GATE 2027, organized by IIT Madras, allows you to appear in up to two papers in a single attempt — but only specific paper combinations are permitted based on the official notification released on July 18, 2026.
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027 notification from IIT Madras confirms the two-paper combination policy, which lets students broaden their M.Tech admission eligibility and PSU recruitment opportunities by qualifying in two relevant GATE papers. However, the two chosen papers must be scheduled in different exam sessions — papers that share a time slot on the same day cannot be paired together. This article covers the complete permitted combinations list for GATE 2027, the most popular pairings students opt for, and how to select two papers in the online application.
- GATE 2027 has 30 papers spanning engineering, pure sciences, architecture, and humanities disciplines.
- A maximum of two papers can be attempted per student in a single GATE cycle, subject to the permitted combinations list.
- Papers in the same exam session cannot be combined — the combination constraint is purely schedule-based.
- Both papers are scored independently — your rank in Paper 1 is not affected by your score in Paper 2.
- An additional fee applies for the second paper: INR 800 for General/OBC-NCL male students and INR 400 for female, SC, ST, and PwD students.
| Direct Link to GATE 2027 Official Notification (OUT) |
GATE 2027 Two Paper Combination at a Glance
IIT Madras, the organizing institute for GATE 2027, has released the two-paper combination policy as part of the July 18, 2026 notification. The policy is straightforward: you may appear in at most two GATE papers in the same exam cycle, provided the pair does not create a schedule conflict. IIT Madras assigns each of the 30 papers to a specific exam session; only papers falling in different sessions appear on the permitted combinations list.
| Detail | GATE 2027 |
|---|---|
| Organizing Institute | IIT Madras |
| Total Papers Available | 30 |
| Maximum Papers Per Student | 2 |
| Combination Constraint | Both papers must be scheduled in different exam sessions |
| Score Reporting | Separate scorecard and rank for each paper |
| GATE Score Validity | 3 years from result declaration |
| Additional Fee — General/OBC-NCL (Male) | INR 800 |
| Additional Fee — Female/SC/ST/PwD | INR 400 |
All 30 GATE 2027 Papers and Their Codes
GATE 2027 covers 30 papers. Knowing the paper codes is essential when checking the permitted combinations list, as the official brochure uses codes rather than full names. The complete list is below:
| Paper Name | Code | Paper Name | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | AE | Mathematics | MA |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG | Mechanical Engineering | ME |
| Architecture and Planning | AR | Mining Engineering | MN |
| Biomedical Engineering | BM | Metallurgical Engineering | MT |
| Biotechnology | BT | Naval Architecture and Marine Engg | NM |
| Civil Engineering | CE | Petroleum Engineering | PE |
| Chemical Engineering | CH | Production and Industrial Engineering | PI |
| Computer Science and IT | CS | Physics | PH |
| Chemistry | CY | Statistics | ST |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | DA | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science | TF |
| Electrical Engineering | EE | Engineering Sciences | XE |
| Electronics and Communication Engg | EC | Humanities and Social Sciences | XH |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | ES | Life Sciences | XL |
| Ecology and Evolution | EY | Geology and Geophysics | GG |
| Geomatics Engineering | GE | Instrumentation Engineering | IN |
GATE 2027 Permitted Two Paper Combinations
IIT Madras assigns the 30 GATE papers to different exam sessions across four weekends in February 2027. Only papers scheduled in different sessions can be attempted together. The GATE 2027 information brochure published on July 18, 2026 contains the definitive permitted combinations matrix. The key permitted pairings by primary paper code are listed below:
| If Your Primary Paper Is | Code | Permitted Second Paper Options (Codes) |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | AE | AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG | AE, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Architecture and Planning | AR | AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Biomedical Engineering | BM | AE, AG, AR, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Biotechnology | BT | AE, AG, AR, BM, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH |
| Civil Engineering | CE | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Chemical Engineering | CH | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Computer Science and IT | CS | AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Chemistry | CY | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Data Science and AI | DA | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Electrical Engineering | EE | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Electronics and Communication | EC | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | ES | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Ecology and Evolution | EY | AE, AG, AR, BM, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Geomatics Engineering | GE | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Geology and Geophysics | GG | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Instrumentation Engineering | IN | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Mathematics | MA | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Mechanical Engineering | ME | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Mining Engineering | MN | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Metallurgical Engineering | MT | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engg | NM | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Petroleum Engineering | PE | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Production and Industrial Engineering | PI | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Physics | PH | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, ST, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Statistics | ST | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, TF, XE, XH, XL |
| Textile Engineering and Fibre Science | TF | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, XE, XH, XL |
| Engineering Sciences | XE | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XH, XL |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | XH | AE, AG, AR, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XL |
| Life Sciences | XL | AE, AG, AR, BM, CE, CH, CS, CY, DA, EE, EC, ES, EY, GE, GG, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, PH, ST, TF, XE, XH |
Always cross-check this list with the final GATE 2027 information brochure on gate.iitm.ac.in before submitting your application, as minor schedule-driven updates can alter the permitted pairs.
Most Popular GATE 2027 Two Paper Pairings
While all combinations in the permitted list are valid, certain pairings are consistently chosen by students due to academic overlap, PSU eligibility, and M.Tech program requirements:
| Combination | Codes | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science + Data Science and AI | CS + DA | AI/ML M.Tech programs, tech PSUs |
| Electronics and Communication + Instrumentation | EC + IN | Control systems, industrial electronics roles |
| Electrical Engineering + Instrumentation | EE + IN | Power systems, process control, core PSUs |
| Biotechnology + Life Sciences | BT + XL | Pharma, biotech, and life science research programs |
| Mathematics + Statistics | MA + ST | Data analytics, actuarial, and financial engineering programs |
| Mathematics + Physics | MA + PH | Integrated science programs at IISc and IITs |
| Mechanical Engineering + Production and Industrial | ME + PI | Manufacturing and industrial engineering programs |
| Chemical Engineering + Petroleum Engineering | CH + PE | Oil and gas industry, process engineering roles |
| Civil Engineering + Geomatics Engineering | CE + GE | Geospatial tech, surveying and mapping roles |
| Computer Science + Mathematics | CS + MA | Theoretical CS, mathematical computing programs |
Students should choose a second paper only if it aligns with their academic background or career target. Preparation time is shared between both papers, so adding a second paper without adequate preparation can hurt your score in both.
How to Select Two Papers in the GATE 2027 Application
Selecting a second paper during the GATE 2027 application is straightforward. The online portal restricts your choices to only the permitted pairs for your primary paper, so you cannot accidentally select a conflicting combination. Follow these steps:
- Visit gate.iitm.ac.in and complete the GATE 2027 registration with your email ID during the application window (expected August 2026).
- Log in and fill in your personal, academic, and contact information in the application form.
- On the Paper Selection page, choose your primary GATE paper from the dropdown list.
- If you want a second paper, select the option to add one — the portal will display only permitted second-paper options for your chosen primary paper.
- Choose your second paper from the filtered list and confirm your selection.
- Upload required documents: passport-size photograph, signature, valid photo ID, and category certificate where applicable.
- Proceed to payment — the additional fee for the second paper is automatically added at the payment step.
- Save and download your application confirmation for reference.
Paper selection can be changed only during the application correction window (expected October 2026). No changes are permitted after that window closes.
GATE 2027 Fee for Two Papers and Key Dates
| Student Category | Fee for 1 Paper | Additional Fee for 2nd Paper |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL (Male) | INR 1,800 | INR 800 |
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | INR 900 | INR 400 |
| GATE 2027 Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Released | July 18, 2026 |
| Application Form Opens | August 2026 (expected) |
| Application Deadline — Regular | September 2026 (expected) |
| Application Correction Window | October 2026 (expected) |
| Admit Card Download | January 2027 (expected) |
| GATE 2027 Exam Dates | February 2027 — multiple weekends (expected) |
| Result Declaration | March 2027 (expected) |
All dates except the notification release are expected based on previous GATE cycles and subject to confirmation in the final schedule by IIT Madras.
GATE 2027 Two Paper Combination FAQs
Ques. Can I appear in two papers in GATE 2027?
Ans. Yes. GATE 2027 permits you to appear in at most two papers in a single exam cycle. Both papers must belong to a permitted combination as listed in the official GATE 2027 information brochure released by IIT Madras, and they must be scheduled in different exam sessions.
Ques. Which GATE 2027 two-paper combination is most popular?
Ans. CS + DA (Computer Science and Data Science and AI) is the most popular two-paper combination in recent GATE cycles, especially among students targeting AI/ML-focused M.Tech programs. EC + IN and EE + IN are also widely chosen by electronics and electrical engineering students for PSU eligibility.
Ques. Does a poor score in my second GATE paper affect my first paper result?
Ans. No. Both papers are scored and ranked independently. Your scorecard and rank for Paper 1 are entirely separate from Paper 2. You can choose not to use the second paper scorecard at all if the result is not helpful.
Ques. What is the extra fee for adding a second paper in GATE 2027?
Ans. The additional fee for the second paper is INR 800 for General and OBC-NCL male students, and INR 400 for female, SC, ST, and PwD students. These are based on the fee structure from previous GATE cycles and are expected to remain the same for GATE 2027.
Ques. Why are some GATE paper combinations not permitted?
Ans. Combinations are restricted purely due to exam scheduling. IIT Madras assigns each of the 30 papers to a specific session across four exam weekends in February 2027. Papers sharing the same session cannot be attempted together because they overlap in time. This is a logistical constraint, not an academic one.
Ques. Can I change my second paper after submitting the GATE 2027 application?
Ans. Yes, but only during the application correction window, which is expected to open in October 2026 for a limited period. Once the correction window closes, your paper selection is locked. No changes are allowed at any stage after that, including at the exam center.
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