GATE 2026 LIVE: MTech entrance exam over; Feb 15 shift 1, 2 question paper, answer key updates

Candidates can check the qualifying marks in GATE 2026 below:

• General - 25 to 32
• OBC - 22 to 28
• SC/ST/PwD - 17 to 25

The GATE 2026 results are likely to be announced in mid-March, as per several media reports. After the declaration, candidates will be able to download the scorecard from the GOAPS portal. The official scorecard usually becomes available a few days later and remains valid for admissions and PSU recruitment.

Candidates can check the GAET 2026 highlights below:

The authority will announce the provisional answer key along with the question paper and response sheet before releasing the final answer key and result. Candidates will be able to challenge the GATE 2026 provisional answer key by paying a fee of Rs 500

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati will announce the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 result soon on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Candidates can expect the GATE 2026 result on March 19, as per the schedule available on the official website. The GATE 2026 result link will be activated soon at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Candidates can contact the authorities through the helpline numbers at 022-2576 7068 and 022-2572 4054 in case of any query or discrepancy in the GATE 2026 result.

The IIT Guwahati will declare the GATE 2026 result soon on the official website. Candidates can check and download their GATE result 2026 at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Candidates can check the qualifying marks in GATE 2026 below:

• General - 25 to 32
• OBC - 22 to 28
• SC/ST/PwD - 17 to 25

The authority administered the GATE 2026 examination on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, in two shifts - shift 1 (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM) and shift 2 (2:30 PM to 5:30 PM).

Candidates can expect the IIT Guwahati to announce the GATE 2026 final answer key soon on the official website. The authority has not released an official release date as of now.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Guwahati) administers the GATE 2026 examination. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was held on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, at various exam centres.

Candidates can check the category-wise GATE ECE cutoff 2026 below:

• General category - 25 to 29 marks
• OBC-NCL/EWS category - 22.5 to 26 marks
• SC/ST category - 16.6 - 19.4 marks

IIT Guwahati will announce the GATE 2026 exam results on March 19, as per the schedule available on the official website.

According to students' reaction, the GATE 2026 Feb 15 paper was "moderate" in difficulty. GA section was the easiest, while the core subjects section of moderately difficult. 

GATE 2026 February 15 Shift 1 Analysis: Students find EC paper moderate overall, GA easy

IIT Guwahati will issue the GATE 2026 answer key soon on its official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

The IIT Guwahati will announce the GATE 2026 final answer key soon on the official website. The final answer key will be out along with the GATE 2026 result at gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Guwahati) has concluded the GATE 2026 examination. The authority conducted the GATE 2026 exam on February 15, 2026 in two shifts - morning shift (9:30 am to 12:30 pm) and afternoon shift (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm).

1/3rd mark will be deducted for one-mark MCQs and 2/3rd mark for 2 mark MCQs. There is no negative marking for MSQs and NATs, and no partial marking for MSQs.

The GATE 2026 Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) examination is administered today, i.e., February 15, 2026, in the afternoon shift (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm).

The MCQ, MSQ, and NAT are the types of questions asked in the GATE 2026.  MCQs stand for multiple-choice questions, MSQs are the multiple select questions, while NATs are numerical answer-type questions.

Based on student feedback and Careers360 experts, the GATE February 15 Shift 1 analysis is given below in the table:

Candidates can check the total number of questions asked in the GATE 2026 EC paper below:

The authority has concluded the shift 1 paper of GATE 2026. List of the topics covered in the GATE 2026 EC paper is:

• EMF question similar to one asked in CSE
• Op-Amp based
• Control systems (PYQs based)
• Analog electronic/circuits

The GATE answer key 2026 is likely to be out by the last week of February. Candidates can expect the answer key to be released by around February 26–27, 2026.

The GATE Data Science and AI Syllabus 2026 consists of subjects such as:

1. Probability and Statistics 
2. Linear Algebra 
3. Calculus and Optimization 
4. Programming, Data Structures, and Algorithms 
5. Database Management and Warehousing 
6. Machine Learning 
7. AI

The GATE 2026 ECE question paper consists of 65 questions of 100 marks, and the questions are divided into general aptitude questions of 15 marks and subject-specific question 85 marks.

As the GATE 2026 result on March 19, the IIT Guwahati will publish the GATE response sheet and answer key in the third week of February 2026.

The GATE 2026 ECE (EC) paper will have 65 questions worth 100 marks. It will include General Aptitude (15%), Engineering Mathematics (13–16%), and Technical Core Subjects (70–72%).

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Each question has four options, but only one is correct. This section has a negative marking.
• Multiple Select Questions (MSQs): These questions can have one or more correct answers. There is no negative marking for these questions.
• Numerical Answer Type (NAT): Candidates must enter a numeric value using an on-screen calculator. This section also does not have negative marking.

Candidates are not allowed to bring certain items to the exam centre. The following are banned inside the exam hall:

• Mobile phones, even if switched off, and any type of watches, Calculators, Electronic or communication devices, wallets, papers, loose sheets, pens, pencils, pencil boxes, pouches, and any printed or handwritten materials and any form of communication with other candidates, verbal or otherwise, inside the GATE exam hall

GATE February 15 shift 1 exams have started. IIT Guwahati is conducting the national-level exam for the morning paper: Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC).

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Guwahati) is conducting the GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, at various exam centres.

In the GATE Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) question paper 2026, the general aptitude section will carry 15 marks and the remaining 85 marks are allotted to the subject component, out of which engineering mathematics will carry 13 marks.

There is no official dress code for the GATE 2026 exam, but candidates are required to wear light, simple, and comfortable clothing to facilitate security checks. Avoid clothing with too many pockets, metal buttons, jackets, or heavy embroidery. Sandals or slippers are recommended, as shoes may need to be removed.

For the GATE 2026 exam to be held on February 15, candidates should arrive 60–90 minutes before their exam shift. For the morning session, report by 8 am to start at 9:30 am.

MTech aspirants must carry their GATE 2026 admit card to enter the exam centre. IIT Guwahati has asked candidates to bring a printed A4 copy of the hall ticket and a valid photo ID. The GATE hall ticket can be downloaded from the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE February 15 exam for three papers: EC, AR, and DA.

The GATE 2026 will be conducted tomorrow, February 15, in two shifts. The first shift will be held from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm for Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC). The second shift will take place from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm for Architecture and Planning (AR) and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA).

The GATE DA exam will be held tomorrow, February 15, in shift 2. After the exam, the unofficial GATE DA answer key will be released.

Qualified candidates apply for IITs, NITs and PSU recruitments.  Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) counselling handles IIT admissions while CCMT covers NITs. Higher scores open better specialisations and stipends.

Initial reactions suggest the EE paper remains calculation heavy. Several students found MSQs tricky because multiple correct answers increased confusion. Accuracy mattered more than attempt count.

Control systems, communication theory, and analog electronics dominated the previous paper. Mathematics questions were fewer but high scoring. Similar blueprint is anticipated for 2026 as trends rarely change drastically.

NTPC is expected to recruit engineers using valid GATE scores shortly after results. Candidates with higher scores usually proceed to interviews and document verification rounds. A strong percentile significantly increases PSU chances.

The qualifying GATE ECE cut-off for the General category is expected to be around 25–30 marks out of 100. To get admission into top IITs, candidates usually need a score of 70–80 or more. The previous year GATE cutoff was 24.2 for General, 21.7 for OBC/EWS, and 16.1 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Candidates appearing today reported conceptual numerical questions with moderate difficulty. Engineering Mathematics again played a crucial role in scoring marks. Memory-based questions and unofficial solutions are now circulating online.

The DA paper combined programming logic, probability, and machine learning fundamentals. Many questions required conceptual clarity rather than formula-based solving. Candidates preparing for 2026 should focus heavily on mathematics and data interpretation.

The Electronics and Communication Engineering paper in 2025 was considered moderate overall but lengthy in numerical sections. Students reported signal processing and networks as major scoring areas. Similar conceptual weightage is expected again this year.

The Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA) paper saw competitive qualifying marks last year, broadly falling in the 25–35 marks range depending on category trends. The relatively new paper attracted many tech aspirants, pushing competition higher. Expect the 2026 cutoff to stay similar or slightly higher.

The GATE 2026 results are likely to be announced in mid-March, following the completion of all exam shifts and answer-key objections. After the declaration, candidates will be able to download the scorecard from the GOAPS portal. The official scorecard usually becomes available a few days later and remains valid for admissions and PSU recruitment.

GATE qualified candidates receive monthly stipends during MTech programs. This reduces financial burden while gaining advanced education. Higher fellowships exist for research programs.

According to early paper reviews and expert opinions for the ongoing GATE 2026 exams, the qualifying cut-off for the General category is likely to fall between 28 and 40 marks across different disciplines.

The official results along with the final cut-offs will be announced by IIT Guwahati on March 19, 2026.

Students from tougher shifts often worry about lower marks. The normalisation formula compensates for difficulty variations. In several past years, lower raw marks still produced higher ranks after scaling.

A GATE score remains valid for three years. Candidates can still reappear to improve rank while keeping previous score usable for admissions and PSU recruitment. Many aspirants strategically attempt twice.

Not qualifying does not end opportunities. Many universities conduct their own MTech entrance tests and industry certifications are also valued. Candidates can attempt again since preparation already covers core concepts.

Mechanical and Civil continue to have the highest number of test-takers, making cutoffs more unpredictable. Meanwhile emerging streams like Data Science are witnessing intense competition despite fewer seats. Expect tighter score bands this year.

Candidates with high ranks often face a dilemma — join IIT or PSU job. PSUs provide immediate salary and job security, while MTech opens research and global opportunities. The right choice depends on long-term career goals, not just rank.

Expert opinion suggests candidates targeting older IITs must aim for 750+ GATE score in most core branches. For highly competitive streams like CSE and AI-related papers, the safe range may rise further due to higher applicant density. Final cutoffs will depend on normalization across sessions.

Wondering which college you can get with your expected GATE score? A rank and college predictor can help you estimate your probable rank and shortlist institutes based on previous years’ admission trends. 

Log in to Careers360 below to use the GATE rank and college predictor tool. Enter your expected marks, category, and paper details to get an idea of your likely rank and the colleges you may qualify for.

Careers360 rank and college predictor

The official GATE 2026 admission cut-offs for IIT Delhi (CSE) will be released after the results on March 19, 2026, usually following the COAP counselling rounds. Based on the CSE paper analysis conducted on February 8, 2026, the expected admission score ranges are:

• General (GEN): 800 – 850

• OBC-NCL: 720 – 765

• SC/ST: 550 – 580

For the GATE 2026 exam being held on February 14, 2026, IIT Guwahati is likely to release the official provisional answer keys in the fourth week of February 2026.

A high percentile is encouraging, but admission cut-offs differ significantly between the older IITs and the newer ones. If your expected score is above 750, you should begin preparing your SOPs for institutes like IISc Bangalore or IIT Bombay. Candidates scoring in the 600–700 range should mainly target NITs and the COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal). You can also use the Made Easy Rank Predictor to estimate your rank based on memory-based responses.

The result of GATE is not just about qualifying; it’s about the gateway to many PSUs like ONGC, IOCL, and NTPC. A good number of PSUs will begin their recruitment applications shortly after the NTA/IIT scorecard is released. Ensure your GATE 2026 score remains valid for its full three-year duration.

Topics asked in GATE Production and Industrial Engineering (PI) question paper 2026.

There will be three types of questions in GATE 2026 exam – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Selection Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). 

Candidates can check the section-wise topics asked in the GATE electrical engineering (EE) question paper here. 

• Section 1: Engineering Mathematics - Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Complex Variables, Probability and Statistics
• Section 2: Electric circuits - Network Elements
• Section 3: Electromagnetic Fields
• Section 4: Signals and Systems
• Section 5: Electrical Machines
• Section 6: Power Systems
• Section 7: Control Systems
• Section 8: Electrical and Electronic Measurements
• Section 9: Analog and Digital Electronics
• Section 10: Power Electronics.

Candidates may choose either one or two papers. Every paper will consist of three objective-type question formats:

Multiple choice Question (MCQs): These questions have four options out of which only one is correct. In case a candidate chooses the wrong answer, it will attract negative marking.

Multiple selection Questions (MSQs): These questions have one or more correct answers. There will be no negative marking for these questions.

Numerical Answer Type (NAT): For these questions candidates are required to enter a numeric value using an on screen calculator. These questions do not carry any negative marking.

The provisional answer key of GATE 2026 question paper will be released by IIT Guwahati in the last week of February.

GATE February 14 Exam: Candidates are barred from carrying the prohibited items to the exam centre. The following items will not be allowed inside the hall.

• Mobile phones, even in the switched-off mode, watches of any form are not allowed. 
• Calculators inside the exam hall are strictly prohibited. 
• Electronic, communication devices, wallets, papers, loose sheets, pen, pencil box, pouch, and printed or hand-written textual materials.
• All means and modes of communication (verbal or otherwise) among the candidates inside the hall is prohibited.

In the GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) question paper 2026, the general aptitude section will carry 15 marks and the remaining 85 marks is allotted to the subject component, out of which engineering mathematics will carry 13 marks. 

GATE February 14 shift 1 exams have begun. IIT Guwahati is conducting the national-level exams for seven papers in the morning shift, namely: 

• Civil engineering (CE-1), 
• Electrical engineering (EE), 
• Production and industrial engineering (PI).

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026) is conducted to assess candidates for a comprehensive understanding of different undergraduate-level subjects in engineering, technology, science, commerce, arts, and humanities. Candidates who score top marks will be selected for admission to MTech, direct doctoral, and doctoral programmes.  

Entry gates for the GATE February 14 shift 1 exams open. Candidates will proceed for admit card and ID verification process. They will be allowed to take their allotted seats 40 minutes before the exam. As per the GATE exam timings, shift 1 will be conducted from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.  

GATE shift 1 exam to begin soon. (Source: Careers360)

Candidates appearing for the MTech entrance exam are required to carry their GATE admit card 2026 to the exam centre to be allowed entry. IIT Guwahati has instructed candidates to carry a printed copy of the GATE hall ticket on A4 paper along with a valid photo ID, specified during the registration process.

The GATE hall ticket download link has been hosted on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE February 14 exam for seven papers and the remaining exams for three subjects will be conducted on February 15. 

Students can practise the GATE 2026 mock test for free on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

IIT Guwahati will issue the GATE 2026 answer key for all subject papers once the exams are over. Candidates will be able to evaluate their responses using the GATE 2026 provisional answer key. IIT Guwahati will soon announce the GATE 2026 answer key release date on its official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

Students appearing for the GATE 2026 exam can download the MTech entrance exam admit card on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

As per subject experts, GATE 2026 Feb 8 shift 2 paper was "moderate to tough" in difficulty level. GATE 2026 CSE-2 paper had 4 questions from Algorithm, 5 from Operating System, and 8 from Programming and Data Structure. The CSE-2 questions were "moderate" in difficulty.

IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026 Feb 14 paper for CE-1, EE, PI subjects tomorrow and on Feb 15 for EC and AR and DA papers, in two shifts.

The paper contains MCQs with negative marking, MSQs without penalty, and numerical answer questions using an on-screen calculator. IIT Guwahati is expected to release the provisional answer key in the last week of February.

Candidates must reach the centre early as gates open 40 minutes before the test and instructions start 20 minutes prior. Entry is barred after 30 minutes from the start, and leaving the hall before the three-hour exam ends is not permitted.

Examinees need a printed admit card and a valid government photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, or driving licence. Electronic gadgets, calculators, smartwatches, and written material are strictly not allowed inside the exam hall.