GATE 2027: Notification, Registration, Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Apply Online

The GATE 2027 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is the national-level examination for candidates seeking admission to postgraduate and doctoral programmes in Engineering, Technology, Science, Architecture, Humanities and related disciplines. The examination also provides opportunities for recruitment in several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) that use GATE scores as part of their recruitment process.

For GATE 2027, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is the Organizing Institute. The examination will be conducted jointly by IISc and the IITs on behalf of the National Coordination Board (GATE), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The GATE 2027 registration process is scheduled to begin on August 14, 2026. Candidates can submit applications without a late fee until September 21, 2026, while the extended application window with a late fee will remain open until September 30, 2026. The examination will be conducted on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027.

GATE 2027 Overview

Here are the important details candidates should know before starting their preparation.

The official website notes that the announced dates are liable to change, so candidates should monitor the GATE 2027 portal for updates.

GATE 2027 Eligibility

The eligibility rules for GATE 2027 are relatively broad compared with many entrance examinations.

Candidates currently studying in the third year or higher of any government-approved undergraduate programme in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts or Humanities are eligible to appear for GATE 2027.

Candidates who have already completed a qualifying degree are also eligible, subject to the applicable requirements.

Age Limit

There is no age limit for GATE 2027.

Candidates can also appear for GATE any number of times because there is no restriction on the number of attempts.

Candidates should, however, check the eligibility requirements of the particular postgraduate programme or PSU for which they intend to use their GATE score. Qualifying for GATE by itself does not guarantee admission or employment.

GATE 2027 Qualification

Students pursuing undergraduate programmes in the following broad areas can appear for GATE 2027:

• Engineering
• Technology
• Architecture
• Science
• Commerce
• Arts
• Humanities

Students in the third year or higher of a government-approved programme are eligible according to the official GATE 2027 FAQ.

Candidates should select a GATE paper that is appropriate to their qualifying degree and intended admission pathway. The official rules allow candidates to choose one or up to two papers, but the second paper must be selected from the permitted two-paper combinations.

GATE 2027 Application Fee

The GATE 2027 application fee depends on the candidate’s category and whether the application is submitted during the regular or extended period.

The fee shown above is per test paper. Candidates appearing for two papers must pay twice the applicable fee. Additional payment-processing or service charges may also apply.

SC/ST/PwD candidates seeking the applicable fee concession must provide the required category documentation. OBC-NCL and EWS candidates do not need to upload a category certificate during the GATE application process for the fee concession rules specified by GATE.

GATE 2027 Important Dates

Candidates preparing for GATE should mark the following dates on their calendar.

The GATE 2027 website currently lists January 4, 2027 for the city-allotment notification and March 19, 2027 for the result. The exact admit-card download date is to be announced.

GATE 2027 Selection Process

GATE itself is an entrance and assessment examination rather than a direct recruitment examination.

Candidates first register for the examination and appear for their selected paper. After the examination, GATE results and scorecards are released.

A valid GATE score can subsequently be used for:

• M.Tech and other master’s programmes
• Direct Ph.D. programmes
• Doctoral programmes
• Financial assistance in eligible programmes
• Recruitment processes conducted by certain PSUs

Admission and recruitment are handled separately by the respective institutes or organizations. Therefore, a GATE qualification does not automatically guarantee admission, scholarship or a PSU job.

GATE 2027 Exam Pattern

The GATE 2027 examination is a Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted in English. Each paper carries 100 marks and the standard examination duration is 3 hours.

The question types are:

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)
• Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

The examination tests abilities such as recall, comprehension, application, analysis and synthesis.

For most papers, the examination consists of 15 marks of General Aptitude, 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics and 72 marks of subject questions. Some papers have different distributions, particularly Architecture and Planning, Geomatics Engineering, Geology and Geophysics, Robotics & Automation, Engineering Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences and Life Sciences.

Negative Marking

Negative marking applies only to incorrect MCQ responses:

• 1-mark MCQ: 1/3 mark deducted
• 2-mark MCQ: 2/3 mark deducted

There is no negative marking for MSQ or NAT questions, and MSQ questions do not have partial marking.

GATE 2027 Syllabus

One of the important changes in GATE 2027 is the introduction of the Robotics & Automation (RA) paper. The official website also states that the syllabi for the GATE 2027 test papers have been revised. Candidates should therefore download the 2027 syllabus instead of relying entirely on an older GATE syllabus.

GATE 2027 has 30 test papers:

A candidate can appear for one or up to two test papers, subject to the officially permitted two-paper combinations.

New Robotics & Automation Paper

The introduction of Robotics & Automation (RA) is a major change for GATE 2027.

The RA paper contains a common Part A along with an option between Electrical and Mechanical sections during the examination. It carries 100 marks in total, including 15 marks for General Aptitude.

Candidates interested in robotics, automation, control and related interdisciplinary areas should carefully review the new official RA syllabus before selecting the paper.

GATE 2027 Salary and Financial Assistance

GATE is not a salary-based recruitment examination, so there is no fixed GATE 2027 salary.

However, a qualifying GATE score can help candidates obtain financial assistance while pursuing eligible postgraduate and doctoral programmes.

According to the official GATE 2027 opportunities page, financial assistance for eligible M.Tech students is ₹12,400 per month, generally for 22 months. For eligible direct Ph.D. programmes, the stated financial assistance is ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month from the third to fifth year, subject to the applicable rules.

GATE scores are also used by several PSUs in their recruitment processes. However, each PSU conducts recruitment according to its own eligibility conditions, vacancies and selection procedure.

GATE 2027 Required Documents

Candidates should keep the required information and documents ready before starting the application.

Depending on the candidate’s circumstances, the application may require:

• Recent passport-size colour photograph
• Candidate’s signature
• Valid photo ID
• Category certificate, where applicable
• PwD/benchmark disability documentation, where applicable
• Educational qualification details
• Other documents or information specified in the application portal

For Indian candidates, accepted identification documents include Aadhaar-UID, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID and Driving Licence. The same ID specified in the application should be carried as required for examination entry.

The official photograph requirements specify a colour passport-size photograph measuring 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, with the candidate’s face occupying approximately 60–70% of the photograph and a white background.

How to Apply for GATE 2027

The GATE 2027 application will be submitted online through the official GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS).

Candidates can follow these general steps:

1. Visit the official GATE 2027 website.
2. Open the GOAPS application portal when registration begins.
3. Complete the registration using the required personal details.
4. Enter educational qualification information.
5. Select the GATE paper or permitted two-paper combination.
6. Select examination cities as instructed.
7. Upload the photograph, signature and required documents.
8. Review the application carefully.
9. Pay the applicable application fee.
10. Submit the application.
11. Save the application confirmation and payment details.

Candidates should submit only one application form. If they want to appear for a second paper, the additional paper should be added to the same application where permitted rather than creating another application. Multiple applications can lead to rejection of additional applications without a refund.

Important Links

Candidates should use the official GATE 2027 website of IIT Madras for registration, syllabus downloads, examination updates and other official announcements. 

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