UPES M.Tech Admissions 2026
Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #45 Among Universities in India by NIRF | 1950+ Students Placed 91% Placement, 800+ Recruiters
The GATE 2026 exam was conducted on 7, 8, 14, and 15 February 2026. This year, the GATE 2026 Exam was conducted by IIT Guwahati. The GATE Civil Engineering Exam 2026 was held on 14 February 2026. GATE CE Exam 2026 was conducted in two sessions (Forenoon and Afternoon). Both shifts have been completed, and exam details are provided below. Following the examination, the Candidate Response, Master Question Paper, and Master Answer Key have been uploaded on the GOAPS portal, allowing candidates to verify their recorded responses and analyse their expected performance. The GATE Exam 2026 is the entry point for Civil Engineering students to get successful admission into some of the reputed colleges in India, like NITs, IISc and IITs.
This Story also Contains
The GATE 2026 exam is an aspirant's first step towards achieving their favourite work life. But to crack this exam, aspirants need to be smart. This is where the GATE CE Question Paper 2026 comes into play. It helps you see the GATE CE 2026 Exam Pattern, past trends, and understand the difficulty level of the exam. Here is all the information you need about the GATE CE 2026 Exam from the GATE 2026 CE Question Paper with Solutions to the GATE 2026 CE Syllabus, Exam Pattern, and Mock Tests, Memory-based questions in an easily accessible manner.
Some memory-based questions for CE-2 are added below:
Question 1: A rectangular catchment ABCD has an area of 7 hectares. The times of concentration from the four extreme points A, B, C and D to the outlet are 10, 20, 15 and 25 minutes, respectively. The rainfall intensity-duration relationship is given by I=25t+20, where I= rainfall intensity in cm/hr and t= time of concentration in minutes. The runoff coefficient of the catchment is 0.4. Determine the peak discharge from the catchment. (Enter the numerical value only in m3/s.)
Question 2: A bridge has an expected design life of 50 years. It is designed for a flood discharge of 1000 m3/s, which corresponds to a return period of 100 years. Determine the risk (probability) that the design flood will be equalled or exceeded at least once during the design life of the bridge. (Enter the numerical value of risk in decimal form, correct up to three decimal places).
Question 3: A portal frame has a span of 4m(2m+2m) and a height of 3m. The left base is hinged and the right base is roller supported. A horizontal load of 50 kN acts at the top left joint. A vertical concentrated load of 90 kN acts at the midspan of the top beam. Determine the absolute value of the maximum bending moment in the frame.
Question 4: Match the following:
| Air pollutant | Treatment Tech. |
| (1) Dust | (P) Cyclone seperation |
| (2) CO | (Q) Wet lime water scrubber |
| (3) SO2 | (R) ESP |
| (4) Fly ash | (S) Catalytic Convertor |
Question 5: Long-term deformation of a material under sustained constant loading is primarily governed by:
(a) Creep
(b) Modulus of toughness
(c) Modulus of resilience
(d) Yield strength
Question 6: In a reinforced concrete slab, 10 mm diameter bars are provided at a centre-to-centre spacing of 150 mm to resist a given design moment. If instead of 10 mm bars, 12 mm diameter bars of the same grade of steel are used, determine the required centre-to-centre spacing (in mm ) so that the slab resists the same design moment. (Assume effective depth and other parameters remain unchanged. Enter the numerical value only in mm.)
Question 7: Which of the following methods are used to check whether the flexural stresses in a prestressed concrete beam remain within permissible limits at transfer and final stages? Select all the correct option(s).
(a) Hoyer's effect
(b) Limiting zone of prestress method
(c) Magnel's graph
(d) Load balancing method
Question 8: Let P = (101010101). Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) PTP = I
(b) P is skew-symmetric
(c) The value of each eigenvalue of P is 1
(d) The trace of P is equal to the sum of its eigenvalues
Question 9: (y+3x−13)^3 + (x+y−7)^2 = 0 where x and y are integers. The value of x^3+y3^ is ____ .
Question 10: Bag-I contains 4 white and 6 black balls, Bag-ll contains 4 white and 3 black balls. A ball is selected at random and it comes out to be a black ball. What is the probability that it is from Bag I?
Question 11: Consider the matrix A = (9151550). The matrix A is decomposed using Cholesky decomposition. Determine the value of l22.
Question 12: Given the following data: x:(−2,1,2), y:(28,4,16). Let P2(x) be the quadratic interpolating polynomial passing through the above three points. Find the value of P2(0).
Question 13: Bernoullis equation is applicable in fluid, than which condition is satisfied?
(a) Flow should be steady
(b) Fluid should be frictionless
(c) Fluid should be incompressible
(d) Flow should be rotational
Question 14: What is the purpose of windrose diagram?
(a) Orientation of runway
(b) Length of runway
(c) Width of runway
(d) Gradient
Question 15: Algae is used where?
(a) Septic tank
(b) Slow sand filter
(c) Oxidation pond
(d) Trickling filter
Overall difficulty level: The overall difficulty level of the exam was Moderate to Difficult.
Number of questions asked
|
Topics |
Marks |
|
General Aptitude |
15 |
|
Engineering Mathematics |
13 |
|
Strength of materials |
5 |
|
Structural Analysis |
4 |
|
Reinforced Cement Concrete |
6 |
|
Design of steel structures |
2 |
|
Building material construction |
0 |
|
Construction management |
0 |
|
Geotechnical engineering |
13 |
|
Fluid Mechanics |
8 |
|
Engineering hydrology |
4 |
|
Irrigation Engineering |
1 |
|
Environmental engineering |
11 |
|
Transportation engineering |
11 |
|
Surveying |
7 |
Question 1: Consider a soil sample where the following parameters are defined:
S = Soil suction head
K= Hydraulic conductivity
w= Moisture content
If the moisture content (w) of the soil increases, which of the following statements regarding the soil suction head (S) and hydraulic conductivity (K) is correct?
(a) Both S and K increase.
(b) Both S and K decrease.
(c) S increases while K decreases.
(d) S decreases while K increases.
Question 2: For a two-lane road and a two-lane highway, the length of the submit curve depends on what?
(a) friction(lateral)
(b) Acceleration
(c) SSD
(d) OSD
Question 3: A clay deposit is found to have a natural water content and void ratio that corresponds to a preconsolidation pressure ( σp′ ) that is greater than the present effective overburden pressure ( σo′ ). This clay is best classified as:
(a) OCC (Over Consolidated Clay)
(b) LCC (Lightly Consolidated Clay)
(c) NCC (Normally Consolidated Clay)
(d) Quick Clay
Question 4: In a rectangular open channel, a hydraulic jump occurs. The ratio of the post-jump depth (y2) to the pre-jump depth (y1) is measured to be 2 . What is the Froude number (Fr1) of the flow immediately before the jump?
(a) 2
(b) 1.5
(c) 3
(d) 2.5
Question 5: The Rational Method formula for estimating peak runoff is given as Q=CiA360. For the result Q to be in cubic meters per second (m3/s), what must be the units of rainfall intensity (i) and catchment area (A) ?
(a) i in cm/hr, A in km2
(b) i in mm/hr, A in km2
(c) i in mm/hr, A in hectares
(d) i in m/hr, A in hectares
Question 6: Match the Gradually Varied Flow (GVF) profiles on a mild slope (M1,M2,M3) with the nature of their water surface slope (dy/dx) relative to the flow direction.
Profile \& Nature of Slope (dy/dx)
P. M1 Profile \& 1. Positive (Rising Curve)
Q. M2 Profile \& 2. Negative (Drawdown Curve)
R. M3 Profile \& 3. Positive (Rising Curve)
Select the correct classification:
(a) M1 is Rising, M2 is Rising, M3 is Falling
(b) M1 is Rising, M2 is Falling, M3 is Rising
(c) M1 is Falling, M2 is Rising, M3 is Falling
(d) M1 is Rising, M2 is Falling, M3 is Falling
Overall difficulty level: The overall difficulty level of the exam was Moderate to slightly tough.
The General Aptitude section was scoring, and the core civil engineering section was conceptual and lengthy. The core technical section contained lengthy and conceptual questions.
Number of questions asked
|
Topics |
Marks |
|
General Aptitude |
15 |
|
Engineering Mathematics |
13 |
|
Strength of materials |
2 |
|
Structural Analysis |
4 |
|
Reinforced Cement Concrete |
4 |
|
Design of steel structures |
3 |
|
Building material construction |
3 |
|
Construction management |
1 |
|
Geotechnical engineering |
15 |
|
Fluid Mechanics |
6 |
|
Engineering hydrology |
4 |
|
Irrigation Engineering |
3 |
|
Environmental engineering |
9 |
|
Transportation engineering |
11 |
|
Surveying |
7 |
It is important to have a clear picture of the exam before you start your preparation. Below is a quick overview of the GATE CE 2026 Exam. Please refer to the GATE CE 2026 Exam Pattern to get more in-depth information about the exam pattern.
|
Paper Name |
Civil Engineering |
|
Paper Code |
CE |
|
Date of Examination |
14 February |
|
Conducting Body |
IIT Guwahati |
|
Mode of Examination |
Computer-Based Test |
|
Total Marks |
100 |
|
Duration |
3 Hours |
|
Section-wise weightage |
General Aptitude: 15 Marks Subject Questions: 85 Marks |
|
Question Types |
MCQs, MSQs, NATs |
Having access to the right resources is half the battle won, and one such resource is the GATE CE 2026 Question Paper. Candidates can use the GATE 2026 CE Question Paper with Solutions PDF Free Download to analyze the difficulty level and question trends. The official question paper will be released by IIT Guwahati after few days concludes.
You can simply download the GATE 2026 CE Question Paper with Solutions PDF by using the link given below. The link will be activated after the release of the official question paper.
|
GATE 2026 CE Question Paper |
Link to be available soon |
Getting familiarized with the exam pattern can help you avoid negative marking and can help you efficiently manage time. GATE CE 2026 Exam Pattern will be as follows. The exams will be conducted in online mode, i.e., Computer-Based Test (CBT).
|
Paticulars |
Details |
|
Exam Mode |
Online Computer-Based Test(CBT) |
|
Duration |
3 Hours |
|
Question Pattern |
|
|
Number of Sections |
|
|
Types of Sections |
|
|
Total Number of Questions |
10 (General Aptitude) 55 (Civil Engineering) Total-65 Questions |
|
Total Marks |
100 Marks |
|
Marking Scheme |
1 Mark and 2 Mark question |
|
Negative Marking |
|
The GATE Civil Engineering 2026 Syllabus is comprehensive, right from the fundamentals of mathematics to advanced structural analysis. The GATE CE 2026 syllabus can be categorized broadly into three sections: General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Core Civil Engineering topics. You can refer to the GATE 2026 CE Syllabus for a detailed insight into the syllabus.
|
Sections |
Important Topics |
|
General Aptitude |
|
|
Engineering Mathematics |
|
|
Transportation Engineering |
|
|
Geomatics Engineering |
|
You need to know the subject-wise weightage to get a good score in GATE CE 2026. We have prepared an expected weightage table for GATE CE 2026 on the basis of the analysis of previous years.
|
Chapter Name |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
Total |
Percentage |
|
Aptitude |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
50 |
15.87% |
|
Engineering Mathematics |
9 |
9 |
6 |
12 |
5 |
41 |
13.02% |
|
Environmental Engineering |
7 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
35 |
11.11% |
|
Geomatics Engineering |
3 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
20 |
6.35% |
|
Geotechnical Engineering |
8 |
8 |
13 |
8 |
7 |
44 |
13.97% |
|
Structural Engineering |
11 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
7 |
52 |
16.51% |
|
Transportation Engineering |
8 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
34 |
10.79% |
|
Water Resources Engineering |
9 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
6 |
39 |
12.38% |
|
Grand Total |
65 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
55 |
315 |
100% |
Here are the "Repeated Topics" that have appeared frequently in past exams, and chances are that they may appear in the GATE CE question paper 2026.
|
Subject |
Key Topics |
|
Engineering Mathematics |
Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations |
|
Structural Engineering |
Structural Analysis, Design of Steel Structures, Design of Concrete Structures |
|
Geotechnical Engineering |
Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, Earth Pressure Theories |
|
Environmental Engineering |
Water Supply Engineering, Wastewater Engineering, Air Pollution |
|
Transportation Engineering |
Highway Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Pavement Design |
|
Transportation Engineering |
Surveying, Remote Sensing, GIS |
|
Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics |
Fluid Properties, Fluid Statics, Open Channel Flow |
|
Hydrology & Irrigation |
Hydrological Cycle, Groundwater Hydrology, Irrigation Methods |
|
Construction Materials & Management |
Construction Planning, Project Management, Building Materials |
Solving previous years' papers is the best way to simulate the actual exam environment. It helps you understand the GATE 2026 CE Question Paper with Answers PDF pattern better. Below are the links to download the previous years' question papers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The GATE Exam 2026 was conducted by IIT Guwahati.
The GATE CE Question Paper 2026 will be released by IIT Guwahati after the exam is conducted.
No, a 2nd-year B.Tech student cannot apply for GATE. The candidate must be in their 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate degree.
For MCQ questions, 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for MSQ and NAT-type questions.
The overall analysis for the CE-1 paper was moderate to tough, and for the CE-2 difficulty level was moderate.
On Question asked by student community
The cutoff marks for OBC category students are different for different paper codes. You can check the article on Gate cutoff for all the detailed information. Hope it helps.
IIT Guwahati has released GATE exam ME answer key in online mode. Here we have provided direct link to download IIT Guwahati Mechanical Engineering answer key.- Download Here
Students can download the ebooks from the link given below.
The official GATE 2026 Shift 2 (Feb 8) answer key was released by IIT Guwahati on February 22, 2026, on the GOAPS portal.
Check out the GATE 2026 February 8 Question Paper with Solutions .
Hi Raj, please check the link for GATE Agricultural Engineering question paper 2026 to know about the syllabus and the topic covered.
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
Bristol's expertise meets Mumbai's innovation. Admissions open for UG & PG programmes
Apply for UG & PG programmes from Victoria University, Delhi NCR Campus
UG & PG Admissions open for CS/AI/Business/Economics & other programmes.
Study at a world-renowned UK university in India | Admissions open for UG & PG programs.
NAAC A+ Accredited | Among top 2% Universities Globally (QS World University Rankings 2026)