and undecidability

Compiler Design

  • Lexical analysis
  • Parsing
  • Syntax-directed translation
  • Runtime environments
  • Intermediate code generation
  • Local optimisation
  • Data flow analyses: constant propagation, liveness analysis, common sub expression elimination

Operating System

  • System calls
  • Processes and threads
  • Inter-process communication
  • Concurrency and synchronization
  • Deadlock
  • CPU and I/O scheduling
  • Memory management and virtual memory
  • File systems

Databases

  • ER-model
  • Relational model: relational algebra, tuple calculus, SQL
  • Integrity constraints
  • Normal forms
  • File organization
  • Indexing (e.g., B and B+ trees)
  • Transactions and concurrency control

Computer Networks

  • Principles of layering
  • Basics of switching (circuit, packet and virtual circuit) and performance metrics
  • Data link layer: error detection, Medium Access Control, Ethernet
  • Distance vector and link state routing
  • IPv4: fragmentation, CIDR notation, Network Address Translation
  • TCP: flow control and congestion control, socket API
  • DNS and HTTP

DA: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

Probability and Statistics

  • Counting (permutation and combinations)
  • Probability axioms
  • Sample space
  • Events
  • Independent events
  • Mutually exclusive events
  • Marginal, conditional and joint probability
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Conditional expectation and variance
  • Mean, median, mode and standard deviation
  • Correlation and covariance
  • Random variables
  • Discrete random variables and probability mass functions
  • Uniform, Bernoulli, binomial distribution
  • Continuous random variables and probability distribution function
  • Uniform, exponential, Poisson, normal, standard normal, t-distribution, chi-squared distributions
  • Cumulative distribution function
  • Conditional PDF
  • Central limit theorem
  • Confidence interval
  • z-test
  • t-test
  • Chi-squared test

Linear Algebra

  • Vector space and subspaces
  • Linear dependence and independence of vectors
  • Matrices
  • Projection matrix
  • Orthogonal matrix
  • Idempotent matrix
  • Partition matrix and their properties
  • Quadratic forms
  • Systems of linear equations and solutions
  • Gaussian elimination
  • Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
  • Determinant
  • Rank
  • Nullity
  • Projections
  • LU decomposition
  • Singular value decomposition

Calculus and Optimization

  • Functions of a single variable
  • Limit
  • Continuity and differentiability
  • Taylor series
  • Maxima and minima
  • Optimization involving a single variable

Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms

  • Programming in Python
  • Basic data structures: stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, hash tables
  • Search algorithms: linear search and binary search
  • Basic sorting algorithms: selection sort, bubble sort and insertion sort
  • Divide and conquer: mergesort, quicksort
  • Introduction to graph theory
  • Basic graph algorithms: traversals and shortest path

Database Management and Warehousing

  • ER-model
  • Relational model: relational algebra, tuple calculus, SQL
  • Integrity constraints
  • Normal form
  • File organization
  • Indexing
  • Data types
  • Data transformation such as normalization, discretization, sampling, compression
  • Data warehouse modelling: schema for multidimensional data models, concept hierarchies, measures: categorization and computations

Machine Learning: Supervised Learning

  • Regression and classification problems
  • Simple linear regression
  • Multiple linear regression
  • Ridge regression
  • Logistic regression
  • k-nearest neighbour
  • Naive Bayes classifier
  • Linear discriminant analysis
  • Support vector machine
  • Decision trees
  • Bias-variance trade-off
  • Cross-validation methods such as leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation and k-folds cross-validation
  • Multi-layer perceptron
  • Feed-forward neural network

Machine Learning: Unsupervised Learning

  • Clustering algorithms
  • k-means/k-medoid
  • Hierarchical clustering, top-down and bottom-up
  • Single-linkage, multiple-linkage
  • Dimensionality reduction
  • Principal component analysis

AI

  • Search: informed, uninformed, adversarial
  • Logic: propositional, predicate
  • Reasoning under uncertainty: conditional independence representation
  • Exact inference through variable elimination
  • Approximate inference through sampling

Official From the official brochure.

Exam pattern

How the test works.

Every paper has the same basic structure: General Aptitude plus the subject paper(s) you chose. How the subject marks are split depends on the paper.

GATE exam pattern reference
ItemDetailStatus
Mode and languageComputer-based test, in EnglishOfficial
Duration3 hours (180 minutes)Official
Questions65 questions: 10 General Aptitude and 55 subjectOfficial
Total marks100Official
General Aptitude15 marks: five 1-mark and five 2-mark questionsOfficial
Question typesMCQ (pick one correct option), MSQ (pick one or more correct options) and NAT (type a number using an on-screen keypad)Official
Negative markingMCQ only: a wrong 1-mark question loses 1/3 mark and a wrong 2-mark question loses 2/3 mark. No negative marking for MSQ or NAT.No partial marks on any question.Official
SessionsForenoon 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and afternoon 2:30 PM to 5:30 PMSome papers are held in more than one session, and you attend one. The detailed schedule will be announced later.Official
CalculatorOnly the on-screen calculator is allowedOfficial
Extra time20 extra minutes per hour (60 minutes in total) for eligible candidates with disabilitiesCheck the brochure’s PwD and scribe section for the conditions.Official
Abilities testedRecall, understanding, application, and analysis and synthesisOfficial

Subject marks differ by paper. The Papers section shows the split for each paper.

Eligibility

Who can appear.

GATE has no age limit. What matters is your degree and your year of study. The table below shows each programme and the year from which you can appear.

  • There is no age limit.
  • If you have a higher degree than the one listed for your programme, you are also eligible.
  • For a degree from outside India, you must be in the third year or above, or already hold a bachelor’s degree of at least three years.
  • Professional-society exams such as AMIE count only if MoE, AICTE, UGC or UPSC recognise them as equal to a B.E., B.Tech. or B.Arch.
  • If you have a B.Sc., B.A. or B.Com. and want master’s admission at IISc, IITs, NITs or other CFTIs, also check JAM 2027, which IIT Kharagpur conducts.

Official links

Qualifying degrees and eligible stage
ProgrammeQualifying degreeEligible stage
B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm.Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./Diploma in Engineering/Technology)In 3rd year or above, or already finished
B.Arch.Bachelor’s degree of Architecture (5-year course) / Naval Architecture (4-year course) / Planning (4-year course)In 3rd year or above, or already finished
B.Sc. (Research)/B.S.Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma / 4 years after 10+2)In 3rd year or above, or already finished
Pharm.D. (after 10+2)Professional Pharmacy doctoral program of 6 years after 10+2, including 1 year internship or residencyIn 3rd to 6th year, or already finished
M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc./B.S.M.S./B.A.M.S./B.U.M.S./B.H.M.S./B.N.Y.S.Professional medical degree programs listedIn 5th semester or above, or already finished
M.Sc./M.A./M.C.A. or equivalentMaster’s degree in any branch of Arts/Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalentIn 1st year or above, or already finished
Int. M.E./M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.)Post-B.Sc. integrated Master’s degree program in Engineering/Technology (4-year program)In any of years 1 to 4, or already finished
Int. M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm. or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2)Integrated Master’s or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5-year program)In 3rd to 5th year, or already finished
B.Sc./B.A./B.Com./BCA or equivalentBachelor’s degree in any branch of Science/Arts/Commerce (3-year program)In 3rd year, or already finished
Int. M.Sc./Int. B.S.-M.S.Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S.-M.S. programIn 3rd year or above, or already finished
Professional Society Examinations (equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch.)B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch. equivalent examinations of professional societies recognized by MoE/UPSC/AICTE (e.g., AMIE or AMICE)Completed Section A or equivalent of such courses (recognition conditions apply)
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry)4-year programIn 3rd or 4th year, or already finished

Important dates

Key dates and deadlines.

These are the dates from the brochure revised on 17 October 2026. Dates that were crossed out or replaced in older versions are left out. The official site says all dates are liable to change, and the registration dates were already revised more than once, so check the official page before you act on any date.

  1. 2 September 2026

    Application portal (GOAPS) opens

    Passed

  2. 5 October 2026

    Regular registration closes (no late fee)

    Passed

  3. 12 October 2026

    Extended registration closes (late fee)

    Passed

  4. 15 October, 10:30 AM to 16 October 2026, 10:29 AM

    Special registration window (late fee)

    Times are as printed in the brochure. It does not say which time zone.
    Passed

  5. 14 to 31 October 2026

    Fixing errors found in applications

    Passed

  6. To be announced

    Changing your details on request (paid)

    TBA

  7. 4 January 2027

    Exam cities announced

    Upcoming

  8. To be announced

    Admit card available

    TBA

  9. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027

    GATE 2027 exam

    Upcoming

  10. 19 March 2027

    Results announced in GOAPS

    Upcoming

  11. To be announced

    Free scorecard download

    TBA

  12. To be announced, until 31 December 2027

    Paid scorecard download (₹500 per paper)

    TBA

All dates can change. IIT Madras may postpone or cancel the exam if something unexpected happens, so check the official site before you book travel.

Application fee

What it costs to apply.

The fee is charged per paper. In the regular period, two papers cost twice the one-paper fee. For the extended period, the official fee page lists the two-paper amounts shown below. What you pay depends on your category and when you register.

Application fee by period and category
PeriodDatesFemale, SC, ST or PwDAll other candidates
Regular period2 September to 5 October 2026₹1,000 (₹2,000 for two papers)₹2,000 (₹4,000 for two papers)
Extended period (late fee)6 October to 12 October 2026₹1,500 (₹2,500 for two papers)₹2,500 (₹4,500 for two papers)
Special window (late fee, as per the brochure)15 October 2026, 10:30 AM to 16 October 2026, 10:29 AM₹1,500 (₹2,500 for two papers)₹2,500 (₹4,500 for two papers)
  • The PwD concession is only for candidates with a benchmark disability of 40% or more.
  • Bank and payment-gateway charges are extra. You can pay by net banking, debit card, credit card, wallet or UPI.
  • The fee cannot be transferred or refunded, except when a two-paper combination is removed.
  • There are no exam centres outside India. If you live abroad, you must travel to India to take the exam.

Application

What the application asks for.

Applications were online only, through the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS). Nothing was sent by post to IIT Madras. Registration is closed, so use this section to check what the form asked for and the upload rules.

Details and documents

  • Personal details: name, date of birth, mobile number, email, and a parent or guardian’s name and number
  • Communication address with PIN code
  • Details of your qualifying degree, and your institute’s name and address with PIN code
  • Your paper choice(s), and six exam cities from one zone
  • A photo and signature that meet the rules below
  • A scan of one valid photo ID
  • Category, UDID, PwD or dyslexia certificates as PDFs, if they apply to you
  • A way to pay online

Photograph

Format
JPEG or JPG
Print size
Passport size, 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm tall
Face coverage
Face fills 30 to 35% of the photo as taken, and 60 to 70% after cropping
Background
Plain white, with no objects or other people
Pose
Look at the camera; forehead, eyes, nose and chin must be visible
Glasses
Normal glasses are fine if there is no glare; otherwise take them off
Head covering
Only for religious reasons, and the face must stay fully visible
Width to height ratio
0.66 to 0.89
Resolution
From 200 by 260 px up to 530 by 690 px
File size
600 KB at most
Recency
Taken within the last three months
Live photo
A live photo is taken during registration, using a webcam or a phone front camera of at least 5 MP

Signature

Format
JPEG or JPG
Shape
Height to width ratio of 1 : R, where R is between 2.75 and 3.75
Coverage
70 to 80% of the image after cropping
Ink
Black or dark blue
Resolution
From 250 by 80 px up to 580 by 180 px
File size
300 KB at most
Signed by
You (the applicant) only

Official sources differ here

We follow the live website and also show the other version.

  • Number of exam city choices. The official website’s Exam Cities and Required Documents pages say you choose six cities, all in one zone. We follow this. The brochure says three.
  • Indian nationals registered through DigiLocker, and a verified account was recommended. An unverified account was allowed, but those applications got extra document checks after the deadline, and you had to show the same ID (the one verified in DigiLocker) in original at the exam. Enter one valid photo ID when you apply (the most recently issued one), and carry the same original ID with your admit card to the exam. Accepted IDs include Aadhaar (preferred in the brochure), Aadhaar Virtual ID, passport, PAN card, voter ID, driving licence or another valid government photo ID. Foreign nationals appearing in India use a passport, government ID or driving licence.
  • Your name must match your photo ID. The scorecard prints your name exactly as you entered it, so do not add titles. Your date of birth is taken from DigiLocker and cannot be changed during the application.
  • SC and ST candidates upload a valid certificate to get the fee concession. OBC-NCL and EWS candidates do not upload a category certificate when applying. PwD candidates upload a valid certificate, and giving the UDID or its enrolment number is encouraged. To ask for extra time or a scribe, you need the Appendix-B1, Appendix-B2 or dyslexia certificate, combined with the PwD certificate in one file named PWD_CERT.pdf. Name the files CATEGORY.pdf, UDID_CERT.pdf and PWD_CERT.pdf, and keep them in a DigiLocker folder called GATE2027.
  • A photo that does not meet the rules can be rejected, and the fee is not refunded.
  • If your signature at the exam does not match the one you uploaded, you could be disqualified.

After GATE

Where a score can take you.

  • A valid GATE score can be used to apply for master’s programmes and direct Ph.D. programmes in engineering, technology, architecture, science and humanities.
  • It can also help you get into Ph.D. programmes at institutes supported by the Ministry of Education and other government agencies.

  • M.Tech. financial assistance

    ₹12,400 per month, generally paid for 22 months

    OfficialCheck eligibility and current terms with your institute.Source

  • Direct Ph.D. assistance

    ₹37,000 per month for the first two years, then ₹42,000 per month for years three to five

    OfficialFor a direct Ph.D. after B.E., B.Tech. or an equivalent M.Sc., with a valid GATE score.Source

Organisations that have used GATE scores

According to the brochure, these organisations have used GATE scores to recruit in the past. The list is not complete, and it does not mean any of them is hiring through GATE 2027. Each employer sets its own rules.

  • Airports Authority of India (AAI)
  • Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
  • Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
  • Coal India Limited (CIL)
  • Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)
  • Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL)
  • Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)
  • Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)
  • Engineers India Limited (EIL)
  • GAIL (India) Limited (GAIL)
  • GRID India (GRID INDIA)
  • Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
  • Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL)
  • National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
  • National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC)
  • National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
  • National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
  • Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL)
  • Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL)
  • North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO)
  • Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
  • National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
  • Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL)
  • Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
  • Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)
  • Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO)
  • Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL)
  • Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
  • Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

Contact the GATE office

GATE-JAM Office, IIT Madras, Chennai – 600 036
helpdesk@gate.iitm.ac.in · 044-22578200
Application queries: Monday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

  • Qualifying in GATE does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or a job. Institutes and employers set their own criteria.
  • IIT Madras is not responsible for admission, scholarship or job outcomes.

Questions

Common questions about GATE.

What is the mode of GATE 2027?

GATE 2027 is a computer-based test (CBT) and is held in English.

How long is the GATE 2027 exam?

3 hours (180 minutes). Eligible candidates may get compensatory (extra) time.

How many questions and marks are there?

65 questions for 100 marks: 10 General Aptitude questions and 55 subject questions.

How many marks does General Aptitude carry?

15 marks in every paper: five 1-mark questions and five 2-mark questions.

Which question types are used?

MCQ (one correct answer), MSQ (one or more correct answers) and NAT (you type a number).

Is there negative marking for MSQ or NAT?

No. Wrong MSQ and NAT answers carry no negative marking. A wrong 1-mark MCQ loses 1/3 mark and a wrong 2-mark MCQ loses 2/3 mark.

Can I take two papers?

Yes, you can take one or two. For two papers, the pair must be on the permitted-combination list, which is tentative and can change.

Is there an age limit for GATE 2027?

No. The brochure says there is no age limit for GATE 2027.

How long is a GATE 2027 score valid?

3 years from the date the results are announced.

When are GATE 2027 results announced?

The revised brochure gives 19 March 2027 as the result date. Dates can change.

What is the application fee for two papers?

In the regular period, two papers cost twice the one-paper fee (₹2,000 or ₹4,000, depending on your category). For the extended period the official fee page lists ₹2,500 or ₹4,500 for two papers.

Does qualifying GATE guarantee admission, a scholarship or a PSU job?

No. The official source says that qualifying in GATE does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or a job. Institutes and employers set their own criteria.

What is the subject-mark distribution for GATE CS?

In the brochure, CS has 15 marks for General Aptitude, 13 marks for Engineering Mathematics and 72 marks for the rest of the subject.

What is the subject-mark distribution for GATE DA?

DA has 15 marks for General Aptitude and 85 marks for the DA subject. Unlike CS, the brochure does not list a separate 13-mark Engineering Mathematics part for DA.

How many exam cities can I choose?

Six, all in the same zone, according to the official website. IIT Madras may add or remove cities, and may give you a city that is not among your choices.

Was DigiLocker compulsory?

For Indian nationals, yes: registration was through DigiLocker, and a verified account was recommended. An unverified account was also allowed, but those applications got extra document checks after the deadline.

Is ExamSphere an official source?

No. ExamSphere is an independent study platform and is not connected to IIT Madras or the GATE organising institutes. Always trust the official brochure and website.

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Start with an empty stack. Push 1, push 2, push 3, pop, push 4, pop, pop. Which element is on top now?

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