The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has released the official exam schedule for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026. Candidates who have successfully registered and are preparing for the examination can now check the detailed dates.
According to the official notification, the GATE 2026 exam will be conducted on 7,8,14, and 15 February 2026. The exam will take place in two shifts each day, with the morning shift from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and the afternoon shift from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The examination will be held at 235 designated test centres across 8 IIT zones. Candidates are advised to visit the official website of GATE 2026 to check the complete exam schedule and shift timings.
The GATE 2026 is a national-level examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and other IITs on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB) GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and Government of India. The examination helps to assess candidates’ understanding of various engineering, technology, and science subjects. GATE scores are used for admission to PG programs such as ME, MTech, PhD and for recruitment in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
GATE 2026 Exam Dates
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati |
| Organized By | National Coordination Board (NCB) GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Government of India. |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Exam Dates | 7,8,14 and 15 February 2026 |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Shifts | Morning: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Afternoon: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
| Total Exam Centres | 235 |
| Official Website | @gate.iitg.ac.in |
GATE 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Dates |
| Release of the GATE 2026 Notification | August 2025 |
| Start of Online Application Process | 28 August 2025 |
| Last Date to Submit Application Form | 7 October 2025 |
| Admit Card Release Date | January 2026 |
| GATE 2026 Exam Dates | 7,8,14 and 15 February 2026 |
| Answer Key Release Date | NA |
| Result Declaration | 19 March 2026 |
| Scorecard Availability | NA |
GATE 2026 Exam What’s New
- New Subject Paper Added: A new sectional paper under the Engineering Science category, titled Energy Science (XE-1) has been introduced.
- Updated Two-Paper Combination List: Candidates can now select two papers from the updated list of allowed combinations across various disciplines.
- Reduced Application Fee for ST/SC Candidates: The application fee for ST/SC category candidates has been lowered to make the exam more accessible to them.
- Minor Revision in Syllabus: Some subjects have undergone syllabus updates to connect with the latest academic standards.
Updates in Exam Pattern and Marking Schemes
The IIT Guwahati has made a few changes to the GATE 2026 exam pattern and marking scheme to ensure fairness and clarity. The exam will include both MCQs and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. Negative marking will apply only to MCQs, that is, 1/3 mark for a one-mark question and 2/3 mark for a two-mark question. There will be no negative marking for NAT questions. The exam duration remains 3 hours, though the number of questions and marks may vary slightly by paper.
