GATE 2027 Registration Deadline Extended to October 5: Late-Fee Date, Fees and How to Apply
IIT Madras has extended the GATE 2027 registration deadline. Candidates can now apply without a late fee until Monday, October 5, 2026, and with a late fee until Monday, October 12, 2026, as per the official schedule at gate2027.iitm.ac.in. Applications are filed on the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS), and Indian nationals must log in through DigiLocker.
Candidates who have not yet applied have one more week without paying the late fee.
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 October 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 |
IIT Madras says all dates are liable to change. The official schedule notes that these dates may change.
What Has Changed
The regular deadline was earlier September 21, then September 27, before moving to October 5. The late-fee deadline moved from September 30 to October 5 and now October 12. The GOAPS opening date was also revised twice before September 2.
This extension applies to GATE exam registration only. 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 period) | Two papers (late-fee period) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 application fee is non-refundable [VERIFY against official FAQ].
How to Apply for GATE 2027
- Go to gate2027.iitm.ac.in and click Apply Now.
- Continue with DigiLocker (Indian nationals). Foreign nationals log in directly 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. Candidates who want a second paper should add it to their original application.
DigiLocker: What Candidates Need to Know
DigiLocker registration is mandatory for all Indian applicants. Name, date of birth, mobile number, email, address and ID details are fetched from it.
Candidates with an unverified DigiLocker account can still apply by selecting the default ID proof. Their applications will be scrutinised after the registration deadline, and they must show original documents at the exam centre. IIT Madras recommends a verified account for a smoother process.
Candidates should not delete their 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. Candidates with persistent problems should contact the helpdesk.
Photograph, Signature and Documents
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Live photo | Captured during registration; use a webcam or a phone with a 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
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.
Eligibility
Candidates in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate programme, or those who have completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts or Humanities, are eligible. Detailed degree-wise rules are on the official eligibility page.
New in GATE 2027
The exam will have 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.
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: helpdesk@gate.iitm.ac.in, 044-22578200. Application-related query hours are 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 October 21, 2026. City allotment follows on January 4, 2027, and admit card dates are still to be announced. The exam takes place across six days in February 2027, with results due on March 19, 2027.