GATE 2026 registration begins today: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati will start the registration process for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 from today, August 28. Candidates can submit their applications through the official portal – gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

The application window without a late fee will remain open till September 28, while the extended window with a late fee will close on October 9. The entrance exam is scheduled to take place on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026 and results will be declared on March 19, 2026.

How to apply for GATE 2026 online

The registration process for GATE 2026 will be carried out entirely online. Candidates can follow the steps below to complete their application:

  1. Visit the official GATE 2026 website – gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
  2. Click on the application portal link available on the homepage.
  3. Register on the GATE GOAPS 2026 portal to generate an enrollment ID and password.
  4. Fill in details such as exam preference, personal information, academic qualifications, and contact address.
  5. Upload the required documents and pay the application fee.
  6. Confirm the declaration and submit the form.
  7. Download and take a printout of the application for future reference.

GATE 2026: Eligibility criteria 

Applicants must hold a graduation degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities from a recognised institution. Students currently in their third year or higher of these programmes are also eligible to apply. 

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The qualifying degree should be approved by MoE, AICTE, UGC, or UPSC as equivalent to BE, BTech, BArch, or BPlanning. Additionally, candidates who have degrees from foreign institutions can also appear for GATE 2026.

The application fee during the regular period is Rs 1,000 per paper for SC, ST, PwD, and female candidates, and Rs 2,000 for all others. In the extended window, the fee rises to Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 respectively.

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GATE is a national-level exam that tests candidates’ understanding of various undergraduate subjects. A valid GATE score can be used for admission into Master’s and Doctoral programmes across disciplines, as well as for financial assistance. MTech students receive a stipend of Rs 12,400 per month for up to 22 months, while direct PhD candidates get Rs 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs 42,000 per month from the third to fifth year.

In addition, several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) consider GATE scores for recruitment.