GATE 2026: Exam Updates, Admit Card and Key Details
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), is one of the most competitive and widely recognised examinations for engineering and science graduates in India. GATE 2026 is organised by IIT Guwahati and serves as the gateway for admission to postgraduate programmes (M.Tech, M.E., M.S., Ph.D.) at IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc and other centrally funded technical institutions, as well as for PSU recruitment and fellowships from agencies such as DRDO, ISRO, BARC and CSIR.
As of 6 February 2026, the examination process is in its final preparatory phase. Below is a complete overview of the latest official updates, admit-card status, examination schedule, eligibility criteria, syllabus structure, marking scheme, expected cut-off trends and essential guidelines for candidates.
GATE 2026 Examination Schedule & Session Timings
GATE 2026 will be conducted over two consecutive weekends in a computer-based test (CBT) format with multiple sessions per day.
- Test Dates: Saturday 14 February 2026 & Sunday 15 February 2026 Saturday 21 February 2026 & Sunday 22 February 2026
- Session Timings (all times IST):
- Forenoon Session (FN): 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (3 hours)
- Afternoon Session (AN): 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (3 hours)
- Number of papers: 30 (same as 2025)
- Total candidates registered: 9.28 lakh (provisional figure released by IIT Guwahati on 2 February 2026)
Paper codes and session allocations were published on the official GATE 2026 website (gate2026.iitg.ac.in) on 28 January 2026. Popular papers such as Computer Science (CS), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Electrical Engineering (EE), Electronics & Communication (EC) and Civil Engineering (CE) are scheduled across multiple sessions to accommodate the large number of candidates.
Admit Card Release & Download Process
- Admit card release date: 20 January 2026 (already released)
- Download window: Open until the end of the examination (22 February 2026, 5:30 p.m.)
- Official portal: gate2026.iitg.ac.in
Candidates must log in using their Enrollment ID / Email ID and password created during registration. The admit card contains:
- Candidate’s name, photograph, signature
- Roll number, paper code(s), session details
- Examination centre address & reporting time
- Instructions (including prohibited items and COVID-era guidelines, if any)
Candidates are advised to take a colour printout of the admit card and carry a valid photo-ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport or Driving Licence) to the exam centre. No candidate will be allowed entry without a printed admit card and original photo-ID.
Eligibility Criteria Recap
- Qualifying degree — Candidates must hold or be in the final year of B.E./B.Tech/B.Pharm/B.Arch/B.Sc (Research)/M.Sc/MCA or equivalent.
- Age limit — No upper age limit.
- Nationality — Indian nationals as well as candidates from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and UAE are eligible.
- Number of attempts — No restriction on number of attempts.
- Final-year students — Eligible to appear; must submit proof of passing before admission to postgraduate programmes.
Paper Structure, Marking Scheme & Negative Marking
- Duration: 3 hours
- Total marks: 100
- Question types:
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): 1-mark & 2-mark questions
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQ): 1-mark & 2-mark questions (no negative marking)
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT): 1-mark & 2-mark questions (no negative marking)
- Negative marking:
- 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong 1-mark MCQ
- 2/3 mark deducted for each wrong 2-mark MCQ
- No negative marking for MSQ or NAT
- General Aptitude section: 15 marks (common to all papers)
- Core subject section: 85 marks
Candidates can appear in one or two papers (if the combination is permitted). The two-paper combinations for 2026 remain unchanged from 2025.
Expected Cut-off Trends for GATE 2026
Based on difficulty level of previous years, number of candidates and normalisation process, expected qualifying marks (out of 100) for General category:
- Computer Science (CS): 27–30
- Mechanical Engineering (ME): 29–32
- Electrical Engineering (EE): 26–29
- Electronics & Communication (EC): 25–28
- Civil Engineering (CE): 28–31
- Chemical Engineering (CH): 30–33
- Instrumentation (IN): 32–35
- Biotechnology (BT): 31–34
- Physics (PH): 30–33
- Chemistry (CY): 28–31
Cut-offs for OBC-NCL are typically 1–2 marks lower and for SC/ST/PwD approximately 50 % of General category cut-offs.
Important Instructions for Exam Day
- Reporting time: At least 30 minutes before session start
- Prohibited items: Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators (physical or on phone), any study material, pen/pencil (scribble pad provided)
- Allowed items: Admit card, original photo-ID, transparent water bottle (no label), mask (optional)
- Biometric verification: Photograph and thumb impression at entry and exit
- Rough work: Blank pages in question booklet to be used; must be returned at the end
Post-Exam Timeline (Tentative)
- Provisional answer keys: Released 3rd week of February 2026
- Challenge window: 5–7 days after provisional keys
- Final answer keys & response sheets: Late February / early March 2026
- GATE 2026 result declaration: Third week of March 2026
- Scorecard download: From result date till May 2026 (with additional fee after deadline)
Conclusion
GATE 2026 remains the most prestigious and competitive postgraduate entrance examination in engineering and science in India. With admit cards already released, examination centres finalised and mock-test links activated on the portal, candidates are now in the final countdown phase. The two-weekend format, increased number of examination cities (236 in 2026) and continued emphasis on digital evaluation ensure a smooth and transparent process.
Success in GATE opens doors to premier postgraduate programmes, lucrative PSU jobs and research fellowships. Candidates are advised to focus on revision, time-bound mock tests, error analysis and mental conditioning rather than last-minute cramming.
All the best to every GATE 2026 aspirant. Your preparation and perseverance will determine the outcome—stay calm, stay focused and give your best on exam day.
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