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GATE Thermodynamics syllabus 2026 - IIT Guwahati has uploaded the GATE 2026 syllabus for thermodynamics syllabus on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.Thermodynamics is a part of the GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) 2026 paper. Students appearing for the GATE exam must prepare all the topics mentioned in the syllabus. The GATE thermodynamics syllabus includes seven chapters. These include basic concepts of thermodynamics, the First Law of Thermodynamics, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, Properties of Pure Substances, Thermodynamic Relations, Thermodynamic Cycles and Ideal Gas Mixtures. The authority will conduct the GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 15 and 16, 2026. The GATE ME 2026 exam is scheduled for February 14, 2026. Aspirants can check the GATE Thermodynamics syllabus PDF download link below.
Direct link to check the GATE 2026 Thermodynamics syllabus
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The Thermodynamics subject is one of the optional subjects in the Engineering Sciences(XE) paper of the GATE 2026 exam. The paper code for Thermodynamics is XE-E. The authorities will prepare the GATE question paper as per the thermodynamics syllabus. Candidates must be thorough with all the topics mentioned in the GATE syllabus will ensure high scores in the exam. Along with the syllabus, candidates must check the GATE2026 exam pattern. Candidates can check the detailed topics-wise GATE thermodynamics syllabus 2026 in this article.
IIT Guwahati has published the GATE thermodynamics syllabus 2026 PDF on the official website. The Engineering Mathematics section is compulsory and holds 15% weightage. The topic-wise GATE thermodynamics syllabus as per this year's notification is provided in the table below.
| Chapters | Topics |
|---|---|
Basics Concepts | Continuum and macroscopic approach; thermodynamic systems (closed and open); thermodynamic properties and equilibrium; state of a system, state postulate for simple compressible substances, state diagrams, paths and processes on state diagrams; concepts of heat and work, different modes of work; zeroth law of thermodynamics; concept of temperature |
First Law of Thermodynamics | Concept of energy and various forms of energy; internal energy, enthalpy; specific heats; first law applied to elementary processes, closed systems and control volumes, steady and unsteady flow analysis |
Second Law of Thermodynamics | Limitations of the first law of thermodynamics, concepts of heat engines and heat pumps/refrigerators, Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements and their equivalence; reversible and irreversible processes; Carnot cycle and Carnot principles/theorems; thermodynamic temperature scale; Clausius inequality and concept of entropy; microscopic interpretation of entropy, the principle of increase of entropy, T-s diagrams; second law analysis of control volume; availability and irreversibility; third law of thermodynamics |
Properties of Pure Substances | Thermodynamic properties of pure substances in solid, liquid and vapor phases; PvT behaviour of simple compressible substances, phase rule, thermodynamic property tables and charts, ideal and real gases, ideal gas equation of state and van der Waals equation of state; law of corresponding states, compressibility factor and generalized compressibility chart |
Thermodynamic Relations | TdS relations, Helmholtz and Gibbs functions, Gibbs relations, Maxwell relations, Joule-Thomson coefficient, coefficient of volume expansion, adiabatic and isothermal compressibilities, Clapeyron and Clapeyron-Clausius equations |
Thermodynamic Cycles | Carnot vapor cycle, ideal Rankine cycle, Rankine reheat cycle, air-standard Otto cycle, airstandard Diesel cycle, air-standard Brayton cycle, vapor-compression refrigeration cycle |
Ideal Gas Mixtures | Dalton’s and Amagat’s laws, properties of ideal gas mixtures, air-water vapor mixtures and simple thermodynamic processes involving them; specific and relative humidities, dew point and wet bulb temperature, adiabatic saturation temperature, psychrometric chart. |
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Candidates aspiring for the GATE thermodynamics (XE-E) paper must check the exam pattern to familiarise themselves with the question paper format. The authority has released the GATE 2026 thermodynamics exam pattern on the official website. It is important to note that candidates who opt for XE paper have to choose any two subjects.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (Online) |
Duration | 3 Hours |
Section |
|
Type of Questions |
|
Total Marks | 100 Marks |
Marking Scheme | All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks |
GATE Negative Marking |
|
As per this year's GATE thermodynamics paper pattern, candidates have to select an additional GATE exam paper along with thermodynamics. Candidates can check the list of subjects available alongside thermodynamics to appear for the GATE 2026 exam below. The following table will be updated soon after the official announcement.
Subjects | GATE Syllabus |
Polymer Science and Technology | |
Solid Mechanics | |
Fluid Mechanics | |
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences | |
Material Science | |
Food Technology | |
| Energy Science | _ |
Candidates preparing for the upcoming GATE 2026 exam can check the GATE preparation tips. The preparation tips will help candidates prepare for the exam strategically.
Understand the GATE 2026 exam pattern and syllabus before starting the preparation.
Create a study pattern and follow it rigorously.
Know the high-weightage topics of the GATE 2026 syllabus and pay special attention to them.
Pick the Correct Reference Materials
Know your strengths and work on weaker areas.
Attempt mock tests to know the paper pattern.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026 exam in online mode.
Yes, the GATE thermodynamics syllabus 2026 has been released on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
The GATE thermodynamics syllabus comprises 7 chapters including basic concepts, laws of thermodynamics, properties of pure substances, thermodynamic relations, thermodynamic cycles, and ideal gas mixtures.
On Question asked by student community
Check the syllabus first - https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-data-science-and-ai-syllabus . Understand where you stand with your knowledge. Check out any past question papers for this and see the question types.
Start preparing on those lines, take up free mock tests and series. There are plenty available on reddit and telegram and other social
Hello, admission for MTech or PhD depends on your GATE score, cutoff, college and branch you choose. Cutoff is different for each and changes every year.
For more details, please check this link: GATE Cutoff 2026
Students are advised not to carry only their exam admit card and a pen. They can leave the mobile phone and bag outside the exam hall. Few exam centres do offer a designated area inside the premises.
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