GATE 2027 Overview: Exam Dates, 30-Paper Syllabus, Pattern, Eligibility, Cut Off & PSU Recruitment
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The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2027) is the national-level computer-based examination jointly conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and the seven older Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB-GATE), Ministry of Education. Qualifying GATE unlocks admissions to M.Tech, M.E., M.S., and Direct Ph.D. programs across IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs (with ₹12,400/month AICTE/MoE Assistantship) as well as direct executive recruitment across 50+ Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna PSUs (IOCL, NTPC, ONGC, PGCIL, BHEL, GAIL, DRDO, BARC, and NPCIL).
For branch-wise official PDFs and interactive tools, visit our GATE 2027 Complete Exam Hub, GATE Previous Year Question Papers PDF, and GATE Question Papers with Answer Key PDF (2018–2026).
GATE 2027 Exam Highlights & Official Structure
| Parameter | Official GATE 2027 Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2027) |
| Conducting Bodies | IISc Bengaluru & 7 IITs (IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee) |
| Total Test Papers | 30 Disciplines (including CSE, DA — Data Science & AI, ECE, EE, ME, CE, CH, XL, XE) |
| Two-Paper Combination | Permitted (1 Primary Paper + 1 Approved Secondary Paper from official cluster matrix) |
| Examination Mode & Duration | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) | 65 Questions | 100 Marks |
| Question Types | Multiple Choice (MCQ), Multiple Select (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) |
| Scorecard Validity | 3 Years from the date of result announcement for M.Tech/Ph.D. admissions |
| Official FindMyCollege Hubs | GATE Overview | GATE Syllabus | GATE Question Papers |
GATE Exam Pattern & Section-Wise Marks Distribution
Every GATE paper carries 65 questions for 100 marks divided between General Aptitude (15 marks, compulsory across all 30 papers) and Subject-Specific Questions (85 marks):
| Paper Category | General Aptitude (GA) | Engineering Mathematics | Core Subject Questions | Total Questions & Marks | Negative Marking Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Engineering Papers (CS, DA, EC, EE, ME, CE, CH, IN, AE, MT, MN, PE, PI, TF) | 10 Questions (15 Marks) | 13 Marks | 72 Marks | 65 Questions (100 Marks) | MCQs only: -1/3 for 1-mark MCQ, -2/3 for 2-mark MCQ; 0 negative marking for MSQ & NAT |
| Science & Humanities Papers (AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, XL) | 10 Questions (15 Marks) | Included in Core | 85 Marks | 65 Questions (100 Marks) | MCQs only (-1/3 and -2/3); No negative marking on MSQs or NATs |
| Engineering Sciences (XE) | 10 Questions (15 Marks) | Section A Compulsory (15 Marks) | Any 2 XE Sections (2 × 35 = 70 Marks) | 65 Questions (100 Marks) | MCQs only (-1/3 and -2/3); No negative marking on MSQs or NATs |
GATE Branch-Wise Qualifying Cut Off Marks (General / OBC-NCL / SC-ST-PwD)
| GATE Paper (Code) | General (UR) Qualifying Marks | OBC-NCL / EWS Qualifying Marks | SC / ST / PwD Qualifying Marks | Detailed Branch Hub |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & IT (CS) | 27.6 – 32.5 | 24.8 – 29.2 | 18.4 – 21.6 | GATE CS Cut Off Guide |
| Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA) | 37.1 – 39.0 | 33.3 – 35.1 | 24.7 – 26.0 | GATE DA Papers & Key |
| Electronics & Communication (EC) | 25.0 – 29.9 | 22.5 – 26.9 | 16.6 – 19.9 | GATE Qualifying Cut Off |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 25.7 – 30.9 | 23.1 – 27.8 | 17.1 – 20.6 | GATE EE Syllabus PDF |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 28.6 – 33.8 | 25.7 – 30.4 | 19.0 – 22.5 | GATE ME Question Papers |
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 26.6 – 28.3 | 23.9 – 25.4 | 17.7 – 18.8 | GATE Result & COAP Guide |
| Life Sciences (XL) & Engineering Sciences (XE) | 31.7 – 37.9 | 28.5 – 34.1 | 21.1 – 25.2 | GATE XL Cut Off | GATE XE Cut Off |
