GATE 2026 Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern, Registration, Eligibility, Preparation Tips

1. Educational Qualification & Enrollment Status

You must meet at least one of the following:

Eligibility extended to candidates in the final or pre-final year of the qualifying program, as well as those who have already graduated.

2. Age Limit & Attempts

• No age limit: Candidates of any age may apply.

• No attempt restriction: You can take GATE multiple times throughout eligibility.

3. Nationality

• Open to Indian nationals and international candidates.

• Candidates from countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Ethiopia, and UAE are also eligible.

• For international applicants, a recognized bachelor’s degree (minimum 3-year) is required.

Summary

You’re eligible to apply for GATE 2026 if:

• You’re in (or have completed) at least your 3rd year of a qualifying degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or equivalent, or hold a relevant recognized degree.

• There are no age or attempt limits.

• You may be an Indian or international candidate with the necessary academic credentials.

1. Check Official Notification & Key Dates

• GATE 2026 is being conducted by IIT Guwahati.

• Important dates include:

  • Registration Opens: August 25, 2025

  • Last Date (Without Late Fee): September 25, 2025

  • Last Date (With Late Fee): October 6, 2025

2. Register on the GOAPS Portal

• Access the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) via the official site.

• Register by providing your name, email, and mobile number, and set a secure password.

3. Complete the Application Form

• Log in to your GOAPS account and fill in:

  • Personal details

  • Academic qualifications

  • Preferred GATE paper(s) (you may choose one or two)

  • Exam centre preferences

• Ensure all information is accurate to avoid rejection later.

4. Upload Required Documents

Be ready with scanned digital copies in the following formats and size limits:

• Photograph and Signature: 10–200 KB (JPEG/PNG)

• Category / PwD / Degree / Provisional Certificates: up to 300 KB (PDF)

5. Pay the Application Fee

Note:

• The application fees listed above apply to one test paper only. Candidates who choose to take two papers will need to pay double the stated fees.

• Payment modes include net banking, credit/debit cards, and UPI.

6. Review and Submit

• Carefully proofread all details before final submission.

• After submission:

  • Download a copy of your filled application.

  • Keep a printout for your records.

7. Application Correction Window

• Post-submission, GATE provides a limited correction window to modify certain details:

  • Changes like name, exam city, gender, category, or paper selection may incur specific correction fees (generally ₹500 plus additional amounts depending on the change)

8. Final Step

• After the application process:

  • Admit card release is expected around January 2026.

  • GATE exam is likely scheduled for early to mid-February 2026.

  • Result will be decalred in the month of March 2026.

The application fee for GATE 2026 varies based on the candidate’s category and registration period.
Candidates applying for two papers need to pay twice the mentioned fee.
 

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 serves as an entry point for M.Tech, M.E., Ph.D., and various other postgraduate programs at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other esteemed institutions.
In contrast to centralized counselling methods such as JoSAA for JEE, GATE counselling is carried out through two primary processes –
OAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) and
CCMT (Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan).

1. Counselling Through COAP (for IITs)

The Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) is designed for admissions into IITs.

Steps in COAP:

1. Registration – Candidates must register on the COAP portal with their GATE score.

2. Offer Viewing – Participating IITs upload admission offers based on the candidate’s GATE score.

3. Options Available – For each round, candidates can:

   • Accept and Freeze – Confirm the offer and exit further rounds.

   • Retain and Wait – Keep the current offer but wait for better options in the next round.

   • Reject and Wait – Reject the current offer and wait for the next round.

4. Multiple Rounds – COAP generally has 5 main rounds followed by additional rounds, depending on seat availability.

5. Final Admission – After accepting an offer, candidates must visit the respective IIT’s official admission portal and complete fee payment/document verification.

2. Counselling Through CCMT (for NITs, IIITs & CFTIs)

The Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan (CCMT) is conducted for admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

Steps in CCMT:

1. Online Registration – Candidates must register on the CCMT portal with their GATE 2026 details.

2. Choice Filling & Locking – Select preferred institutes and programs based on eligibility and GATE scores.

3. Seat Allotment – Seats are allotted in multiple rounds based on GATE rank, category, and preferences.

4. Payment of Seat Acceptance Fee – Candidates need to pay the fee to confirm provisional allotment.

5. Document Verification – Online/Offline verification of required documents is done.

6. Final Reporting to Allotted Institute – After successful verification, candidates report to the allotted institute for admission.

3. Direct Admission by Some Institutes

Apart from COAP and CCMT, some state universities and private colleges accept GATE scores directly and conduct their own counselling process.

Key Documents Required for GATE Counselling 2026

• GATE 2026 Scorecard

• Provisional/Final Degree Certificate

• Class 10th & 12th Marksheet

• Category Certificate (if applicable)

• PwD Certificate (if applicable)

• Passport-size photographs

• Seat acceptance fee receipt

Quick Tip:

• If you aim for IITs → Use COAP.

• If you target NITs, IIITs, or CFTIs → Use CCMT.

• For other institutes → Check their individual admission portals.

• Number of Papers: A total of 30 test papers will be conducted. Candidates may choose to appear in one or two papers.

• Common Section for All Papers:

  • General Aptitude (GA) is mandatory in every paper, contributing 15 marks.

Syllabus Structure

The GATE 2026 syllabus for each paper comprises the following components:

Sample Branch-Wise Focus

Computer Science & Information Technology (CS)

• General Aptitude (GA) – 15 marks

• Engineering Mathematics – includes discrete mathematics, algebra, calculus, probability & statistics, etc.

• Core Topics:

  • Digital Logic

  • Computer Architecture

  • Data Structures & Programming in C

  • Algorithms (sorting, searching, hashing, dynamic programming, graph algorithms, etc.)

Civil Engineering (CE)

• General Aptitude

• Engineering Mathematics – including calculus, PDEs, linear algebra, probability, etc.

• Core Topics:

  • Structural Engineering (stress, structural analysis, design)

  • Geotechnical Engineering (soil mechanics, foundations)

  • Water Resources & Surveying, Construction Materials & Management

GATE-JAM Office
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Guwahati - 781039 (Guwahati), INDIA

Phone: +91 361 258 6500
Email:   helpdesk.gate@iitg.ac.in

TIMINGS: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Monday to Friday
(Government working days only)