GATE 2027: Register by Oct 5 for extended deadline

The regular registration window for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027 is scheduled to close today, September 27, 2026. Candidates seeking to apply for GATE 2027 can still register with a late fee until October 5, 2026, according to the official schedule released by IIT Madras.

However, IIT Madras has postponed the opening of the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) for GATE 2027, which was initially scheduled for August 27, 2026. The new start date for online application registration is currently marked as ‘To Be Announced’ (TBA) on the official website, gate2027.iitm.ac.in. The institute has not provided a specific reason for this postponement, but has stated that all dates are subject to change.

Application Process and Eligibility

The GATE 2027 registration process requires Indian nationals to complete a prescribed DigiLocker-based registration. Candidates should ensure their DigiLocker account is verified and details are accurate before starting the application. The process involves live facial verification, entering personal and academic details, selecting test papers and cities, uploading documents, and paying fees. Students currently in their 3rd year or higher of a 4-year undergraduate degree, as well as those who have completed a qualifying degree, are eligible for GATE 2027.

Candidates can select their primary paper, and a second paper is allowed only from officially approved combinations. Six city choices from the same zone must be selected as preferred exam locations. The GATE 2027 examination is scheduled to be conducted on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2027, across six days in morning and afternoon sessions, covering 30 test papers. The GATE 2027 Information Brochure was officially released on July 20, 2026.

Required Documents and Specifications

Applicants must upload specific documents and adhere to image size requirements. The photograph must be a recent color photo in JPEG/JPG format with a plain white background, with the face covering 60–70% of the photo. The required image size for a photo is a maximum of 530 x 690 pixels and 600 KB. The signature must be in black or dark blue ink on white paper, scanned in JPEG/JPG format, signed only by the applicant, with a maximum size of 580 x 180 pixels and 300 KB. Candidates with unverified DigiLocker accounts will have their applications scrutinized after the deadline, and original documents will be verified at examination halls.

For SC/ST candidates, a valid SC/ST certificate must be uploaded as CATEGORY.pdf in the DigiLocker ‘GATE2027’ drive folder. PwD candidates must upload a valid PWD certificate as PWD_CERT.pdf and a UDID certificate as UDID_CERT.pdf in the same folder. If required, Appendix B1, Appendix B2, and the PWD certificate can be compiled as a single document and uploaded as PWD_CERT.pdf. Each file uploaded to the DigiLocker Drive under the ‘GATE2027’ folder must have a specified file name and a size between 10 KB and 600 KB.

Application Fees and Important Dates

The GATE 2027 registration fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including rejection due to incomplete or incorrect documents. Refunds will only be processed for duplicate transactions upon submission of valid proof. The application correction window is scheduled from October 14 to October 21, 2026. City allotment notification is scheduled for January 4, 2027. The GATE 2027 results are expected on March 19, 2027.

A new Robotics & Automation (RA) paper has been introduced for GATE 2027, and the syllabus has been revised, with paper codes for XE/XH/XL updated. GATE scores are valid for three years and are used for admission to postgraduate and doctoral programs with possible financial assistance in MoE-supported institutions, as well as for recruitment by several Public Sector Undertakings.

Further reading

• GATE topper salary: Maharatna PSUs offer up to 2.5 lakh per month, private sector up to 2 lakh
• GATE 2026 statistical report out: 10.11 lakh registered, cutoffs detailed
• GATE exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• M.Pharm 2026: Apply with B.Pharm scores, GPAT, or CUET PG for Delhi NCR admissions
• NID Registration 2027: Application Link Soon at admissions.nid.edu
• KAU BTech Agricultural Engineering ICAR spot admission: Apply by Sep 25, 2026 Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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