GATE 2026 Final Day: Guide for Candidates Appearing in Ongoing Papers
IIT Guwahati continues to facilitate the GATE 2026 admit card download as the final day of the national-level engineering entrance exam concludes today, February 15. Candidates appearing for EC, AR, and DA papers must carry a printed color copy to the center. Official results and scorecards are scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, via the GOAPS portal.
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 is reaching its final milestone today, February 15, as thousands of candidates across the country appear for the concluding set of papers. Organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, the examination has been conducted in a phased manner over the weekends of February 7, 8, 14, and 15. As of today, the admit card download link remains active on the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) portal to assist those scheduled for the final shifts. This year's cycle is particularly noteworthy for the inclusion of the new Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) paper, which is being held in the afternoon session today. The official GATE 2026 website has seen high traffic as aspirants verify their shift timings and center locations one last time before entering the examination hall.
Final Day Paper Schedule and Shift Details
The final day of GATE 2026 is dedicated to some of the most specialized and high-volume streams. The administration has ensured that all logistical arrangements are in place to support a smooth testing process across all designated cities.
- Forenoon Session (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM): The morning shift today was exclusively for the Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) paper. This stream traditionally sees one of the highest numbers of applicants, requiring significant server stability and proctoring support.
- Afternoon Session (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM): The final session of the 2026 cycle includes Architecture and Planning (AR) and the high-demand Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) paper. Candidates must ensure they reach the center at least 90 minutes before the start of the session.
- Mandatory Documentation: Every candidate must present a printed color copy of their admit card. The invigilators have reiterated that black-and-white printouts or digital copies on mobile phones are strictly prohibited for entry into the examination centers.
Post-Examination Timeline and Answer Key Updates
With the conclusion of the final paper today, the focus of the IIT Guwahati organizing team will immediately shift toward the release of the provisional answer keys and the response sheets.
- Response Sheet Release: Candidates can expect their individual response sheets to be available on the GOAPS portal by the third week of February. This allows aspirants to cross-reference their marked answers with the upcoming provisional key.
- Result Declaration: The official result date for GATE 2026 has been set for March 19, 2026. This result will be the basis for M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitment for the 2026-27 session.
- Scorecard Validity: Once the results are announced, the GATE scorecards will be available for free download from March 27 to May 31, 2026. These scores remain valid for a period of three years from the date of the result announcement.
| Day & Date | Session | Test Papers (Codes) |
| Sunday, Feb 15 | Forenoon (9:30 AM) | EC (Electronics & Communication) |
| Sunday, Feb 15 | Afternoon (2:30 PM) | AR (Architecture), DA (Data Science) |
| Thursday, Mar 19 | All Sessions | Official Result Declaration |
| Friday, Mar 27 | Scorecard Window | Free Download Starts |
Conclusion
As the final shift of GATE 2026 concludes this evening, the national-level testing process for the current year officially comes to an end. Every candidate who appeared in the exam over the last two weekends is now looking forward to the result declaration in March. IIT Guwahati has emphasized that all challenges to the provisional answer key must be submitted within the specified window in late February to ensure the final merit list is accurate. The successful conduct of the examination marks another year of excellence in Indian engineering education, with the new DA paper expected to draw significant interest from industry recruiters and research institutions. Aspirants are advised to keep their login credentials secure for the upcoming scorecard download phase and to regularly check the official IIT Guwahati notifications for updates on the COAP and CCMT counseling schedules.
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