The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026) will be conducted by IIT Guwahati on February 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2026. This national-level exam is the gateway to MTech/PhD programmes in IITs, NITs, IISc, IIITs, GFTIs and direct recruitment in top PSUs like IOCL, ONGC, NTPC, GAIL, etc.
This complete, updated guide covers everything you need for GATE 2026 – registration status, admit card, exam dates, new paper (Energy Science), revised fees, mock test links, syllabus PDFs, exam pattern and proven preparation strategy.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026) |
| Conducting Institute | IIT Guwahati |
| Official Website | gate2026.iitg.ac.in |
| Exam Dates | 7, 8, 14 & 15 February 2026 |
| Total Papers | 30 papers (New: Energy Science – XE-I) |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Application Status | Closed (with late fee also closed) |
| Admit Card Release | 2 January 2026 |
| Result Declaration | 19 March 2026 |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Started | 28 August 2025 |
| Last Date (without late fee) | 7 October 2025 |
| Last Date (with late fee) | 13 October 2025 |
| Correction Window | 28 October – 10 November 2025 |
| Admit Card | 2 January 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Exam | 7, 8, 14 & 15 February 2026 |
| Answer Key | Last week of February 2026 |
| Result & Scorecard | 19 March 2026 |
| COAP/CCMT Counselling Starts | May 2026 |
| Category | Regular Fee | With Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
| All Other Candidates | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Two Papers (additional) | Double fee | Double fee |
| Section | Subjects/Tests | Questions to Attempt | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section IA | 13 Languages (choose 1) | 40 out of 50 | 60 min | 200 |
| Section IB | 20 Additional Languages | 40 out of 50 | 60 min | 200 |
| Section II | 27 Domain Subjects (max 6) | 40 out of 50 | 60 min | 200 |
| Section III | General Test (optional) | 50 out of 60 | 60 min | 250 |
Maximum subjects allowed: 1 Language + 6 Domain + General Test = 8 tests
Marking Scheme
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Total Questions | 65 |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Sections | General Aptitude (15 marks) + Subject Questions |
| Question Types | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Marking (MCQ) | +1 or +2 marks |
| NAT/MSQ | No negative marking |
Download official syllabus PDF → gate2026.iitg.ac.in
IIT Guwahati has released mock tests for all 30 papers. Direct link: https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/mock-test.html
Practice daily – exact exam interface + virtual calculator.
| Branch | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| CSE | Cormen (Algorithms), Galvin (OS), Hamacher (COA) |
| ECE | Oppenheim (Signals), Sedra Smith (Microelectronics) |
| EE | Nagrath & Gopal (Control), Hayt (EMT) |
| ME | R.K. Rajput (Thermodynamics), Shigley (Machine Design) |
| CE | R.S. Khurmi (SOM), B.C. Punmia (RCC) |
| General Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal, Arun Sharma |
| Date | Forenoon (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM) | Afternoon (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 2026 | AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL | AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH |
| 8 Feb 2026 | CS-1, ST | CS-2, EY, NM, PE |
| 14 Feb 2026 | CE-1, EE, PI | BM, CE-2, ME, MT |
| 15 Feb 2026 | EC | – |
IITs → COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal)
NITs/IIITs/GFTIs → CCMT
Starts: May 2026
Q. When will GATE 2026 admit card release? A. 2 January 2026
Q. Is there a new paper in GATE 2026? A. Yes – Energy Science (Code: XE-I)
Q. Is calculator allowed in GATE 2026? A. Only virtual calculator (provided on screen)
Q. Can I appear in two papers? A. Yes, from the approved two-paper combinations only.
Q. What is the validity of GATE 2026 scorecard? A. 3 years from the date of result.
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