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GATE Latest Updates
23 Jul, 2025 COAP 2025 admission is over; the COAP portal will be open till August 15, 2025. Check Here
The GATE 2026 Exam will be conducted on 7th & 8th February 2026 and 14th & 15th February 2026 by IIT Guwahati. The Official Website gate2026.iitg.ac.in, along with the important dates and examination schedule, has been released by the IIT Guwahati, the conducting body, on 5th August 2025. The GATE Exam is conducted to get admission into top IITs, NITs, IIITs and PSUs recruitment.
- The Application process for GATE 2026 will start from 25th August 2025, and the official notification, along with the information bulletin, will be released in the first week of August 2025.
- The candidates will be able to fill out the GATE Application form till 25th September 2025. The GATE Admit Card 2026 is expected to be released in January 2026.
- In GATE 2026, there will be a total of 30 subjects. 2 New Subjects have been added: Geomatics Engineering and Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. The option of dual paper will allow the candidates to appear for 2 papers from the total subjects.
- The GATE Exam Pattern is objective-based, including MCQs, MSQs, and NAT Questions, with 65 questions worth 100 marks, to be completed in 3 hours.
The Top IITs offer more than 12,000 M.Tech seats, and the NITs and IIITs offer more than 15,000 seats through the CCMT Counselling process. More than 50 PSUs accept GATE Scores for recruiting in technical, management and research-related roles.
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| Key Summary: In this Article, we have discussed about GATE 2026 Exam, including the exam dates, registration, eligibility, syllabus, preparation tips & colleges accepting.
|
GATE 2026 Official Website
The Conducting body of GATE 2026, IIT Guwahati has launched the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in, on 5th August 2025, including all the important details such as examination schedule, exam dates, syllabus, Exam Pattern as well.
- GATE 2026 Exam Dates
- GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
- GATE 2026 Marking Scheme
- GATE 2026 Conducting Body
- GATE 2026 Registration Process
- GATE 2026 Registration Fee
- GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- GATE 2026 Important Topics & Subject-Wise Difficulty
- GATE 2026 Subject Wise Syllabus
- GATE Important Books
- GATE Previous Year Question Paper
- GATE 2025 Shift-wise Question Papers Solution PDF Available
- GATE Mock Test
- GATE 2026 Cut-Off Expected
- GATE 2026 Marks vs Percentile (Expected)
- GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff for Top PSUs
- PSU Recruitment through GATE
- GATE CCMT: List of Participating NITs
- FAQs for GATE 2026
GATE 2026 Exam Dates
IIT Guwahati will conduct GATE 2026 in February 2026, in multiple sessions. The official notification, along with the information bulletin, has been released on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in on 5th August 2025.
| Event | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification & Brochure | 5th August 2025 |
| GOAPS Portal (Apply Online) Opens | 25th August 2025 |
| Last Date (Without Late Fee) | 25th September 2025 |
| Last Date (With Late Fee) | 6th October 2025 |
| Application Correction Window | November 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | January 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Exam | 7th & 8th February and 14th & 15th February |
| Response Sheet & Provisional Answer Key | February 2026 |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | Late February 2026 |
| Final Answer Key | First week of March 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Second week of March 2026 |
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GATE Exam DatesGATE 2026 Exam Pattern
The GATE 2026 will be conducted in a CBT Mode for 30 Subjects. The Exam Duration of each paper will be 3 hours, including the objective-type questions like MCQs, MSQs and NATs.
The GATE Exam will include 65 Questions for 100 marks, in which general aptitude is common for all the papers.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
| Total Questions | 65 (10 GA + 55 Subject-specific) |
| Sections |
|
| Types of Questions |
|
| Negative Marking |
|
| Dual Paper Option | Yes, from prescribed combinations |
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Exam PatternGATE 2026 Marking Scheme
The GATE Exam will include both 1-mark and 2-mark questions, which are divided into General Aptitude and Subject-based sections.
The Negative marking is there in MCQ Questions, but not in the MSQs and NATS.
| Question Type | Mark per Question | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice Questions | 1 mark or 2 marks | Yes
|
| Multiple-Select Questions | mark or 2 marks | No negative marking |
| Numerical Answer Type | 1 mark or 2 marks | No negative marking |
| General Aptitude Section | Total 15 marks | Includes 1-mark & 2-mark MCQs/MSQs/NATs |
| Subject Section | Total 85 marks | Includes all 3 types of questions |
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GATE Score CalculationWhat's New in GATE 2026?
The GATE 2026 Latest updates include various changes made by IIT Guwahati to increase the participation of candidates and to include more options for the subjects.
The GATE Latest Updates will make the exam more inclusive and flexible for students from different academic backgrounds.
| Change | Details |
|---|---|
| New Subjects Introduced | Two new papers:
|
| Dual Paper Option Continued | 2 papers can be chosen by the candidates from the approved list of combinations. |
| Eligibility Relaxation | 3rd-year UG students (10+2+3 pattern) are now eligible to apply |
| No Major Exam Pattern Change | Objective format continues: MCQ, MSQ, and NAT |
| Conducting Institute | GATE 2026 will be conducted by IIT Guwahati |
GATE 2026 Conducting Body
According to the rotational policy followed by GATE, the IIT Guwahati will conduct GATE 2026. It will release the official notification, will conduct the exam, prepare the question paper and the overall process of GOAPS.
| Year | Conducting Institute |
|---|---|
| GATE 2026 | IIT Guwahati (upcoming) |
| GATE 2025 | IISc Bangalore |
| GATE 2024 | IIT Kanpur |
| GATE 2023 | IIT Kanpur |
| GATE 2022 | IIT Kharagpur |
| GATE 2021 | IIT Bombay |
GATE 2026 Registration Process
The GATE 2026 Registration process will be conducted online on the official website of GOAPS. The GATE Application process will start from 25th August 2025 and will continue till 25th September 2025.
Stage-Wise GATE Registration Process:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Registration | Candidates have to visit the official website and register on the GOAPS website using their name, email ID, mobile number and by creating a password. |
| Application Form | Candidates have to fill in their details, academic qualifications, the subject they want to appear for, exam city preference, etc. |
| Document Upload | Candidates have to use scanned copies of the photograph, signature, eligibility proof and category/PwD certificates of the candidate. |
| Fee Payment | Candidates have to pay the registration fees online using a Debit/Credit card, UPI or net banking. |
| Submission | Before the final submission, candidates should review their details on the application and can download the confirmation page for future use. |
GATE 2026 Registration Fee
| Category | Normal Application Fee | Late Application Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Women | INR 900 | INR 1400 |
| SC/ ST/ PwD | INR 900 | INR 1400 |
| All Other Candidates (including international students) | INR 1400 | INR 2300 |
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GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
By the GATE Eligibility criteria, the exam will be accessible to a larger number of candidates.
The Students who are in their third year or more in the undergraduate programs can also apply. Candidates from various domains, such as Engineering, Science, Commerce & Arts, can apply for the exam. With no age limit to appear in the exam.
| Eligibility Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification |
|
| Eligible Courses | B.E./B.Tech, B.Sc. (Research), B.Arch, B.Pharm, B.S., M.Sc., M.A., MCA, or equivalent degrees. |
| Final Year Students | Eligible to apply |
| Minimum Qualification Year | Should have completed or will complete the degree by 2026-2027. |
| Nationality | Indian and foreign nationals are both eligible |
| Age Limit | No age limit |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited |
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GATE 2026 Important Topics & Subject-Wise Difficulty
The GATE 2026 Exam will include 30 subjects, having different syllabus and difficulty levels.
- According to the previous year's analysis, few topics carry high weightage in different branches, majorly in engineering mathematics, core subjects and general aptitude.
- By understanding the topic-wise weightage and difficulty level analysis, candidates can give priority to important topics and study in an effective manner.
| Paper | High-Weightage Topics | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science (CS) |
| Moderate to Difficult |
| Mechanical (ME) |
| Moderate |
| Electronics (EC) |
| Difficult |
| Electrical (EE) |
| Moderate to Difficult |
| Civil (CE) |
| Moderate |
| Instrumentation (IN) |
| Moderate |
| Chemical (CH) |
| Difficult |
| General Aptitude (GA) |
| Easy to Moderate |
| Engineering Mathematics |
| Moderate |
How to Prepare for GATE 2025?
The best time to start GATE preparation is the mid of the year. Since the exam is conducted in February, you have a total of 7 months at your disposal.
If you use it wisely, you’ll ace the exam. We have curated a 7-month roadmap for you:
Foundation Phase (First 5 Months)
- Concepts: Focus on understanding concepts, as the exam is 98% numerical.
- Resources: NPTEL Lectures, YouTube channels (Try finding the entire playlists covering the entire syllabus in less time).
- Syllabus: Cover the entire syllabus, if you’re preparing for the CSE Branch, in the section below- there’s a list of all the books with the important chapters.
- Practice PYQs: Solve previous year questions for the last 15-20 years.
- Time Management: Develop a time management strategy, as 8 months is all you have to prepare.
Final Phase (Last 2 months)
- Revision: Revise the concepts and focus on practising problems.
- Test Series: Enrol for a good test series and make sure you analyse your performance.
- Important: Almost all toppers finish their syllabus by November.
Tips for Effective Study
- Mindset
- Develop a burning desire to succeed in GATE. Go into mock mode.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with good sleep, exercise, and food.
- Believe in yourself and be persistent.
- Active Recall: Don’t just passively reread your notes. Actively recall information by trying to solve problems without looking at the material list.
- Revision Techniques: Revise previously done concepts on the next day or in regular intervals to improve memory retention. Learn how temporary memory and permanent memory work.
- Short Notes: Take notes of key concepts, formulas, and variable names with units and important derivations. Learn about Cornell's Note-taking system and use it for studying.
How to Crack GATE 2025 Topper Strategy
Check for updates and information regarding the GATE 2025 toppers.
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GATE 2026 Subject Wise Syllabus
The GATE 2026 Syllabus will be released officially by the conducting body. The Syllabus is expected to be similar to the previous year's syllabus for most of the subjects. Candidates can check the subject-wise Syllabus mentioned in the table for their preparation.
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GATE Important Books
By using the GATE Important books for every subject, candidates can have a reference and help to prepare effectively.
These reference books include important topics, previous year papers and mock tests as well.
| Subject | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| Algorithm and DS | Introduction to Algorithms, by CLRS (3E) |
| Algorithm Design, Jon Kleinberg and Éva Tardos | |
| Discrete Mathematics | Discrete mathematics and its applications by Kenneth H. Rosen (Indian 7E) |
| Discrete mathematics with applications by Susanna S. Epp (4E) | |
| Computer Networks | Data Communications and Networking by Behrouz A. Forouzan (5E) |
| Theory of Computation | An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata by Peter Linz (6E) |
| Digital Logic | Digital Logic and Computer Design by M. Morris Mano |
| Computer Organization | Computer Organisation by Carl Hamacher |
| Computer Organization and Design: the Hardware/Software Interface by David A Patterson and John L. Hennessy (5E) | |
| Operating System | Operating Systems by Avi Silberschatz, Greg Gagne, and Peter Baer Galvin (International 9E) |
| Databases | Fundamentals of Database Systems by Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe (7E) |
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GATE Important BooksGATE Previous Year Question Paper
GATE 2025 Shift-wise Question Papers Solution PDF Available
| Test Papers | Question Paper Set | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| GATE 2025 CS1 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 AG Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 MA Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 CS2 Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 NM Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 MT Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 TF Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| GATE 2025 IN Question Paper | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
GATE Mock Test
GATE 2026 Cut-Off Expected
The OBC-NCL/EWS candidates have a clear advantage of around 5-8% lower qualifying marks compared to General candidates. Make use of this to focus on securing PSU calls or M.Tech seats. The SC/ST/PwD candidates have a vastly lower threshold, and hence, it is more important to focus on clearing key topics confidently.
- Highest Cut-Off: Biotechnology (BT) stands at 35-37 owing to very good performances by prepared candidates.
- Lowest Cut-Off: Chemistry (CY) at 25-27 because it has fewer numbers of students and moderate difficulty.
- Core disciplines of CE, ME, EE, EC, and CS show a 28-35 cut-off. This indicates that it is very competitive.
GATE 2026 Cut-Off (Discipline-Wise)
| Paper Code | Discipline | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CE | Civil Engineering | 29-31 | 26-28 | 19-21 |
| ME | Mechanical Engineering | 28-30 | 25-27 | 18-20 |
| CS | Computer Science | 33-35 | 30-32 | 22-24 |
| EE | Electrical Engineering | 30-32 | 27-29 | 20-22 |
| EC | Electronics & Comm. | 28-30 | 25-27 | 18-20 |
| IN | Instrumentation Engg. | 34-36 | 31-33 | 23-25 |
| CH | Chemical Engineering | 31-33 | 28-30 | 21-23 |
| BT | Biotechnology | 35-37 | 31-33 | 23-25 |
| CY | Chemistry | 25-27 | 22-24 | 16-18 |
| PH | Physics | 26-28 | 23-25 | 17-19 |
| MA | Mathematics | 26-28 | 23-25 | 17-19 |
| XL | Life Sciences | 35-37 | 31-33 | 23-25 |
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GATE CutoffGATE 2026 Marks vs Percentile (Expected)
The understanding of marks, ranks, and percentiles is important for those who want to get admission in postgraduate courses or PSUs.
GATE 2026 Scoring
- Marks: The actual score obtained by a candidate out of 100 in the examination.
- Rank: The relative position of the candidate with others based on the marks obtained.
- Score: Normalised score out of 1000, adjusted for session difficulty differences.
- Percentile: This is the percentage of candidates who scored below a given candidate.
Expected Marks vs. Percentile for GATE 2026:
While exact figures can vary annually based on factors like exam difficulty and candidate performance, historical data provides a general framework.
The marks required to achieve a particular percentile can differ across disciplines due to varying competition levels and exam difficulties. For example:
- Computer Science (CS): In GATE 2024, candidates scoring above 68 marks secured ranks within the top 250-300.
- Civil Engineering (CE): In GATE 2023, marks above 90 corresponded to ranks between 1 and 10, while scores between 85-90 placed candidates in ranks 10-50.
| Marks Range (out of 100) | Expected Percentile Range |
|---|---|
| 90 - 100 | 99.9 - 100 |
| 80 - 89 | 99.5 - 99.9 |
| 70 - 79 | 99 - 99.5 |
| 60 - 69 | 95 - 99 |
| 50 - 59 | 90 - 95 |
| 40 - 49 | 80 - 90 |
| 30 - 39 | 70 - 80 |
| 20 - 29 | 60 - 70 |
| 10 - 19 | 40 - 60 |
| 0 - 9 | Below 40 |
GATE 2026 Expected Cutoff for Top PSUs
The cutoff marks for recruitment to these prestigious organisations vary based on factors such as the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the GATE exam, and the discipline of engineering.
Expected GATE 2026 PSU Cutoff
- Higher Cutoffs for Core PSUs: NTPC, ONGC, and IOCL maintain high cutoffs for top branches like ME and EE.
- Competitive Advantage in Niche Branches: Disciplines like Chemical Engineering (CH) and Instrumentation (IN) often require fewer marks due to fewer candidates.
- Impact of Difficulty Level: A tough GATE paper can lower PSU cutoffs by 5-7 marks, as seen in GATE 2023.
| PSU Name | Branch | Expected GATE 2025 Cutoff (General) | Past Year Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Oil (IOCL) | ME, EE, EC, CE, CH | 65-75 marks | Cutoffs for ME (2024): 67-72. |
| Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) | ME, CH | 68-74 marks | Higher for core branches. |
| Oil and Natural Gas (ONGC) | ME, EE, EC, GG | 68-78 marks | GG cutoffs often exceed 72. |
| Power Grid (PGCIL) | EE, EC, IN | 72-80 marks | EE cutoffs among the highest (76+). |
| Steel Authority (SAIL) | ME, MT, EE | 60-70 marks | Cutoffs vary widely by vacancies. |
| GAIL | ME, EE, IN, CH | 65-75 marks | CH is consistently higher. |
| Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) | ME, EE, EC, CE | 70-80 marks | GATE often serves as a qualifier for interviews. |
| Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) | AE, ME, EE | 60-70 marks | Lower cutoffs compared to IOCL and ONGC. |
| National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) | ME, EE, IN | 70-80 marks | ME remains high at ~78. |
GATE Category-Wise Cutoff
| Branch | General | OBC | SC/ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME | 72-78 | 68-73 | 58-65 |
| EE | 72-80 | 68-75 | 55-62 |
| CE | 65-72 | 60-68 | 50-58 |
| EC | 65-75 | 60-70 | 50-58 |
PSU Recruitment through GATE
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are companies that are owned by the Union Government of India or one of the state governments or both. These companies recruit candidates every year based on GATE scores.
- Shortlisted candidates with a valid score are called for selection rounds like Personal Interview (PI)/ Group Discussion (GD).
- Over 50+ PSUs accept GATE-qualified engineers for executive positions.
- These Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna PSUs include IOCL, DRDO, NTPC, BPCL, BARC, BHEL, GAIL, BEL, BSNL, etc.
| Name of PSUs | Sector | Status | Salary Structure | Salary CTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGCIL | Power | Navratna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 20,00,000 /- |
| NTPC | Power | Maharatna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 18,00,000 /- |
| ONGC | Petroleum & Natural Gas | Maharatna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 16,50,000 /- |
| IOCL | Maharatna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 16,00,000 /- | |
| GAIL | Navratna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 16,00,000 /- | |
| BPCL | Navratna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 16,00,000 /- | |
| HPCL | Navratna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 16,00,000 /- | |
| OIL | Navratna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 15,00,000 /- | |
| BHEL | Defense | Navratna | INR 60,000 – 1,80,000 /- | INR 13,00,000 /- |
| SAIL | Steel & Iron | Maharatna | INR 20,600 - 46500 /- | INR 10,00,000 /- |
Also Read
GATE PSU PredictorGATE CCMT: List of Participating NITs
More than 57 NITs participate in CCMT Counselling. The Number of participating institutes can increase or decrease for each round in CCMT Counselling, which will depend upon the total number of seats available.
Top Participating Colleges in CCMT are:
| NIT Jalandhar | NIT Tiruchirappalli |
| MNIT Allahabad | NIT Warangal |
| NIT Calicut | IIIT Tiruchirappalli |
| NIT Delhi | IIIT Allahabad |
| NIT Durgapur | NIT Karnataka |
| NIT Kurukshetra | NIT Rourkela |
| NIT Silchar | NIT Jaipur |
GATE COAP: List of Participating IITs
The list below shows some of the participating IITs in GATE COAP:
| IISc Bangalore | IIT Jodhpur |
| IIT Bhubaneswar | IIT Kanpur |
| IIT BHU | IIT Kharagpur |
| IIT Bombay | IIT Madras |
| IIT Delhi | IIT Mandi |
| IIT Guwahati | IIT Patna |
| IIT Hyderabad | IIT Roorkee |
Also Read
Colleges Participating in GATEFAQs for GATE 2026
Ques. Who will conduct the 2026 GATE?
Ans. The GATE 2026 will be conducted by IIT Guwahati, according to the rotational policy of GATE among all the IISC and top 7 IITs. Lastly, IIT Guwahati conducted the GATE Exam in 2018.
Ques. When can I apply for GATE 2026?
Ans. The application process for GATE will start from 25th August and will continue till 25th September 2025. The official notification is released by IIT Guwahati on 5th August 2025.
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 5th August 2025 |
| Registration Begins | 25th August 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 25th September 2025 |
| With Late Fee (Extension) | 6th October 2025 |
Ques. Is the GATE 2026 syllabus released?
Ans. Currently, the GATE 2026 Syllabus has not been released; it is expected to be released in the first week of August 2025, along with the information bulletin of GATE 2026. The GATE 2026 and 2025 syllabi are expected to be the same with some changes, as 2 new subjects are added in GATE 2026.
Ques. Is the GATE 2026 tough?
Ans. The GATE 2026 Exam is expected to be of a moderate difficulty level, based on GATE 2025 trends:
- The CSE and ECE exams are expected to be of a moderate difficulty level due to a high level of NAT Questions.
- The Civil and Mechanical Engineering exam will be based on concepts, but will be comparatively easier.
- The General Aptitude exam is expected to be easy to moderate.
Ques. What is the syllabus of GATE BT 2026? (Biotechnology)
Ans. The Biotechnology Syllabus of GATE 2026 is expected to be similar to GATE 2025; the main sections and topics covered are:
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Probability, Differential Equations, Calculus |
| General Biotechnology | Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Cell Biology |
| Process Biotechnology | Bioprocess Engineering, Fermentation, Downstream Processing |
| Plant/Animal Systems | Plant and Animal Cell Culture, Genetic Engineering, Tissue Engineering |
| General Aptitude | Common to all papers (15 marks) |
Ques. How to prepare for GATE 2026?
Ans. To score well in GATE 2026, candidates should prepare effectively. The Preparation Strategy that can be followed includes:
- Candidates should start in early August to September 2025, and begin with engineering mathematics and the core subjects.
- Candidates should use the previous year's question papers to analyse the trends and repeat the concepts.
- Candidates should focus on the high-weightage topics, by which candidates can score more than 70-80 marks.
- Candidates should start doing full-length mock tests by November to increase their accuracy and time management.
- The Important books should be used by the candidates, which include all topics, for example, PYQs and Mock tests as well.
Ques. Is the GATE score valid for 3 years?
Ans. Yes, the GATE Score of a candidate is valid for at least 3 years from the date of result announcement. Candidates can use their GATE Score for admission into top IITs, PSUs, and other participating universities for 3 years after the result declaration.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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