GATE 2026 Answer Key released on 22 February 2026. Result declared on 19 March 2026.
? Important Dates
| Online Apply Start Date | 28 August 2025 |
| Last Date (Without Late Fee) | 07 October 2025 |
| Extended Last Date (With Late Fee) | 13 October 2025 |
| Exam Date | 07, 08, 14 & 15 February 2026 |
| Admit Card | 13 January 2026 |
| Answer Key Released | 22 February 2026 ✅ |
| Result Declared | 19 March 2026 ✅ |
? Application Fee
| Phase I — General / OBC / EWS | ₹ 2,000/- |
| Phase I — SC / ST / PH Candidates | ₹ 1,000/- |
| Phase I — All Female Candidates | ₹ 1,000/- |
| Phase II (Extended) — General / OBC / EWS | ₹ 2,500/- |
| Phase II (Extended) — SC / ST / PH | ₹ 1,500/- |
| Phase II (Extended) — All Female | ₹ 1,500/- |
| Payment Mode | Online: Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking |
? Age Limit
| Minimum Age | No minimum age limit |
| Maximum Age | No maximum age limit |
| Note | GATE score is valid for 3 years for admission/PSU recruitment |
? Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates who have completed or are in the final year of B.E. / B.Tech / B.Pharma / B.Arch are eligible
- M.Sc. / MA / MCA candidates in relevant disciplines are also eligible
- M.E. / M.Tech / Dual Degree / Integrated Post-Graduate programs are eligible
- Must be from a recognized university/institute
? GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
| Number of Papers (Subjects) | 30 papers (CE, CS, ME, EE, ECE, etc.) |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
| Number of Questions | 65 questions |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Question Types | MCQ, MSQ (Multiple Select), NAT (Numerical Answer Type) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 for wrong MCQ answers; No negative for MSQ/NAT |
⬇️ How to Download GATE 2026 Answer Key
1. Open your browser and visit the official GATE 2026 portal: gate2026.iitg.ac.in
2. On the homepage, click on 'Answer Key 2026' or 'GOAPS Login'.
3. Enter your Enrollment ID / Email ID and Password.
4. Click on Submit / Login.
5. Your GATE 2026 Answer Key will appear on the screen.
6. Download the answer key / response sheet PDF.
7. Take a printout for future reference.
8. To raise an objection against the answer key, visit the official challenge portal and submit within the deadline.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is GATE?
A: GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national-level exam for admission to M.Tech/Ph.D programs at IITs, NITs and other institutes, and is also used by PSUs for direct recruitment.
Q: Who conducts GATE 2026?
A: GATE 2026 is conducted by IIT Guwahati on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB), Ministry of Education.
Q: When was the GATE 2026 Answer Key released?
A: The provisional answer key was released on 22 February 2026 and the result was declared on 19 March 2026.
Q: How long is the GATE score valid?
A: The GATE score is valid for 3 years from the date of result announcement for admission to PG programs and PSU recruitment.
Q: What is the official website for GATE 2026?
A: The official website is https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/
