GATE 2027 Scribe Facility: IIT Madras Details Eligibility, Guidelines at gate2027.iitm.ac.in

IIT Madras, the organising institute for GATE 2027, has released detailed information regarding the scribe facility for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and dyslexic candidates, accessible through the official portal, gate2027.iitm.ac.in. These guidelines, which follow the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India’s O.M. F. No. P-13013/75/2023-Policy-DD-III dated August 01, 2025, are crucial for eligible candidates seeking support during the examination scheduled for February 2027.

The provisions aim to ensure equitable access for PwD and dyslexic candidates, offering essential accommodations such as scribes, assistive devices, and magnified computer-screen content. Candidates are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and examination-day protocols, with registration for GATE 2027 currently open until September 30, 2026, with a late fee.

GATE 2027 Scribe Facility: Eligibility and Application

The scribe facility for GATE 2027 is available to eligible PwD and dyslexic candidates. PwD candidates requiring a scribe must present a valid disability certificate or a Unique Disability ID (UDID) card, specifically for blindness, locomotor disability involving both arms, or cerebral palsy. For other specified disabilities, a certificate confirming functional limitation to writing and the essential need for a scribe is mandatory. This certificate must be issued after a medical examination by a three-member medical authority, chaired by a Chief Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon, Chief District Medical Officer, or Medical Superintendent of a Government healthcare institution.

Candidates must exercise the option for a scribe while completing the GATE 2027 application form on the GOAPS portal. Mandatory DigiLocker registration is required for Indian nationals applying for GATE 2027. Applicants under the PwD category must upload a UDID Card or PwD Certificate (PDF). Those requesting a scribe facility or extra examination time must upload the prescribed Compensatory Time/Scribe Certificate, referred to as Appendix-B, along with other relevant annexures. The application fee for Female, SC, ST, and PwD candidates is ₹1,000 per paper, while all other candidates, including foreign nationals, pay ₹2,000 per paper.

GATE 2027 Scribe Qualifications and Guidelines

IIT Madras encourages eligible PwD and dyslexic candidates to utilise scribes arranged by GATE. The educational qualification of a GATE-arranged scribe will be a minimum of two academic years below and a maximum of three academic years below the minimum qualification required for GATE 2027, typically a 12th pass or in the first year of an undergraduate degree. If ‘Y’ candidates require scribes at an examination centre, a panel of ‘Y+1’ scribes will be made available, from which the candidate must select one.

While candidates are discouraged from bringing their own scribe, it is permitted only if GATE is unable to arrange one. In such cases, the candidate’s scribe must not be eligible to appear in GATE 2027 and must also be 2-3 academic years below the minimum GATE qualification. No honorarium will be paid to a scribe arranged by the candidate. if a candidate permitted to bring their own scribe fails to do so, a new scribe cannot be arranged on the examination day. The scribe’s role is strictly limited to reading instructions and test papers verbatim and assisting with mouse-clicks if the candidate is unable, communicating only in English. Scribes are explicitly prohibited from translating, interpreting, explaining, emphasising, or guiding the candidate regarding the test paper content.

Assistive Devices and Compensatory Time for GATE 2027 PWD Candidates

Beyond the scribe facility, PwD candidates are permitted to use certain assistive devices, which they must arrange themselves, as GATE zonal institutes will not provide them. Also, PwD candidates having a disability regarding vision will be given an option to view the test paper on the computer screen in a magnified font, approximately 1.25x or 1.5x magnification. Candidates eligible for a scribe can also opt for compensatory time of one hour for a three-hour examination, even if they choose not to use a scribe. This option for compensatory time must also be exercised during the application stage.

PwD candidates not eligible for a scribe may still receive compensatory time if they submit a certificate confirming a physical limitation to write. This certificate must be obtained from a Chief Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon, or Medical Superintendent of a Government Health Care institution and corresponds to Appendix I of the Government of India guidelines dated August 01, 2025. All PwD candidates are encouraged to visit their examination centre one day before the examination to familiarise themselves with the environment.

GATE 2027: Important Dates and Fees

The GATE 2027 Information Brochure was released on July 20, 2026, with registration commencing on August 14, 2026. Candidates have until September 21, 2026, to register without a late fee, while the final deadline with a late fee is September 30, 2026. Admit cards are expected in early January 2027, and the examinations are scheduled across six dates in February 2027. The application fee is non-refundable. The GATE 2027 Scorecard will display the name exactly as registered, without prefixes. Candidates must physically produce the same original photo ID uploaded during the application at the test centre.

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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