GATE 2026 begins from February 7; section-wise sample questions, marking scheme explained

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) will begin the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026) on February 7, and will continue for four days, February 8, 14, and 15, in multiple shifts across the country.

The GATE 2026 exam will be held as a computer-based test (CBT) for 30 test papers, including a new sectional paper on Energy Science under Engineering Sciences (XE).

Each paper will be held for three hours, with candidates required to report to their allotted centres well in advance. Entry to the exam hall will begin 40 minutes before the scheduled start time, while candidates can log in and read instructions 20 minutes prior to the exam.

Late entry beyond 30 minutes after the exam begins will not be permitted, and candidates will not be allowed to leave the hall before the exam ends.

Also read IIT Guwahati changes GATE 2026 exam centre for location number 2082; MTech exams from February 7

Types of questions in GATE 2026

Candidates are allowed to appear for one or two papers, and each question paper will feature three types of objective questions.

There will be three types of questions – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Selection Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT).

• In MCQs, there will be four options with only one correct answer. These questions will attract negative marking.
• In MSQs, one or more correct options may be valid. There is no negative marking, but no partial credit is awarded.
• In NAT, candidates are required to enter a numerical value using an on-screen keypad. These questions also carry no negative marking.

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