The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026, one of India’s biggest national-level exams for engineering and science graduates annually attracting lakhs of applications, is due to start on February 7, 2026 — with candidates across the region preparing to sit in test centres throughout the country.
Conducted by IIT Guwahati, GATE 2026 will be conducted across four regular sessions on February 7, 8, 14 and 15 with forenoon (9am to12pm) and afternoon shifts (2 pm to5pm) each day. It is recommended that candidates should download their hall tickets and adhere to all the official guidelines issued for the exam.
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Some Candidates Will Receive Revised Admit Card Notification
In the recent turn of events before the exam, GATE authorities have issued revised admit cards to some candidates who have been allotted particular examination centres, which also includes Centre No. 2082. However, a change in exam centre (details) led the previous hall tickets to become invalid and thus IIT Guwahati had to release updated PDF through official GOAPS portal.
Aspirants affected by this change should download the new admit card as soon as possible before getting caught up with last-minute hassle on examination day. The admit card carries details about your exam centre, reporting time, shift and other important instruction.
What to know on the day of the exam
With GATE 2026 exam approaching, experts advise students to be mindful of certain crucial requirements:
Bring the valid GATE admit card and a government ID proof
Rush Even though reporting time, reach test centre well in advance
The only sanctioned items are pens; mobile phones, smart pens and electronic devices are strictly banned.
Respect the dress code and other instructions by the authorities for a hassle-free entry & exam process.
On exam day process include biometric authentication and routine strict frisking, as per the announcement made by IIT Guwahati also mentioned in official updates.
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What Happens After the Exam
After the Exam When candidates have finished, they will be able to:
GATE 2026 answer key released; Download response sheet here
Tally up your score based on the official key
Challenge incorrect items in the answer key during the time frame possible
The answer key is likely to be released a few hours after the final shift of exam gets over, allowing students to evaluate their performance even before results will be declared.
GATE 2026 Results are expected to be announced around or before March 19, 2026 upon conclusion of evaluation and score normalization process across GAS sessions.
Why GATE Still Matters
The GATE 2020 exam is pivotal in a student’s learning cycle. Besides, being a pass gate way to post-graduate programs like M.Tech, ME etc in IISc / IITs / NITs and various universities all over the country, GATE score is also required for getting recruited into public sector enterprises.
Having its eligibility criteria cut across a range of engineering, science and technology as well as various interdisciplinary fields, the GATE exam continues to be one crucial milestone for candidates aspiring to pursue higher studies or career in technical disciplines. Only one day is left for the very first session of GATE 2026, and aspirants should recheck their exam supplies, hall ticket and centre details at least twice. Being informed and calm can make a big difference on the day of test.
All the best to all GATE aspiring student in 2026 — what you prepare and focus now is going to determine tomorrow’s opportunity.
