What is GATE?
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all India entrance Examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee). It is conducted every year in the month of February.The GATE Score/Rank is mandatory for admission into and/or financial assistance to Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering/Technology/Architecture in IISc, IITs and other prestigious Institutes / Universities in India. The GATE Score is also used by many PSUs for the recruitment of candidates into prestigious jobs with attractive salary packages. Some of the PSUs which use GATE score for providing jobs include BARC, BHEL, IOCL, HPCL, NTPC, Powergrid, NHPC etc.
GATE is an exam that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of the candidate in various undergraduate subjects in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Science / Commerce / Arts. The GATE score reflects the relative performance level of the candidate in a particular subject. GATE score is valid for THREE years.
GATE Exam is conducted in 29 subjects shown in the table below:
Exam Paper | General |
Aerospace Engineering | AE |
Agricultural Engineering | AG |
Architecture and Planning | AR |
Biotechnology | BT |
Bio-Medical Engineering | BM |
Civil Engineering | CE |
Chemical Engineering | CH |
Computer Science & Information Technology | CS |
Chemistry | CY |
Electronics and Communication Engineering | EC |
Electrical Engineering | EE |
Ecology & Evolution | EY |
Geology and Geophysics | GG |
Geomatics Engineering | GE |
Exam Paper | General |
Instrumentation Engineering | IN |
Mathematics | MA |
Mechanical Engineering | ME |
Mining Engineering | MN |
Metallurgical Engineering | MT |
Petroleum Engineering | PE |
Physics | PH |
Production and Industrial Engineering | PI |
Statistics | ST |
Life Sciences | XL |
Engineering Sciences | XE |
Environmental Science & Engineering | ES |
Humanities & Social Sciences |
XH |
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering |
NM |
GATE Exam Organizing Institutes (Year-wise)
Organizing Institute | Organizing Year |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-2024 |
IIT, Kanpur | GATE-2023 |
IIT, Kharagpur | GATE-2022 |
IIT, Bombay | GATE-2021 |
IIT, Delhi | GATE-2020 |
IIT, Madras | GATE-2019 |
IIT, Guwahati | GATE-2018 |
IIT, Roorkee | GATE-2017 |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-2016 |
IIT, Kanpur | GATE-2015 |
IIT, Kharagpur | GATE-2014 |
IIT, Bombay | GATE-2013 |
IIT, Delhi | GATE-2012 |
IIT, Madras | GATE-2011 |
IIT, Guwahati | GATE-2010 |
IIT, Roorkee | GATE-2009 |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-2008 |
IIT, Kanpur | GATE-2007 |
IIT, Kharagpur | GATE-2006 |
IIT, Bombay | GATE-2005 |
IIT, Delhi | GATE-2004 |
Organizing Institute | Organizing Year |
IIT, Madras | GATE-2003 |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-2002 |
IIT, Kanpur | GATE-2001 |
IIT, Kharagpur | GATE-2000 |
IIT, Bombay | GATE-1999 |
IIT, Delhi | GATE-1998 |
IIT, Madras | GATE-1997 |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-1996 |
IIT, Kanpur | GATE-1995 |
IIT, Kharagpur | GATE-1994 |
IIT, Bombay | GATE-1993 |
IIT, Delhi | GATE-1992 |
IIT, Madras | GATE-1991 |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-1990 |
IIT, Kanpur | GATE-1989 |
IIT, Kharagpur | GATE-1988 |
IIT, Bombay | GATE-1987 |
IIT, Delhi | GATE-1986 |
IIT, Madras | GATE-1985 |
IISc, Bangalore | GATE-1984 |
Eligibility Criteria for GATE 2024
- Anyone who has successfully completed 10+2+2 or 10+3+1 and currently studying in in 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program OR has already graduated in any government approved degree program in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Science / Commerce / Arts
Maximum Two papers in GATE 2024
- Candidates can appear either in ONE (like earlier years) or maximum TWO papers in GATE 2023. The second paper must be from the given set of combinations (mentioned in information brochure) available for this year, based on the availability of infrastructure and date. So some branches may NOT get second paper option. Details will be available soon in the Information Brochure.
Code of The First (Primary) Paper |
Code of Papers Allowed as The Second Paper |
AE | NM,XE |
AG | ES,GE,XE,XL |
AR | CE |
BM | BT,EC,IN,XL |
BT | BM,XL |
CE | AE,AR,ES,GE,NM |
CH | PE,XE |
CS | EC,GE,MA,ST |
CY | XL |
EC | IN,PH,EE,CS,GE |
EE | EC,IN |
ES | AG,CE,GE |
EY | XL |
GE | CE,GG,ES,MN |
GG | GE,MN,PE,PH |
IN | EC,EE,PH |
MA | CS,GE,PH,ST |
ME | AE,CH,NM,PI,XE |
MN | GE,GG,XE |
MT | PH,XE |
NM | AE,CE,XE |
PE | CH,GG,XE |
PH | EC,GE,GG,IN,MA,MT,ST,XE |
PI | ME,MT,XE |
ST | MA,PH |
TF | XE |
XE | AE,AG,CH,ME,MN,MT,PE,PI,TF,NM |
XH | ST |
XL | BM,BT,CY,EY |
GATE 2024 Papers
- Geomatics Engineering(GE)
- Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering (NM)
GATE 2024 Important Dates:
Important Dates | Day | General |
GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) Website Opens | To be Notified | |
Closing Date of Regular Online Registration / Application portal | To be Notified | |
End of Extended Period for Online Registration/ Application (with late fee) |
To be Notified | |
Last Date for Change of Category, Paper and Examination City (an additional fee will be applicable) |
To be Notified | |
Admit Card will be available in the Online Application Portal (for printing) |
To be Notified | |
GATE 2022 Examination Forenoon: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Tentative) Afternoon: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Tentative) |
To be Notified | |
Announcement of the Results in the Online Application Portal | To be Notified |
Eligibility for GATE 2024
Qualifying Degree | Qualifying Degree / Examination |
Description of Eligible Candidates |
Year of Qualification not later than |
B.E./ B.Tech./ B. Pharm. |
Bachelor’s degree holders in Engineering/ Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./Diploma in Engineering /Technology) |
Currently in the Pre-final / Final Year or already completed |
2022 / 2023 |
B. Arch. | Bachelor’s degree holders of Architecture (5 years course) |
Currently in the Pre-final / Final Year or already completed |
2023 / 2024 |
B.Sc. (Research)/ B.S |
Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/4 years after 10+2) |
Currently in the Pre-final / 4th year or already completed |
2022 / 2023 |
Pharm.D (After 10+2) | 6 years program, consisting of intership or residency training during sixth year |
Currently in the 3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th year already completed |
2022 / 2023/2024/ 2025 |
M. Sc./ M.A./MCA or equivalent |
Master’s degree in any branch of Science /Mathematics/Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent |
Currently in the Pre-final / final Year or already completed |
2022/ 2023 |
Int. M.E./ M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.) |
Post-B.s.c Integrated Master’s Degree Programs in Engineering Technology (4 years program) |
Currently in the 1st / 2nd/ 3rd/ 4th Year or already completed |
2022 / 2023/2024/ 2025 |
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 years program) |
Currently in the 3rd / 4th / 5th year or already completed |
2022 / 2023/2024 |
Int. M.Sc./ Int. B.S.-M.S. |
Integrated M.Sc. or 5 years integrated B.S.-M.S. program |
Currently in the Pre-final / final Year or already completed |
2022 / 2023 |
B.sc/B.A/B.com | Bachelor degree in any branch of science/arts/commerce (3 Year Program) |
Currently in the 3rd year or already completed |
2022 / 2023 |
Professional Society Examinations* (equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B. Arch.) |
B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognized by MHRD/UPSC/AICTE (e.g., AMIE by Institution of Engineers India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India and so on) |
Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses |
NA |
* Some of these Professional Societies / Institutions, which conduct examination in various fields of engineering are as follows:
- The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE)
- The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
- The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI)
- The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, including Polymer and Environmental Group (IIChemE)
- The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM)
- The Indian Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
However, the candidates who possess certification from any of the professional societies must ensure that those examinations conducted by the societies are approved by MHRD/AICTE as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch.

Pattern of Questions:
GATE 2024 would contain questions of two different types in all the papers:
(i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to select (mark) the correct answer.
Negative Marking for Wrong Answers: For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
(iii) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to select (mark) the correct answers. (2 or 3 correct answers)
There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in MSQ questions
(ii) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. For these questions, the answer is a signed real number, which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor (keyboard of the computer will be disabled). No choices will be shown for these type of questions. The answer can be a number such as 10 or -10 (an integer only). The answer may be in decimals as well, for example, 10.1 (one decimal) or 10.01 (two decimals) or -10.001 (three decimals). These questions will be mentioned with, up to which decimal places, the candidates need to present the answer. Also, for some NAT type problems an appropriate range will be considered while evaluating the numerical answer type questions so that the candidate is not unduly penalized due to the usual round-off errors. Wherever required and possible, it is better to give NAT answer up to a maximum of three decimal places.
There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in NAT questions

