GATE 2026 Eligibility: Know who can apply for the exam

This article will talk about the GATE 2026 Eligibility. For ambitious engineering candidates, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, or GATE exam, is more than simply a test; it’s a fantastic chance. Therefore, dear candidates, the GATE 2026 exam can serve as your springboard if you wish to enrol in M.Tech, ME, or straight PhD programs at prestigious universities like IIT, NIT, or IIIT, or if you wish to pursue a job at prestigious Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, DRDO, or ISRO. Let’s focus on the GATE 2026 Eligibility further in this article. Also learn: GATE 2026 ECE Syllabus

GATE 2026 Eligibility: Know who can apply for the exam

To take the test, candidates must fulfil the qualifying requirements for GATE 2026. A bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology and a master’s degree in a related area are two examples of the specific academic requirements listed in the GATE eligibility criteria 2025. An entrance exam for engineering postgraduate programs at the national level is called GATE. It is jointly carried out by seven Indian Institutes of Technology, located in Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Guwahati, Chennai, Kharagpur, Roorkee, and the Indian Institute of Science, located in Bengaluru, on behalf of the National Institute Coordination Board-GATE, the Department of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the Government of India.

GATE 2026 Eligibility

The eligibility requirements for GATE 2026 have been made public by IIT Guwahati on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Information on the GATE examination’s age limit, requirements, nationality, and relaxations is also included in the GATE Eligibility 2026. To be eligible for the test, candidates must, however, fulfil the GATE 2026 eligibility requirements.

The comprehensive GATE Exam Eligibility Requirements are shown below:

The GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria (General) are displayed in the points below: Nationality

• Indian nationals will be entitled to apply.
• In addition to Indians, other candidates may also apply.

Academic Qualification

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology, or a master’s degree in any related field, is required of the candidates.
• Candidates who are in their final or pre-final year of a qualifying degree may also sit for the GATE 2026 exam.
• Applicants may also sit for GATE 2026 if they are in the last or pre-final year of their qualifying degree.

GATE Age Limit

• There is no age restriction for GATE 2026.

GATE Attempt Limit

• The quantity of attempts is unrestricted.

GATE 2026 Eligibility: Paper Wise

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the GATE 2026 exam eligibility requirements before to filling up the form. The GATE eligibility requirements for each paper are listed in the table below:

Program/ Degree	Examination/ Qualifying Degree	Eligible Candidates	Expected Year of Completion
B.E. / B.Tech. / B. Pharm.	Engineering or technology bachelor’s degree (four years after 10+2 or three years after a B.Sc. or diploma)	Presently enrolled in the third year or above, or finished	2026
B. Arch.	Architecture bachelor’s degree (5 years), naval architecture (4 years), or planning (4 years)	Presently enrolled in the third year or above, or finished	2027 (5-year), 2026 (4-year)
B.Sc. (Research) / B.S.	Science bachelor’s degree (post-diploma, four years after 10+2)	Presently enrolled in the third/ fourth/ fifth/ sixth year or above, or finished	2026
Pharm. D. (after 10+2)	6-year degree program that, starting in the third year, includes internship or resident training	Presently enrolled in the third year or above, or finished	2027
M.B.B.S./B.D.S.	M.B.B.S./B.D.S. degree holders, as well as those enrolled in the fifth, sixth, or seventh semester or above	fifth, sixth, seventh, or higher semester, or previously finished	2026
M.Sc. / M.A. / MCA or equivalent	Any master’s degree in the arts, sciences, mathematics, statistics, computer applications, or a related field	Presently enrolled in the first year or above, or finished	2026
Int. M.E./ M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.)	Post-B.Sc. Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering/Technology (4-year program)	Currently in any year or already completed	Any year
Int. M.E./ M.Tech./M.Pharm or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2)	Five-year engineering/technology dual degree programs or integrated master’s degree programs	Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th year, or already completed	2027
B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com.	Bachelor’s degree in any branch of Science / Arts / Commerce (3-year program)	Presently enrolled in the third year or above, or finished	2026
Int. M.Sc. / Int. B.S. / M.S.	Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S.-M.S. program	Presently enrolled in the third year or above, or finished	2027
Professional Society Examinations (equivalent to B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Arch.)	Professional societies’ comparable exams for B.E., B.Tech., and B.Arch. that are approved by the MoE, UPSC, and AICTE (such as AMIE from the Institution of Engineers-India and AMICE from the Institute of Civil Engineers-India)	Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses	Enrolled up to 31st May 2013*

GATE 2026 Eligibility: Mandatory Documents Required

• Every applicant must present their degree or temporary certificate from an accredited university.
• Applicants must be in their final year and upload their provisional certificate from the department head, dean, head of the institute, or registrar. They can also send in a copy of the AMIE Section A mark sheet, etc.
• A PwD certificate from an accredited organisation is required of candidates for the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) part.

FAQs on the GATE 2026 Eligibility

How long is the GATE score valid for?