GATE 2026

Exam: 07-15 Feb 2026 — Results | Deadline: Oct 2025 | Mode: CBT (Center-based) | IITs, IISc & PSUs

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When Is GATE 2026? Key Dates & Deadlines

Application Start

Aug 2025 (Closed)

Application Deadline

Oct 2025 (Closed)

Exam Date

07-15 Feb 2026 (Concluded) — Results Declared

Mode
CBT (Center-based)

Which Colleges Accept GATE 2026 Scores?

Top institutes accepting GATE scores:

Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
#1 (Research)
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
#3
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
#2
New Delhi, Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
#8 (Organizing Inst)
Guwahati, Assam
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
#1
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
#5
Kharagpur, West Bengal
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
#4
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
#6
Roorkee, Uttarakhand

What Is GATE 2026? (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

GATE 2026 exam date is 07-15 Feb 2026 (Concluded) — Results Declared; application deadline is Oct 2025 (Closed); exam mode is CBT (Center-based). GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a major entrance examination for admission to IITs, IISc & PSUs. It is conducted annually for 2026 admissions across participating institutions in India.

The application process opens from Aug 2025 (Closed) and the last date to apply is Oct 2025 (Closed). Candidates are advised to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues. All applications must be submitted online through the official portal. Keep your academic documents, photograph, and signature ready before starting the registration process.

GATE scores are accepted by 8 institutes across India, including Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. The complete list of participating institutions includes: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra); Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi); Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (Guwahati, Assam); Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (Kharagpur, West Bengal); Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh); Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand). Candidates will be allotted seats based on their rank in the entrance exam along with the counselling process.

For the most current and accurate information on GATE 2026 — including admit card release, syllabus, exam-day instructions, answer key, and result announcement — candidates should regularly check the official website at https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/. Bookmark the page and set reminders for key dates to avoid missing any deadlines.

Candidates planning ahead for GATE 2027 and GATE 2028 should note that this exam is conducted annually, with the schedule typically following the same academic calendar each year. Eligibility norms, exam pattern, and participating institutes generally remain consistent across cycles. Bookmark this page — it will be updated with verified GATE 2027 dates and application details as soon as the official notification is released.

How to Apply for GATE 2026

  1. Visit the Official Website — Go to GATE official website and click Apply Online or New Registration.
  2. Register and Create Account — Enter your name, email, and mobile number. Verify via OTP.
  3. Fill the Application Form — Complete personal details, educational qualifications, exam city preferences, and category information.
  4. Upload Documents — Upload your passport-size photograph, signature, and Class 10/12 mark sheets as per specifications.
  5. Pay the Application Fee — Pay online via card, net banking, or UPI before Oct 2025 (Closed). Save the payment receipt.
  6. Submit and Download Confirmation — Review, submit, and download your confirmation page. The admit card will be released before the exam (07-15 Feb 2026 (Concluded) — Results Declared).

Frequently Asked Questions – GATE 2026 & 2027

The GATE 2026 exam is scheduled for 07-15 Feb 2026 (Concluded) — Results Declared. The exam is conducted in CBT (Center-based) mode. Candidates must download their admit card from the official website before the exam. Check the official website for any last-minute schedule updates.

The last date to apply for GATE 2026 is Oct 2025 (Closed). The application window opened from Aug 2025 (Closed). Apply well before the closing date to avoid server congestion. Ensure fee payment and document upload are completed before the deadline, as late applications are typically not accepted.

GATE 2026 scores are accepted by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra); Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi). In total, 8 institutes participate in the GATE admissions process. Candidates must check each institute's individual cutoff and eligibility criteria on the official counselling portal.

The GATE 2026 application form opened/opens from Aug 2025 (Closed). Registration is online through the official portal. You need a valid email ID, mobile number, and scanned copies of your photograph and signature. Submit the form with the required application fee before Oct 2025 (Closed).

To apply for GATE 2026, candidates typically need: a valid email ID and mobile number, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, a recent passport-size photograph, a scanned signature, and a government-issued photo ID. Reserved category candidates may also need caste/category certificates. Always refer to the official notification for the exact and updated document checklist.

GATE 2026 is conducted in CBT (Center-based) mode. Candidates appear at designated centres across India. Admit cards must be downloaded from the official website and carried to the exam hall along with a valid photo ID.

The GATE 2027 notification and schedule are expected to follow the same annual cycle, typically announced in late 2026 or early 2027. Based on historical patterns, the application window usually opens several months before the exam. Candidates preparing for the 2027 cycle should bookmark this page — it will be updated with verified GATE 2027 dates, application deadlines, and eligibility details as soon as the official notification is published at the official website.

More Questions About GATE & Related Exams

Session 1 (Jan 21-30) allows early attempts while boards are ongoing. Session 2 (Apr 2-9) gives time to improve after boards. You can appear for one or both - best score is considered for ranking. Most toppers attempt both for safety.

Focus on JEE Main first as it covers 90% of the syllabus for other exams. Private exams like BITSAT (April), VITEEE (Mar-Apr), and SRMJEEE (Apr) often have overlapping content. Apply to 3-5 backup options based on your JEE mock scores.

MHT-CET (Maharashtra) follows state board syllabus with PCM+PCB combined. KCET (Karnataka) includes 1st and 2nd PUC syllabus. WBJEE (West Bengal) has slightly different weightage. AP EAPCET and TS EAMCET closely follow respective state boards.

For top 10 NITs (CS/IT): 98-99+ percentile. For core branches at top NITs: 95-97 percentile. Top IIITs (IIIT-H, IIIT-D): 98+ percentile. Home state quota gives significant advantage - plan accordingly.

Yes. BITSAT, VITEEE, MET are completely independent exams. BITS Pilani doesn't consider JEE scores at all. VIT and Manipal also conduct their own exams. Several students secure these seats even with moderate JEE performance.

No late registration is allowed for JEE Advanced. Top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualified candidates must register within the tight window (usually 10-14 days). Missing this means no IIT admission for that year. Set multiple reminders.

Yes, but with caution. CSAB Special Rounds fill vacant seats in NITs/IIITs/GFTIs. Cutoffs often drop significantly, offering a chance for lower rankers. However, it's risky—you must be willing to lose your partial admission fee if you don't take the allotted seat.

The 75% aggregate in Class 12 boards (or top 20 percentile) is mandatory for admission to NITs, IIITs, and IITs, even for droppers. If you missed this, consider independent universities (VIT, BITS, Thapar) which have their own criteria.

JEE Main: You can attempt in 3 consecutive years after Class 12, with 2 sessions per year — giving you up to 6 attempts total. JEE Advanced: Only 2 attempts in consecutive years. Droppers must use these carefully — plan both sessions from the first year itself.

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) runs 6 rounds of counselling for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs using your JEE ranks. You fill in course preferences in order of priority, and seats are allotted based on rank and availability. Accepting a seat requires paying a partial fee. You can upgrade in later rounds. Missing any round deadline forfeits your allotment.

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