The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has officially launched the portal for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026. The exam is scheduled to be held over two weekends, February
7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. The official website for the test, gate2026.iitg.ac.in, is now live.
The registration process for GATE 2026 will begin on August 25, 2025. Candidates can apply without a late fee until September 25, while the extended deadline with a late fee is October 6, 2025. Results are expected to be announced on March 19, 2026.
Who Can Apply?
Students in their third year or beyond of undergraduate studies, or those who have completed a degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities from a government-recognised institution, are eligible to apply.
Additionally, candidates with certifications from professional societies such as IE, ICE, IETE, AeSI, IIChE, IIM, and IIIE can also apply, provided their qualifications are recognised by MoE/AICTE/UGC/UPSC as equivalent to the relevant undergraduate degree. Foreign degree holders and those pursuing higher education are also eligible.
GATE 2026: Key Dates
Registration opens: August 25, 2025
Regular registration closes: September 25, 2025
Last date with late fee: October 6, 2025
Exam dates: February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
Result announcement: March 19, 2026
New Subject Introduced
This year, GATE will be conducted in 30 disciplines. A new paper titled Energy Science (XE-I) has been introduced under the Engineering Sciences category. Candidates may choose one or two papers, but only approved combinations are allowed.
Subjects span across Engineering and Technology (e.g., Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, Instrumentation) and Science & Humanities (e.g., Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Humanities, Life Sciences).
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GATE Exam Pattern
Each paper carries a total of 100 marks, with 15 marks allotted to General Aptitude and 85 marks for subject-specific questions. All papers will be conducted in English.
Some disciplines follow a sectional structure:
XE (Engineering Sciences): Compulsory Mathematics + two optional subjects (e.g., Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics)
XH (Humanities): Compulsory Reasoning + one optional subject (e.g., Economics, Psychology)
XL (Life Sciences): Compulsory Chemistry + two optional subjects (e.g., Botany, Zoology)
Candidates must carefully select their paper codes during registration.
Application Fee
The fee structure is as follows:
Female / SC / ST / PwD Candidates:
Regular period: Rs 1,000 per paper
Late period: Rs 1,500 per paper
Other Candidates:
Regular period: Rs 2,000 per paper
Late period: Rs 2,500 per paper
For more details and updates, candidates are advised to visit the official GATE 2026 website.
