By Krishna Dua 
GATE 2026 Latest Updates: Admit Card, Exam & Pattern
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, organised by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati), is now in its final preparation and execution phase. With admit cards already released and the examination commencing in less than ten days, GATE 2026 has become the central focus for over 9.28 lakh registered candidates aspiring for postgraduate admissions, PSU jobs and research fellowships. This report provides a complete, up-to-date overview of the admit card status, examination schedule, paper pattern, marking scheme, important instructions, expected cut-off trends and post-exam timeline as of 6 February 2026.
GATE 2026 Examination Schedule & Session Details
GATE 2026 will be conducted over two consecutive weekends in computer-based test (CBT) mode with multiple shifts per day to accommodate the large number of candidates.
Examination Dates:
- Saturday, 14 February 2026
- Sunday, 15 February 2026
- Saturday, 21 February 2026
- Sunday, 22 February 2026
Session Timings (all times Indian Standard Time):
- Forenoon (FN) Session: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (3 hours)
- Afternoon (AN) Session: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (3 hours)
Total papers: 30 (same as previous year) Total registered candidates: 9,28,000+ (provisional figure released by IIT Guwahati on 2 February 2026)
Paper codes and session allocations were published on the official portal gate2026.iitg.ac.in on 28 January 2026. High-volume papers such as Computer Science & Information Technology (CS), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Electrical Engineering (EE), Electronics & Communication Engineering (EC) and Civil Engineering (CE) are distributed across multiple sessions and days to manage candidate load at 236 examination cities.
Admit Card Status & Download Instructions
- Admit card release date: 20 January 2026 (already live)
- Download window: Open until the conclusion of the last examination session (22 February 2026, 5:30 p.m. IST)
- Official portal: gate2026.iitg.ac.in
Step-by-step download process:
- Visit gate2026.iitg.ac.in
- Click on the “Admit Card” tab or direct link “GATE 2026 Admit Card”
- Login using Enrollment ID / Email ID and password created during registration
- Verify personal details, photograph, signature, exam centre address and session timing
- Download and take a clear colour printout (black & white not accepted)
- Carry printed admit card + original valid photo-ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence) to the exam centre
No candidate will be permitted entry without a printed admit card and original photo-ID. Candidates are advised to take multiple printouts and keep digital copies as backup. In case of discrepancy (name spelling, photograph, centre allocation), contact the GATE 2026 helpline immediately via the official portal grievance module.
Examination Pattern & Marking Scheme
Duration: 3 hours Total marks: 100 Question types:
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) — 1-mark & 2-mark questions
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) — 1-mark & 2-mark questions (no negative marking)
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT) — 1-mark & 2-mark questions (no negative marking)
Negative marking:
- 1/3 mark deducted for each incorrect 1-mark MCQ
- 2/3 mark deducted for each incorrect 2-mark MCQ
- No negative marking for MSQ or NAT
Sectional breakup (common to all papers):
- General Aptitude (GA): 15 marks (10 questions — 5 × 1 mark + 5 × 2 marks)
- Core subject + Engineering Mathematics: 85 marks
Candidates may appear in one or two papers (permitted combinations only). The two-paper option remains unchanged from 2025.
Important Instructions for Exam Day
- Reporting time: Arrive at least 30 minutes before session start
- Prohibited items: Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators (physical or on phone), any study material, pen/pencil (scribble pad provided inside exam hall)
- Allowed items: Printed admit card, original photo-ID, transparent water bottle (no label), mask (optional)
- Biometric verification: Photograph and thumb impression at entry and exit
- Rough work: Use only the blank pages provided in the question booklet; return booklet at the end of the session
- Virtual calculator: On-screen scientific calculator provided; no physical calculators allowed
Candidates should familiarise themselves with the virtual calculator interface through the official mock tests available on the GATE 2026 portal.
Expected Cut-off Trends for GATE 2026 (General Category)
Based on difficulty level of previous years, candidate numbers and normalisation process:
- Computer Science & IT (CS): 27–30 marks
- Mechanical Engineering (ME): 29–32 marks
- Electrical Engineering (EE): 26–29 marks
- Electronics & Communication (EC): 25–28 marks
- Civil Engineering (CE): 28–31 marks
- Chemical Engineering (CH): 30–33 marks
- Instrumentation Engineering (IN): 32–35 marks
- Biotechnology (BT): 31–34 marks
- Physics (PH): 30–33 marks
- Chemistry (CY): 28–31 marks
Cut-offs for OBC-NCL are typically 1–2 marks lower; SC/ST/PwD cut-offs are approximately 50 % of General category qualifying marks.
Post-Examination Timeline (Tentative)
- Provisional answer keys: Released 3rd week of February 2026
- Challenge window for answer keys: 5–7 days after provisional keys
- Final answer keys & candidate response sheets: Late February / early March 2026
- GATE 2026 result declaration: Third week of March 2026
- Scorecard download: From result date until May 2026 (additional fee after deadline)
Scorecards will be valid for three years from the date of result announcement for admission to postgraduate programmes and PSU recruitment.
Preparation Tips in Final Days
With less than ten days remaining, candidates should focus on:
- Targeted revision of high-weightage topics
- Solving previous years’ papers and official mock tests
- Error analysis from practice tests
- Time-bound sectional tests
- Mental conditioning – adequate sleep, light exercise, balanced diet
- Familiarisation with virtual calculator interface
Conclusion
GATE 2026 remains the most prestigious and competitive postgraduate entrance examination in engineering and science in India. With admit cards already in hand, examination centres finalised and mock-test links activated, candidates are now in the decisive countdown phase. The two-weekend format, increased number of examination cities (236 in 2026) and continued emphasis on digital evaluation and transparency ensure a smooth and fair process.
Success in GATE opens doors to premier postgraduate programmes at IITs, IISc, NITs and IIITs, lucrative PSU jobs and research fellowships from DRDO, ISRO, BARC, CSIR and others. Candidates are advised to focus on revision, time management and mental composure rather than last-minute cramming.
All the best to every GATE 2026 aspirant. Your consistent effort and calm execution on exam day will determine the outcome—stay focused, stay confident and perform to the best of your ability.