GATE 2026: IIT Guwahati Set to Release Provisional Answer Key Following Conclusion of Exams

Following the conclusion of GATE 2026 on February 15, IIT Guwahati is expected to release the provisional answer key and response sheets by late February. Aspirants can access their recorded responses via the official GOAPS portal to estimate scores. The challenge window will open shortly after, allowing candidates to raise objections before the final results on March 19.Qualified specialists will then be able to download their scorecards starting March 27, 2026.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, the organizing body for the GATE 2026, is currently finalizing the data for the upcoming release of the official provisional answer key. Following the conclusion of the four-day national-level examination on February 15, 2026, the focus has shifted toward the evaluation of candidate performances across 30 different subject papers. As of today, February 18, millions of engineering aspirants are awaiting the activation of the response sheet link on the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) portal. This document is a critical precursor to the answer key, as it provides a personalized record of the options selected by each candidate during the computer-based test sessions.

1. Release Timeline for Response Sheets and Answer Keys

The official schedule indicates that the evaluation process is on track, with the primary documents expected to be made available for download in a staggered manner over the final weeks of February.

• Response Sheet Availability: Candidates can typically access their recorded responses through the GOAPS portal within a few days of the final exam date. As of mid-February, technical teams are synchronizing session data to ensure error-free access.
• Provisional Answer Key: The official answer key is tentatively expected to be released around February 26, 2026. This document will contain the correct answers for all 30 papers, including the newly introduced sectional paper on Energy Science.
• Master Question Papers: Along with the key, IIT Guwahati will publish the master question papers for each session to facilitate the evaluation of specific question IDs.
• Result Projections: The timeline leads toward the definitive announcement of results on March 19, 2026, a date that remains fixed according to current evaluation progress.

2. Challenge Window and Objection Fee Structure

Once the provisional key is live, the GATE 2026 authority will provide a limited window for candidates to contest any perceived discrepancies. This process ensures transparency in the final evaluation and allows for corrections if any question is found to be ambiguous.

• Objection Fee: Candidates wishing to challenge a specific answer must pay a non-refundable fee of ₹500 per question. For NRI candidates, this fee is typically fixed at US$10.
• Submission of Proof: Every objection must be accompanied by valid documentary evidence or a detailed justification (limited to 500 characters) within the portal.
• Marks to All (MTA): If a challenge is upheld by subject experts, the specific question may be marked as "MTA," meaning credit will be awarded to all candidates who attempted that paper.
• Finality of Key: After the objection window closes, no further challenges will be entertained, and the final evaluation will be based on the revised "Final Answer Key."

3. Score Calculation and Post-Exam Opportunities

The GATE score remains valid for a period of three years, opening doors to various postgraduate programs and public sector recruitment. Aspirants use the current evaluation phase to gauge their standing for M.Tech admissions or PSU interviews.

• Marking Scheme: Candidates are advised to use the official marking scheme (1/3 negative marking for 1-mark MCQs and 2/3 for 2-mark MCQs) while performing their own evaluation.
• No Negative Marking: It is important to remember that Numerical Answer Type (NAT) and Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) do not carry negative marks, simplifying the score prediction.
• Scorecard Download: Qualified candidates will be able to download their official GATE scorecards free of cost from March 27 to May 31, 2026.
• PSU Recruitment: Several top-tier Public Sector Undertakings have already begun tracking the GATE evaluation cycle to align their recruitment notifications for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Conclusion

As the GATE 2026 cycle enters the critical evaluation phase on February 18, the anticipation among the engineering community continues to build. IIT Guwahati’s commitment to a rigorous and transparent evaluation process ensures that the upcoming results on March 19 will be a fair reflection of each candidate’s aptitude. Aspirants are encouraged to keep their GOAPS login credentials ready and regularly monitor the Official News Section for the live link to the response sheets. This final stretch of the 2026 evaluation marks the beginning of new academic and professional journeys for thousands of future engineers across the nation.

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