GATE 2027 registration extended: apply with late fees by October 12

IIT Madras, the organizing institute for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027, has extended the deadline for registration with late fees. While the regular registration period without a late fee concludes today, September 27, 2026, candidates can still apply during an extended window.

The extended registration period with a late fee will be available until October 5, 2026, if you appear at multiple sources, or October 12, 2026, as per the official portal. This extension provides additional time for aspirants seeking admission to postgraduate and doctoral programs or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) jobs through GATE 2027.

Revised Registration Deadlines and Application Process

The GATE 2027 registration process commenced on September 2, 2026, through the GOAPS portal. The initial plan for the portal’s opening was August 14, 2026, which was later revised to August 27, and then September 2, 2026. Similarly, the last date for regular registration without a late fee was initially September 21, 2026, before being revised to September 27, 2026, and then October 5, 2026.

For candidates applying with a late fee, the deadline was initially September 30, 2026, then revised to October 5, 2026, and after that to October 12, 2026. IIT Madras has implemented changes in registration, including mandatory DigiLocker registration and facial authentication for Indian nationals, to allow candidates more time to prepare documents and certificates.

Application Fees and Document Upload Requirements

The application fees for GATE 2027 vary based on candidate category and the registration period. Female, SC, ST, and PwD candidates pay INR 1000 per paper during the regular period, which increases to INR 1500 with a late fee. For General, OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates, the fee is INR 2000 per paper during the regular period and INR 2500 with a late fee.

Mandatory DigiLocker registration for Indian nationals requires specific document uploads. SC/ST candidates must upload only their category certificate as ‘CATEGORY.pdf’ to the ‘GATE2027’ DigiLocker folder. PwD candidates are required to upload their PwD Certificate, UDID Card, and Appendix B1/B2 if applicable. General, OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates do not need to upload documents to the ‘GATE2027’ DigiLocker folder.

Candidates can opt to select one or two test papers, subject to permitted combinations. For two papers, Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates pay ₹2,000 during the regular period and ₹3,000 during the extended period. Other candidates pay ₹4,000 and ₹5,000 respectively for two papers during these periods.

Eligibility and Exam Structure for GATE 2027

Students currently in their third year or higher of an eligible undergraduate degree program, or those who have already completed one, are eligible to apply for GATE 2027. There is no upper age limit to appear for the examination, and no restrictions on the number of times a candidate can appear for GATE. The GATE score remains valid for three years from the date of result announcement.

The GATE 2027 exam will be conducted on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2027, across two sessions each day: forenoon (9:30 AM, 12:30 PM) and afternoon (2:30 PM, 5:30 PM). A significant addition for GATE 2027 is the introduction of Robotics and Automation (RA) as a new test paper, increasing the total number of test papers to 30. The GATE 2027 Information Brochure was released on July 20, 2026, providing complete details about the examination.

Post-Registration Schedule and Important Dates

Following the registration period, the application correction window is scheduled from October 14 to 21, 2026. Candidates are advised to use this period to rectify any errors in their application forms. The city allotment notification is scheduled for January 4, 2027, and the GATE 2027 results are scheduled to be announced on March 19, 2027.

The GATE exam is conducted jointly by IISc & IITs on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India. Qualified candidates can use their GATE scores for admission to postgraduate and doctoral programs with potential financial assistance in MoE-supported institutions, as well as for recruitment in 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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