GATE 2026 Exam: Eligibility and Preparation Tips

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GATE 2026 Exam: Eligibility and Preparation Tips

GATE 2026 Exam: Eligibility and Preparation Tips
- Posted On 2025-06-26
Every year, a different IIT conducts the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) to choose brilliant candidates for M.Tech and Ph.D. programmes at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and IISc. The qualified candidates are rewarded with scholarships and stipends. The exam is also used to recruit Engineers by public sector undertakings (PSUs), including DRDO, ISRO, IOCL, and BHEL. Aside from Indian public colleges, the GATE score is accepted at several international universities, including the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU), and universities in Germany. The GATE score has a validity period of three years.

IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE test in 2026. The official announcement is likely to be made in July 2025, with the registration procedure beginning in August this year. According to prior data, the exam will most likely take place in February 2026. Various amendments have been made this year for the exam.
1. Two new subjects, Geomatics Engineering (GE) and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM), are added, bringing the overall number of subjects to 30.
2. Candidates can now choose two papers from the prescribed combinations by IIT Guwahati.
3. The question paper will now consist of MCQs, MSQs, and NATs (Numerical Answer Type questions).
4. A relaxation in eligibility for third-year students to appear for the GATE exam.
Eligibility Criteria for GATE 2026

To undertake the exam, candidates need to fulfil the eligibility requirements outlined by IIT Guwahati. Some of the criteria are:

1. Education Qualification:
1. The candidate must be in their third year or higher, have finished an undergraduate degree programme, or hold an equivalent qualification from an accredited college or university. The bachelor's programmes may pertain to fields such as engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, arts, or humanities.
2. Candidates with B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Arch. Equivalent examinations from professional societies approved by the MoE / UPSC / AICTE, such as AMIE (Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers) and AMICE (Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers), are also eligible for the exam.
3. Candidates seeking a higher degree or who already hold a degree higher than that indicated would be eligible to take the GATE.
4. Indian students with graduate degrees from approved overseas colleges are also eligible to apply.
2. Nationality:
1. Indian citizens and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are eligible to appear.
2. For foreign students: Students from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, the UAE, and Ethiopia are eligible to apply for the exam. They must possess a graduate degree or be in the final year of a bachelor’s degree programme in any mentioned fields. Foreign applicants need to travel to India for the exam, as there are no international exam centres.
3. Age Limit: There is no bar on age for the GATE exam; it allows candidates of any age to appear for the test.

4. Number of Attempts: There is no limit on the number of times eligible candidates can appear multiple times to clear and improve their score.

5. Appearing for multiple papers: A candidate may appear for a maximum of two papers in a single attempt, provided that the combination is permitted by the governing institute. For instance, candidates can choose to sit for aerospace engineering alongside civil engineering. An additional fee will apply for the second paper.

6. Documents Required:
1. Graduation degree certificate or provisional certificate.
2. Valid photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar, passport, or PAN card).
3. Scanned photograph (80% face coverage).
4. Scanned signature (black ink on white paper).
5. Caste certificate (if applicable, for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
For further details, candidates should consult the official website of IIT Guwahati once the GATE 2026 information brochure is made available in July 2025.

GATE 2026 Preparation Tips

To ace any exam, it is important to first understand it. GATE is a complex and competitive examination that demands dedication, practice, clarity, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. It is designed based on the subjects and requirements. The exam is intended to evaluate your subject recall, comprehension, application, and analysis or synthesis ability.

GATE is a 3-hour exam. It consists of 65 questions and has a total score of 100. It's an entirely computer-based test. Here are a few preparation ideas that can help applicants get the target score on the exam:
1. Understand the pattern: GATE is a total of a 100-mark test. All the elected papers have two sections, namely General Aptitude (GA) and the Candidate's Selected Subjects (chosen out of 30 subjects). Out of 100, 15 marks are for GA. Engineering mathematics accounts for 10-13 marks in papers such as CS, ME, and EE. The remaining questions are core subject-specific. The questions can carry either 1 or 2 marks. The marking of questions is as follows:
- For MCQs, +1 or +2 marks for correct answers, with negative marking for incorrect ones. -1/3 for 1 mark questions and -2/3 for 2 marks questions.
- For MSQs (Multiple Select Questions), +2 marks for every correct answer. There is no negative marking.
- For NATs, +1 or +2 marks, with no negative marking.
1. Align with the syllabus: The official website provides a detailed syllabus for each paper. Students must thoroughly review the curriculum and stick to the topics for a concentrated approach. Instead of deviating from the syllabus, make sure you cover the main topics first. After studying previous years' question papers, prioritise high-weight subjects.
2. Create a timeline: Beginners may require comprehensive preparation. They must start early to cover all the topics. Working professionals or repeaters who already have an idea about the syllabus can take a 4–6 month focused plan. There must be a balance between theory, practice, and revision time.
3. Create a firm foundation: Understanding the complicated challenges and demands of the question will be easier in the long run if concepts and formulas are clear. It may take time initially, but it will smooth the road ahead.
4. Acquire good educational resources: People must organise their resources; having too many resources might cause confusion and waste time. It's better to have quality references and study material. Students must refer to branch-specific standard textbooks. They can use a number of online tools or participate in online coaching or forums. Some of the online resources are:
1. R.S. Aggarwal's books "Quantitative Aptitude" and "Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning" are useful for general aptitude preparation.
2. GeeksforGeeks for topic-specific tutorials and practice questions.
3. There are several free YouTube channels where you can study for various disciplines, like GATE Academy, NPTEL, and Dr Gajendra Purohit.
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Students often neglect health under exam pressure, which negatively impacts exam preparation. Unhealthy practices can cause fatigue, burnout, and even anxiety. To avoid these, candidates should maintain a proper diet, sleep schedule, and exercise routine to keep both their minds and bodies fresh and healthy.
2. Practice mock exams and previous year papers: Begin practising mock tests at least a month or two before the exam to identify weak areas and enhance problem-solving skills. It will further help to boost confidence and prepare for the time limitation. Solving the prior year's papers can help you spot recurring topics. Candidates can use platforms like Testbook, Made Easy, Physics Wallah, GATE Academy, etc., to access the mock papers. All previous year papers for all subjects can be obtained from the official GATE website.
3. Regular Revision: This practice aids in retaining essential information, formulas, and equations. It further helps to brush up on the topics. Students can make concise notes that they can refer to for revision later.
GATE 2026 is a challenging yet achievable exam. Anyone with precise focus and learning strategies can ace the exam. Further candidates can curate the study plan according to their needs for enhanced results. Remember to emphasise high-weightage subjects and practise regularly with mock tests and last year's papers. Keep a lookout on iitg.ac.in for registration and examination date updates, syllabus, etc. Make a 6–12 month strategic plan and unlock the gates of prestigious academic as well as professional opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Que1: Can a student pursuing an M.Tech or who has completed an M.Tech give the GATE exam?

Ans: Yes, any graduate or master's students can appear for the GATE exam, having a background in engineering/technology/architecture/science/commerce/arts/humanities.

Que 2: Is there any negative marking for incorrect answers?

Ans: There is negative marking in MCQ-type questions: -1/3 for 1-mark questions and -2/3 for 2-mark questions. There is no negative marking in MSQs and NTQs.

Que 3: Do I need to fill out two separate forms for two different papers?

Ans. There is no need to fill out two separate forms for 2 papers; they can be opted for through a single ID.

Que. 4: Is there any age limit for the exam?

Ans. No, there is no age limit for the exam.

Que 5: What are the various exam centres, and how are they selected?

Ans. The official GATE website will provide the list of exam centres. The centres are chosen through the login portal. There are a certain number of centres; you can select the three closest to your location. Allotment will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.

Que 6: Can a student with backlogs appear in GATE 2026?

Ans: Candidates with backlogs can appear for the exam; however, they need to clear the backlogs before the commencement of admissions.

Question 7: What if I miss the last date for registration for the GATE exam?

Answer: Candidates who miss the last date for registration may apply for the GATE exam at an extra late fee of ₹500 (Indian candidates) or $20 (foreign candidates). Applications are not accepted after the last deadline.

Question 8: Where do I get official notifications for GATE 2026?

Answer: All the official notifications will be on the GATE website, e.g., https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in, for 2025. IIT Guwahati will conduct it this year.

Question 9: When will the admit card of GATE 2026 be released?

Answer: The admit cards of GATE 2026 are likely to be out in January 2026. They can be downloaded from the portal after logging in with your enrolment ID and password.

Question 10: What is the application fee for GATE 2026?

Answer: According to the previous statistics, the application fees for general/OBC (Male/Other) are approximately ₹1800 for a single paper. For female/SC/ST/PwD, it is reduced by 50%, up to ₹900.

Question 11: What are the different subject papers offered by GATE?

Answer: GATE 2026 provides 30 subjective papers; candidates can attempt any 1 or 2 papers from these. Some of the topics are Aerospace Engineering (AE), Computer Science (CS), Chemistry (CY), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA), and Humanities and Social Sciences (XH), etc.

Question 12: What can be the cut-off for GATE 2026?

Answer: The cut-off is different each year based on the complexity of the examination, the subject paper, the number of candidates, and the categories. For GATE 2025, general category cut-offs were around 25–35 marks (out of 100) for all papers. For instance, it was 35.8 for General and 32.2 for OBC/EWS for Mechanical Engineering (ME), and it's 29.2 for General and 26.2 for OBC/EWS for Civil Engineering (CE).

Question 13: What is the process to modify my category (e.g., General to OBC or vice versa) after submitting the GATE application?

Answer: You can modify your category during the correction window. You should have a valid category certificate in the specified format. Changing from a reserved category to general may involve paying an extra fee to cover the difference in the application fee.

Question 14: Can we apply for government jobs after clearing GATE?

Answer: Yes, one can apply to various PSUs for different job roles depending on their specialisations and cut-off requirements.

Question 16: Can I get a refund if I don’t appear for GATE 2026?

Answer: No, the fee is non-refundable under any condition.

Question 17: Is a calculator allowed in the exam hall?

Answer: No, the calculators are strictly prohibited in the exam hall. However, you will be allowed to use a scientific calculator on the screen.

Question 18: What are the topics covered in General Aptitude (GA) questions?

Answer: There are 10 questions in GA. They cover verbal ability, such as vocabulary and sentence completion; numerical ability questions, such as basic arithmetic and data interpretation; and logical reasoning, such as puzzles and patterns etc.