GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25
GATE Exam Eligibility Percentage 2026: IIT Guwahati has published the GATE exam 2026 eligibility criteria on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in. According to the latest details on the GATE exam criteria, there is no mention of the GATE exam eligibility percentage. Hence, to apply and appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test, no minimum or maximum GATE 2026 exam eligibility percentage is currently required. Further, the basic eligibility for candidates to appear is that they should've completed or be in the final year of a bachelor’s degree for the GATE exam.
GATE Exam Eligibility Percentage 2026 refers to the minimum score candidates must achieve to participate in the exam, as well as the rank they need to secure for admission to institutes and colleges. The GATE exam eligibility percentage for 2026 for admission will vary as per the course candidates want to apply for and the institute they want to apply to. Aspirants must go through the eligibility criteria and percentage before beginning the GATE 2026 registration. Students will find detailed information in the following article.
For the GATE exam 2026, candidates must make sure that they fulfil the following eligibility requirements as per the exam’s organisation. IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 eligibility criteria along with the information brochure. As per the exam organisation authority, there is no specific percentage or CGPA criteria to appear for the GATE exam. Furthermore, candidates must make sure that they have a bachelor’s degree or are in their final year in any field to be eligible for the GATE exam 2026.
There are a few institutes and PSUs that set a specific percentage or CGPA that students must secure in their bachelor’s degree to get admission to their offered programs. To get into a postgraduate degree offered by IITs, NITs, IIITs, and PSUs, candidates typically need to secure a minimum of 60 per cent in their three-year degree and 55% for SC/ST.
GATE admission percentile indicates a candidate's performance in the exam compared to other participants. If a candidate scores in the 90th percentile, it means they scored higher than 90% of the candidates who appeared for that particular GATE paper. Generally, a GATE percentile of 90 or above is considered good for admission to top IITs and NITs, as well as for securing PSU jobs. However, the specific percentile needed can vary based on the engineering discipline and the competition within that field.
For papers with only one session, candidates' actual scores will be used to calculate their GATE 2026 Score. For multi-session papers, scores will be normalized based on the raw marks, and then the GATE 2025 Score will be calculated using these normalized marks.
The GATE score will be calculated using the following formula:
GATE score = Sq + (St-Sq) x M-Mq/Mt-Mq
Further, the Gate exam eligibility percentage 2026 for special categories is calculated using the following formula:
Cut-off for OBC-NCL/EWS categories = (9/10) x GENERAL cut-off
Cut-off for SC/ST/PwD categories = (2/3) x GENERAL cut-off
The GATE eligibility criteria will determine who qualifies to participate in the GATE 2026 exam. Therefore, applicants are advised to go through the eligibility criteria before proceeding to the application process. Further, IIT Guwahati will notify the complete list of documents required for GATE 2026 registration. Since the eligibility criteria for the GATE exam 2026 are not yet available, students can take reference from the previous year’s criteria. Tabulated below is the detailed information on GATE 2025 eligibility criteria.
Criteria | |
Nationality |
|
Qualification for the GATE exam |
|
GATE Age Limit | There is no age limit for GATE 2026 |
GATE attempt limit | There is no restriction on the GATE attempt limit |
Aspirants need to follow the GATE photo and signature guidelines while registering for GATE 2026. They are advised to prepare the documents required for GATE 2026 beforehand to avoid last-minute confusion.
GATE is a national-level examination that offers admission to Master's in Technology (MTech) degree and direct PhD admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other institutes/universities across India. Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field are eligible to apply for the exam. Find below a detailed list of degrees along with their qualification.
Degree Name | Qualifying Degree/Examination | Description of Eligible Candidates |
B.E. / B.Tech. / B.Pharm | Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/ Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./ Diploma in Engineering/ Technology) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
B.Arch | Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (5-year course)/ Naval Architecture (4-year course)/ Planning (4-year course) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
B.Sc. (Research)/ B.S. | Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/ 4 years after 10+2) | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
Pharm. D. (after 10+2) | 6-year degree program, consisting of internship or residency training, during the third year onwards | Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th/6th year or have already completed |
M.B.B.S./ B.D.S./ B.V.Sc | Degree holders of M.B.B.S./ B.D.S./ B.V.Sc. and those who are in the 5th/6th/7th semester or higher semester of such programme | 5th/6th/7th higher semester or already completed |
M.Sc./ M.A./ M.C.A. or equivalent | Master’s degree in any branch of Arts/ Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent | Currently in the first year or higher, or already completed |
Int. M.E./ M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.) | Post-B.Sc.Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering/Technology (4-year program) | Currently in the 1st/ 2 and/3rd/4th year or have already completed |
Int. M.E./ M.Tech./ M.Pharm. or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) | Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5-year program) | Currently in the 3rd / 4th/5th year or have already completed |
B.Sc./ B.A./ B.Com. | Bachelor’s degree in any branch of Science / Commerce/ Arts/ Humanities (3-year program) | Currently in the 3rd year or have already completed |
Int. M.Sc./ Int. B.S./ M.S. I | Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated B.S.-M.S. program | Currently in the 3rd year or higher, or already completed |
Professional Society Examinations (equivalent to B.E./ B.Tech./ B.Arch.) | B.E./ B.Tech./ B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognised by MoE/ UPSC/ AICTE (e.g., AMIE by the Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India, and so on) | Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses |
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) | 4-year program | Currently in the 3rd/4th year or have already completed |
Students should be aware that institutes accepting GATE have specific eligibility criteria that must be met in addition to the general GATE eligibility requirements. In summary, simply qualifying for the GATE exam does not guarantee admission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, as per the GATE eligibility criteria there is no requirement for 75% criteria for admission. Candidates must secure at least 60% for admission to prestigious institutions like IITs and NITs.
The minimum criteria for the GATE exam are completion of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution.
Candidates who have completed 10+2+2 or 10+3+1 & are in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate course are eligible for the GATE 2026 exam.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
As an EEE (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) graduate, your core GATE paper is EE (Electrical Engineering).
You can also choose papers like IN (Instrumentation) or EC (Electronics and Communication) if you're comfortable. GATE now allows two-paper combinations EE plus IN is a valid pair.
Choose based on your strengths and future goals (e.g., PSU jobs, M.Tech). Always check the latest GATE brochure for updated paper codes and combinations.
How to clear GATE Exam :
First, know the syllabus and exam pattern.
Make a small study plan and follow it every week.
Read from good books or trusted online notes.
Practice old GATE question papers.
Give mock tests to check speed and accuracy.
Revise your notes and formulas again and again.
How to get Job in PSU:
Score high in GATE, because PSUs take only top ranks.
Keep checking PSU job notices regularly.
Apply on time with your GATE score.
Be ready for interviews or group discussions.
Work on subject knowledge and also your communication skills.
Yes, it will be acceptable. In GATE registration, the name should match your valid photo ID proof in terms of spelling, not the order. Many Indian IDs have surname written first, while the portal generates it as first–middle–last. Since all three parts of your name (Vikash, Rameshbhai, Bhagel) are correct, there won’t be any issue. Just ensure you upload the correct ID proof. During verification, they check spelling, photo, and signature, not the word order.
Hello,
Yes, you can change your category from General to OBC during the GATE 2026 correction window.
GATE always allows candidates to correct details like category. You will need to pay a small correction fee for this change. Make sure you upload a valid OBC certificate as per the format and date mentioned by GATE.
So, wait for the correction window, log in to your application, and update your category to OBC.
Hope it helps !
Hello! If you are preparing for GATE, there are plenty of free resources available online that can boost your preparation. You can easily access e-books, handwritten notes, subject wise PYQs, and test series shared by toppers on different platforms. Along with that, free PDFs and study material are available through various websites and Telegram channels. To make it easier, I will be attaching the link where you can find preparation tips, a study timetable, free study materials, and previous year question papers all in one place.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-timetable
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-gate
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-material
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-mock-test
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-question-papers
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