Exams
GATE 2027 Registration Begins: New Robotics Paper Introduced, Check Dates, Eligibility and Changes
Published on
30 August 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has opened the registration process for GATE 2027, the national-level examination used for postgraduate and doctoral admissions and by several public-sector organisations for recruitment.
The application portal became operational on September 2, 2026, following multiple schedule revisions. Candidates can complete regular registration without a late fee until September 27, 2026. The extended registration window with a late fee will remain available until October 5, 2026.
GATE 2027 is being organised by IIT Madras on behalf of the National Coordination Board, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, with IITs and IISc participating in the examination system.
One of the most notable changes in GATE 2027 is the introduction of a dedicated Robotics and Automation (RA) test paper.
With the addition of RA, GATE 2027 will be conducted across 30 test papers. The new paper reflects the growing importance of robotics, automation and interdisciplinary engineering in higher education and industry.
The RA paper is also available in several approved two-paper combinations, including combinations with Computer Science, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Electronics and Communication, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation, Mechanical Engineering and other relevant disciplines.
Candidates considering two papers should check the officially permitted combinations before selecting their subjects.
IIT Madras has also revised the GATE 2027 syllabi. Candidates preparing using older GATE material should therefore compare their preparation plan with the latest subject-wise syllabus.
The official GATE website specifically advises candidates to review the revised syllabi before applying and preparing for the examination. Changes have also been made to the Biotechnology (BT) syllabus and certain sectional paper codes, including changes involving XE, XH and XL.
Students preparing for GATE 2027 should avoid relying exclusively on previous-year topic lists because the revised syllabus should be treated as the primary reference.
Another important change concerns the application process.
For Indian nationals, registration through DigiLocker is mandatory. IIT Madras will use verified DigiLocker information to simplify the application process and fetch certain candidate details.
Information that can be fetched from DigiLocker includes:
Candidates should therefore create or update their verified DigiLocker account before beginning the GATE application.
The name entered through the application process must match the valid photo ID that the candidate will produce at the examination centre.
The eligibility criteria for GATE 2027 are broader than engineering alone.
Candidates currently studying in the third year or higher of an eligible undergraduate programme, or those who have already completed an approved degree in areas such as Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts or Humanities, can appear for the examination, subject to the detailed eligibility requirements.
Eligible programmes include, among others:
There is no general age limit specified for appearing in GATE, while candidates must satisfy the academic eligibility applicable to their qualification.
GATE 2027 allows a candidate to appear in one or up to two test papers, but the second paper must come from an officially permitted combination.
Candidates cannot freely combine any two subjects. IIT Madras has published a specific list of primary and secondary paper combinations.
For example, candidates selecting Computer Science and Information Technology as their primary paper can choose from approved combinations that include areas such as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Electronics and Communication, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Robotics and Automation and Statistics.
The two-paper option can be useful for candidates whose academic or career interests span closely related disciplines.
The GATE 2027 examination will be conducted over three weekends in February 2027.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration begins | September 2, 2026 |
| Regular registration closes | September 27, 2026 |
| Extended registration closes with late fee | October 5, 2026 |
| Application rectification | October 14–21, 2026 |
| City allotment notification | January 4, 2027 |
| GATE 2027 examination | February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027 |
| Result announcement | March 19, 2027 |
The dates are subject to change according to the official GATE 2027 schedule.
GATE 2027 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT).
Each paper will have a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, with a three-hour duration. The examination uses three types of questions:
The General Aptitude section carries 15 marks, while the remaining marks depend on the selected paper and its structure.
Negative marking applies to incorrect answers in MCQs:
There is no negative marking for MSQ and NAT questions.
A valid GATE score can be used for admission to eligible postgraduate and doctoral programmes at participating institutions, subject to the admission rules of the individual institute.
GATE scores may also be used by several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) for recruitment.
However, qualifying GATE does not automatically guarantee admission, a scholarship or a PSU job. Institutions and employers may apply their own eligibility and selection criteria.
Candidates should keep the required information and documents ready before beginning the application.
The registration process requires details related to:
A live photograph is captured during registration, and candidates are advised to use a computer with a webcam or a mobile phone with a front camera of at least 5 MP in a well-lit environment.
SC/ST/PwD candidates seeking applicable fee concessions are required to provide the relevant certificates through the prescribed process.
The introduction of Robotics and Automation and the syllabus revisions make it particularly important for candidates to start preparation from the latest official syllabus, rather than simply repeating a previous GATE preparation strategy.
Students should first identify the topics that have changed, then organise preparation around the weightage and question pattern of their chosen paper.
Candidates selecting two papers should also verify that the combination is officially permitted before paying for the additional paper.
For those targeting IITs, IISc or PSU opportunities, GATE preparation should ideally include concept revision, previous-year questions, timed mock tests and regular analysis of mistakes.
