GATE 2023 Topper Interview with Tushar Karmakar

GATE 2023 Topper Interview with Tushar Karmakar

Updated on Mar 18, 2023 05:36 PM IST | #GATE

Tushar Karmakar cracked engineering’s toughest exam GATE 2023 with 762 scores in ECE and 783 scores in IN. He secured AIR 20 in Instrumentation Engineering and AIR 139 in Electronics and Communication Engineering. For the past 3 years, he was working for his dream to get into IIT and this was his 3rd attempt. Tushar calls the GATE mock test, the most important pillar of his preparation. Read the complete GATE strategy of Tushar Karmakar shared with Careers360, his experience, advice for future GATE aspirants, and much more.

GATE 2023 Topper Interview with Tushar Karmakar
GATE 2023 Topper Interview with Tushar Karmakar

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself; Where have you done your engineering from and in which branch?

Tushar: I am Tushar Karmakar, secured AIR 20 in Instrumentation Engineering and AIR 139 in Electronics and Communication Engineering. I have done my schooling from Kolkata itself from the State Board in Bengali medium. Did my B.Tech in ECE from Calcutta University, West Bengal and secured 9.34 CGPA.

Careers360: What was the GATE Paper you appeared in? What rank did you get in GATE 2023? What is your GATE score and how many marks did you secure in the GATE paper?

Tushar: I appeared for two papers namely, ECE and Instrumentation Engineering. Secured AIR 139 in ECE and AIR 20 in IN.

Careers360: Is this your first attempt or did you attempt GATE earlier?

Tushar: No, this was my third attempt. I had my first attempt in my third year and secured 2005 rank in ECE, then I gave my second attempt in my final year and secured 2083 rank, maybe because I was overconfident. And after taking a drop for a year I gave my third attempt this year.

Careers360: What was the reason you appeared for GATE 2023? Pls elaborate.

Tushar: I was always inclined towards Physics and Mathematics and therefore I appeared for IIT but unfortunately could not clear the exam and my dream of studying from an IIT could not be fulfilled. At that time I was completely shattered but, during my engineering I decided to give another try to fulfil my dream and I started preparing for GATE. So, my biggest motive behind preparing for GATE was studying at IIT.

Careers360: Have you applied to any PSUs recruiting through GATE? Which ones?

Tushar: No, I didn’t apply for any PSU, I will be studying M.Tech. As my core branch is ECE there are really less options available for PSU recruitment and therefore I will be first studying M.Tech and later I will appear for PSUs who conduct their own exams like DRDO, BARC, ISRO.

Careers360: When did you start your preparation? How did you prepare for the GATE exam ? How many hours did you put in per day as per the stage of preparation?

Tushar: I started preparing for GATE at the end of my fifth semester (2020). I did not follow any specified schedule, but on an average I regularly devoted 8 hours every day. Sometimes it increases and sometimes it reduces as well, actually it depends on your day and your occupancy. But a minimum of 7-8 hours must be devoted to the preparation and that is enough.

Careers360: Have you taken any coaching? If yes- From where? How did it help?

Tushar: Yes, I took coaching from Unacademy. I had Unacademy class subscription, in my sixth semester itself I got 75% scholarship when I appeared for the GATE Combat exam conducted by the institute. It is a great opportunity for those who are not financially that stable as they can prepare for exams for a really low fee. So, Unacademy educators are very good, they guide you on the right path, they tell you what to study and most importantly what not to study. As the GATE syllabus is very vast and you need to be specific.

Careers360: Can you share any preparation strategies with our readers? When should one start their preparation for GATE? How to schedule study time and make timetables?

Tushar: I think taking lots of mock tests is an important pillar of GATE preparation.

As of now you can appear for the GATE exam in your third year as well, so start your preparation as early as possible. Start your preparation from your first year only as Mathematics and aptitude will be prepared in those years as almost every college has mathematics in the first year.

Lots of people take offline coaching which in turn becomes hectic and therefore I suggest candidates should opt for online coaching as you can get recorded lectures as well whenever you are free study. This way you can utilise your time to the utmost level.

Careers360: How important do you feel mock tests are and why? Is it true that if one solves the previous year question papers, there is a good chance of cracking the exam successfully?

Tushar: Mock tests are very important and nobody should miss that at all. Give atleast 20-30 mock tests of any institute, so that you can adapt to the examination atmosphere and handle the exam pressure well. Pressure handling capacity plays an important role in the GATE exam. Accuracy is the main key, if you are attempting 50 out of 65 questions and all those are correct then it is confirmed that you are getting a very good score and rank. Apart from that, the test series helps you analyse your strengths and weaknesses so prepare a separate notebook and note down your weak areas and prepare accordingly.

See, every serious candidate solves GATE previous year question papers so this thing is true as well as false. But the difference is, when someone is solving the previous year paper and is unable to solve it in the first attempt they look for a solution directly and do not invest time on creating an approach and hence fail in the mail exam. Hustle for getting the solution first, if you can’t get that for 2-3 days then ask for your faculty’s help. As this thing will build problem solving techniques in your mind.

Careers360: Which books did you follow for GATE preparation? Pls name some very important must read

Tushar: For mathematics I followed B.S. Grewal textbook, for PYQs GATE Academy books are self sufficient, made easy books are also good but the solutions are not that good. Look for free sources available on Telegram.

Careers360: Which are the topics one should focus more on? Kindly give us some details

Tushar: I think it depends on your interest as I have interest in VLSI, I solved lot of questions from Analog one, but focus more on the core subjects and every year the marks are increasing for the core subjects.

Careers360: What was the toughest aspect in your GATE preparation?

Tushar: When I didn’t secure any rank in the first two attempts I got demotivated and this was the toughest aspect as I started thinking I am good for nothing. In my third year I only prepared four or five subjects but my rank was very good I think as 2005 is not bad after preparing only four or five subjects. But in my final year due to some personal reasons and my project work, as my project work was to be completed just before the GATE 2022, I could not prepare well for the last 2-3 months.

But GATE is a moderate exam and you just need to develop problem solving skills and you are good to go.

Careers360: Name some important Topics that you feel are a must read for any student attempting the GATE exam?

Tushar: Candidates should focus more on the core subjects, focus on Communication, EDC, Analog. These three subjects are most important and consist of 40 marks.So, do not forget these.

Careers360: What did you do for leisure? Any specific activities that helped you unwind?

Tushar: I play cricket, I listen to songs and some audio books.

Careers360: How should you schedule answering the GATE exam – which section to attempt first and which next? Did you have any strategy? Kindly share your exam experience with us.

Tushar: Strategy may vary from person to person and my strategy was first to attempt the aptitude part in first 20 minutes only. Don’t invest more then 20 minutes as it is worth that. Give 5 minutes to mark the questions you can solve just by looking at the once, then go for moderate questions and mark them review and mark red those questions which you find difficult and attempt those in the spare time you got after solving the whole paper.

Careers360: What did you feel was a tough thing for you in the GATE exam?

Tushar: Toughest thing was to solve the new tough questions as everyone is studying the same concept. But solving new questions is difficult so believe in yourself and go for it.

Careers360: Any advice for the future aspirants?

Tushar: If you are thinking of cracking GATE in your first attempt, you can but you need to start early, prepare Mathematics and Aptitude in your first year, and practice as many mock tests as possible. Go for both subject wise and topic wise mock test to strengthen your subjects, so don’t ignore them.

All the best!

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M.Tech in Structural Engineering – Fee Structure at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (GATE Qualified, SC Category)

Fee Details:

  • Tuition Fee : Rs 30,000 per year (Rs 60,000 for the full 2-year program)

  • Building Fund : Rs 10,000 (one-time payment)

  • Total Estimated Fee : Rs 70,000 for the entire course

This fee structure is applicable to students admitted through GATE.

(https://collegedunia.com/university/25346-andhra-university-au-visakhapatnam/courses-fees) Scholarships & Fee Reimbursement for SC Category Students

As an SC category student, you are eligible for the following government-sponsored scholarships and fee reimbursement schemes:

  • Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) : Covers tuition fees and provides a monthly maintenance allowance.

  • Social Welfare Department Schemes : Offered by the Andhra Pradesh government for SC/ST students.

  • Golden Jubilee Scholarship : Awarded to department toppers based on semester CGPA, provides Rs 8,000 per month. (https://collegedunia.com/university/25346-andhra-university-au-visakhapatnam/master-of-technology-mtech-full-time)

These scholarships can significantly reduce or even fully cover your educational expenses.

Recommended Steps:

  1. Apply for Scholarships : Submit applications for the Post-Matric Scholarship and other relevant schemes through the official portals.

  2. Contact University Financial Aid Office : Reach out to Andhra University's financial aid office to inquire about any additional support available.

  3. Maintain Good Academic Performance : High performance can help you qualify for merit-based scholarships such as the Golden Jubilee Scholarship.

Hello there,

With a GATE 2025 score of 417 in DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) and being from the OPEN category , your chances for M.Tech in AI / AI & DS / AI & ML / DS at top IITs are very limited , but you may have a chance in newer or interdisciplinary programs at IIITs, IIITDM, and a few NITs . Here's a breakdown:

Chances in IITs :

  • Older IITs (IIT Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Kanpur, etc.): Unlikely. Their cutoffs for OPEN category in AI-related programs are typically 600+ in GATE score.

  • Newer IITs (like IIT Bhilai, IIT Jammu, IIT Goa): Slight chance in interdisciplinary or niche programs, especially if seats remain vacant .

    Chances in NITs:

You have moderate chances for M.Tech in AI/ML/DS in:

  • NIT Trichy

  • NIT Surathkal

  • NIT Silchar

  • NIT Jalandhar

  • NIT Nagaland (newer programs) You can check CCMT counselling for these.

    Chances in IIITs:

Your score is suitable for:

  • IIITDM Kancheepuram Yes , you have a fair chance for programs like:

    • M.Tech in Data Science

    • M.Tech in AI/ML (if offered)

  • IIIT Hyderabad – Tough; they have separate admissions with a high bar.

  • IIIT Bangalore – Unlikely with this score unless they consider DA paper with other criteria.

    Suggestions:

  • Participate in CCMT 2025 counselling (for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs).

  • Explore IIITDM Kancheepuram through their own admission portal or CCMT.

  • Keep an eye on spot rounds/vacant seats in lesser-known institutes.


I would recommend you to use GATE College Predictor Tool by Careers360 to get the list of possible colleges you can get with your rank or percentile.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, then feel free to share your questions with us, we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Hey ,

As per your mentioned query , GATE exam is really a challenging exam. Student must have bachelor's degree in Engineering , Architecture, Technology. Or student may also have master's degree in science , maths and computer applications and equivalent.

To know more , kindly go through the given link:

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-eligibility-criteria

Good wishes !!

Hello there,

Yes, several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) recruit Physics postgraduates who have cleared the GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam with a good rank (below 100). While these PSUs typically focus on engineering disciplines like Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, etc., there are a few PSUs that recruit for Physics and related branches (e.g., Material Science, Nuclear Science).

Here are some PSUs that might hire Physics postgraduates through GATE:

  1. BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) : BHEL occasionally recruits candidates with backgrounds in Physics, especially for roles related to research and development or specialized positions.

  2. NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) : NPCIL is one of the prominent recruiters for candidates with a background in Physics, particularly in the nuclear power sector.

  3. BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) : BARC recruits postgraduates in Physics for roles related to nuclear science and technology, often through their OCES/DGFS programs.

  4. SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) : Though SAIL is primarily focused on engineering disciplines, they may occasionally have openings for candidates with a Physics background, especially in material science or related fields.

  5. HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) : HAL has openings in fields that could be suitable for Physics postgraduates, particularly in material sciences, avionics, and research & development.

  6. ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) : ONGC may also consider candidates with a Physics background, particularly for positions in research or scientific positions.

While Physics postgraduates are less commonly recruited than engineering graduates, specialized roles in these PSUs (related to research, nuclear science, material science, etc.) do open up opportunities. To stay updated, regularly check the official websites of these PSUs or employment news portals for recruitment notifications.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

With a GATE CS score of 335 (OBC) :

  • Unlikely to get Osmania University M.Tech in CS, IT, or Cyber Security via GATE (cutoffs are much higher, around 750).

  • You can try through TS PGECET (Osmania accepts PGECET scores too).

  • Consider other state universities or private colleges with lower GATE cutoffs.

  • Prepare for TS PGECET for better chances in Cyber Security or IT at Osmania.

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