GATE CSE 2027 syllabus revised: what changes for Digital Logic, COA, and Computer Networks

In short

IIT Madras will conduct GATE 2027, which is scheduled for February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2027.
The GATE 2027 Computer Science (CS) syllabus has been revised, with notable changes in Digital Logic, Computer Organisation and Architecture (COA), and Computer Networks (CN).
A new paper, GATE Robotics and Automation (RA), has been introduced, which CSE aspirants can also opt for.
The GATE 2027 CS paper will have 65 questions for a total of 100 marks over a three-hour duration.
General Aptitude will carry 15 marks, Engineering Mathematics approximately 13 marks, and computer science topics will account for the remaining 72 marks.

IIT Madras has revised the GATE Computer Science and Information Technology (CSE) syllabus for 2027, introducing specific changes to core topics and a new examination paper. These updates, last verified on 22 July 2026, are intended to provide candidates with the updated curriculum for the upcoming GATE 2027 Computer Science (CS) exam.

Official notification screenshot — Screenshot of the official page at gate2027.iitm.ac.in

The GATE 2027 examination window is scheduled for 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21 February 2027. IIT Madras will be the organising institute for GATE 2027, which will be conducted for a total of 30 test papers. Candidates are permitted to appear in either one or up to two test papers, all of which will be in English.

Revised Syllabus for Key Computer Science Topics

The primary changes in the GATE 2027 CS syllabus affect the Digital Logic, Computer Organisation and Architecture (COA), and Computer Networks (CN) sections. In Digital Logic, minimisation techniques such as algebraic methods, Karnaugh Maps, and tabular methods are now explicitly named, and the design of combinational and sequential circuits is listed as a separate objective.

For Computer Organisation and Architecture, hardwired control design, microprogrammed control design, memory interfacing, memory hierarchy performance, and cache mapping have been explicitly listed. Conversely, the explicit listing of ‘Main memory and secondary storage’ has been removed from the COA syllabus. The Computer Networks syllabus has undergone a considerable reduction, with the removal of topics such as the OSI model stack, TCP/IP stack, framing, Ethernet bridging, shortest-path routing, flooding, generic IP addressing, ARP, DHCP, ICMP, UDP, SMTP, FTP, and Email. The Application Layer in Computer Networks now covers only DNS and HTTP.

GATE 2027 Exam Pattern and Sectional Weightage

The GATE 2027 CS paper will consist of two sections, with a total of 65 questions for 100 marks over a three-hour duration. Section 1 will cover General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics for a combined total of 28 marks, while the remaining 72 marks will be allocated to computer science topics. General Aptitude carries a fixed 15 marks, and Engineering Mathematics accounts for approximately 13 marks.

The question paper will include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), multiple-select questions (MSQs), and numerical answer type (NAT) questions. Negative marking will apply only to MCQs, with a deduction of ⅓ for 1-mark questions and ⅔ for 2-mark questions. The programming language tested in GATE CSE is C. The General Aptitude Syllabus remains consistent across all subjects.

GATE CS 2027 Exam Pattern
Parameter	Details
Total Marks	100
Total Questions	65
Duration	3 hours
Question Types	MCQ (1 & 2 marks), MSQ, NAT
Negative Marking	MCQ only (⅓ for 1-mark, ⅔ for 2-mark)
General Aptitude	15 marks, 10 questions
Engineering Mathematics	13 marks
Remaining CS Subjects	72 marks
Total	100 marks, 65 questions
Programming Language	C
Organizing Institute	IIT Madras
GATE 2027 Exam Window	6–7, 13–14, 20–21 February 2027 (exact CS date/session TBA)

GATE 2027 CSE Exam Pattern and Sectional Weightage
Section	Percentage Weightage
General Aptitude (GA)	15 marks
Engineering Mathematics	13 marks
GATE 2027 CSE weightage	72 marks

Introduction of GATE Robotics and Automation (Ra) Paper

IIT Madras has introduced a new paper, GATE Robotics and Automation (RA), which CSE aspirants are eligible to take. This addition expands the options available to candidates appearing for GATE 2027. The GATE 2027 examination will encompass 30 test papers in total, allowing candidates to select up to two papers based on their interests and academic background.

2026 vs 2027 — Summary Comparison Table
Section	GATE CS 2026 (IIT Guwahati)	GATE CS 2027 (IIT Madras)
Digital Logic	General “minimisation”	Algebraic, K-map, and tabular techniques explicitly named; circuit design as separate objective
COA	Datapath and control unit; main memory and secondary storage	Hardwired and microprogrammed control-unit design; memory interfacing, hierarchy performance and cache mapping made explicit; main/secondary storage removed
Computer Networks	OSI/TCP-IP stacks, framing, Ethernet bridging, shortest-path/flooding routing, ARP, DHCP, ICMP, UDP, SMTP, FTP, Email	Principles of layering only; error detection and MAC; distance-vector and link-state routing; IPv4/CIDR/NAT; TCP flow/congestion control; socket API; DNS and HTTP only
All other sections	Unchanged	Unchanged

For GATE 2026, Computer Science recorded the highest registrations among all papers, with 2,59,922 registrations and 2,11,020 appearances. The official GATE 2027 CSE Syllabus PDF and other relevant details are available on the official IIT Madras GATE 2027 portal.

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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