GATE 2027 Registration Closes October 5 Without Late Fee: Fee Table, October 12 Late Date and DigiLocker Steps
Published 28 Sept 20265 min read64 Views
IIT Madras has extended GATE 2027 registration. Candidates can apply without a late fee until Monday, October 5, 2026, and with a late fee until Monday, October 12, 2026. Applications are filed on the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) at gate2027.iitm.ac.in. Indian nationals must log in through DigiLocker. IIT Madras says all dates are liable to change, so check the portal for the current status [VERIFY].
GATE 2027 Registration: Key Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| GOAPS opened | September 2, 2026 |
| Last date without late fee (extended) | Monday, October 5, 2026 |
| Last date with late fee (extended) | Monday, October 12, 2026 |
| Application correction window | October 14 to 21, 2026 |
| City allotment notification | January 4, 2027 |
| Admit card download | To be announced |
| GATE 2027 exam | February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027 |
| Result announcement | March 19, 2027 |
No closing time is given for either deadline [VERIFY].
What Has Changed
The no-late-fee deadline moved from September 21 to September 27, and then to October 5. The late-fee deadline moved from September 30 to October 5, and now to October 12. The GOAPS opening date was also revised twice before September 2.
The extension applies only to GATE registration. It does not change the M.Tech admission dates set by individual institutes.
GATE 2027 Application Fee
| Category | One paper (regular) | Two papers (regular) | One paper (late fee) | Two papers (late fee) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 |
| All other candidates, including foreign nationals | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹2,500 | ₹4,500 |
PwD refers to Persons with Benchmark Disability. Female candidates are not exempt from the fee. They pay the lower rate. The late-fee columns are ₹500 higher than the regular columns [VERIFY]. The source says the fee is non-refundable [VERIFY against the official FAQ].
How to Apply for GATE 2027
- Go to gate2027.iitm.ac.in and click Apply Now.
- Indian nationals continue with DigiLocker. Foreign nationals log in with their enrolment ID and password.
- Read the instructions and keep your documents ready.
- Confirm your details and generate your enrolment ID and password.
- Complete facial registration and upload your photograph and signature.
- Choose your paper or papers and your exam cities.
- Pay the fee and submit the form.
- Download the confirmation PDF.
Submit only one application. If more than one is filed, only one is accepted and the rest are rejected without a refund. A candidate who wants a second paper should add it to the original application.
DigiLocker: What Candidates Need to Know
DigiLocker registration is mandatory for Indian applicants. Name, date of birth, mobile number, email, address and ID details are fetched from it.
- Candidates with an unverified account can still apply by selecting the default ID proof. Their applications are scrutinised after the registration deadline, and they must show original documents at the exam centre. IIT Madras recommends a verified account.
- Do not delete the DigiLocker account after applying, because future GATE communication will use it.
- Some candidates report a "Verification Failed" error. One reported cause is holding two DigiLocker accounts, one verified and one unverified, on the same email [VERIFY]. Candidates with persistent problems should contact the helpdesk.
Photograph, Signature and Documents
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Live photo | Captured during registration; webcam or phone front camera of at least 5 MP, in good light |
| Uploaded photograph | JPEG, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, white background, 5 to 600 kB, 200×260 to 530×690 pixels |
| Signature | JPEG, black or dark blue ink, 3 to 300 kB, 250×80 to 580×180 pixels |
| SC/ST certificate | PDF named CATEGORY.pdf, in the GATE2027 folder in DigiLocker |
| PwD certificate | PDF named UDID_CERT.pdf or PWD_CERT.pdf, in the same folder |
General, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates do not need to upload a category document. Candidates must carry the same ID that was verified in DigiLocker, in original, to the exam.
Exam Cities and Eligibility
Candidates can choose six exam cities, all from the same GATE zone. IIT Madras may add or remove cities, or allot a city outside the choices. GATE 2027 will be held only at centres within India.
Eligible candidates are those in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate programme, and those who have completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts or Humanities. Degree-wise rules are on the official eligibility page.
New in GATE 2027
The exam has 30 test papers, including the new Robotics and Automation (RA) paper. Textile Engineering and Fibre Science is now a section (XE9) within the Engineering Sciences paper. Candidates may take one or two papers. Each paper carries 100 marks, with General Aptitude worth 15 [VERIFY].
Payment Problems, Status and Helpdesk
If a payment fails or is unclear, check your bank account for the transaction. Then log back into the GATE portal after some time and check the payment status. To check your application status, log in to GOAPS with your enrolment ID and password.
- Helpdesk email: helpdesk@gate.iitm.ac.in
- Phone: 044-22578200
- Application-related query hours: Monday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Raise issues with screenshots well before the deadline.
What Happens Next
After registration closes, the correction window runs from October 14 to 21, 2026. City allotment follows on January 4, 2027. Admit card dates are yet to be announced. The exam runs across six days in February 2027, and results are due on March 19, 2027. The source does not say which fields can be edited during correction [VERIFY].
Official Portal
Apply and check updates only at gate2027.iitm.ac.in. Avoid links shared on social media.