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The GATE 2026 exam will be held on February 07, 08, 14 & 15, 2026 (Saturdays & Sundays) in two sessions — Forenoon: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Afternoon: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. To crack this highly competitive exam, practicing with GATE Previous Year Question Papers is one of the most effective strategies. PYQs help you understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and important topics. In this blog, we have provided year-wise GATE Previous Year Question Papers in PDF format to support your preparation.
GATE 2026 Notification Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) |
| Conducting Institute | IIT Guwahati |
| Exam Level | National |
| Purpose | PG Admissions (M.E., M.Tech, Ph.D.), PSU Jobs |
| Total Papers | 30 (expected) |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Start Date | August 2025 (Tentative) |
| Last Date to Apply (No Late Fee) | September 2025 (Tentative) |
| Last Date to Apply (With Late Fee) | To Be Announced |
| Exam Dates | 1st & 2nd Weekends of February 2026 (Expected) |
| Admit Card Release | January 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Total Questions | 65 |
| Question Type | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Exam Frequency | Once a Year |
| Score Validity | 3 Years |
| Official Website | iitg.ac.in |
GATE 2026 Previous Year Question Paper PDF – Free Download
We have attached GATE 2026 Previous Year Question Papers (2021–2025) subject-wise in PDF format to help aspirants practice effectively. These papers serve as the best resource to understand exam patterns, marking schemes, and frequently asked questions. Download the complete GATE Question Paper bank for free from the links below.
GATE Previous Year Question Papers PDF (2021 – 2025) – Download for Free
| Year | Download Link |
|---|---|
| GATE 2025 | Get Link |
| GATE 2024 | Get Link |
| GATE 2023 | Get Link |
| GATE 2022 | Get Link |
| GATE 2021 | Get Link |
Watch Video Classes for GATE Electronics and Communications
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern & Question Paper Details
The GATE 2026 examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for all 30 test papers. Candidates can appear in either one or two papers, depending on the permitted combinations. The exam is intended to assess a candidate’s understanding of undergraduate-level subjects such as Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, as well as postgraduate-level subjects in Science, Humanities, Commerce, and Arts.
All questions will appear on a computer screen, and an on-screen virtual scientific calculator will be provided for numerical problem-solving. To ensure exam integrity, the keyboard will remain disabled, except for entering responses in NAT (Numerical Answer Type) questions.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 3 hours (*PwD candidates get +1 hour) |
| Number of Papers | 30 test papers |
| Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Selected Subject(s) |
| Types of Questions | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Number of Questions | 10 (GA) + 55 (Subject) = 65 |
| Marks Distribution (Most Papers) | GA: 15, Engineering Math: 13, Subject: 72, Total: 100 |
| Marks Distribution (AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, XL) | GA: 15, Subject: 85, Total: 100 |
| Marking Scheme | 1 or 2 marks per question |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 for 1-mark MCQ, 2/3 for 2-mark MCQ; No negative for MSQ/NAT |
| Partial Marking | Not allowed |
1. Examination Duration
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Duration:
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3 hours (standard candidates).
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4 hours (candidates availing compensatory time).
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- Question count: 65 questions.
- Total marks: 100.
- Login & seating:
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Candidates may occupy their seats 40 minutes before the exam starts.
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Login and read instructions 20 minutes before start.
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No login after 30 minutes from start.
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- Exit policy: No candidate is allowed to leave the hall before the scheduled end.
- Exam auto-terminates after time elapses.
2. Types of Questions
GATE 2026 will have three question types:
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MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
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Carry 1 or 2 marks each.
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One correct option out of four.
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Negative marking:
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1-mark MCQ → –⅓ mark for wrong answer.
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2-mark MCQ → –⅔ mark for wrong answer.
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MSQs (Multiple Select Questions)
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Carry 1 or 2 marks each.
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One or more correct options.
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No negative marking.
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No partial credit (must select all correct answers).
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NATs (Numerical Answer Type)
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Carry 1 or 2 marks each.
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Answer is a number (integer/decimal) entered via on-screen keypad.
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No choices provided.
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No negative marking, no partial credit.
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3. Categories of Questions
Questions are designed to test different levels of learning:
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Recall → Based on memory, direct formulae, or facts.
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Comprehension → Tests understanding of concepts.
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Application → Requires computation/logical reasoning.
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Analysis & Synthesis → Involves data, diagrams, comparisons, assumptions, etc
GATE 2026 Syllabus PDF – Subject-Wise
The GATE 2026 syllabus for all 30 test papers is provided in detail, covering subject-specific topics along with General Aptitude and, where applicable, Engineering Mathematics. Candidates can download the subject-wise syllabus PDF below.
| Subject | Code | Syllabus PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | AE | |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG | |
| Architecture and Planning | AR | |
| Biomedical Engineering | BM | |
| Biotechnology | BT | |
| Civil Engineering | CE | |
| Chemical Engineering | CH | |
| Computer Science & IT | CS | |
| Chemistry | CY | |
| Data Science & AI | DA | |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering | EC | |
| Electrical Engineering | EE | |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | ES | |
| Ecology and Evolution | EY | |
| Instrumentation Engineering | IN | |
| Mathematics | MA | |
| Mechanical Engineering | ME | |
| Metallurgical Engineering | MT | |
| Mining Engineering | MN | |
| Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering | NM | |
| Petroleum Engineering | PE | |
| Physics | PH | |
| Production & Industrial Engineering | PI | |
| Statistics | ST | |
| Textile Engineering & Fibre Science | TF | |
| Engineering Sciences | XE | |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | XH | |
| Life Sciences | XL |
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme
- Total questions: 65.
- Total marks: 100.
- General Aptitude (GA):
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10 questions (15 marks total).
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5 × 1 mark + 5 × 2 marks.
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Paper-wise Distribution
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Engineering Papers (AE, ME, CE, EE, CS, etc.)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Subject: 85 marks.
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Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks (part of subject).
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Architecture & Planning (AR)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Part A (compulsory): 60 marks.
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Part B1 (Architecture) or B2 (Planning): 25 marks.
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Geomatics Engineering (GE)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Part A (compulsory): 55 marks.
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Part B1 (Surveying & Mapping) or B2 (Image Processing & Analysis): 30 marks.
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Geology & Geophysics (GG)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Part A (compulsory): 25 marks.
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Part B1 (Geology) or B2 (Geophysics): 60 marks.
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Choice made during application, not in exam.
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Engineering Sciences (XE)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Section A (Engg. Mathematics, compulsory): 15 marks.
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Any two optional sections (B–I): 35 marks each.
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Humanities & Social Sciences (XH)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Section B1 (Reasoning & Comprehension, compulsory): 25 marks.
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One optional section (C1–C6): 60 marks.
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Choice made during application, not in exam.
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Life Sciences (XL)
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GA: 15 marks.
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Section P (Chemistry, compulsory): 25 marks.
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Any two optional sections (Q–U): 30 marks each.
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Distribution of Marks in Various Test Papers of GATE 2026
| Paper Code | General Aptitude (GA) Marks | Compulsory Section | Optional Section(s) | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF | 15 | 85 (includes 13 marks for Engg. Mathematics) | — | 100 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | 85 | — | 100 |
| AR (Architecture & Planning) | 15 | Part A: 60 | Part B1 (Architecture) or Part B2 (Planning): 25 | 100 |
| GE (Geomatics Engineering) | 15 | Part A: 55 | Part B1 (Surveying & Mapping) or Part B2 (Image Processing & Analysis): 30 | 100 |
| GG (Geology & Geophysics) | 15 | Part A: 25 | Part B1 (Geology) or Part B2 (Geophysics): 60 | 100 |
| XE (Engineering Sciences) | 15 | Section A (Engg. Mathematics): 15 | Any 2 Sections (B–I): 35 marks each | 100 |
| XH (Humanities & Social Sciences) | 15 | Section B1 (Reasoning & Comprehension): 25 | Any 1 Section (C1–C6): 60 | 100 |
| XL (Life Sciences) | 15 | Section P (Chemistry): 25 | Any 2 Sections (Q–U): 30 marks each | 100 |
How to Download GATE 2026 Question Papers
Downloading the GATE 2026 question papers is highly useful for aspirants preparing for the exam. Follow these steps to access them:
Visit the Official Website
Go to the official GATE 2026 website hosted by IIT Guwahati (the organizing institute).
Navigate to the Question Paper Section
On the homepage, find the section titled “Previous Question Papers / Model Papers” or check under the “Downloads” tab.
Select Your Subject Paper
A list of all 30 test papers will be available. Choose the paper code relevant to your subject (e.g., CE for Civil Engineering, CS for Computer Science, EE for Electrical Engineering, etc.).
Download the PDF
Click on the link for the year and subject you want. The PDF file will open or download directly. Save it for practice.
Apart from previous years, sample model papers are also released to help you understand the exam pattern, question types (MCQ, MSQ, NAT), and marking scheme. Good luck!
