GATE Exam 2026: Three major changes in GATE Exam 2026, application fees also increased..
Shikha Saxena August 27, 2025 07:15 PM

GATE Exam 2026: IIT Guwahati has postponed the registration process for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026). Application for the GATE exam will now start from August 28. Earlier, the registration process was to start on August 25.

According to the new schedule of the GATE 2026 exam, candidates will now be able to apply without a late fee till September 28. At the same time, applications can be made till October 9 with a late fee. The exam will be conducted in February next year.

GATE 2026: New Schedule of GATE Exam

GATE 2026 Exam Important Dates

Application Starts 28 August

Last Date of Application 28 September, with a Late Fee till 9 October

GATE Exam Date 7, 8, 14, 15 February 2026

GATE Result 19 March 2026

GATE 2026: Eligibility for GATE Exam

Candidates should be currently studying in the third year of a degree program or have completed a degree in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Science/Commerce/Arts/Humanities from a recognized institute.

The degree course should be approved by MoE/AICTE/UGC/UPSC as equivalent to BE/BTech/BArch/BPlanning, etc.

Candidates who have obtained/are pursuing these qualifying degree programs abroad can also apply for this exam.

GATE 2026: Application fee for the GATE exam
The application fee for GATE 2026 is Rs 1000 for female/SC/ST/Divyang candidates for the regular period and Rs 1500 per paper during the extended period.
For all other candidates, it is Rs 2000 without a late fee and Rs 2500 with a late fee.
GATE 2026: Two major changes in the GATE exam
Two important changes have been made in GATE 2026. First, the option of a combination of two papers has been further updated. A section named Energy Science has been added to the Engineering Science paper. Second, the eligibility criteria for foreign degree-holding students have been clarified. Some other changes are as follows-
1. New paper: Energy Science (XE-I)
A new section named Energy Science (XE-I) has been added to the Engineering Sciences (XE) category. XE paper pattern-

Engineering Mathematics compulsory (15 marks)

Two optional sections to be chosen (35 marks each), which now include Energy Science

2. Two-paper option
Candidates can now also give two papers, provided they are in the approved paper combination. The list of these will be available on the official website. Example: AE paper can only be combined with CE, ME, or XE (Engineering Sciences).

3. Registration fee
IIT Guwahati has increased the application fee for the GATE 2026 exam. In GATE 2025, the application fee per paper for the General category was Rs 1800 (Rs 2,300 with a late fee). In GATE 2026, the application fee without a late fee has become Rs 2,000, and with a late fee it has become Rs 2500.

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