This year, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Guwahati) is conducting the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026. The application process
is set to commence on August 25, and candidates will have until September 25 to fill out the application form without a late fee. As per the schedule, GATE 2026 will be conducted on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, in two shifts. The forenoon shift will run from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and the afternoon shift is scheduled from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Engineering aspirants who are seeking admission to postgraduate courses, want an offer from a PSU, wish to pursue higher studies abroad, or aim to receive a scholarship or fellowship can apply for GATE 2026 at the online portal: gate2026.iitg.ac.in. It is mandatory to read the eligibility requirements carefully before applying for GATE 2026. Let’s have a look at the general prescribed criteria as well as the program-wise prescribed criteria. GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria Refer to the eligibility requirements for GATE 2026 below.
- Candidates who are currently studying in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program, or who have completed any government-approved degree program in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Commerce/Arts/Humanities, are eligible to appear for GATE 2026.
- Candidates having certification from professional societies (Detailed list at the end of the article), must ensure that those examinations are approved by MoE/AICTE/UGC/UPSC as being equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch./B.Planning, etc., if they wish to apply.
- Candidates who have obtained or are pursuing their qualifying degree from countries other than India must be currently in the 3rd or higher years, or must have completed their Bachelor’s degree (of at least three years’ duration) in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Commerce/Arts/Humanities to be eligible.
- Those pursuing any higher degree or in possession of a degree higher than that mentioned in the table below will be allowed to appear for GATE 2026.
- Candidates with B.Sc./B.A./B.Com. degrees (3-year program) desirous of seeking admission to Master’s programs in IITs and IISc can apply.
Program-Wise Eligibility Criteria
Check out the degree-wise eligibility requirements for GATE 2026 below.
| Degree/Program | Qualifying Degree/Examination | Description of Eligible Candidates |
| 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) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| B. Arch. | Bachelor’s degree of Architecture (5-year course)/Naval Architecture (4-year course)/Planning (4-year course) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| B.Sc. (Research)/B.S. | Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/4 years after 10+2) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| Pharm. D. (after 10+2) | A Professional Pharmacy doctoral program of 6 years duration after 10+2 which includes 1 year of internship or residency | Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th/6th year or already completed |
| M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc. | Professional Medical degree programs - M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc. | 5th/6th/7th or higher semester or already completed |
| M.Sc./M.A./MCA or equivalent | Master’s degree in any branch of Arts/Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent | Currently in the 1st year or higher or already completed |
| Int. M.E./M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.) | Post-B.Sc. Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering/Technology (4-year program) | Currently in the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th year or already completed |
| Int. M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm. or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) | Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5-year program) | Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th year or already completed |
| B.Sc./B.A./B.Com. | Bachelor’s degree in any branch of Science/Arts/Commerce (3-year program) | Currently in the 3rd year or already completed |
| Int. M.Sc./Int. B.S./M.S. | Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S. - M.S. program | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed |
| 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 by Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India and so on) | Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses |
| B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) | 4-year program | Currently in the 3rd/4th year or already completed |
Some Professional Societies*/Institutions, which conduct examination in various fields of engineering, are given below.
- The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE)
- The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
- The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI)
- The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, including Polymer and Environmental Group (IIChE)
- The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM)
- The Indian Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIIE)
GATE 2026 Complete Schedule
