The GATE 2026 will be conducted by the IIT Guwahati. It is one of the most important exams that engineering and science graduates must pass for admission into their postgraduate courses and to secure jobs in the public sector.
Official dates for the GATE 2026 exam are February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. The exam will be held in two sessions: the Forenoon Session from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and the Afternoon Session from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
- GATE 2026 registration starts on August 28, 2025. Candidates can register till October 7, 2025, without late fees. However, the GATE 2026 registration last date is October 13, 2025, with a late fee.
- GATE 2026 admit card will be released in January 2026.
- GATE 2026 results are expected to be out by March 19, 2026.
GATE 2026 is a computer-based examination offering candidates a choice of 30 different subjects, with both general test papers and specialized sections in various domains.
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GATE Exam Dates 2026
Candidates appearing for GATE 2026 know the exam schedule for effective planning and preparation. Therefore, the GATE 2026 exam dates are presented in the table below. Candidates must regularly check for any official updates concerning the confirmed dates and any further details about the exam pattern and process.
The GATE exam schedule has been released on the official website. You can check the adtes below:
| Day, Date | Time (IST) | Test Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, February 07, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) | AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) | AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH | |
| Sunday, February 08, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) | CS-1, ST |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) | CS-2, EY, NM, PE | |
| Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) | CE-1, EE, PI |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) | BM, CE-2, ME, MT | |
| Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN) | EC |
| 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN) | AR, DA |
Exam Dates:
Saturday, February 7, 2026:
- The forenoon session will cover Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Geology and Geophysics, Instrumentation Engineering, Mathematics, Mining Engineering, Textile Engineering and Fibre Science, Engineering Sciences and Life Sciences.
- In the afternoon, Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Geomatics Engineering, Physics and Humanities and Social Sciences will be conducted.
Sunday, February 8, 2026:
- The morning session features Computer Science and Information Technology Paper 1 and Statistics.
- The evening session includes Computer Science and Information Technology Paper 2, Ecology and Evolution, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Production and Industrial Engineering.
Saturday, February 14, 2026:
- Forenoon examinations will include Civil Engineering Paper 1, Electrical Engineering, and Production and Industrial Engineering.
- Afternoon tests will focus on Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering Paper 2, Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
Sunday, February 15, 2026:
- The forenoon paper is Electronics and Communication Engineering.
- The afternoon session concludes the exam with Architecture and Planning, and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Who will conduct the GATE in 2026?
The IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026. The conducting body of GATE rotates among the IITs and the IISc. Previously, IIT Guwahati organized the GATE in 2010, 2018, and now in 2026.
The Expected Difficulty level of GATE 2026 conducted by IIT Guwahati, as per the previous years' analysis:
- IIT Guwahati (GATE 2010): The exam was considered moderately difficult, with a balanced distribution of questions among the topics.
- IIT Guwahati (GATE 2018): The difficulty level was similar to the GATE 2010, with a mix of straightforward and challenging questions, requiring a thorough understanding of core subjects.
GATE Previous Year’s Exam Dates
| Year | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1, 2, 15, and 16 February |
| 2024 | 3, 4, 10, and 11 February |
| 2023 | 4, 5, 11, and 12 February |
| 2022 | 5, 6, 12, and 13 February |
| 2021 | 6, 7, 13, and 14 February |
Who will conduct the GATE 2027 exam?
IIT Madras will conduct the GATE 2027 exam in February 2027. Each IIT and IISc conducts the GATE exam approximately every 8 years. IIT Madars has previously organized GATE in the years 1985, 1991,1997, 2003, 2011, and 2019. Following this pattern, IIT Madaras is expected to conduct GATE again in 2027.
GATE 2026 Important Dates
As per the tentative schedule, IIT Guwahati will likely declare the GATE 2026 Examination dates in July 2025. Candidates may check the official website for further notifications. The tentative exam dates for GATE 2026 are as follows.
| Events | GATE 2026 Exam Schedule |
|---|---|
| Notification about Availability | 5 August 2025 |
| Portal Open for GOAPS (GATE Online Application Portal System) |
28 August 2025 |
| Dates for Applying without late fee |
7 October 2025 |
| Dates for Applying with late fee |
13 October 2025 |
| Application Correction/ Modify details | 3rd week of November 2025 |
| Release of GATE 2026 Admit Card | 1st week of January 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Exam | February 07, 2026 February 08, 2026 February 14, 2026 February 15, 2026 |
| Availability of Responses Sheet | 3nd week of February 2026 |
| Release of Answer Key | 4th week of February 2026 |
| Last Dates for Submission of Objections/ Challenges | 4th week of February 2026 |
| Release of Final Key | 1st week of March 2026 |
| Date for Declaration of Results | 19 March 2026 |
| Availability of Score Card | 4th week of March 2026 |
| Counseling Portal (COAP) Opening | 3rd week of March 2026 |
Source: https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/
When can I apply for the GATE exam in 2026?
The GATE 2026 application process is scheduled to begin from 28th August 2025, with the last submission date without a late fee on October 7, 2025 and extended till October 13, 2025 with a late fee.
GATE 2026 Exam Centres
IIT Guwahati will manage the GATE 2026 exam centers in 238 locations across India, which are divided into 8 IIT zonal regions. For the last session, IIT Roorkee has added 11 new centers to promote accessibility for candidates nationwide.
| Institute Name | Number of Centres |
|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | 37 |
| IIT Delhi | 22 |
| IIT Roorkee | 26 |
| IIT Bombay | 37 |
| IIT Kanpur | 14 |
| IIT Guwahati | 24 |
| IIT Madras | 48 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 30 |
Description of the Exam Pattern for GATE 2026
Below are the crucial features of the exam pattern of the GATE 2026 exam and its marking scheme:
- Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test.
- Language of Examination: English.
- Number of Papers Offered: 30 Test Papers.
- Question Types:
- Multiple Choice Question- MCQ.
- Multiple Select Question- MSQ.
- Numerical Answer Type- NAT.
- Sections in the Paper:
- General Aptitude (GA).
- The candidate chooses the subject.
- Testing Abilities: Recall, Comprehension, Analysis & Synthesis, and Application.
- Exam duration- 3 hours.
- Marking scheme: Questions are either 1 or 2 marks.
- Negative marks: 1/3 mark for a question of 1-mark weightage and 2/3 mark for a question of 2-mark weightage.
- There is no negative or partial marking in MSQs and NAT cases.
Read: GATE Exam Pattern 2026, Paper-wise Question Paper Pattern
Tips to Prepare for GATE 2026
To secure a decent score in GATE 2026, follow these preparatory tips:
- Understand the whole syllabus, exam pattern, & marking scheme.
- Find out what's essential among the topics identified and prioritize those for study.
- Concepts must be revised every day for retention.
- Make short notes for every idea and revise them regularly.
- Attempt several mock tests to expose yourself to the exam pattern.
- Solve papers for the last few years and sample tests.
- Prepare using the recommended books and credible study material.
Also Check: GATE Preparation: Time Table, 6 months Study Tips
Conclusion
To conclude, staying updated with GATE 2026 exam dates and important details is essential for successful preparation. With a clear understanding of the exam pattern, syllabus, and registration process, candidates will be able to do their planning. Therefore, it is advisable to follow official announcements and adopt clever study methods to succeed at GATE.
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