The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has released the official notification for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027. GATE is one of India’s most important national-level examinations for students and graduates who want to pursue postgraduate studies, doctoral programmes, financial assistance, or explore recruitment opportunities with participating Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). GATE 2027 will be conducted for 30 test papers and will be held as a Computer Based Test (CBT) across examination centres in India.
The GATE 2027 examination will be conducted on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027. The online application process has been rescheduled, and the official GATE 2027 portal is now live from 2 September 2026. The last date for regular registration without a late fee is 27 September 2026, while candidates can submit applications with a late fee up to 5 October 2026. Candidates interested in GATE 2027 should complete their registration carefully and keep the required documents ready before starting the application process.
GATE is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. A valid GATE score can be used for admission to Master’s and Doctoral programmes in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts and Humanities, depending on the eligibility criteria of the respective institution.
GATE Online Form 2027
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of Examination | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027 |
| Examination Type | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Test Papers | 30 |
| Number of Papers Allowed | One or up to two papers |
| Question Types | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
| Examination Duration | 3 Hours |
| GATE Score Validity | 3 Years |
| Examination Dates | 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 February 2027 |
| Result Date | 19 March 2027 |
GATE 2027 will have 30 test papers, and candidates can appear for either one paper or up to two papers, subject to the permitted two-paper combinations specified by the organising institute.
GATE 2027 Opportunities
A GATE qualification can open several academic and career opportunities for eligible candidates.
Admission Through GATE Score
A valid GATE score may be used for admission to:
- Master’s programmes
- Direct Doctoral programmes
- Doctoral programmes
- Engineering and Technology programmes
- Architecture programmes
- Science programmes
- Other eligible programmes in participating institutions
Candidates may also be eligible for financial assistance for certain postgraduate and doctoral programmes, subject to the rules of the concerned institution.
GATE Score for PSU Recruitment
Several Public Sector Undertakings and other organisations have used GATE scores as part of their recruitment process. Some of the organisations listed by the official GATE 2027 website include:
| Organisation | Organisation | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| GAIL | HAL | IOCL |
| NTPC | ONGC | POWERGRID |
| NPCIL | NLC India | NHAI |
| SAIL | NALCO | NMDC |
| DVC | ECIL | EIL |
Candidates should remember that individual PSUs may have their own eligibility criteria, recruitment process, cut-offs and requirements. A GATE score does not automatically guarantee a PSU job.
GATE 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates should check the prescribed eligibility requirements before submitting the application form.
Educational Qualification
Candidates who are currently studying in the third year or higher of an undergraduate degree programme, or who have already completed a government-approved degree programme in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts or Humanities, are eligible to appear for GATE 2027.
Some of the eligible degree programmes include:
| Degree/Programme | Eligibility Status |
|---|---|
| B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm. | Eligible as per prescribed year/completion criteria |
| B.Arch. | Eligible |
| B.Sc./B.A./B.Com./BCA | Third year or higher / completed |
| B.Sc. Agriculture/Horticulture/Forestry | Third year or higher / completed, as applicable |
| Integrated M.E./M.Tech. | Eligible as per prescribed year |
| Integrated M.Sc./Integrated B.S.-M.S. | Eligible as per prescribed year |
| Professional Society qualifications | Eligible subject to prescribed recognition and requirements |
The detailed eligibility conditions vary according to the degree programme, so candidates should check the official GATE 2027 eligibility criteria before applying.
Age Limit
There is no age limit for appearing in the GATE 2027 examination.
Candidates can therefore apply irrespective of their age, provided they fulfil the prescribed educational and other eligibility requirements.
GATE 2027 Test Papers
GATE 2027 will be conducted for 30 test papers. A new Robotics and Automation (RA) paper has also been introduced for GATE 2027. Candidates can select one paper or, where permitted, a combination of two papers.
Some major GATE papers include:
- Aerospace Engineering (AE)
- Agricultural Engineering (AG)
- Architecture and Planning (AR)
- Biomedical Engineering (BM)
- Biotechnology (BT)
- Civil Engineering (CE)
- Chemical Engineering (CH)
- Computer Science & Information Technology (CS)
- Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA)
- Electronics & Communication Engineering (EC)
- Electrical Engineering (EE)
- Mechanical Engineering (ME)
- Physics (PH)
- Statistics (ST)
- Robotics and Automation (RA)
Candidates should check the official syllabus and paper-code list before selecting their test paper.
GATE 2027 Examination Pattern
GATE 2027 will be conducted entirely through Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The examination will contain different types of questions, including Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Question Types | MCQ, MSQ & NAT |
| Number of Papers | 30 |
| Papers a Candidate Can Choose | One or up to Two |
Candidates appearing for two papers must choose the second paper only from the combinations permitted by GATE 2027.
GATE 2027 Application Fee
The application fee is payable online through the available payment options provided in the GATE application portal. Candidates can use Internet Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, Wallet or UPI for payment.
| Category | Regular Period | Extended Period |
|---|---|---|
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
| Other Candidates | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 |
Additional payment gateway, service or bank charges may apply as applicable.
GATE 2027 Examination Centres Under IIT Guwahati Zone
Candidates from Assam and other parts of the Northeast can choose examination cities available under the IIT Guwahati zone. The tentative examination cities include the following:
| State | Examination City/Town |
|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun – Itanagar |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
| Bihar | Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea |
| Jharkhand | Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong, Tura |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Dimapur, Kohima |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| West Bengal | Asansol, Durgapur, Burdwan, Kalyani, Siliguri |
Candidates can provide six examination city choices, and all six choices must be from the same GATE zone. The organising institute may add or remove cities and may allot a city different from the choices submitted by a candidate, depending on administrative and infrastructure requirements.
DigiLocker Requirement for GATE 2027
Registration through DigiLocker is mandatory for Indian nationals applying for GATE 2027. Candidates should create or update their verified DigiLocker account before beginning the registration process.
Certain details required during registration, including the candidate’s name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID, profile photograph, address and verified ID information, are fetched through DigiLocker.
Candidates should make sure that the details in their DigiLocker account are accurate because the information may be used during the GATE application and examination process.
Documents Required for GATE 2027 Application
Candidates should keep the following information and documents ready before starting the online application:
- Valid photo ID
- Educational qualification details
- Institute/college details
- Photograph
- Signature
- Details of the selected GATE paper
- Six examination city preferences
- Category-related documents, wherever applicable
- DigiLocker details
- Payment details
The official guidelines also specify technical requirements for the photograph and signature. Candidates should check the latest specifications before uploading these files.
How to Apply for GATE 2027
Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official GATE 2027 application portal.
Steps to Apply Online
- Scroll down to the Online Weblinks for Application section.
- Click on the Online Application Form link.
- Complete the registration process through the official GATE portal.
- Use the required verified DigiLocker details for registration.
- Enter your personal and educational information.
- Select the GATE test paper or permitted two-paper combination.
- Select six examination cities from the same GATE zone.
- Upload the required photograph and signature.
- Enter other required information and review the application carefully.
- Pay the application fee through the available online payment options.
- Submit the application form.
- Download and save a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
Candidates should carefully verify their personal details, educational information, paper choice and examination-city preferences before final submission.
GATE 2027 Photograph and Signature Requirements
Candidates should ensure that their photograph and signature meet the technical requirements prescribed by the organising institute.
| Document | Maximum Size |
|---|---|
| Photograph | Up to 600 KB |
| Signature | Up to 300 KB |
The official guidelines specify a maximum photograph size of 530 × 690 pixels and a maximum signature size of 580 × 180 pixels.
GATE 2027 Important Dates
The official GATE 2027 website has revised the application schedule. Therefore, the earlier dates of 21 September 2026 and 30 September 2026 should not be used. The currently published schedule is as follows:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| GATE 2027 Application Portal Opens | 2 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Regular Registration | 27 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Extended Registration with Late Fee | 5 October 2026 |
| Application Rectification Starts | 14 October 2026 |
| Application Rectification Ends | 21 October 2026 |
| City Allotment Notification | 4 January 2027 |
| Admit Card | To be announced |
| GATE Examination | 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 February 2027 |
| GATE 2027 Result | 19 March 2027 |
All dates are subject to change as notified by the organising institute.
Online Weblinks for Application
| Online Application Form | Click Here |
| Information Brochure | Click Here |
| GATE Exam Schedule | Click Here |
| GATE Syllabus | Click Here |
| GATE Question Papers | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is GATE 2027?
GATE 2027 is the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, a national-level examination used for postgraduate and doctoral admissions, financial assistance and recruitment opportunities with participating organisations.
Who is eligible for GATE 2027?
Candidates studying in the third year or higher of an eligible undergraduate degree programme, as well as candidates who have completed a government-approved degree programme in the prescribed fields, can appear for GATE 2027.
Is there any age limit for GATE 2027?
No. There is no age limit for appearing in the GATE 2027 examination.
How many papers are available in GATE 2027?
GATE 2027 will be conducted for 30 test papers. Candidates can appear for one paper or, subject to permitted combinations, up to two papers.
When will the GATE 2027 examination be conducted?
The GATE 2027 examination will be conducted on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027.
What is the last date to apply for GATE 2027?
The last date for regular registration without a late fee is 27 September 2026. The extended application window with a late fee closes on 5 October 2026.
Is DigiLocker mandatory for GATE 2027 registration?
Yes. Registration through a verified DigiLocker account is mandatory for Indian nationals.
What is the validity of the GATE 2027 score?
The GATE 2027 score is valid for three years from the date of announcement of the results.
Can GATE 2027 scores be used for PSU recruitment?
Yes. Several PSUs and other organisations may use GATE scores as part of their recruitment process. However, qualifying in GATE does not guarantee a PSU job, and candidates must meet the individual organisation’s recruitment requirements.
What is the GATE 2027 examination duration?
The GATE 2027 examination is of 3 hours duration.
What types of questions are asked in GATE 2027?
The examination includes Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Where can I find the official GATE 2027 application form?
Candidates can access the official GATE 2027 application portal through the Online Weblinks for Application section above or the official GATE 2027 website.