About GATE 2027 · Guide 1 of 10
About GATE 2027
Dates, vacancies and fees can change. Always confirm on the official website before you apply.
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national computer-based exam that tests your understanding of undergraduate engineering, science and humanities subjects. One good GATE score opens three doors: admission to M.Tech, ME and direct PhD programmes at IITs, NITs and IIITs; jobs at public sector companies (PSUs); and a monthly scholarship during your master's degree.
GATE in one line: a 3-hour online exam, 65 questions, 100 marks — your score stays valid for 3 years.
Who conducts GATE?
GATE is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and seven IITs — Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee — on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. One of these institutes organises the exam each year by rotation and publishes the official website and information brochure.
GATE at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering |
| Level | National |
| Frequency | Once a year (exam in February) |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT) at exam centres |
| Number of papers | 30 test papers |
| Duration | 3 hours per paper |
| Questions / marks | 65 questions, 100 marks (15 General Aptitude + 85 subject) |
| Question types | MCQ, MSQ (multiple select) and NAT (numerical answer) |
| Age limit | None |
| Score validity | 3 years from the date of the result |
| Application portal | GOAPS (GATE Online Application Processing System) |
What is a GATE score used for?
1. M.Tech, ME and PhD admissions
IITs, IISc, NITs, IIITs and many other institutes admit students to postgraduate engineering programmes on the basis of the GATE score. IIT seats are offered through COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal), and most NIT, IIIT and GFTI seats through CCMT (Centralised Counselling for M.Tech).
2. Jobs in public sector companies (PSUs)
Many PSUs — for example IOCL, NTPC, POWERGRID, BHEL, ONGC, GAIL and HPCL — shortlist graduate engineer trainees using GATE scores, usually followed by a group discussion and interview. Each company announces its own recruitment, the papers it accepts and its own cut-off, so watch their career pages after you register for GATE.
3. Scholarship during your master's
GATE-qualified students admitted to AICTE-approved M.Tech/ME programmes can receive a scholarship (currently ₹12,400 per month) for the duration of the course, subject to the institute's rules.
4. Study and research abroad
Some universities in Singapore and Germany, among others, consider GATE scores for admission to master's and doctoral programmes.
The 30 GATE papers
Each paper has a short code. You can appear in one paper or two papers from the list of approved two-paper combinations published in the brochure.
| Code | Paper | Code | Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE | Aerospace Engineering | GG | Geology and Geophysics |
| AG | Agricultural Engineering | IN | Instrumentation Engineering |
| AR | Architecture and Planning | MA | Mathematics |
| BM | Biomedical Engineering | ME | Mechanical Engineering |
| BT | Biotechnology | MN | Mining Engineering |
| CE | Civil Engineering | MT | Metallurgical Engineering |
| CH | Chemical Engineering | NM | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering |
| CS | Computer Science and Information Technology | PE | Petroleum Engineering |
| CY | Chemistry | PH | Physics |
| DA | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | PI | Production and Industrial Engineering |
| EC | Electronics and Communication Engineering | ST | Statistics |
| EE | Electrical Engineering | TF | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science |
| ES | Environmental Science and Engineering | XE | Engineering Sciences |
| EY | Ecology and Evolution | XH | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| GE | Geomatics Engineering | XL | Life Sciences |
The usual GATE year
The exact dates are announced by the organising institute, but the cycle has followed the same rhythm for several years:
- August – September: official website and brochure released, registration opens on GOAPS
- September – October: registration closes (an extended period with a late fee follows)
- Early January: admit cards available on GOAPS
- First two weekends of February: the exam
- Late February: provisional answer keys and the challenge window
- Mid to late March: results; score cards follow shortly after
Always confirm on the official site. Dates, fees, papers and rules can change from year to year. Treat this guide as a clear summary and the GATE 2027 information brochure as the final word.
Where to go next
- Check if you can apply: GATE 2027 Eligibility Criteria
- Understand the paper: GATE Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
- Start preparing: GATE Preparation Strategy and the Branch-wise Preparation Plan