GATE 2026 Answer Key LIVE: IIT Guwahati Releases Candidate Response Sheets and Master Question Papers
Candidates who appeared for the examination across various sessions on February 7, 8, 14, and 15 can now access their recorded responses via the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) portal at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has officially released the candidate response sheets and provisional answer keys for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026. Candidates who appeared for the examination across various sessions on February 7, 8, 14, and 15 can now access their recorded responses via the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) portal at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. This release is a critical milestone for over 8 lakh engineering graduates, allowing them to calculate their raw scores using the official marking scheme before the final results are declared in March.
To stay updated on the branch-wise "Marks vs. Rank" analysis and normalization trends, follow Only Education News.
How to Access the GATE 2026 Response Sheet and Master Key
Candidates are advised to download both their individual response sheet and the master question paper for their respective branch to ensure accurate score calculation.
- Visit the official website: gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
- Log in to the GOAPS portal using your Enrollment ID/Email Address and Password.
- Click on the link for 'View Response' to see your attempted answers and the question IDs.
- Separately download the Provisional Answer Key and Master Question Paper for your specific paper code (e.g., CS, ME, EE, CE).
- Tally your responses. For MCQs, remember the negative marking: 1/3 for 1-mark questions and 2/3 for 2-mark questions.
The Objection Window: February 25 – 28
The current answer key is provisional. If you find a discrepancy between your technical understanding and the official solution, IIT Guwahati provides a formal challenge mechanism.
- Window Duration: The challenge portal will be active from February 25 to February 28, 2026.
- Fee: A fee of ₹500 per question is typically required. This fee is refunded if the challenge is upheld by the subject matter experts.
- Evidence: Candidates must upload a clear PDF justification or textbook reference to support their objection.
| Event | Official Date |
|---|---|
| Response Sheets & Keys Release | February 22-23, 2026 (Live Now) |
| Submission of Objections Starts | February 25, 2026 |
| Last Date to Raise Objections | February 28, 2026 |
| Declaration of Results | March 19, 2026 |
What Happens After Score Calculation?
Once you have an estimate of your score, the focus shifts to the two primary paths:
- PSU Recruitment: Major Public Sector Undertakings like ONGC, IOCL, GAIL, and NTPC will soon start releasing their recruitment notifications based on GATE 2026 scores.
- Higher Education: Aspirants should prepare for the COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) for IIT admissions and CCMT for NIT and IIIT admissions, both expected to start in April.
For a specialized guide on how normalization will affect the scores of multi-session papers like Civil and Mechanical Engineering, follow Only Education News.