GATE Eligibility 2026 allows candidates from engineering, science, architecture, and humanities to apply, provided that they have passed their undergraduate program or in the 3rd year.
To be eligible for GATE, there is no age limit or minimum percentage required to appear for the GATE exam.
- Candidates from multiple degrees like B.E./B. Tech, M.Sc., B.Arch, B.Sc., and even foreign universities are also eligible for the GATE exam if their program is recognized and of appropriate duration, like a 4-year UG or 2-year PG.
- GATE has no qualifying percentage, but the institutes like IITs and PSUs will require 60-65% marks for admission or recruitment.
Candidates can also appear in one or two papers, based on allowed combinations. GATE scores are valid for 3 years, and there is no limit on the number of attempts.
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Key Summary
- GATE 2026 Eligibility:
- Candidates must be in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate degree (10+2+3 minimum) or must have completed the degree.
- No minimum percentage or CGPA is required to appear for GATE 2026.
- No age limit for appearing in the GATE exam. GATE is open to candidates from Science, Engineering, Technology, Architecture, and Humanities academic backgrounds.
- The final-year students of the 3-year B.Sc./B.A./B.Com. and 4-year B.Tech/B.E. programs are eligible.
- The GATE score is valid for 3 years from the date of result declaration.
- International students from countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and the UAE are also eligible if they meet the GATE criteria.
- The GATE 2026 is of 100 marks, with 15 marks for General Aptitude and 85 marks for each discipline.
- GATE 2026 will be conducted for 30 papers, including new papers like Data Science, Humanities, and Environmental Science.
- Multiple attempts allowed- There is no limit to take the GATE exam, candidates can appear in GATE as many times as they wish.
GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026
The GATE 2026 eligibility criteria is now flexible which allows the students from Engineering, Science, Arts, and Commerce backgrounds to apply.
Candidate i their 33rd year or final year of UG/PG program are also eligible, including those from 3-year degrees (like B.A., B.Sc.) for specific disciplines.
As there is no age limit and unlimited attempts are allowed so, the candidate of any age can take the GATE multiple times and GATE score is valid for 3 years,and foreign nationals can also apply but must appear at Indian centers.
| Eligibility Aspect | Details | Insights / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | UG/PG Degrees (Engineering, Science, Arts, Commerce, etc.) | 3rd-year or final-year students are eligible |
| Accepted Degrees | B.E./B.Tech/B.Pharm, B.Arch, B.Sc. (Research), B.S., M.Sc., M.A., MCA, Integrated M.Tech, etc. | Includes AMIE/AMIETE (recognized by MoE/AICTE/UGC) |
| Final Year Eligibility | Yes | Candidates in the final year of their qualifying degree can apply |
| 3-Year Degree (B.Sc./B.A.) | Eligible for specific papers like Humanities, Environmental Sciences | Changes introduced since GATE 2022 |
| Diploma + B.Tech (Lateral Entry) | Eligible | Must be in the 3rd/final year or completed |
| Backlogs Allowed? | Yes | Must clear before admission to M.Tech/PSUs |
| Minimum Marks / CGPA | No minimum for GATE registration | Institutes/PSUs may require ≥ 60% or CGPA ≥ 6.0 |
| Age Limit | No age limit | Any age group can appear |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited | Appear as many times as eligible |
| Nationality | Indian and Foreign nationals (from select countries) | Foreign applicants must take exam in India only |
| Score Validity | 3 years | Score valid for M.Tech/PSUs from the result declaration |
| PSU Eligibility Consideration | Degree must be from a recognized university, with category-specific cut-offs | SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates may have relaxed academic cut-offs |
| Professional Degree Holders (AMIE, etc.) | Eligible if completed Section A | Must be approved by AICTE/UGC/MoE |
| Integrated Degree Programs | Eligible from the 3rd or 4th year, depending on the course structure | Includes 5-year integrated or dual-degree programs |
| Stream Flexibility | Any stream is accepted, depending on the paper choice | Even non-engineering students (such as those in Arts, Commerce, etc.) can apply for relevant GATE subjects like XH, ES, etc. |
GATE Eligibility Percentage 2026
GATE 2026 has no minimum percentage, anyone can give the exam. But for admission in M.Tech and recruitment in PSUs, most institutions need 60% (or 6.0 CGPA) for General/OBC and 55% (or 5.5 CGPA) for SC/ST/PwD students.
Top institutes like IITs might have higher cut-offs, sometimes even 75% or 7.5 CGPA, particularly for 3-year degree holders.
Hence, although GATE is accessible to all interested students, academic marks still have a bearing on final admissions and employment.
| Aspect | Requirement / Insight |
|---|---|
| Minimum percentage to appear for GATE | None required officially |
| Minimum percentage for M.Tech admission / PSU recruitment | 60% (Gen/OBC); 55% (SC/ST/PwD) (common but institute‑specific) |
| Higher academic cut-offs (e.g., IITs) | Up to 75% / 7.5 CGPA for some 3‑year degree admissions |
| CGPA equivalent thresholds | 6.0 CGPA for 60%; 5.5 CGPA for 55% |
Is there a 75 criterion for GATE?
No, there is no 75% criteria to be eligible for GATE exam, even the candidates with the backlogs or pass class in their UG program are also eligible for the GATE 2026.
The CGPA , Marks,or even class division do not matter to be eligible for the GATE exam.
Some PSUs uss GATE scores and may appy their own academic cutoffs.
| PSU | % Required in UG | GATE Score Needed |
|---|---|---|
| NTPC | 65% (Gen/OBC) | Valid GATE score |
| ONGC | 60% or 65% | Valid GATE score |
| IOCL | 65% | Valid GATE score |
| BHEL | 65% | GATE score + Interview |
What is the Eligibility for the GATE 2026 course-wise?
The GATE 2026 allows the candidates from the wide range of prgrams to apply, including B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm., B.Arch., B.Sc., B.S., Pharm.D., M.Sc., M.A., MCA, and integrated or dual-degree programs.
Even a 3-yaer graduate degree holders like B.A., B.Com., B.Sc. can also apply, but only for some specific papers like XH (Humanities) and ES (Environmental Science).
| Degree / Program | Eligibility Status | Eligible Year / Completion | Key Notes & Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Pharm. | Eligible | Currently in 3rd year or higher, or completed | Applies even if pursued post‑B.Sc. or Diploma (10+2+3) |
| B.Arch. / Naval Architecture / Planning | Eligible | 3rd year or higher, or completed (depends on duration: 4/5‑yr). | Example: 5-year B.Arch. students eligible from the 3rd year onward |
| B.Sc. (Research) / B.S. / B.Sc. (Agriculture / Horticulture / Forestry) | Eligible | Currently in 3rd year or higher, or completed | Includes relevant Environment/Science papers (e.g. ES, CY) |
| Pharm.D. (post 10+2) | Eligible | In 3rd/4th/5th/6th year, or completed | Full 6‑year structure recognized |
| M.B.B.S. / B.D.S. / B.V.Sc. | Eligible | In 5th/6th/7th or higher semester, or completed | Recognized for health‑stream GATE papers |
| M.Sc. / M.A. / M.C.A. (Science / Arts / Math / Stats / CS) | Eligible | In 1st year or higher, or completed | Eligible for corresponding GATE papers (e.g. MA, PH, CY, ST) |
| Integrated M.E./M.Tech. (Post‑B.Sc.) | Eligible | Any year, or completed | 4‑year integrated master's programs recognized |
| Integrated M.E./M.Tech. / M.Pharm. / Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) | Eligible | In 3rd/4th/5th year, or completed | Dual‑degree and longer integrated courses covered. |
| Integrated M.Sc / B.S.–M.S. | Eligible | In 3rd year or higher, or completed | Recognized for interdisciplinary science programs (e.g. stem GATE papers. |
| B.A. / B.Com. / B.Sc. (3‑year general) | Eligible (restricted to certain papers) | In 3rd year or higher, or completed | Eligible only for Humanities & Social Sciences (XH) and Environment Science (ES) papers. |
| Professional Society Exam (AMIE, AMICE, AMIETE, etc.) | Eligible | After Section A completion, recognized by MoE/AICTE/UPSC | Equivalent to BE/B.Tech eligibility if approved. |
GATE 2026 Age Limit
In GATE 2026 there is no age limit, the exam is open for all age group and also the candidate can appears multiple times as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. To improve their GATE score.
| Criteria | Details | Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Age Limit | None | No minimum or maximum age restriction—GATE is open to all age groups, including working professionals and career-changers. |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited | Candidates can appear multiple times as long as they meet eligibility criteria—useful for improving scores. |
GATE 2026 Score Validity Period
The GATE 2026 scores are valid for 3 years from the date of declaration of GATE result, by allowing candidates to use it for multiple admission cycles to take admission into M.Tech or research programs.
For PSUs the validity of GATE score is usually for 1 years, as most PSUs prefer the latest GATE score.
| Aspect | Details | Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Validity Duration | 3 years from the result declaration date | A score can be used for up to three consecutive admission cycles for M.Tech or research programs. |
| Validity for PSU Recruitment | Typically 1 year, depending on PSU policies | PSU recruitment often considers only the most recent GATE score—check each PSU’s rules. |
| Multiple Valid Scorecards | Possible if reattempted—both can be used for admissions/interviews | Candidates can choose the higher score if multiple scorecards are valid simultaneously. |
GATE Qualifying Marks 2026
The expected GATE Qualifying marks 2026 shows that the general category candidates will range from 25 to 42, varying by difficulty of exam and competition. The core branches like CSE, CE, and AI/DA will have the cutoffs around 29–31, while ECE, EE, CY, and ES will range between 25–28. Mechanical Engineering will have a higher expected cutoff of 36–38, and papers like Ecology & Evolution and Geology are expected to have the highest cutoffs at 40+
The OBC-NCL/EWS candidates are expected to have a 10% relaxation, while SC/ST/PwD are expecedt to have the relaxation of 30% with the cutoff between 17-21.
| Branch | Gen | OBC‑NCL / EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSE / IT | ~29–31 | ~26–28 | ~19–21 |
| EC | ~25–28 | ~23–25 | ~17–19 |
| EE | ~25–27 | ~23–25 | ~17–19 |
| ME | ~36–38 | ~33–35 | ~24–26 |
| CE | ~29–31 | ~26–28 | ~19–21 |
| DA / AI | ~29–31 | ~26–28 | ~19–21 |
| CY | ~25–28 | ~23–25 | ~17–19 |
| ES | ~26–29 | ~23–26 | ~17–19 |
| Maths | ~25–27 | ~23–25 | ~17–19 |
| Ecology / Evo. | ~40–42 | ~36–38 | ~27–29 |
| Geomatics | ~26–28 | ~23–25 | ~17–19 |
| Geology / Geophysics | ~38–41 | ~35–37 | ~26–27 |
What are M.Tech Eligibility Criteria in Other Universities with GATE Scores?
For all IITs and NITs, candidates need to complete the registration process at the COAP portal, iitk.ac.in/coap2024. It will be a centralized counselling process for admission into MTech courses through GATE 2025 scores. However, candidates seeking to pursue MTech in institutes like BITS Pilani must obtain a minimum of 60% in the BTech curriculum.
Can Foreigners Take GATE 2025 Exam?
International students are also eligible to appear for GATE 2025 exam. Such candidates can be admitted into M.Tech and PhD courses offered at all IITs and IISCs, with the below-given criterias:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Which Countries are Eligible for GATE Exam? | Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Ethiopia, or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| What is the Academic Eligibility Criteria? | Candidates must hold a BE/ B.Tech/ M.Tech degree |
| What Should be the Duration of Qualifying Degree? | The completed Bachelor’s degree must be a three-year |
| Is there Any Age Limit? | Like Indian students, no age limit is set for foreign candidates also |
What are the Criteria for GATE Two Paper Combinations?
The “Two Paper Combinations” has been introduced by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru in 2024. Accordingly, candidates with their pre-chosen first papers can appear for other papers as well. The details for the two paper combinations are as follows:
| Code of the First Paper | Code of the Eligible Second Paper |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering (AE) |
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| Agricultural Engineering (AG) |
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| Architecture and Planning (AR) |
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| Biomedical Engineering (BM) |
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| Biotechnology (BT) |
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| Civil Engineering (CE) |
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| Chemical Engineering (CH) |
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| Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) |
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| Chemistry (CY) |
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| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) |
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| Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) |
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| Electrical Engineering (EE) |
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| Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) |
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| Ecology and Evolution (EY) |
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| Geomatics Engineering (GE) |
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| Geology and Geophysics (GG) |
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| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) |
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| Mathematics (MA) |
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| Mechanical Engineering (ME) |
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| Metallurgical Engineering (MT) |
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| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) |
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| Petroleum Engineering (PE) |
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| Physics (PH) |
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| Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) |
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| Statistics (ST) |
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| Engineering Sciences (XE) |
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| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) |
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| Life Sciences (XL) |
|
Are Candidates Eligible for NITIE Programmes If Appeared for GATE PI Paper?
Students who have appeared in Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) in GATE exam can apply for NITIE programs. The National Institute of Industrial Engineering requires students to have a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in B.E./B.Tech courses. For reserved categories, a relaxation of 5% of the qualifying marks (i.e., 55%) is required.
What are GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Different PSUs?
If you are a job-seeker in PSUs with your GATE scores, it is possible by adhering to certain eligibility criterias, as follows:
| PSUs | Age Criteria | Academic Eligibilities |
|---|---|---|
| NTPC |
| Four-year bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology/AIME with 65% (for General) and 55% (for SC/ST/PwBD) |
| IOCL |
| General and OBC (NCL) must obtain a minimum of 65% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination. SC/ST and PwD candidates must have at least 55% aggregate marks |
| PGCIL |
| B.E./B.Tech/B.Sc (Engineering) with a minimum 60% or equivalent CGPA from a recognized University/Institute |
| GAIL |
| Bachelor’s degree with minimum qualifying marks of 65% for the General category. Wherever the minimum mark is specified as 65% or 60%, a relaxed minimum percentage of marks for SC, ST, and PwBD category candidates is 60% or 55% respectively. |
Which PSU Companies Recruit with GATE Score Without a Group Discussion?
Certain PSUs offer to recruit students having GATE scores and PI (personal interviews). In such cases, no group discussion round is held. List of such PSUs are:
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
- Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
I Completed My Bachelor's Degree in five months. Can I Apply for PSUs with my GATE Scores?
Yes, students having bachelor’s degrees are eligible to fill out the application form for the post. It does not matter whether they have completed it in four or five years. The PSUs will consider other criterias like the age, percentage of marks obtained, and other skill-based questions. In case they are asked about the duration of completion of the undergraduate degree, they must answer with confidence and explain the reason. However, the candidates are not disqualified based on their course completion duration.
GATE Eligibility 2026 FAQs
Ques. Is GATE only for IIT?
Ans. No, the GATE is not only for IIT. No, GATE is not only for IITs. While IITs are among the top institutes that accept GATE scores for M.Tech, MS, or PhD admissions, many other prestigious institutions, universities, and government organizations also use GATE scores.
Institutes That Accept GATE Scores:
- IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) – M.Tech, MS (Research), PhD
- IISc Bangalore – Offers top-ranked research and master's programs
- NITs (National Institutes of Technology) – Through CCMT counselling
- IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology)
- State Universities & Central Universities – e.g., Jadavpur University, DTU, Anna University
- Private Institutes – BITS Pilani, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, VIT, etc.
Ques. Can I give GATE after BSC 3 years?
Ans. Yes, you can give the GATE after a 3years BSC degree, but only for specific papers and eligibility depends on the respective specific discipline and paper you choose., but have completed the degree or in the final year of the BSC degree.
The Candidates who have completed a 3-years undergraduate degree in Science, Arts, or Commerce are eligible to apply for specific GATE papers, primarily in science and interdisciplinary disciplines.
GATE Papers You Can Appear for After B.Sc. 3-Year Degree:
| B.Sc. Background | Eligible GATE Paper(s) |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. Physics | PH (Physics), XE (Engineering Sciences) |
| B.Sc. Chemistry | CY (Chemistry), XL (Life Sciences) |
| B.Sc. Mathematics | MA (Mathematics), CS (Computer Science, if you studied programming/math) |
| B.Sc. Life Sciences | XL (Biotech, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, etc.) |
| B.Sc. Computer Science | CS (Computer Science & IT) |
| B.Sc. Environmental Sci. | ES (Environmental Science), XL |
Ques. Can 12th appearing apply for GATE?
Ans. No, 12th appearing candidate are not eligible for the GATE, as the GATE exam is for the postgraduation.
The students who are in In the 3rd year or higher of their undergraduate degree (B.E./B.Tech/B.Sc./B.Arch, etc.), or Have already completed their undergraduate degree.
| Qualification | GATE Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 12th appearing/passed | Not eligible |
| 3rd year B.Tech/B.Sc. | Eligible |
| UG degree completed | Eligible |
*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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