GATE 2026 English Syllabus - Free PDF for XH-C2

GATE 2026 English Syllabus - Free PDF for XH-C2

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GATE Exam Date:07 Feb' 26 - 08 Feb' 26

Gandubilli UnnatiUpdated on 08 Aug 2025, 11:18 PM IST

GATE English Syllabus 2026 - IIT Guwahati has published the GATE 2026 syllabus for English on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The detailed GATE 2026 English syllabus is updated on this page. The syllabus includes all the topics based on which the question paper will be prepared. The GATE English syllabus consists of five units, such as multi-genre literature in English, literature from India, literary criticism & theory, and more. Candidates preparing for the GATE 2026 exam must go through the syllabus carefully to not missing any important topic. The authority will conduct the GATE exam as a computer-based test. Along with that, candidates should also check out the GATE exam pattern for an effective preparation strategy. Read further for more information on GATE syllabus.

This Story also Contains

  1. Gate 2026 English Paper Code
  2. Gate 2026 English(Xh-C2) Syllabus
  3. Best Books for GATE 2026 English paper
GATE 2026 English Syllabus - Free PDF for XH-C2
GATE 2026 English Syllabus

Gate 2026 English Paper Code

The paper code for the GATE 2026 English subject is XH-C2. The GATE English paper is a part of the optional subjects that can be chosen by candidates who have selected the GATE 2026 Humanities and Social Sciences(XH) paper in the exam. Hence, the paper code for English is XH-C2. Candidates must be aware of the paper codes while applying for the GATE 2026 exam.

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Gate 2026 English(Xh-C2) Syllabus

The GATE 2026 English (XH-C2) syllabus consists of topics that will be included in the GATE 2026 Humanities & Social Sciences exam. The detailed syllabus for the GATE English 2026 is specified below.

GATE 2026 English syllabus:

Units

Chapters

1

Multi-genre literature in English - Poetry, the novel and other forms of fiction including the short story, drama, creative non-fiction, and non-fiction prose—with emphasis on the long 19th and 20th centuries.

2

Especially in a comparative context, anglophone and in English translation, literatures from India and, extending to some degree, the larger Indian subcontinent.

3

Literary criticism and theory; critical and cultural intellectual traditions and approaches widely referred to and used in the discipline of English.

4

History of English literature and English literary studies.

5

Research approaches and methodologies, including interpretive techniques responsive to literary forms, devices, concepts, and genres

* Candidates must note that the topics specified above, aspects that will be included in the GATE 2026 English paper, rather than separate topics. Hence, the GATE English question paper will not be divided into sections according to the above topics. The questions included in the English section of the GATE 2026 Humanities and Sciences will focus on the conceptual depth and methodological sensitivity demonstrative of disciplinary training over information.

Also Read:

GATE Previous Year Question Paper's
Download GATE previous year question papers to understand exam pattern and difficulty level. Practice with these papers to boost your preparation and improve your score.
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Best Books for GATE 2026 English paper

The preparation for the GATE 2026 English section requires a deep understanding of the concepts included in the syllabus. Apart from theoretical knowledge, candidates also need to have practical knowledge about the application of the concepts included in the GATE English syllabus. Hence, candidates need to regularly practise questions related to the GATE English paper. Some books that candidates can refer to for their GATE preparation are specified below

Book

Author

Concepts covered

A Glossary of Literary Terms" by

M.H. Abrams and Geoffrey Galt Harpham

This book provides definitions and explanations of key literary terms and concepts, which are crucial for understanding literary texts.

The Norton Anthology of English Literature" (various editions)


A comprehensive anthology that covers a wide range of English literature, including poetry, prose, and drama from different periods.

Literary Theory: An Introduction"

Terry Eagleton

This book offers an accessible overview of major literary theories and movements, which is essential for GATE preparation

Understanding Poetry" by

Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren

"- A classic text that explores the elements of poetry and offers insights into poetic forms and techniques

Logical Reasoning Theory Book 2022 for GATE, ESE, MAT, SSC, BANK(PO), NDA, CDS, and other Competitive Exams

ICE GATE Institute.


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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is the GATE 2026 english syllabus released?
A:

Yes, the authority has released the GATE 2026 English syllabus pdf on August 8, 2025.

Q: What are the important topics in the GATE 2026 English syllabus
A:

The important topics in the GATE English syllabus include Poetry, Literature from India and the Indian Subcontinent, Literary criticism and theory.

Q: What is the GATE english paper code?
A:

The GATE 2026 English paper code is XH-C2.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-da-data-science-and-artificial-intelligence-question-papers

Just visit the link I am attaching below, so that it will help you to download and practice the papers, so that you can practice well and score well.

Hope it will help you!!!

Hello dear candidate,

You will not receive another rectification mail unless and until there is still an error in your reuploaded signature. if everything is okay your status will change to accepted on the GATE portal.

My advice is that you should keep checking your application status on the official website of GATE 2026.

Thank you.

Hello,

Visit the below website to download the previous 15 years question paper of GATE exam.

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/last-15-years-gate-papers-solutions

You'll also get the solutions from it. These question papers will help you a lot in your preparation.

All the best.

This is likely a temporary portal or validation issue, not something you did wrong. When candidates try to change category from GEN to OBC-NCL during the GATE correction window, the system checks required fields and sometimes a supporting certificate or fee is needed. If any required data or document is missing, or the server is busy, the portal can show Something went wrong, please try again. Explain to them that first they should log into the GATE portal, open the Correction tab and confirm which fields are editable and whether a payment or document upload is required for category change. Tell them to clear browser cache or try a different browser/device and retry. If the error persists, advise contacting GATE support or the zonal office with a screenshot and timing of the error so officials can check server logs.

Hello,

The GATE 2026 Agricultural Engineering (AG) paper will have a total of 100 marks. Out of this, 15 marks are for General Aptitude and 85 marks are for core Agricultural Engineering subjects.

The marks are generally distributed among major topics like Engineering Mathematics (12–13 marks), Farm Machinery (10–11), Farm Power (14–15), Soil & Water Conservation (12–13), Irrigation & Drainage (10–12), Agricultural Process Engineering (10–12), and Dairy & Food Engineering (9–10 marks).

The official qualifying marks for GATE 2026 are not yet released. However, based on previous years, the cutoff for the Agricultural Engineering paper is expected to be around 25 marks for General, 22.5 for OBC/EWS, and 16.6 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Hope it helps !