The GATE Exam Pattern 2026 ha released by IIT Guwahati on the official GATE 2026 official website at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The GATE 2026 will be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) mode for 30 test papers, each paper will be of 100 marks, and the duration will be 3 hours (180 minutes).
The IIT Guwahati has introduced new optional subjects: Energy Science, under the Engineering Mathematics in GATE 2026.
- Each GATE paper will have 2 main sections: General Aptitude (GA) with 15 marks, and the subject-specific section will have 85 marks.
- The GATE marking scheme awards +1 or +2 marks per question. With negative marking of ⅓ for 1 mark questions and ⅔ for 2 mark questions.
For GATE 2026 papers, including Engineering Mathematics (AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST), the marks distribution includes 15 for GA, 13 for Engineering Mathematics, and 72 from domain subjects.
For papers without Engineering Mathematics like AR, CY, DA, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL, the marks distribution will be 15 from GA and 85 from domain subjects.
GATE 2026 registration will begin on 28 August 2025 on the official website, and the exam is scheduled for 7, 8, 14, and 15 February 2026.
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Key Summary
- GATE exam pattern 2026 includes a total of 65 questions with 10 from the GA section and 55 from domain-specific subjects.
- The duration of the GATE exam 2026 is 180 minutes (3 hours).
- For each correct answer, 1 or 2 marks will be awarded. Total marks that students can score in GATE 2026 are 100.
- For each incorrect answer of a 1-mark question, ⅓ marks will be deducted.
- For each incorrect answer of 2-mark questions, ⅔ marks will be deducted.
What is GATE Exam Pattern?
GATE 2026 will be conducted in CBT mode for a total of 30 test papers. The total number of questions in GATE will be 65, and the GATE total marks are 100. For each correct answer, students will get 1-2 marks, and for each incorrect answer of 1-mark and 2-mark questions, students will get ⅓ and ⅔ marks deducted, respectively.
GATE 2026 Question Distribution
| GATE Test Paper Codes | GATE Exam Pattern |
|---|---|
| CE, CS, EC, AE, AG, BT, CH, ME, MN, MT, EE, IN, TF, XE, PE, ST, and PI |
|
| AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL |
|
GATE 2026 Paper wise Question Distribution
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Subject: Compulsory Section | Subject: Optional Section(s) | Total Marks | Total Time* (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF; Subject marks in these papers include questions on Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper-specific. | 15 | 85 | -- | 100 | 180 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | 85 | -- | 100 | 180 |
| AR: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 - Architecture or B2 - Planning | 15 | 60 | 25 | 100 | 180 |
| GE: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 - Surveying and Mapping or B2 - Image Processing and Analysis | 15 | 55 | 30 | 100 | 180 |
| GG: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 must be chosen at the time of application. B1 - Geology or B2 - Geophysics | 15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XE: Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. | 15 | 15 | 2 x 35 | 100 | 180 |
| XH: Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any ONE of the other sections at the time of application. | 15 | 25 | 60 | 100 | 180 |
| XL: Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam. | 15 | 25 | 2 x 30 | 100 | 180 |
Ques. What is the total number of questions and marks?
Ans. There are 65 questions, each worth 100 marks. It shall be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and 30 subjects. The paper consists of General Aptitude (15 marks) and subject-specific sections, which are different with the presence or absence of Engineering Mathematics.
Ques. Is the GATE 2026 exam penalised for incorrect answers?
Ans. MCQS are negatively marked. For an incorrect answer of 1 mark, 1/3 mark will be cut off, and for each answer of 2 marks, 2/3 mark will be cut off. No negative marking will be applied for MSQ and NAT questions.
GATE Exam Pattern 2026
The IIT Guwahati will conduct GATE 2026 in a CBT Mode on 7th & 8th February 2026 and 14th & 15th February 2026. The GATE Exam 2026 will include General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics(in most of the papers) and subject-specific questions.
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | IIT Guwahati |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based Test - CBT) |
| Exam Dates | February 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2026 |
| Total Papers | 30 (including new additions: GE and NM) |
| Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Total Questions | 65 Questions |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Sections |
|
| Question Types |
|
| Marking Scheme | 1-mark & 2-mark questionsNegative marking only for MCQs:• 1-mark MCQ: –⅓ for wrong• 2-mark MCQ: –⅔ for wrongNo negative marking for MSQs & NATs |
| Shifts | Two shifts:• Morning – 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM• Afternoon – 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
| Eligibility | Final-year and 3rd-year UG students are eligible |
| Calculator | A virtual scientific calculator is provided |
| Medium of Exam | English only |
| Registration Starts | August 25, 2026 (tentative) |
| Official Website | gate2026.iitg.ac.in |
Ques. How will the exam be conducted?
Ans. The exam is set to take place at IIT Guwahati on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. It will be organised in two sessions using the CBT format, running from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and then from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, covering a total of 30 papers.
Ques. What is the marking and question pattern?
Ans. The exam will consist of 65 questions aggregating 100 marks, consisting of General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and subject-specific questions. They are of MCQ, MSQ and NAT type. Only MCQs have negative marking.
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GATE 2026 Marking Scheme
The IIT Guwahati has also released the GATE 2026 Marking scheme along with the GATE Exam Pattern and other important information. The GATE Marking Scheme includes Paper Codes and Section-wise marks division as well.
GATE Subject-Wise Marking Scheme
| Question Type | Marks per Question | Negative Marking | Weightage (Approx.) | Insight |
| MCQ | 1 or 2 marks | 1/3 for 1-mark, 2/3 for 2-mark | 40–45% of paper | Accuracy critical due to penalties |
| MSQ | 1 or 2 marks | No negative marking | 20–25% of paper | Multiple correct options; safe to attempt |
| NAT | 1 or 2 marks | No negative marking | 30–35% of paper | Requires numerical accuracy; good scoring potential |
Ques. What is GATE exam pattern?
Ans. As per GATE exam pattern, there are 65 compulsory questions that are to be answered in 180 minutes. 10 questions from General Aptitude and 55 questions from branch specific subjects. Additionally, AE, AG, BT, BM, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, ST, and XE papers have a section on engineering mathematics which carry 13-15% of the total weightage in the exam.
Ques. What is the maximum marks for GATE exam?
Ans. The maximum marks for GATE exam is 100. There are 30 one mark questions and 35 two marks questions in the GATE exam.
Ques. What is the pass mark for GATE?
Ans. The pass marks for GATE is the qualifying cut off released after the declaration of result. The pass marks for GATE exam varies for each branch. In 2023, GATE pass marks for CSE was 32.5 for General, 29.2 for OBC-NCL and 21.6 for SC/ST/PwD. GATE 2023 Cut off for Mechanical 28.4 for General, 25.2 for OBC-NCL and 18.9 for SC/ST/PwD. Check GATE 2026 expected cut off and pass marks
Ques. Does GATE have 5-mark questions?
Ans. Each question in GATE exam carries 1 or 2 marks each. The first section in GATE question paper is General Aptitude. Question 1 to 5 in the General Aptitude section carry 1 mark each. Questions 5 to 10 carry 2 marks each. Questions 11 to 65 are based on branch specific subjects. 11 to 35 carry 1 mark each while 36 to 65 carry 2 marks each.
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GATE Score CalculationGATE Exam Pattern 2026: Paper-wise detailed Paper Pattern
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 varies for each paper depending on the sections and the marks distribution.
- General Aptitude is a common section in all GATE papers. The section comprises 15% of the weightage of the total marks.
- The questions in GA are based on verbal, numerical and quantitative ability. There are a total of 10 questions with 5 questions carrying 1 mark each and 5 questions carrying 2 marks each.
| Subject | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | 2 | 10 | |
| Total | 10 | - | 15 |
- As for the papers with codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, 15% marks weightage will be given to General Aptitude, 13% to Engineering Mathematics and remaining 72% to subject paper.
- Papers with codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks are for the subject paper
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST
For paper codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST there are three sections in the question paper. These are:
| Sections | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13% |
| Core Discipline | 72% |
Apart from 10 questions in the General Aptitude section, there will be 55 questions form core discipline and engineering mathematics. 25 questions will carry 1 mark each while 30 questions will carry 2 marks each.
| Subjects | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| 30 | 2 | 60 | |
| Total | 55 | - | 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for CY, DA, EY, MA, PH and ST
Each of GATE papers with code CY, DA, EY, MA PH and ST have two sections- General Aptitude and Core Discipline.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 | 15% |
| Core Discipline | 55 | 85% |
Detailed marking scheme for GATE AR, CY, EY, MA and PH papers has been tabulated below:
| Subjects | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR, CY, EY, MA, PH | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| 30 | 2 | 60 | |
| Total | 55 | - | 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Architecture and Planning (AR)
GATE Exam Pattern for Architecture and Planning paper has been revised this year. According to the revised exam pattern, there will be three sections of the paper- GA (General Aptitude), Part A and Part B. Part A of the paper is a mandatory section for all candidates while Part B is further divided into Section B1 (Architecture) and B2 (Planning). Students need to choose one of the sections during the exam.
| Sections | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 10 | (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | 15 |
| Part A (mandatory) | 39 | (18 x 1) + (21 x 2) | 60 |
| Part B: Part B1 (Architecture) or Part B2 (Planning) | 16 | (7 x 1) + (9 x 2) | 25 |
| Total | 55 | - | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Geomatics Engineering (GE)
Geomatics Engineering is a new paper introduced in GATE 2022. According to the exam pattern for Geomatics Engineering, the question paper consist of three sections- GA, Part A and Part B.
| Sections | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 10 | (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | 15 |
| Part A (mandatory) | 36 | (17 x 1) + (19 x 2) | 55 |
| Part B: Section I or Section II | 16 | (8 x 1) + (11 x 2) | 30 |
| Total | 55 | - | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Geology and Geophysics (GG)
GATE GG paper consists of three sections namely General Aptitude, Part A and Part B. Part B is further divided into Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). General Aptitude section and Part A are compulsory to attempt while candidates are required to choose either Section1 or Section 2 from Part B.
| Sections | Sub-section | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | - | 10 | 1 or 2 | 15 |
| Part A | - | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Part B (either one based on candidates selection) | Geology | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| Geophysics | 30 | 2 | 60 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
Naval Architecture and Maine Engineering is another paper that has been added to GATE exam last year. The paper will consist of two section- GA and Main Subject.
| Sections | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 10 | (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | 15 |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | 55 | (25 x 1) + (30 x 2) | 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Engineering Sciences (XE)
GATE XE paper is divided into three sections. General Aptitude and Section A (Engineering Mathematics) are compulsory sections while candidates must choose any TWO from Section B-H of GATE XE paper.
- General Aptitude- 10 questions carrying 15 marks in total
- Section A for Engineering Mathematics- 11 questions carrying 15 marks in total
- Section B-H- 22 questions carrying 35 marks each in total. The various subjects under these sections include:
- XE-B – Fluid mechanics
- XE-C – Material Science
- XE-D – Solid mechanics
- XE-E – Thermodynamics
- XE-F – Polymer Science and Engineering
- XE-G – Food technology
- XE-H – Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
The detailed marking scheme for XE paper is tabulated below:
| Section | Total Number of 1 mark questions | Total Number of 2 mark questions | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Section A (Engineering Sciences) | 7 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
| Section B (Any two of these) | 9+9 | 13+13 | 22+22=44 | 35+35= 70 |
| Total | 30 | 70 | 65 | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
GATE XH paper was introduced in 2021 allowing students with a humanities background to apply for GATE. The paper consists of three sections. General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are compulsory sections to attend, while candidates need to choose any ONE from C1-C6. The subjects under C1-C6 include:
- XH–C1: Economics
- XH–C2: English
- XH–C3: Linguistics
- XH–C4: Philosophy
- XH–C5: Psychology
- XH–C6: Sociology
Detailed marks distribution for GATE XH has been tabulated below:
| Section | Total Number of 1 mark questions | Total Number of 2 mark questions | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| B1* (Reasoning and Comprehension) | 5 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
| C1-C6(Any one of these) | 20 | 20 | 40 | 60 |
| Total | 30 | 70 | 65 | 100 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Life Sciences (XL)
GATE XL paper consists of three sections. General Aptitude and Section P (Chemistry) are compulsory for a candidate to attempt while candidates must choose any TWO from Section Q- U.
- XL-Q – Biochemistry
- XL-R – Botany
- XL-S – Microbiology
- XL-T – Zoology
- XL-U – Food Technology
Detailed marking scheme for GATE XL paper has been tabulated below:
| Section | Total Number of 1 mark questions | Total Number of 2 mark questions | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Section P(Chemistry) | 5 | 10 | 15 | 25 |
| Section Q-U(Any two of these) | 10+10 | 10+10 | 20+20=40 | 30+30=60 |
| Total | 30 | 70 | 65 | 100 |
What is the GATE Exam Pattern for Papers with Engineering Mathematics?
GATE papers with engineering mathematics include CE, CS, EC, AE, AG, BT, CH, ME, MN, MT, EE, IN, TF, XE, PE, ST, and PI. GATE exam pattern for these papers includes 65 questions distributed among General Aptitude- 15 marks, Engineering Mathematics 13 marks, and domain subjects- 72 marks.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| GATE Total Number of Questions | 65 |
| Sectional Wise Number of Questions |
|
| GATE Total Marks | 100 |
| Section-wise Marks in GATE 2026 |
|
| GATE Total Duration | 3 hours |
| Type of Questions |
|
| GATE Marking Scheme |
|
What is the GATE Exam Pattern for Papers without Engineering Mathematics?
GATE Papers without Engineering Mathematics are AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL. For these GATE Papers, the exam pattern is discussed in the table below.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| GATE Total Number of Questions | 65 |
| Sectional Wise Number of Questions |
|
| GATE Total Marks | 100 |
| Section-wise Marks in GATE 2026 |
|
| GATE Total Duration | 3 hours |
| Type of Questions |
|
| GATE Marking Scheme |
|
GATE 2026 Negative Marking
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 uses a particular scheme of negative marking to ensure that the answers are accurate. The candidates need to know this scheme to achieve maximum scores.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- 1-Mark Questions: For every wrong answer, there is a deduction of 1/3 mark.
- 2-Mark Questions: For every wrong answer, there is a deduction of 2/3 mark.
Multiple Select Questions (MSQs): There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions: There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme
| Question Type | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Negative Marking |
| MCQ (1 Mark) | +1 | -1/3 | Yes |
| MCQ (2 Marks) | +2 | -2/3 | Yes |
| MSQ | Varies | 0 | No |
| NAT | Varies | 0 | No |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026: Types of Questions
Questions in GATE 2026 are broadly divided into three categories:
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- In MCQs, candidates are provided with 4 choices out of which one answer is correct.
- A candidate has to mark the correct choice by clicking the button against the option.
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)
- These questions are objective in nature and each question has a choice of four answers, out of which, one or more than one choice(s) are correct.
- There is no negative marking for a wrong answer in MSQs.
- However, there is no partial credit for choosing partially correct combinations of choices or any single wrong choice.
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT)
- NAT includes questions with a value of signed real number which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor.
- There won’t be any choices for these questions.
- The answer can be an integer in decimals
- The questions will be mentioned with up to which decimal places the candidates need to present the answer.
- As correct answers for NATs, an appropriate range will be considered to avoid penalty due to round-offs.
Also Read
GATE BookQues. Is GATE 2026 mcq or written?
Ans. GATE 2026 is an online computer-based test. There are three types of questions asked in GATE exam, Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. Each of these questions carry 1 or 2 marks.
Ques. What is the new paper in GATE 2026?
Ans. The newly introduced paper in GATE 2026 is Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA). The syllabus for GATE 2026 is based on seven areas, including Probability and Statistics, Linear Algebra, Calculus and Optimization, Machine Learning, and AI, among others. As per GATE two paper combination, candidates appearing for DA can also apply for CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, ST, XE, AE, BM, CE, IN as their second paper in the exam.
Ques. Is there negative marking in GATE 2026?
Ans. Yes, there is a negative marking in GATE 2026 exam. However, this negative marking is only for MCQs and not for MSQs or NAT. For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong answer and for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
Ques. What is the syllabus of GATE 2026?
Ans. The syllabus for GATE 2026 is based on General Aptitude and Subject-specific topics. The General Aptitude section in GATE 2026 syllabus varies a 15% weightage while the subject-specific topics carry a weightage of 85%. Candidates can check the branch-wise syllabus for GATE 2026 to know the topics and subjects for CSE, EE, ECE, Civil, Mechanical, etc.
How to Attempt Online GATE Exam 2026?
Candidates about to appear for GATE 2026 can follow the steps below to know how to attempt the GATE exam 2026 online. Students are also advised to attempt the GATE mock tests to know how to attempt the GATE examination.
- Once the GATE exam starts, candidates can find the list of questions on their right side of the screen.
- Students can directly navigate to any question number by clicking on the serial number of that question.
- After clicking on any question number, the question will be displayed on the screen.
- To answer that question, students must select one option from 4 options in case of MCQs.
- In case of MSQs, students can select more than one option, and for NAT questions, students must type in the answer for the question using the virtual keyboard on the screen.
- To deselect options in GATE questions, students can click on the already selected options or tap on the “Clear Response” option to deselect the options.
- To save the question and move to the next GATE question, students can tap on the “Save and Next” option on the screen.
- Students can mark GATE questions for review if they feel unsure. This can be done by selecting the “Mark for Review and Next” option on the screen.
- Students must keep an eye on the timer on the screen. Once the time for the GATE exam is over, all the GATE answers will be auto-submitted.
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 vs 2026
The GATE 2026 will follow the same core pattern as GATE 2025, with 3-hour computer-based Tests in English with 100 marks and 65 questions divided into 10 questions from General Aptitude and 55 from Core subjects.
GA will carry 15 mark questions are MCQ, MSQ, or NAT, and negative marking applies only to MCQs (–1/3 for 1-mark, –2/3 for 2-mark).
GATE Exam Pattern Changes
In GATE 2025, the standard papers have GA (15) + Engg Math (~13) + Core Subject (~72), special papers had GA (15) + Core Subjects (85), and flexible papers like XE, XL, and XH had the fixed GA and core sections.
In GATE 2026, the Exam Pattern will remain the same, with only one change being the addition of a new optional subject, i.e, “Energy Science” under the Engineering Mathematics.
| Feature / Paper Type | GATE 2025 | GATE 2026 (Changes Highlighted) |
| Mode & Duration | CBT, 3 hrs, 100 marks | Same as 2025 |
| Question Format | 65 Qs (10 GA + 55 Subject), MCQ/MSQ/NAT types | Same as 2025 |
| Marking & Negative Use | 1/2 mark Qs, negative marking for MCQs only | Unchanged |
| Standard Technical Papers | GA 15, Engg. Math 13, Subject ~72 | Same format |
| Special Papers | GA 15 + Subject 85 | Unchanged format |
| Flexible Section Papers | XE, XL, XH variable sections as per pattern | Same structure |
| New in 2026 | — | Added “Energy Science” option under Engineering Math cluster |
GATE 2026 Paper Codes and Combinations
As per the revised GATE exam pattern introduced in 2021, candidates can appear for 2 GATE papers. However, the choice of GATE papers can be made only on the basis of the GATE Paper Combination released by the authorities. Here are the subject combinations for GATE 2026:
| Paper Name | Paper Code | Codes of Papers Allowed as Second Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | AE | NM, XE |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG | ES, GE, XE, XL |
| Architecture and Planning | AR | CE |
| Biomedical Engineering | BM | BT, EC, IN, XL |
| Biotechnology | BT | BM, XL |
| Civil Engineering | CE | AE, AR, ES, GE, NM |
| Chemical Engineering | CH | PE, XE |
| Computer Science and Information Technology | CS | EC, GE, MA, ST |
| Chemistry | CY | XL |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | EC | IN, PH, EE, CS, GE |
| Electrical Engineering | EE | EC, IN |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | ES | AG, CE, GE |
| Ecology and Evolution | EY | XL |
| Geomatics Engineering (New Paper) | GE | CE, GG, ES, MN |
| Geology and Geophysics | GG | GE, MN, PE, PH |
| Instrumentation Engineering | IN | EC, EE, PH |
| Mathematics | MA | CS, GE, PH, ST |
| Mechanical Engineering | ME | AE, CH, NM, PI, XE |
| Mining Engineering | MN | GE, GG, XE |
| Metallurgical Engineering | MT | PH, XE |
| Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (New Paper) | NM | AE, CE, XE |
| Petroleum Engineering | PE | CH, GG, XE |
| Physics | PH | EC, GE, GG, IN, MA, MT, ST, XE |
| Production and Industrial Engineering | PI | ME, MT, XE |
| Statistics | ST | MA, PH |
| Textile Engineering and Fibre Science | TF | XE |
| Engineering Sciences | XE | AE, AG, CH, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, NM |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | XH | ST |
| Life Sciences | XL | BM, BT, CY, EY |
GATE 2026 Two-Paper Combination List
Two-paper combination has been introduced in GATE 2026, where students can select 2 papers for the GATE 2026 examination. Aspirants can select 1 additional paper along with the main GATE exam paper from the approved list of papers. This will be beneficial for students in enhancing their skills and improving their chances of admission into engineering courses.
Students can find the list of 2-paper combinations in the table below.
| Code of the First Paper | Code of the Second Paper | Code of the First Paper | Code of the Second Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE | CE, ME, XE | GG | GE |
| AG | CE | IN | BM, EC, EE, ME |
| AR | CE, GE | MA | CS, DA, PH, ST |
| BM | BT, IN | ME | AE, DA, IN, NM, PI, XE |
| BT | BM, XL | MN | - |
| CE | AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE | MT | XE |
| CH | ES, PE, XE | NM | CE, ME |
| CS | DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, ST | PE | CH |
| CY | XE, XL | PH | CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE |
| DA | CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, ST, XE | PI | ME, XE |
| EC | CS, DA, EE, IN, PH | ST | CS, DA, MA, XH |
| EE | DA, EC, IN, PH | TF | - |
| ES | CE, CH, GE | XE | AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, PI |
| EY | XL | XH | ST |
| GE | AR, CE, CS, ES, GG | XL | BT, CY, EY |
GATE Syllabus 2026: Download Paper-Wise PDFs
GATE Syllabus 2026 will be released by IISc Banglore along with the official notification and brochure. Candidates can check the latest paper-wise GATE syllabus:
GATE Question Papers- Download Previous year Question Paper PDFs
Candidates can check previous year GATE Question Paper to get a better understanding of GATE Exam Pattern. The papers will help candidates know the number of NATs and MSQs asked in the exam. The links below can be used to download GATE Question Papers for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Along with the links provided above, candidates can use the direct link below to download GATE Question Paper with Answer Key for papers such as Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering along with the newly introduced subjects such as Geomatics Engineering and Naval and Marine Engineering.
GATE 2022 Question Paper with Answer Key PDFs- Check Here
| GATE Paper/ Subject | GATE Exam Date | Shift/ Slot | GATE Question Paper Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering- ME-1 | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Mechanical Engineering- ME-2 | February 13 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Petroleum Engineering- PE | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Architecture and Planning- AR | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Geomatics Engineering- GE (New Paper) | February 13 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Aerospace Engineering- AE | February 13 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Civil Engineering- CE-1 | February 12 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Civil Engineering- CE-2 | February 12 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Biotechnology- BT | February 12 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Physics- PH | February 12 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Ecology and Evolution- EY | February 12 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Engineering Sciences- XE | February 12 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Life Sciences- XL | February 12 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering- EC | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Environmental Science and Engineering- ES | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Statistics- ST | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering- NM (New Paper) | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Metallurgical Engineering- MT | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Mining Engineering- MN | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Chemistry- CY | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Chemical Engineering- CH | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Production and Industrial Engineering- PI | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Download PDF |
| Humanities and Social Sciences- Economics (XH- C1) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Humanities and Social Sciences- English (XH- C2) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Download PDF |
| Humanities and Social Sciences- Linguistics (XH- C3) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Download PDF |
| Humanities and Social Sciences- Philosophy (XH- C4) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Humanities and Social Sciences- Psychology (XH- C5) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Humanities and Social Sciences- Sociology (XH- C6) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Instrumentation Engineering- IN | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Agricultural Engineering- AG | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Geology and Geophysics- Geology (GG-1) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Download PDF |
| Geology and Geophysics- Geophysics (GG-2) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Download PDF |
| Textile Engineering and Fibre Science- TF | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Computer Science and Information Technology- CS | February 5 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Biomedical Engineering- BM | February 5 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Electrical Engineering- EE | February 5 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Mathematics- MA | February 5 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
Ques. What is the structure of the General Aptitude section?
Ans. All papers have the GA section, which contains 15 marks. It consists of 10 questions: 5 of 1 mark and 5 of 2 marks. The questions include topics such as verbal ability, numerical skills, and quantitative aptitude.
Ques. What is the distribution of marks in various papers?
Ans. In papers such as AE, CE, CS, ME, EE and so on, the General Aptitude is 15%, the Engineering Mathematics is 13% and the subject paper is 72%. In papers such as AR, CY, MA, PH, XL, etc., the General Aptitude 15% and the subject section 85% weightage is applied.
GATE 2021 Question Paper with Answer Key PDFs- Check Here
| GATE 2021 Papers/ Subject | GATE 2021 Exam Date | Session/ Slot | GATE 2021 Question Paper Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering (ME)- Slot 1 | February 14 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME)- Slot 2 | February 14 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) | February 7 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Civil Engineering (CE)- Slot 1 | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Civil Engineering (CE)- Slot 2 | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)- Slot 1 | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)- Slot 2 | February 13 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | February 7 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Aerospace Engineering (AE) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Agricultural Engineering (AG) | February 7 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Architecture and Planning (AR) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Biomedical Engineering (BM) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Biotechnology (BT) | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Chemistry (CY) | February 6 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Ecology and Evolution (EY) | February 7 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Geology (GG) | February 7 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Geophysics (GG) | February 7 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Mathematics (MA) | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Mining Engineering (MN) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Metallurgical Engineering (MT) | February 14 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Petroleum Engineering (PE) | February 7 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Physics (PH) | February 6 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) | February 7 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Statistics (ST) | February 7 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) | February 13 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
| Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) | February 7 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Engineering Sciences- Engineering Mathematics (XE) | February 13 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Life Sciences- Chemistry (XL) | February 13 | Afternoon Session | Check Here |
| Humanities & Social Sciences- Economics (XH) | February 14 | Forenoon Session | Check Here |
Also Read
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. What is the Pattern of Paper in GATE 2026?
Ans. The GATE 2026 Exam will follow a CBT Format, in which each exam will have 65 questions for a total of 100 marks, which includes General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Subject-based sections.
| Section | Marks | No. of Questions | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 | 10 | Common to all papers |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 (approx.) | 5–8 | Only in technical papers |
| Subject Questions | 72–85 | 45–50 | Based on the chosen paper |
Ques. Is the GATE 2025 and 2026 Syllabus the Same?
Ans. Currently, the GATE 2026 Syllabus has not been released yet.
- But the GATE 2026 Syllabus is expected to be similar to GATE 2025.
- Some changes can be there in the new subjects.
- Candidates can download the GATE 2026 Syllabus PDF from the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
Ques. What is the Marks Distribution for GATE 2026?
Ans. The Marks distribution followed by GATE 2026 is:
Negative marking will be there in MCQ Questions -⅓ marks deducted for 1 mark questions and -⅔ for 2 mark questions.
| Type of Questions | Marks per Q | Total Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ (1 mark) | 1 | 30 | 30 |
| MCQ (2 marks) | 2 | 20 | 40 |
| NAT/MSQ (varied) | 1 or 2 | 15 | 30 |
| Total | — | 65 | 100 |
Ques. How to Prepare for GATE 2026?
Ans. To prepare for GATE 2026, candidates have to prepare effectively with a proper strategy.
- Candidates should start preparing early, 6–9 months before the exam.
- Candidates should use GATE-specified books like Made Easy, ACE Academy, etc.
- Candidates should solve previous year questions, which will help them solve the repeating topics.
- They should solve the mock test, which will give them real exam conditions.
Ques. Is GATE possible in 3 months?
Ans. Yes, candidates can prepare for GATE in 3 months with a proper strategy.
| Strategy | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| 1st Month | Core concepts + revision of theory |
| 2nd Month | PYQs + Chapter-wise mock tests |
| 3rd Month | Full-length mocks + error correction |
| Daily Commitment | 6–8 hours |
Ques. Who Will Set the GATE 2026 Paper?
Ans. According to the rotational policy followed, the GATE 2026 Exam will be conducted by IIT Guwahati, which has released the exam dates, schedules, and exam pattern.
The previous year conducting body of GATE
| Exam Year | Conducting Institute |
|---|---|
| GATE 2026 | IIT Guwahati |
| GATE 2025 | IIT Roorkee |
| GATE 2024 | IISc Bangalore |
| GATE 2023 | IIT Kanpur |
Ques. Which Are the Top 5 Toughest Engineering Branches in India?
Ans. According to the academic pressure, dropout and difficulty, the top 5 toughest Engineering branches are:
| Rank | Branch | Why It's Tough |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | Extensive math, circuits, signal systems |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | Wide range of topics + tough numericals |
| 3 | Civil Engineering | Lengthy syllabus, high competition in GATE |
| 4 | Chemical Engineering | Complex theory + applied chemistry |
| 5 | Computer Science | Competitive + logic-heavy + fast-paced industry |
Ques. What is the negative marking for GATE 2026?
Ans. As per the GATE 2026 exam pattern, there will be 1-mark and 2-mark questions asked in the examination. There will be a negative marking of ⅓ mark for each incorrect answer of 1 1-mark question and ⅔ marks deducted for each incorrect answer of a 2-mark question.
Ques. What are the total marks in GATE 2026?
Ans. As per the GATE test structure released by IIT Guwahati, students will be required to solve a total of 65 questions. Total marks in GATE that aspirants can score by solving all 65 questions correctly will be 100, with 72 marks in domain subjects, 15 in GATE General Aptitude, and 13 in Mathematics.
Ques. What is the GATE 2026 Question Paper Pattern?
Ans. GATE 2026 will include 3 types of questions asked in the GATE question paper 2026. Candidates appearing for GATE 2026 must be aware of the type of questions and how to answer these questions.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): The GATE question paper will comprise a certain number of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQS). Each question will have 4 options, and only one option will be correct. Selecting any option other than the correct one will lead to negative marking.
Multiple Select Questions: The GATE question paper will also include Multiple Select Questions in which multiple options are correct. Each MSQ will have 4 options, and out of these, one or more options are correct. There will be no negative marking for incorrect MSQs in GATE, and there are no partial marks allotted in GATE 2026.
Numerical Answer Type: In GATE 2026, Numerical Answer Type questions will also be asked, in which students will have to answer the question by typing in the numerical value to answer the question. No negative marking will be applicable on incorrect NAT questions in 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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