GATE
IISc Banglore and seven IITs (at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee) on a rotational basis, on behalf of NCB-GATE, organize a national-level entrance exam known as the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). The GATE exam's main goal is to get you into M.Tech./Ph.D. programs at IITs, NITs, and other colleges that participate. Public sector companies also use GATE scores to find Graduate Engineers for entry-level positions.
Is the GATE exam hard? In India, GATE is regarded as one of the most competitive entrance exams. The exam is taken by over 9 lakh people each year. In addition, the exam's once-a-year schedule and extensive syllabus further raise the difficulty level. Each year, only 16 to 18 percent of the approximately 9 lakh applicants pass the exam. Candidates can, however, pass the exam with the right preparation and resources. Engineering in computer science, mechanical engineering, and civil engineering are among the most frequently used GATE streams.
GATE Highlights
| Who will conduct GATE exam? | IIT Kanpur |
| When can I apply for GATE exam? | August 30, to October 7, (without any late fee) |
| Are 3rd year candidates eligible for GATE exam? | Yes, 3rd year candidates can also apply for GATE exam |
| Does GATE exam have a negative marking? | Yes |
| How many attempts are there for GATE exam? | Unlimited |
| Can I write two GATE papers? | Yes, Candidates can choose more than 1 paper code for appearing in GATE |
| Is there any age limit for GATE exam? | No, there is no age limit criteria in GATE. |
| Is GATE exam held twice a year? | No, GATE is held only once in the month of February every year |
GATE Organizing Institute (OI)
GATE Organizing Institute is IIT Kanpur. The institute is responsible for the overall coordination among the eight administering institutes. Previously, IIT Kanpur conducted the GATE exam in 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007, and 2015. The GATE exam is conducted jointly by IISc Banglore and seven IITs (at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee). One of these administering institutes is designated as GATE Organizing Institute (OI).
GATE Eligibility Criteria
GATE Eligibility Criteria is released along with the information brochure. Candidates can meanwhile check the basic GATE Eligibility Criteria from the section below. Candidate who is currently in the third year of their graduation or has completed their graduation are eligible to apply for the exam.
| Column1 | Column2 |
| Particulars | GATE Eligibility Criteria |
| Minimum Qualification | 10+2+3 |
| Degree Requirement | Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/ Technology/ Arts/ Commerce or Post Graduation in a relevant discipline |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit |
| Nationality | Indian or Foreign/ NRIs |
GATE Eligibility Criteria: Academic Qualification
| Qualifying Degree | Qualifying Degree/Examination | Description of eligible candidates | Expected Year of Completion |
| B.E./B.Tech/B.Pharm. Students | Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc. / Diploma in Engineering / Technology) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher grade or already completed. | 2024 |
| B.Arch Students | Bachelor’s degree of Architecture (5-year course) / Naval Architecture (4-year course) / Planning (4- year course) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher grade or already completed. | 2025 (for the 5-year program) 2024 (for the 4-year program) |
| B.Sc. (Research) Students | Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/4 years after 10+2) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher grade or already completed. | 2024 |
| Pharm. D. (after 10+2) | 6 years degree program, consisting of internship or residency training, during third year onwards | Currently in the 3rd /4th / 5th / 6th year or already completed | 2026 |
| M.B.B.S. | Degree holders of M.B.B.S. and those who are in the 5th / 6th / 7th semester or higher semester of such program | 5th, 6th, 7th, or higher semester or already completed. | 2024 |
| M.Sc., MA, MCA or Equivalent | Master’s degree in any branch of Arts/Science/Mathematics/Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent | Currently in the first year or higher or already Completed | 2024 |
| Integrated M.E./M.Tech (Post B.Sc.) | Post-B.Sc Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering/ Technology (4-year program) | Currently in the 1st / 2nd /3rd /4th year or already completed | 2026 |
| Int. M.E./M.Tech. or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) | Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5-year program) | Currently in the 3rd /4th / 5th year or already completed | 2025 |
| B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com. | Bachelor degree in any branch of Science / Arts / Commerce (3 years program) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed | |
| Integrated M.Sc, Integrated B.S./M.S. | Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S.-M.S. program | Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed | 2025 |
| Degree from Professional Society Examination (equivalent to B.E/B.Tech/B.Arch) | B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognized by MoE/UPSC/AICTE | Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses | NA |
GATE Eligibility Criteria for International Students
• International students living in countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Shri Lanka, Singapore, Ethiopia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) can also appear for GATE.
• Such students must have completed or pursuing final year studies or are in the pre-final year of their bachelor’s degree in engineering and technology or equivalent.
• For, the GATE exam was canceled at international exam centers. Interested international students were required to appear for the exam at cities in India due to COVID-19. However, details regarding GATE international exam centers will be updated only after the release of the information brochure. Candidates must visit the website again after the release of the notification for any recent updates.
GATE Application Form
The GATE Application Form window for regular and late fee payments has now closed.After paying the late fee, candidates can complete their GATE exam registration on the official website via GATE Login-GOAPS (GATE Online Application Processing System). The application fee for women, SC/ST/PwD candidates is INR 1550, while the late fee for all other candidates is INR 2200.
GATE Registration Fee
Candidates appearing for GATE need to pay an application fee online through a net banking facility/credit card or debit card only. GATE application fee is neither refundable nor transferrable. The GATE Application Form mentioned in the table below is the fee for a single paper. Candidates applying for two papers must pay double the amount.
| Category | Normal Application Fee | Late Application Fee |
| Women | INR 850 | INR 1550 |
| SC/ ST/ PwD | INR 850 | INR 1550 |
| All Other Candidates (including International applicants) | INR 1700 | INR 2200 |
GATE Application Fee for Centers Outside India
GATE is scheduled to be conducted at 4 exam centers outside India. Candidates applyfing for the exam outside India need to pay the application fee in USD. GATE Application Fee for centers outside India is the same for all candidates.
| Category | Normal Application Fee | Late Application Fee |
| Group 1: Dhaka & Kathmandu | USD 100 | USD 150 |
| Group 2: Dubai & Singapore | USD 200 | USD 250 |
GATE Documents Required & Photo-size Guidelines
GATE exam aspirants are required to upload scanned documents while registering for the exam. These documents must be uploaded as per the guidelines shared by GATE Organising Institute. Candidates can check the list of documents required while filling GATE Application Form along with the documentation guidelines
| Particulars | Dimensions | Size and Other Specifications | Uploading Format of Documents |
| Passport size photograph in the white background | 5 kb -200 kb | 3.5 cm Width × 4.5 cm Height with 60% - 70% of Face Coverage | In JPEG / JPG format |
| Pixels Range from 240x320 – 480×640 | |||
| Signature in running handwriting | 5 kb-200 kb | Area of signature must cover 70-80% of the image. | |
| Pixels Range from 80×280 – 160×560 | |||
| Sign with black or dark blue color ink only. | |||
| Photo ID Proof | NA | NA | PDF Format |
| Category Certificate wherever applicable | NA | NA | |
| PwD Certificate wherever applicable | NA | NA | |
| Certificate of Dyslexia | NA | NA |
GATE Exam Pattern
• GATE Exam Pattern is different for each of the 29 papers. Candidates get 3 hours to answer all the questions in the GATE exam. The exam is conducted online as a computer-based test.
• GATE question paper consists of 65 questions carrying total marks of 100.
• Candidates can check the overall GATE Exam Pattern in the table below-
| Feature | Description |
| GATE Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| GATE Exam Language | English |
| GATE Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| GATE Sectional Time Limit | None |
| GATE Total Marks | 100 |
| GATE Total Number of questions | 65 |
| GATE Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ); |
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