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    GATE Thermodynamics Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Check Topic Wise Syllabus Weightage

    GATE Thermodynamics Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Check Topic Wise Syllabus Weightage

    Team Careers360Updated on 11 Dec 2025, 03:43 PM IST

    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

    This Story also Contains

    1. GATE 2026 Thermodynamics Syllabus
    2. GATE Thermodynamics Exam Pattern 2026
    3. GATE Preparation Tips 2026
    GATE Thermodynamics Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Check Topic Wise Syllabus Weightage
    GATE Thermodynamics syllabus

    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.

    GATE 2026 Thermodynamics Syllabus

    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.

    GATE Thermodynamics Syllabus

    ChaptersTopics

    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.

    Related links:

    GATE Thermodynamics Exam Pattern 2026

    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.

    GATE Engineering Sciences Exam Pattern 2026

    Particulars

    Details

    Examination Mode

    Computer Based Test (Online)

    Duration

    3 Hours

    Section

    • General Aptitude (GA)

    • Engineering Mathematics (XE-A)

    • Thermodynamics (XE-E)

    • Additional section opted for by the student

    Type of Questions

    • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

    • Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

    • Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

    Total Marks

    100 Marks

    Marking Scheme

    All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks

    GATE Negative Marking

    • MCQs - 1 mark for each correct answer; 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

    • MCQs - 2 marks for each correct answer; 2/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response.

    • No negative marking for MSQ & NAT.

    • No partial marking for MSQ type questions.

    GATE Thermodynamics - Other Optional Papers

    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.

    List of optional subjects under Engineering Sciences

    Subjects

    GATE Syllabus

    Polymer Science and Technology

    GATE Polymer Science and Technology syllabus

    Solid Mechanics

    GATE Solid Mechanics syllabus

    Fluid Mechanics

    GATE Fluid Mechanics syllabus

    Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

    GATE Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences syllabus

    Material Science

    GATE syllabus for Material science

    Food Technology

    GATE Food Technology syllabus

    Energy Science_

    GATE Preparation Tips 2026

    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)

    Q: Who will conduct GATE 2026?
    A:

    IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026 exam in online mode. 

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

    Yes, the GATE thermodynamics syllabus 2026 has been released on the official website, gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

    Q: What is the syllabus of thermodynamics for GATE?
    A:

    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.

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    If you score 500 marks in GATE2026, your chances of getting into good engineering colleges (especially NITs, IIITs and some older IITs) are strong for most disciplines, while top branches like CSE/EEE/ECE at older IITs may still require higher ranks. Your GATE AllIndia Rank (AIR) with 500 marks usually falls

    Hello….
    In GATE 2026 Computer Science, a score of around 32 marks in the SC category may roughly correspond to a rank between 3,000 and 6,000, based on trends from recent years. However, the exact rank depends on the paper’s difficulty, number of candidates, and normalization, so it can vary