GATE 2026 Examination Weekend Ongoing Across Multiple Test Centres

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) has officially commenced across India. Organized by IIT Guwahati, the first weekend features core papers including Aerospace, Biotechnology, and Mathematics. Candidates are undergoing strict biometric verification at designated test centres for the computer-based sessions. This update covers essential exam day protocols, the upcoming February 8 schedule for Computer Science aspirants, and the timeline for the official answer key release. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 has officially entered its first phase of national execution. Today, February 7, marks the start of a multi-day examination marathon designed to test the technical proficiency of engineering and science graduates. Under the stewardship of IIT Guwahati, the organizing institute for this cycle, the exam is being held in a fully computer-based test mode across more than 200 cities. As of this morning, thousands of candidates have successfully completed the forenoon session, which included specialized papers such as Agricultural Engineering (AG) and Engineering Sciences (XE).

Real-Time Exam Day Protocols

To maintain the high standards of the examination, the GATE 2026 organizing institute has implemented a rigorous three-tier security check at every venue. Candidates are reporting at least 90 minutes before their respective shifts to complete mandatory biometric verification, including iris and fingerprint scans. According to the official GATE 2026 information brochure, any discrepancy between the admit card data and the candidate’s live verification results in immediate disqualification.

• Documentation: Candidates must carry a high-quality color print of their GATE 2026 admit card on A4 paper.
• Prohibited Items: Test centres are strictly enforcing the "no-gadget" policy. This includes smartwatches, personal calculators, and even jewelry. A virtual calculator is embedded within the computer-based test mode interface for all numerical problems.
• Scribble Pads: To assist with rough work, candidates are provided with one scribble pad at a time, which must be returned to the invigilator before leaving the hall.

First Weekend Schedule and Paper Analysis

The opening weekend is strategically divided to manage the massive influx of students. While today’s afternoon session focuses on branches like Chemistry (CY) and Physics (PH), tomorrow, February 8, is dedicated to one of the most populous papers: Computer Science and Information Technology.

Preliminary feedback from students suggests that the General Aptitude section, which carries 15 marks, has remained consistent with previous years in terms of difficulty. However, the subject-specific questions in the computer-based test mode continue to emphasize Numerical Answer Type (NAT) problems, which require a higher degree of precision and do not offer multiple-choice options.

Post-Examination Timeline

Once the final session concludes on February 15, the GATE 2026 organizing institute will begin the verification of candidate responses. The official GATE 2026 results timeline indicates that the provisional answer keys will be released in the third week of February, allowing students to challenge any potential errors. The final results, which determine eligibility for M.Tech admissions and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) recruitment, are scheduled for declaration on March 19, 2026.

Conclusion

The commencement of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering on February 7 signifies a critical milestone for the 2026-27 academic session. With the GATE 2026 organizing institute ensuring a seamless transition into the computer-based test mode, candidates are now focused on navigating the challenging technical syllabus. As the first weekend concludes, all eyes will turn to the upcoming second phase on February 14 and 15, which will feature Civil and Mechanical Engineering papers, effectively rounding off the national testing cycle.

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