GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering commonly known as GATE is the entrance examination jointly held by the 7 IITs and the IISc Bangalore. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) creates procedures for postgraduate admissions. Each year on rotational basis one of the institute administers GATE.

The GATE examination is for admission to PG programs in engineering (Masters Degree program, both M.E. and M.Tech), science, architecture, technology and related disciplines. The candidates get admission into various sciences and postgraduate engineering programs on the basis of the GATE scores. The GATE score may also be valid for admission to various doctoral degree programs. The GATE scores are also accepted by some public sector undertakings (PSUs) for the screening of potential salaried employees for jobs.

Non-GATE qualified candidates may apply for doctoral degree programs with the necessary postgraduate qualifications in engineering and sciences. The MHRD offers scholarships and assistantships to GATE-qualified candidates. Many institutes and universities request the GATE score for admission to fellowship and research programs. The GATE score is valid for 3 years from the date the results are announced.

GATE Exam Papers

This GATE will be administered in following subject areas. All the papers will be conducted through an online Computer Based Test (CBT).
  • Aerospace Engineering: AE
  • Agricultural Engineering: AG
  • Architecture and Planning: AR
  • Bio-medical Engineering: BM
  • Biotechnology: BT
  • Civil Engineering: CE
  • Chemical Engineering: CH
  • Computer Science and Information Technology: CS
  • Chemistry: CY
  • Electronics and Communication Engineering: EC
  • Electrical Engineering: EE
  • Ecology and Evolution: EY
  • Environmental Science & Engineering: ES
  • Geomatics Engineering: GE
  • Geology and Geophysics: GG
  • Instrumentation Engineering: IN
  • Mathematics: MA
  • Mechanical Engineering: ME
  • Mining Engineering: MN
  • Metallurgical Engineering: MT
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: NM
  • Petroleum Engineering: PE
  • Physics: PH
  • Production and Industrial Engineering: PI
  • Statistics ST
  • Textile Engineering and Fibre Science: TF
  • Engineering Sciences: XE
  • Life Sciences: XL
  • XH (Humanities and Social Sciences) in Economics / English / Linguistics / Philosophy / Psychology / Sociology.
The applicants may appear for not more than one GATE paper.

*XE Paper Sections Code
Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) A
Any two optional sections
Fluid Mechanics B
Materials Science C
Solid Mechanics D
Thermodynamics E
Polymer Science and Engineering F
Food Technology G
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences H

**XL Paper Sections Code
Chemistry (Compulsory) P
Any two optional sections
Biochemistry Q
Botany R
Microbiology S
Zoology T
Food Technology U

*XE (Engineering Sciences) and **XL (Life Sciences) papers are of general nature.

XH Paper Sections Code
Reasoning and Comprehension (Compulsory) B1
Any two optional sections
Economics C1
English C2
Linguistics C3
Philosophy C4
Psychology C5
Sociology C6

GATE Important Dates

Generally GATE scheduled is announced in August and Examination is held in February. For latest GATE schedule see EducationNews.Shiksha

GATE Eligibility Criteria

A candidate currently enrolled for 3 or higher year of any under graduate programme in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Science / Commerce / Arts is eligible to appear for GATE.

GATE Admit card

The GATE admit cards are available for download from December/January. For latest GATE schedule see EducationNews.Shiksha

Given below is the list of photo id are accepted for GATE:
  • Driving license
  • Passport
  • PAN Card
  • Employee identification card
  • Voter ID
  • College ID
  • Notarized affidavit with photo, signature, date of birth and residential address
  • Aadhaar UID
Your photo identification must only be original and the expired copies, scanned copies or photocopies, or are not accepted. The candidates will not be permitted to take GATE without appropriate photo identification. The details of the ID should be included while filling up the online application form.

GATE Exam Pattern

The GATE online examination paper will have some questions, the answers for which are to be entered by the candidate by using the virtual keypad. Other than these, there will also be Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).

Question types
  • Multiple choice questions (MCQ)
  • Numerical answer questions

GATE score

GATE is held throughout the following eight zones constituting IITs and IISc Bangalore. The GATE score is valid for a duration of three years. Scores will be available on the GATE website.
  • Indian Institute of Science-IISc Bangalore
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Bombay
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Delhi
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Guwahati
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Kanpur
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Kharagpur
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Madras
  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Roorkee
  • See exclusive details about IITs, click here.

GATE Application Process

The application process for GATE is online and the last date for submission of the application form is September. The candidate has the right to apply for any of the courses they wish to appear, but it is highly advisable to appear for the subject which goes along with the discipline of his or her degree that they have qualified.

Apart from the GATE guideline, every institution may have their criteria and guidelines; hence the candidate should always cross check before applying for any institution so it is advisable to check before applying.

GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS)

GATE Only permits online application. GATE Online Application Processing System commonly known as GOAPS, is an online interface that works as the mode of interaction between GATE and the applicant. One needs a password and an Enrolment ID of GOAPS to get them login to this interface. The candidates should not disclose or share the password with anyone and it should be kept confidential.

The website helps the GATE candidates to:
  1. Enroll themselves for the examination through the "New User Register Here" button
  2. Guides them to fill up the online GATE application form
  3. Helps uploading the scanned copies of candidate's signature and photograph
  4. Through this system the candidate can also pay their application fees by using net-banking provision or through Challan via the Syndicate Bank or State Bank of India
  5. One can also track the status of their online application
  6. The candidates can contact the GATE zonal office if there is any problem or query
  7. They can download their admit card before the examination
  8. Finally get the GATE scores and the marks obtained by the candidate

How to fill GATE Online Application Form

Getting enrolled is the first step for filling up the GATE online application form. The candidates need to provide an active mobile number, email id and a GOAPS password for enrollment. All the communications are done through SMSs and emails, so one need to ensure that the contact details provided them are correct.

It is very essential to remember the GOAPS password and ID which needs to be provided after the registration via SMS and email. For further communication with the GATE office, this ID is used.

Information required

The candidate should have the following information with them, before logging into the GOAPS interface:
  1. Candidate’s personal information that includes his/her DOB, name, parent's name, personal mobile number, parent's mobile number.
  2. The candidate’s complete address with PIN code for further communication
  3. The details of the eligibility degree that will include the address along with PIN code of the college that they have attended
  4. The exam discipline and the choice of the examination centers for GATE in their cities
  5. The candidate should provide a photograph of good quality
  6. The signature of the candidate which should be of good quality
  7. Details of a valid ID proof and the same id should be carried in for the GATE examination
  8. If in case of fee payment online, Net-Banking login and password.
  9. If in case of challan, challan details may be required.

GATE Application fee

The GATE application fee is non-refundable and the amount varies as per mode of payment that the student has opted for. The candidate can use e-challan or net banking (any bank Debit/ATM Card, Credit Card, Net Banking). Depending upon the bank you're using, additional bank charges may be applicable. As per State Bank of India (SBI) and Axis Bank the following are the charges that the candidates need to pay

For Examination Centres in India
Female candidates: 850 (Regular fee) and 1350 (During the Extended Period)
SC/ST/PwD* category candidates: 850 (Regular Fee) and 1350 (During the Extended Period)
All other candidates: 1700 (Regular Fee) and 2200 (During the Extended Period)

For Examination Centres in Foreign Countries (All Candidates)
Addis Ababa, Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu: US$ 100 (Regular Fee) and US$ 150 (During the Extended Period)
Dubai and Singapore: US$ 250 (Regular fee) and US$ 250 (During the Extended Period)

Note: The above mentioned does not include the processing fees, service charges and any other charges that the banks may levy.

GATE Exam Centers

Find below the list of GATE examination centers. The students get a chance to choose three possible examination centres as per their preference. The first and the second test city must be of the same zone.

Zonal GATE Office

  • IISc Bangalore
    Bangalore - 560 012
    Website: gate.iisc.ernet.in

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Alappuzha, Aluva, Ananthapur, Attingal, Bagalkot, Bangalore, Bellary, Belgaum, Bidar, Chengannur, Davengere, Gulbarga, Hassan, Hubli, Idukki, Kannur, Kanjirapally, Kasargod, Kolar, Kollam, Kothamangalam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kurnool, Malappuram, Mangalore, Manipal, Muvattupuzha, Mysore, Nedumangad, Pala, Palakkad, Payyannur, Port Blair, Punalur, Shimoga, Thrissur, Tumkur and Vadakara

  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Bombay,
    Powai, Mumbai - 400 076
    Website: www.gate.iitb.ac.in

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Ahmedabad, Ahmednagar, Amravati, Anand, Aurangabad, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Gandhinagar, Goa, Hyderabad, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mehsana, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Rajkot, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Secunderabad, Solapur, Surat, Thane and Vadodara

  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT
    Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016
    Website: www.iitd.ac.in/gate

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Ajmer, Alwar, Bahadurgarh, Bikaner, New Delhi, Delhi-NCR, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar-Rohtak, Indore, Jammu, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Karnal, Kota, Mathura, Palwal, Samba, Sikar, Udaipur-Chittorgarh and Ujjain

  • Indian Institute of Technology
    IIT Guwahati 781039
    Website: www.iitg.ernet.in/gate

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Agartala, Asansol-Durgapur, Dhanbad, Gangtok, Guwahati, Imphal, Jorhat, Kalyani, Patna, Silchar, Siliguri, Shillong and Tezpur

  • Indian Institute of Technology IIT, Kanpur, Kanpur – 208016
    Website: www.iitk.ac.in/gate

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Bareilly, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi

  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Kharagpur
    Kharagpur – 721302
    Website: gate.iitkgp.ac.in

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Balasore, Berhampur (Odisha), Bhilai, Bhimavaram, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur(CG), Cuttack, Eluru, Hooghly, Jamshedpur, Kakinada, Kharagpur, Kolkata, Raipur, Rajahmundry, Ranchi, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Tadepalligudem, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram

  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Madras
    Chennai – 600036
    Website: gate.iitm.ac.in

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Angamaly , Bapatla, Chennai North, Chennai South, Chittoor, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Ernakulam, Erode, Gudur, Guntur, Kadapa, Kanyakumari, Karimnagar, Karur, Khammam, Madurai, Nagercoil, Nalgonda, Namakkal, Nellore, Ongole, Puducherry (Pondicherry), Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchengode, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Tirupati, Tuticorin, Vellore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar and Warangal

  • Indian Institute of Technology-IIT, Roorkee
    Roorkee – 247667
    Website: www.iitr.ac.in/gate

    Tentative List of Examination Cities for GATE
    Ambala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Chandigarh-Mohali-Fatehgarh Sahib, Dehradun, Ghaziabad, Haldwani-Bhimtal, Hamirpur (HP)-Una, JalandharPhagwara, Kurukshetra, Ludhiana-Moga, Meerut, Moradabad, Noida, Panchkula, Panipat, Pathankot, Patiala-Sangrur, Roorkee-Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Sirmaur, Solan-Shimla, Sonepat and Yamunanagar.

GATE Preparation Books

The most important thing to remember while preparing for your GATE entrance exam is to have the right choice of books and study materials. Given below is the list of some GATE books that will help a student to score excellent marks in the GATE exam:

GATE books for Computer Science & Engineering & Information Technology

  • Data Structure & Algorithm in C - Mark Allen Weiss
  • Operating Systems – Galvin
  • Discrete Mathematical Structures with applications to Computer Science - Tremblay and Manohar
  • DBMS - Ramakrishnan and Gerke
  • Digital Electronics - Morris Mano
  • TOC – Ullman
  • A Practitioner's Approach - Roger Pressman

GATE books for Civil Engineering

  • Civil Engineering by B S Reddy,
  • CPWD Civil Engineering from GK Publications

GATE books for Electrical Engineering

  • Electrical Machinery by PS Bimbhra
  • Signal & System - Simon Hykin & Barry Van Veen
  • Network Analysis -Van Valkenburg
  • Electronic devices and circuit Millman & Halkias

GATE books for Electronics and Communication Engineering

  • Electronic devices and circuits by Millman and Halkias,
  • Digital Electronics by Morris Mano,
  • Signal and Systems Simon Haykin,
  • Modern Control system by Ogata,
  • Communication System by Simon Haykin

GATE books for Mechanical Engineering

  • Engineering Mechanics Vol. I & Vol. II - Meriam & Kraige
  • Strength of Materials - Pytel & Singer
  • Engineering Thermodynamics - P K Nag
  • Fluid Mechanics - K Z Schaffe
  • Heat transfer - DS Kumar
  • Production Engineering - R K Jain

GATE books for Instrumentation Engineering

  • Signal & System - Simon Hykin & Barry Van Veen
  • Control System Engg - Nagrath & Gopal
  • Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation - AK Sawhney
  • Communication systems - Simon Hykin

GATE Preparation Tips

The Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering commonly known as GATE is one of the most important engineering entrance exams in India. The test is very challenging and one needs to have a proper planning while preparing for the exam. A good and proper preparation can help you give your best shot in GATE exams. The candidate also needs to make a proper choice of stream, which will help you score high and secure a good rank which will help you get admitted in a premier engineering college for M. Tech.

Find below few tips to preparing for GATE Exams:
  • The preparation for GATE exam must start well ahead of the examination date. Plan the study time according to your convenience. If you are working or a student, at least take out 5 to 8 hours a week for preparing GATE. This means that your preparation should start well ahead of the exam date.

  • The candidates should get their basics of everything clear which will help them to understand the questions easily. All the topic that are included in the GATE syllabus should be covered by the candidate.

  •  Solving past years question papers helps a lot while preparing for GATE exams. Once the question papers become friendly for the candidate it becomes easier for them to tackle any kind of GATE questions.

  • Be it Maths or any subject, the candidate should try to go deep into the matter. Doing this will give confidence to the candidate to go beyond the syllabus if time permits.

  • Revision is the most important thing while preparing for GATE exam. Revising again and again will keep refreshing your memory of all the studies that you've done over the last few months.

  • Get guidance on a particular topic or the whole subject can always be fruitful. If you feel that you have confusion on something then don’t waste time and just enrolled to a coaching institute which will help you understand the concepts better.

  • You may sometime feel that you have not prepared enough or you may forget, and the best tip of overcome this is to utilize the time in revising that will also help you to get back the confidence level.

GATE Contact Details

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560 012
Phone: 080-2293 2392
Fax: 080-2360 1227
Email: gate@gate.iisc.ac.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400 076
Phone: 022-2576 7068
Email: gateoffice@iitb.ac.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016
Phone: 011-2659 1749
Email: gate@admin.iitd.ernet.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati, Guwahati 781 039
Phone: 0361-258 2751
Fax: 0361-258 2755
Email: gate@iitg.ac.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Kanpur, Kanpur 208 016
Phone: 0512-259 7412
Email: gate@iitk.ac.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302
Phone: 03222-282091
Email: gate@adm.iitkgp.ac.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Madras, Chennai 600 036
Phone: 044-2257 8200
Email: gate@iitm.ac.in

Chairperson, GATE
Indian Institute of Technology
Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667
Phone: 01332-284531
Email: gate@iitr.ac.in

For more information about GATE browse through the official website https://gate.iitk.ac.in/

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