GATE 2026 ECE and EE Papers Reviewed as Concept-Driven by Candidates

As of February 18, 2026, candidates have reviewed the GATE 2026 ECE and EE papers as moderately difficult and conceptual. Initial feedback from the exams held on February 14 and 15 highlights a shift toward logic-based questions rather than rote memorization. Aspirants noted that while General Aptitude was scoring, the core technical sections were calculation-intensive and time-consuming. The official answer keys from IIT Guwahati are expected to provide further clarity on the 2026-27 admission benchmarks.

Following the conclusion of the major engineering sessions, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 has drawn significant attention for its technical depth. As of February 18, 2026, a comprehensive review of the Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) and Electrical Engineering (EE) papers indicates a consistent trend toward conceptual clarity. Thousands of aspirants who appeared for these sessions on February 14 and 15 reported that IIT Guwahati curated a balanced but challenging set of questions. Unlike previous years where formula-based problems were more frequent, the 2026 technical papers required a deeper understanding of first principles, particularly in core areas like Electromagnetics and Power Systems.

1. ECE Paper Analysis: Emphasis on Signals and Systems

The ECE session, conducted on February 15, has been described by many aspirants as moderate to difficult due to the multi-step nature of the numerical questions. The official exam analysis suggests that the paper was designed to test the analytical limits of the candidates.

• Core Weightage: Subjects such as Signals & Systems and Communication Systems carried a higher weightage, with many questions requiring the application of Fourier Transforms and Noise analysis in complex scenarios.
• Analog and Digital Circuits: Candidates found the Analog section moderately technical, featuring intricate Op-Amp and BJT circuits that were time-consuming but solvable with clear basics.
• Math and Aptitude: Engineering Mathematics was rated as straightforward, while the General Aptitude section provided a much-needed scoring buffer for most specialists.
• Question Type Mix: A notable increase in Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) in the ECE paper meant that candidates had to be absolutely sure of all statements to avoid losing potential marks.

2. EE Paper Review: Calculation-Intensive Core Subjects

The Electrical Engineering (EE) paper, held on February 14, shared a similar conceptual DNA but was noted for being more calculation-heavy. Candidate feedback indicates that time management was the biggest hurdle during this three-hour session.

• Lengthy Numericals: Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions in Power Systems were particularly scrutinized for requiring extensive multi-decimal technical calculations.
• Conceptual Interleaving: Several questions successfully combined concepts from both Network Theory and Control Systems, testing the ability of aspirants to link different modules.
• Shift Comparison: Initial data suggests that the forenoon shift was slightly more challenging than the afternoon session, a factor that will likely trigger the normalization process during result calculation.
• MSQ Impact: Much like the ECE paper, the EE session featured a significant number of MSQs that eliminated the possibility of simple elimination strategies.

3. Expected Cutoffs and Future Projections

With the exams now concluded, the focus shifts to the expected qualifying marks. Given the conceptual nature of the ECE and EE papers, experts predict a stable cutoff range that aligns with the difficulty observed during the 2025 cycle.

• Projected Ranges: For the General category, the ECE cutoff is expected to hover between 25 and 29 marks, while the EE cutoff might settle between 26 and 29 marks.
• Accuracy vs. Attempts: Most well-prepared specialists reported attempting 50 to 60 questions, emphasizing that final ranks will depend more on technical accuracy than on the sheer volume of attempts.
• Answer Key Timeline: The official answer key is tentatively scheduled for release in the final week of February, allowing students to verify their responses against the expert solutions.
• Impact on PSU Recruitment: Major PSUs like IOCL and ONGC are expected to maintain high score requirements, as the conceptual depth of the 2026 paper has successfully differentiated top-tier talent.

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