GATE 2026 is being organized by IIT Guwahati, and there is some big change announced for the Engineering Sciences (XE) paper, with the inclusion of Energy Science (XE-I) as a new sectional paper. Candidates will now not only have the ability to take a new field of study with this new paper but also have more flexibility to carry out explicit subject selection in the Engineering Sciences area of study.
The exam is scheduled for February in 2026, and it will take place over two shifts, with the commencement of registration beginning on August 25, 2025, via the GATE website. Each GATE 2026 paper has a total score of 100 marks; 15 of which is necessarily attached to the General Aptitude section with the 85 marks attached to the subject specific sections.
The addition of Energy Science as a new sectional component of the exam extends the exam to more content for the exam and will also provide challenges for candidates to adjust to the interdisciplinary content. The important thing for candidates to do before starting to prepare is to read the updated GATE syllabus and prepare a preparation plan to maximize their competitiveness.
GATE 2026 Highlights
Refer to the following table to learn about all the crucial updates regarding GATE exam 2026.
Particulars | Details |
GATE full form | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering |
GATE 2026 Conducted by | Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati |
Exam level | National level exam |
Mode of the GATE exam | Online |
Purpose of GATE 2026 exam | Admission to postgraduate programs like M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D at IITs, IISc, and various other universities and colleges across IndiaPSU recruitment |
Official GATE 2026 exam notification release date | August 5, 2025 |
GATE 2026 exam date | February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026 |
IIT Guwahati GATE 2026 official website |
GATE 2026 Syllabus Overview | All Subjects
Students can check out the GATE syllabus of 2026 for each branch provided in the table below. Students may also read about the Energy Science syllabus below as it is a newly added paper to the GATE examination for 2026 academic year. By learning about the same, candidates may enhance their overall preparation level and modify their preparation strategies accordingly.
Branch / Paper | Main Sections in Syllabus |
Aerospace Engineering (AE) | Engineering Mathematics, Flight Mechanics, Aerodynamics, Structures, Propulsion, Space Dynamics |
Agricultural Engineering (AG) | Engineering Mathematics, Farm Machinery, Soil and Water Conservation, Irrigation, Drainage, Agricultural Processing, Renewable Energy |
Architecture and Planning (AR) | Architecture and Design, Building Materials, Construction and Management, Environmental Planning, Urban Design, History of Architecture, Landscape Design |
Biotechnology (BT) | Engineering Mathematics, General Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Plant & Animal Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA Technology |
Civil Engineering (CE) | Engineering Mathematics, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Geomatics |
Chemical Engineering (CH) | Engineering Mathematics, Process Calculations, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Plant Design |
Computer Science (CS) | Engineering Mathematics, Digital Logic, Computer Organization, Programming, Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Databases, Operating Systems, Computer Networks |
Electronics & Communication (EC) | Engineering Mathematics, Networks, Signals and Systems, Electronic Devices, Analog Circuits, Digital Circuits, Control Systems, Communications, Electromagnetics |
Electrical Engineering (EE) | Engineering Mathematics, Electric Circuits, Electromagnetic Fields, Signals and Systems, Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems, Power Electronics |
Mechanical Engineering (ME) | Engineering Mathematics, Applied Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering |
Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | Engineering Mathematics, Networks, Signals and Systems, Measurement, Analog and Digital Electronics, Control Systems, Process Control |
Metallurgical Engineering (MT) | Engineering Mathematics, Physical Metallurgy, Mechanical Metallurgy, Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena, Manufacturing |
Mining Engineering (MN) | Engineering Mathematics, Surface and Underground Mining, Mine Ventilation, Rock Mechanics, Mine Economics, Mine Planning |
Petroleum Engineering (PE) | Engineering Mathematics, Drilling Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Petroleum Production, Formation Evaluation |
Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) | Engineering Mathematics, General Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research |
Textile Engineering & Fibre Science (TF) | Engineering Mathematics, Textile Fibres, Yarn Manufacture, Fabric Manufacture, Textile Testing |
Engineering Sciences (XE) | Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory), plus two optional sections from topics like Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science, Solid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Polymer Science |
Life Sciences (XL) | Chemistry (Compulsory), plus two optional sections from topics like Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology |
Humanities & Social Sciences (XH) | Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory), plus one optional subject like Economics, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology |
Environmental Science & Engineering (ES) | Environmental Chemistry, Ecology, Environmental Microbiology, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Air Pollution Control |
Statistics (ST) | Probability, Distribution Theory, Statistical Inference, Linear Models, Multivariate Analysis, Sampling Theory, Design of Experiments |
Energy Science (EY) | Energy Conversion Principles, Renewable Energy Sources (Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydro, Geothermal), Energy Storage Systems, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Energy Technologies, Energy Policy and Economics |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026
- The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test mode.
- The duration of the exam is 3 hours.
- There will be 30 papers including the newly introduced Energy Science paper.
- Each paper will have 65 questions.
- The total marks for each paper are 100.
- Question types include MCQs, MSQs, and NAT questions.
- General Aptitude is common in all papers and carries 15 marks.
- The remaining 85 marks are from the subject-specific section.
- Negative marking applies only to MCQs.
- The language of the paper is English.
Also Read: Comprehensive GATE 2026 Exam Pattern Overview
GATE Marking Scheme 2026
- The GATE 2026 paper is of a total of 100 marks.
- General Aptitude carries 15 marks in all papers.
- Subject-specific questions carry 85 marks.
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) have a negative marking of 1/3 mark for each wrong 1-mark question and 2/3 mark for each wrong 2-mark question.
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) have no negative marking.
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions have no negative marking.
- Questions are of 1 mark and 2 marks each.
- The total number of questions in the paper is 65.
Benefit of GATE 2026
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) has provided many opportunities for different groups of people such as incoming engineers and graduate students in science. The advantages of a good GATE result is that it is an entry point into other postgraduate programs like M.Tech, M.E. and Ph.D. in some of the top tier institutes like IITs, NITs, and some IIITs which may also provide scholarships and financial scholarships. GATE is also a qualifying criterion to get short listed for recruitment in top Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like BHEL, ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC in India which provides security and high paying jobs.
GATE is also useful if the candidate goes beyond India because some foreign universities accept GATE scores for admissions to postgraduate degrees. GATE results also can bolster eligibility for Research Fellowships and will recognize their contributions to Indian Organization. GATE score is valid for 3 years so it does allow flexibility for candidates to plan their path for higher studies or career path. In summary, GATE is not only a measure of technical aptitude, but can help solidify and advance their academic, research and industry positions.
Recommended: GATE Registration Begins On 25th August - Know How to Apply Here
