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    Does GATE 2026 have Negative Marking - Complete Marking Scheme Explained

    Does GATE 2026 have Negative Marking - Complete Marking Scheme Explained

    RanjeetaUpdated on 15 Feb 2026, 03:06 PM IST

    Does GATE have negative marking? Yes, IIT Guwahati has announced that GATE 2026 has negative marking for its MCQ questions. As per the GATE 2026 exam pattern, there will be a negative marking of 1/3rd and 2/3rd for an incorrect answer to a 1-mark and a 2-mark question, respectively. Note that the negative marking scheme is only for the MCQ questions; no negative marking scheme will be applied to the MSQ (multiple selection questions) and NAT (numerical answer type) questions. Having a better understanding of the GATE 2026 marking scheme will provide students with a better chance in preparation for the exam. IIT Guwahati is conducting the GATE exam for all 30 papers on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. The GATE exam will be conducted in an online mode.

    This Story also Contains

    1. Does GATE 2026 have Negative Marking?
    2. Does MSQ/NAT have negative marking in GATE 2026?
    3. GATE 2026 Marking Scheme: Distribution of Marks
    4. GATE 2026 score vs rank
    Does GATE 2026 have Negative Marking - Complete Marking Scheme Explained
    Does GATE 2026 have Negative Marking

    Further, students can also check the GATE 2026 college predictor to find out the best colleges to get into based on their expected GATE scores. Find more details on the GATE marking scheme 2026 in the article below.

    Does GATE 2026 have Negative Marking?

    Negative marking in GATE 2026 is the method to deduct marks for every wrong answer. It is implemented to discourage random guessing while answering and providing only the accurate answer. As per the GATE 2025 marking scheme, negative marking is only applicable for the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). The MCQ will have a choice of four answers, out of which only one answer is correct. A negative mark is awarded for a wrong answer chosen from the answer options. Tabulated below is the GATE 2026 negative marking scheme for MCQ.

    Negative Marking in GATE 2026 MCQ

    Types of QuestionsCorrectIncorrect

    MCQ – 1 mark question

    +1

    -1/3

    MCQ – 2 marks question

    +2

    -2/3

    Does MSQ/NAT have negative marking in GATE 2026?

    No, MSQ (Multiple Select Questions) and NAT (Numerical Answer Type) questions in GATE 2026 have no negative marking schemes. There will be no deduction of marks for an incorrect answer in MSQ and NAT questions. Find below more details on the MSQ/NAT questions marking scheme.

    MSQ questions marking scheme

    • The MSQ questions will have a choice of four answers.

    • Out of the four choices, one or more than one choice(s) is/are correct.

    • The candidate must select the correct combination of answers from the choices.

    • Candidates will be awarded zero marks if the answer is partly correct.

    • Therefore, to secure full marks, candidates must get the entire answer combination correct.

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    NAT Questions marking scheme

    • The NAT question doesn't have multiple choices; candidates must enter a numerical value using a virtual keypad.

    • Each NAT question carries 1 or 2 marks.

    • The answer may be in decimals as well, for example,10.1 (one decimal) or 10.01 (two decimals) or -10.001 (three decimals).

    • Only correct answers are awarded full marks, while unanswered questions is given zero marks.

    • No partial credit is applicable for NAT questions.

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    GATE 2026 Marking Scheme: Distribution of Marks

    The GATE 2026 test paper will consist of 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks, out of which 10 questions will have a total of 15 marks on General Aptitude (GA), and 55 subject-specific questions.

    Find below the distribution of marks in various test papers for GATE 2026.

    Distribution of Marks under GATE 2026

    Paper Code

    Marks

    General Aptitude (GA)

    Subject: Compulsory (A) and optional (B)

    Total Marks (TM/ Total Time (TT)

    AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF (incl. Engg Math 13 marks)

    GA:15

    Subject:85

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST

    GA:15

    Subject:85

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    AR (A compulsory; B1/B2 optional)

    GA:15

    Subject - A:60, B:25

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    GE (A compulsory; B1/B2 optional)

    GA:15,

    Subject- A:55, B:30

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    GG (A compulsory; B1/B2 chosen at application)

    GA:15

    Subject- A:25, B:60

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    XE (A compulsory; any TWO other sections)

    GA:15

    Subject- A:15, 2x35:70

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    XH (B1 compulsory; ONE other section)

    GA:15,

    Subject- A::25, B:60

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    XL (P compulsory; any TWO other sections)

    GA:15,

    Subject - A:25, B: 2x30

    TM- 100

    TT- 180 min

    GATE 2026 score vs rank

    Candidates can take a look at the GATE score vs rank using the table given below. Here, we have given the previous year's GATE score vs rank analysis of the top scorers for a better understanding.

    Previous Year GATE 2025 Toppers List with Marks

    Test PaperName of the CandidateRaw Marks
    (out of 100)
    GATE Score
    (out of 1000)
    Aerospace EngineeringBALAMURUGAN81990
    Agricultural EngineeringKEERTHI REVANTH KUMAR74.671000
    Architecture and PlanningJAYANTH GIFTSON R831000
    Biomedical EngineeringTANISH GUPTA77.671000
    BiotechnologyARNAB PAUL66.671000
    Civil EngineeringABHAY SINGH89.021000
    Chemical EngineeringAMLAN KUMAR TRIPATHY75.331000
    Computer Science and Information TechnologyRAHUL KUMAR SINGH1001000
    ChemistryDEBASIS MANDAL701000
    Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceSADINENI NIKHIL CHOWDARY96.331000
    Electronics and Communication EngineeringSWARNAVA BISWAS82.671000
    Electrical EngineeringPRADIP CHAUHAN81.671000
    Environmental Science and EngineeringYASH JAIN67.331000
    Ecology and EvolutionKESHAV R MENON86.331000
    Geomatics EngineeringNITISH KUMAR61.671000
    Geology and Geophysics (Geology)SUMIT GHOSH76.67970
    Geology and Geophysics (Geophysics)RAHUL MUKHERJEE70.671000
    Instrumentation EngineeringKAILASH GOYAL65993
    MathematicsSOHAM PAL571000
    Mechanical EngineeringRAJNEESH BIJARNIYA95.33967
    Mining EngineeringANIKET KUMAR GUPTA75.671000
    Metallurgical EngineeringYOGESH SARMA SEDAI89.67941
    Naval Architecture and Marine EngineeringJATIN PAL52.331000
    Petroleum EngineeringSAURABH KUMAR741000
    PhysicsPURNENDU DAS76.671000
    Production and Industrial EngineeringDEVENDRA DHANANJAY UMBRAJKAR85.671000
    StatisticsARCHISHMAN MUKHERJEE771000
    Textile Engineering and Fibre ScienceYADAV AVADHESH ANANTRAM73.671000
    Engineering Sciences (Engineering Mathematics, Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics)ANANT PRAKASH PANDEY88.331000
    Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology)VICTOR PRINCE N J80939
    Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology)SANJNA SHUKLA89922
    Humanities and Social Sciences (Linguistics)MOOMAL MAJEE811000
    Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology)ARIJIT SENGUPTA80939
    Humanities and Social Sciences (English)NAOREET KHONDEKAR711000
    Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics)SAMBUDDHA ROYCHOWDHURY87.33948
    Humanities and Social Sciences (Philosophy)MOHIT KUMAR761000
    Life Sciences (Chemistry, Biochemistry, Zoology)YUGANSH BHATIA78.671000
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    GATE 2024 Toppers List with Marks

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Is there negative marking in GATE 2026?
    A:

    Yes, there will be negative marking for GATE 2026 for the MCQ questions.

    Q: How are marks deducted under the GATE 2026 negative marking schemes?
    A:

    Under the GATE 2026 negative marking schemes, 1/3 mark is deducted for an incorrect answer to 1 marks question. In the same way, 2/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect 2-mark question.

    Q: Is there negative marking for MSQ/NAT-type questions in GATE 2026?
    A:

    No, there is no negative marking for MSQ/NAT-type questions in GATE 2026. 

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    Questions related to GATE

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to GATE ?

    Hey,

    With a VITMEE rank around 944, getting M.Tech CSE at Vellore Institute of Technology Chennai in Category 1 is honestly quite difficult because Category 1 seats usually close at much lower ranks.

    But you still have decent chances for:
    • Category 2 or 3 in core CSE
    • Category

    Hi,

    Your scholarship eligibility depends on whether your GATE 2026 score meets the General category qualifying cutoff. If your category could not be changed after the correction window, then you are usually treated as a General category candidate during admission and scholarship processing.

    Generally:
    • If your score is equal

    Hi,

    With a GATE score of 426, you do have a chance of getting MTech Data Science in some NITs , especially through later counselling rounds or in comparatively less competitive NITs. For top NITs, though, Data Science seats can still be quite competitive since it is a popular specialisation.

    Hello Student,

    Getting a seat in Mining Engineering in MBM Jodhpur with 67th percentile as an OBC candidate might be difficult, as the cut off goes around 75-80th percentile.

    What you can do is to go for spot rounds or REAP's last round, provided the seats remain vacant.