IIT Guwahati GATE 2026: Essential Information & New Paper Details

IIT Guwahati is organizing GATE 2026, a national-level computer-based test conducted across 30 disciplines on specific dates in February 2026, serving as an admission gateway to M.Tech, M.S., and Ph.D. programs at premier Indian institutes and a requirement for PSU recruitment. A key update for 2026 is the addition of Energy Science (XE-I) as a new sectional paper under the Engineering Sciences category, covering topics like energy resources, conversion, and management. The exam features 65 questions totaling 100 marks over three hours, including a General Aptitude section, with negative marking only for MCQs. GATE 2026 scores are valid for three years from the result announcement date, scheduled for March 19, 2026. For essential information, visit GATE 2026 – IIT Guwahati.

IMPORTANT DATES

Core Exam Schedule

The examination is conducted in two shifts (Forenoon: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM and Afternoon: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM) on the following dates :

● February 7, 2026 (Saturday)

● February 8, 2026 (Sunday)

● February 14, 2026 (Saturday)

● February 15, 2026 (Sunday)

Post-Exam Timeline (Expected)

Response Sheets	Likely available in the 2nd week of February 2026.
Answer Key Release	Expected by the 4th week of February 2026
Result Declaration	March 19, 2026
Scorecard Availability	March 27 to May 31, 2026 (Free download).

Past Registration Milestones

● Registration Period : August 28 – October 7, 2025 (Regular) and extended till October 13, 2025 (with late fee).

● Admit Card Release : January 13, 2026 (Available now for download).

Key Exam Dates & Schedule

The exam is held in two daily shifts :

● Forenoon Shift : 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

● Afternoon Shift : 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Date	Forenoon (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM)	Afternoon (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM)
7 Feb	AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL	AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH
8 Feb	CS-1, ST	CS-2, EY, NM, PE
14 Feb	CE-1, EE, PI	BM, CE-2, ME, MT
15 Feb	EC	AR, DA

Admit Card & Exam Day Guidelines

● Download : Admit cards were released on January 13, 2026, and must be downloaded from the GATE 2026 GOAPS Portal.

● Requirements : Candidates must carry a printed copy of their admit card and an original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.) for entry.

● Reporting Time : You must arrive at the centre 60–90 minutes before the shift begins for biometric verification. No entry is allowed after the gate closes.

● Prohibited Items : Personal calculators, mobile phones, and smartwatches are strictly forbidden. A virtual calculator is provided on the computer screen.

EXAM DETAILS

For GATE 2026, IIT Guwahati serves as the organizing institute, conducting the national-level exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. This examination serves as a primary gateway for postgraduate admissions into premier Indian institutes like IITs, NITs, and IISc, while also acting as a mandatory screening tool for recruitment into various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

Exam Structure and Question Types

The GATE 2026 exam is a 3-hour Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 65 questions totaling 100 marks. The test comprises three distinct question formats :

● Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) : Only one correct option out of four.

● Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) : One or more correct options; full marks are awarded only for selecting all correct answers without any incorrect ones. There is no partial marking.

● Numerical Answer Type (NAT): Candidates enter a specific numerical value via a virtual keypad.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

Questions are weighted at either 1 or 2 marks. A critical feature for candidates is the negative marking policy :

● MCQs : 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong 1-mark question, and 2/3 mark for a 2-mark question.

● MSQs and NATs : These do not carry any negative marking.

New Subject Additions

A significant update for 2026 is the expansion of the test subjects to 30. A new sectional paper, Energy Science (XE-I), has been introduced under the Engineering Sciences (XE) category. This new subject covers interdisciplinary topics such as energy conversion, renewable resources, storage systems, and energy economics.

Eligibility and Result Validity

Eligibility is highly inclusive, allowing final-year undergraduate students and graduates from engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, or humanities to appear. There is no upper age limit or restriction on the number of attempts. Once issued, the GATE 2026 scorecard is valid for three years from the date of result declaration (March 19, 2026).

Core Subject Weightage

Category	General Aptitude	Core Subject + Maths	Total
Most Engineering Papers	15 Marks	72 + 13 (Maths) Marks	100
AR, CY, DA, PH, etc	15 Marks	85 Marks	100
XE (Eng. Sciences)	15 Marks	15 (Maths) + 70 (Core)	100

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ques : 1 Is there an age limit or attempt limit for GATE 2026 ?

Ans : No, there is no age limit to appear for the exam. Candidates can attempt the examination any number of times.

Ques : 2 How long is my GATE 2026 scorecard valid ?

Ans : The scorecard is valid for three years from the date of result announcement (scheduled for March 19, 2026) for academic admissions. However, many PSUs only accept the current year’s score for recruitment.

Ques : 3 Can I appear for more than one paper ?

Ans: Yes, you can appear for either one or two test papers. If choosing two, you must select from the official two-paper combinations provided by the organizing institute.

Ques : 4 Are physical calculators allowed in the exam hall ?

Ams : No, physical calculators (including those on electronic watches) are strictly prohibited. A virtual scientific calculator is provided on the computer screen during the test for calculations.

Ques : 5 What documents must I carry to the exam centre ?

Ans : You must bring a printed hard copy of your GATE 2026 Admit Card on A4-sized paper and an original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.) that matches the one used during registration.