GATE 2027 Application Form: Registration Delayed, New Dates Awaited at gate2027.iitm.ac.in
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has pushed back the start of registration for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027, leaving lakhs of aspiring MTech, PhD, and PSU-recruitment candidates awaiting a fresh date.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has pushed back the start of registration for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027, leaving lakhs of aspiring MTech, PhD, and PSU-recruitment candidates awaiting a fresh date. The application process, originally slated for August 14 and later rescheduled to August 27, has still not gone live as of August 29, with the official website removing the registration date altogether. A revised date is expected to be announced soon at gate2027.iitm.ac.in.
GATE 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration begins | To be announced |
| Regular registration closes | September 27, 2026 |
| Extended registration (with late fee) closes | October 5, 2026 |
| Application correction window | October 14–21, 2026 |
| City allotment notification | January 4, 2027 |
| Admit card release | To be announced |
| GATE 2027 examination | Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21, 2027 |
| Result declaration | March 19, 2027 |
Application Fee
| Category | Regular Period | Extended Period (with late fee) |
|---|---|---|
| Female / SC / ST / PwD (per paper) | Rs 1,000 | Rs 1,500 |
| All other candidates, incl. foreign nationals (per paper) | Rs 2,000 | Rs 2,500 |
Candidates may apply for one or two test papers, but a second paper can only be chosen from a permitted combination list.
Key Changes in GATE 2027
- A new Robotics and Automation (RA) paper has been introduced, taking the total number of test papers to 30.
- DigiLocker-based registration is now mandatory for all Indian nationals; candidates must create or verify their DigiLocker account before applying.
- The Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) paper has been moved under the XE (Engineering Sciences) sectional paper.
- Sectional paper codes under XE, XH, and XL have been revised, along with updates to the Biotechnology (BT) syllabus.
- Exam city selection has been expanded, allowing candidates to choose up to six cities within the same GATE zone.
Exam Pattern
- Mode: Computer-based test (CBT)
- Questions: 65 total — 10 General Aptitude + 55 subject-specific
- Total marks: 100
- Question types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), Numerical Answer Type (NAT)
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for wrong 1-mark MCQs; 2/3 mark for wrong 2-mark MCQs; no negative marking for MSQ or NAT
Who Can Apply
- Candidates in the third year or higher of an undergraduate programme in engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, arts, or humanities
- Candidates who have already completed such a degree
- There is no upper age limit to appear for GATE 2027
Why It Matters
A valid GATE score remains a key route into postgraduate and doctoral programmes at IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other institutes, and is also used by several central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) — including BHEL, IOCL, ONGC, NTPC, and HAL — for recruitment to technical roles. Scores are valid for three years from the date of result declaration.
Candidates are advised to keep scanned copies of their photograph, signature, valid photo ID, and category certificates (where applicable) ready, and to regularly check gate2027.iitm.ac.in for the revised registration schedule and further notifications.