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The Conducting body of GATE 2026, IIT Guwahati, will release the list of GATE Exam Centres along with the information brochure on the GATE official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
The GATE Exam 2026 will be conducted across 8 Zonal Centres, including IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee.
- In the GATE Application Process, candidates will have to select up to 3 preferred exam cities, which should be under the same zone.
- The Exam Centre will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and candidates should check the accuracy of their choices to avoid any future corrections.
If the candidates have any problem related to the exam centre, registration, or application form can reach the Zonal GATE Offices from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. from Monday to Friday.
The GATE 2026 Exam will be held from 7th & 8th February and 14th & 15th February 2026.
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| Key Summary: In this article, we have discussed about GATE Exam Centres along with the zone-wise list.
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GATE Exam Centres 2026
- For administrative purposes, test cities in India are divided into 8 zones. IISc Bangalore and 7 IITs are the 8 zonal GATE offices that administer the operations related to GATE 2026 in these exam cities.
- If you select a particular city as your first choice, then the corresponding zone to which the centre city belongs will appear.
The following table elucidates exam cities as per their zonal GATE offices-
| Zone | Zonal GATE Offices | Number of Exam Cities | List of Exam Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IISc Bangalore | 30 cities | Ananthapuramu (AP), Angamaly (KL), Bagalkot (KA), Ballari (Bellary KA), Belagavi (Belgaum KA), Bengaluru North (KA), Bengaluru South (KA), Bidar (KA), Chikkamagaluru (KA), Davanagere (KA), Hassan (KA), Hubballi (Hubli KA), Hyderabad (TS), Kalaburagi (Gulbarga KA), Kannur (KL), Kasaragod (KL), Kolar (KA), Kozhikode (KL), Kurnool (AP), Malappuram (KL), Mangaluru (KA), Manipal (KA), Mysuru (Mysore KA), Palakkad (KL), Payyanur (KL), Port Blair (AN), Shivamogga (Shimoga KA), Thrissur (KL), Tumakuru (KA), Vatakara (KL) |
| 2 | IIT Bombay | 30 cities | Ahmedabad (GJ), Ahmednagar (MH), Akola (MH), Ambajogai (MH), Amravati (MH), Anand (GJ), Aurangabad (MH), Baramati (MH), Bhavnagar (GJ), Bhuj (GJ), Dhule (MH), Gandhinagar (GJ), Goa (GA), Jalgaon (MH), Kolhapur (MH), Mehsana (GJ), Mumbai-Navi Mumbai-Thane (MH), Nagpur (MH), Nanded (MH), Nashik (MH), Pune (MH), Panvel-Raigad (MH), Rajkot (GJ), Ratnagiri (MH), Sangamner-Loni-Shirdi (MH), Sangli (MH), Satara (MH), Solapur (MH), Surat (GJ), Vadodara (GJ), Vasai-Palghar (MH) |
| 3 | IIT Delhi | 19 cities | Ajmer (RJ), Alwar (RJ), Bikaner (RJ), Faridabad (HR), Greater NOIDA (UP), Gurugram (HR), Hisar (HR), Indore (MP), Jaipur (RJ), Jammu-Samba (JK), Jodhpur (RJ), Kota (RJ), Mathura (UP), New Delhi (DL), Sikar (RJ), Sonepat (HR), Srinagar (JK), Udaipur (RJ), Ujjain (MP), Leh (Ladakh) |
| 4 | IIT Guwahati | 21 cities | Agartala (TR), Aizawl (MZ), Asansol-Durgapur (WB), Bokaro Steel City (JH), Burdwan (WB), Dhanbad (JH), Dibrugarh (AS), Dimapur-Kohima (NL), Gangtok (SK), Guwahati (AS), Imphal (MN), Itanagar (AR), Jorhat (AS), Kalyani (WB), Muzaffarpur (BR), Patna (BR), Purnea (BR), Shillong (ML), Silchar (AS), Siliguri (WB), Tezpur (AS) |
| 5 | IIT Kanpur | 14 cities | Agra (UP), Aligarh (UP), Allahabad (UP), Bareilly (UP), Bhopal (MP), Gorakhpur (UP), Gwalior (MP), Jabalpur (MP), Jhansi (UP), Kanpur (UP), Lucknow (UP), Varanasi (UP), Sagar (MP), Satna (MP) |
| 6 | IIT Kharagpur | 26 cities | Baharampur-Murshidabad (WB), Balasore (OD), Berhampur (OD), Bhilai (CH), Bhubaneswar (OD), Bilaspur (CH), Cuttack (OD), Dhenkanal (OD), Eluru (AP), Hazaribag (JH), Hooghly (WB), Jamshedpur (JH), Kakinada (AP), Kharagpur (WB), Kolkata (WB), Machilipatnam (AP), Raipur (CH), Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry AP), Ranchi (JH), Rourkela (OD), Sambalpur (OD), Srikakulam (AP), Tadepalligudem (AP), Vijayawada (AP), Visakhapatnam (AP), Vizianagaram (AP) |
| 7 | IIT Madras | 40 cities | Alappuzha (KL), Aluva-Ernakulam (KL), Attingal (KL), Chengannur (KL), Chennai South (TN), Chennai West (TN), Chirala (AP), Chittoor (AP), Coimbatore (TN), Cuddalore (TN), Dindigul (TN), Gudur (AP), Guntur (AP), Idukki (KL), Kadapa (AP), Kanjirapally (KL), Kanyakumari-Nagercoil (TN), Karimnagar (TS), Khammam (TS), Kodad (TS), Kollam (KL), Kothamangalam (KL), Kottayam (KL), Madurai (TN), Muvattupuzha (KL), Namakkal (TN), Nellore (AP), Ongole (AP), Puducherry (PY), Salem (TN), Thanjavur (TN), Thiruvananthapuram (KL), Thoothukudi (TN), Tiruchirapalli (TN), Tirunelveli (TN), Tirupati (AP), Vellore (TN), Villupuram (TN), Virudhunagar (TN), Warangal (TS) |
| 8 | IIT Roorkee | 22 cities | Ambala (HR), Amritsar (PB), Bathinda (PB), Dehradun (UK), Ghaziabad (UP), Haldwani (UK), Hamirpur-Una (HP), Jalandhar (PB), Kangra (HP), Karnal (HR), Kurukshetra (HR), Ludhiana (PB), Meerut (UP), Mohali-Chandigarh (PB), Moradabad (UP), Muzaffarnagar (UP), Noida (UP), Panipat (HR), Pathankot (PB), Patiala-Sangrur (PB), Roorkee (UK), Shimla-Solan (HP), Yamunanagar (HR |
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GATE Admit CardInternational GATE Exam Centres (Cancelled)
International GATE Exam Centres have been withdrawn from GATE. However, international students can appear for GATE 2026 at one of the exam centres in India.
- Only a valid Passport/Government-issued ID/College ID/Employee ID will be accepted as the recognised identification.
- For foreign nationals, reservation categories (SC/ST/PWD/Women) are not applicable for concession in application fees.
- GATE Registration for international applicants will remain the same as that of Indian candidates.
- Candidates will be contacted only through their emails. For important information, they will be contacted through their mobile numbers.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Regular Application Fee | INR 1400 |
| Late Application Fee | INR 2300 |
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GATE Documents RequiredHow to Choose GATE Exam Centres?
Candidates must select GATE Exam Centres from the given list while filling the GATE Application Form.
Not more than three examination centres can be selected by candidates during the application process. Some of the most important points regarding GATE Exam Centres and the process to select those centres are mentioned below in detail-
- The first and second exam centres must be from the same GATE zone.
- The third choice of the GATE Exam Centre can be from any zone.
- After filling in all the details, candidates have the option to select the GATE exam centre.
- They will have to select the exam centre from the given list of cities.
- Candidates can select any one of the centres, keeping in mind their nearest cities as per their convenience.
- Allotment of the examination centres will be done on a first-apply-first-allotment basis.
- After selecting the exam centres, complete all the required details and make payment.
- Candidates who register successfully will be able to download their GATE 2026 admit card, which includes details on the allotted exam centre along with the date and time of the exam.
Note that due to operational constraints, the GATE committee reserves the right to add a new city or remove an existing one. It can allot a city that may not be included in the choices of the candidates. Whichever centre is allotted to the candidate will be mentioned in the GATE Admit card along with the centre details.
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GATE LoginHow to Change the GATE Exam Centre?
In the GATE Application Form, candidates can change their exam city by sending a request to the exam conducting authorities. Only through the official website of GOAPS, the request be sent. Registered candidates who want to change the name of the exam city must pay an amount as additional fee to complete the entire process.
All the candidates are required to clearly state the reason to the authority why they want to change the exam centre.
- Only through the online mode, the additional fee payment will be accepted.
- All the candidates need to pay the fee for an amount of INR 400 against each change in the GATE application form.
More details related to the change in GATE Exam Centres will be updated as soon as the official notification for the same is released.
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GATE Application Form CorrectionInstructions to be Followed at the GATE Exam Centre
Given below is a set of instructions that must be followed at the GATE Exam Centre-
- You will be permitted to enter the exam centre only with a valid GATE Admit Card and a Photo ID.
- Reach the exam centre at least 60 minutes before the scheduled exam.
- Scribble pads will be provided for rough work, and they must be returned after the exam.
- A virtual scientific calculator will be provided on-screen for the calculation work.
- You are not permitted to leave the exam hall during the exam.
- Entry to the exam hall will be prohibited after 9:30 AM (for morning session) and 14:30 PM (for afternoon session).
- You will be permitted only if your credentials are verified by the centre officials.
Dos’ and Don’ts at GATE Exam Centres
In the table below, some of the most important instructions, along with some restrictions, are mentioned.
| Dos’ | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Reach the GATE Exam Centres 30 minutes before starting the exam | Do not reach after starting the examination to avoid missing the important instructions made by the exam centre |
| Must carry the downloaded admit card and a valid ID proof issued by the Government | Do not present any soft copy of the admit card or any ID proof |
| At the exam hall for GATE, find the allotted seat with the roll number | Do not occupy a seat that does not belong to you, as it may lead to difficulty during the exam |
| Give all the biometric information at the right time as asked by the instructor | Do not present your valid ID card with any defect in the exam hall |
| Try to finish all the answers within the time, as after the duration, your answer will automatically be saved and closed. And you will not get any extra time to finish the remaining answer. | Do not leave the exam hall without following the post-exam instructions made by the concerned authority. |
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FAQs for GATE Exam Centres 2026
Ques. What are the Centres for the GATE Exam?
Ans. The GATE Exam will be conducted in more than 230 exam cities in India, which will be divided into 8 zonal centres managed by IISc or an IIT. Candidates can select up to 3 preferred cities during the registration process.
Zonal Centres and Conducting Institutes:
| Zonal Centre | Conducting Institute | Key States Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | IISc Bangalore | Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, A.P., A&N Islands |
| Zone 2 | IIT Bombay | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa |
| Zone 3 | IIT Delhi | Delhi, Haryana, J&K, Rajasthan, U.P. |
| Zone 4 | IIT Guwahati | Assam, NE States, Bihar, W.B., Jharkhand |
| Zone 5 | IIT Kanpur | U.P., M.P. |
| Zone 6 | IIT Kharagpur | Odisha, W.B., Chhattisgarh |
| Zone 7 | IIT Madras | Tamil Nadu, Telangana, A.P., Puducherry |
| Zone 8 | IIT Roorkee | Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana |
Ques. Can the GATE Exam Be Given from Home?
Ans. No, Candidates cannot give the GATE Exam from home. It will be conducted in a CBT Way at the allotted exam centres under proper exam guidelines.
Ques. Is GATE Harder than IIT-JEE?
Ans. The Difficulty level of GATE and IIT-JEE is different:
- JEE is for 12th pass candidates, which focuses on Physics, Chemistry and Maths.
- GATE is for engineering graduates to gain better subject-related knowledge.
Difficulty Comparison Table:
| Exam | Level | Subjects Covered | Acceptance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Advanced | UG Admission | PCM | 10,000–15,000 AIR |
| GATE | PG Admission, PSU | Core engineering + Aptitude | 15% qualify |
Ques. Which Branch is Best for the GATE Exam?
Ans. The Best branch for the GATE Exam depends on the career goals, having high ROI and PSU Scope:
- Electronics & Communication (EC) – High PSU recruitment.
- Computer Science (CS) – Software and research.
- Electrical Engineering (EE) – Core PSUs like NTPC, PGCIL.
- Mechanical Engineering (ME) – Top choice for PSUs and R&D.
- Civil Engineering (CE) – Excellent for government jobs.
Ques. What is the Highest Salary in GATE?
Ans. The GATE Exam generally recruits PSUs, where the salary of the candidate goes up to Rs 20 to 25 LPA from companies like ONGC, IOCL and BPCL.
Top Recruiters & Packages:
| PSU/Organisation | Highest CTC (₹ LPA) | Selection Basis |
|---|---|---|
| ONGC | ₹20–25 LPA | GATE + Interview |
| IOCL | ₹15–20 LPA | GATE Score |
| PGCIL | ₹14–18 LPA | GATE Score + GD |
Ques. Is GATE Only for IIT Admissions?
Ans. The GATE Exam is used for M.Tech admissions into IITs, but it is also accepted by:
- NITs, IIITs, IISc Bangalore, and other institutes.
- PSUs for recruitment.
- Foreign universities like NUS (Singapore) and TU Munich (Germany).
Ques. Can We Change Exam Centre in GATE 2026?
Ans. Yes, candidates can change their exam centre city during the application correction process in November 2026. Candidates have to pay a fee of Rs. 500 for changing the exam centre.
Correction Window Snapshot:
| Activity | Period | Fee (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Exam City Correction | Nov 2026 (tentative) | ₹500 (approx.) |
| Mode: | GOAPS portal |
Ques. Which Branch is Easiest for the GATE Exam?
Ans. The easiest branch in GATE depends on the subjects and the academic background. Some branches have a high success rate and less competition, including:
- Instrumentation Engineering (IN)
- Environmental Science and Engineering (ES)
- Production and Industrial Engineering (PI)
- Mathematics (MA) – for math graduates
- Life Sciences (XL) – for bio/chem students
Ques. Is GATE Conducted Outside India?
Ans. No, GATE 2026 will not be conducted internationally. The Candidates have to appear at the exam centres, which are located in India.
In GATE, international exam centres have been discontinued from GATE 2026.
*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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