UPES M.Tech Admissions 2026
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GATE Exam Date:07 Feb' 26 - 08 Feb' 26
Best Books for GATE CSE 2026 - Candidates preparing for the GATE 2026 exam can find the best GATE 2026 books for CSE here. Since the national-level test-- the GATE exam has a high number of participating candidates, it is important to score well to get admission to the desired institutes. The right set of books will help the candidates to understand the concepts easily. Choosing the best books for the 2026 GATE CSE Syllabus is a crucial step, as it marks the beginning of the preparation. The books will help in understanding various topics for cracking GATE 2026. Moreover, candidates should also be aware of the GATE 2026 syllabus so that they know what to prepare for the exam.
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Computer Science is not a particularly simple subject, and students from different backgrounds, as well as those with similar backgrounds, pursue CSE. Hence, searching for the best books for GATE becomes tough. One of the best ways to ensure thorough preparation for GATE CSE 2026 is through the best CSE books for students. The article below provides the answer to the best books for GATE CSE 2026 and the GATE exam pattern that students should be aware of before kick-starting their GATE 2026 preparation.
There are many people including those of toppers who will bring in a list of GATE books for computer science. However, some students have a different question on what are the best books for GATE who want it all to be covered in one place as they have studied it all but need some revision material. Thus, for such students, given below are the few best GATE preparation books for CSE that are relevant to the whole of the GATE syllabus. Most of the best GATE books for CSE also consist of important topics and sample papers.
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Some of the GATE CSE books suggested by toppers are as follows:
Theory of Computer Science: Automata, Languages, and Computation by Mishra K.L.P.
GATE Practice Sets by Pearson
Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach by Pressman
For those students who think that they need a GATE preparation strategy for CSE to focus more on some of the specific topics/ subjects and need in-depth knowledge. For such students, given below is the list of best books for GATE CSE suggested by toppers along with the names of authors that deal with the specific topics, or say subjects of Computer Science. Candidates are advised to refer to the GATE books for CSE and prepare accordingly.
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Topic Covered | GATE books for CSE | Author |
Algorithm | Introduction to Algorithms | Thomas H. Cormen |
Theory of Computation | An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata | Peter Linz |
Computer Organization and Architecture | Computer Organization and Architecture | William Stallings |
Operating System | Operating System Concepts | Galvin |
Computer Networks | Computer Networks | Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall |
Networks by Fourozon | Fourozon | |
Database Management Systems | Database System Concepts | Henry Korth |
Discrete Mathematics | Discrete Mathematics and its Applications | Kenneth H Rosen |
Digital Logic and Number Representation | Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals | Morris Mano |
Candidates who have found a bundle of GATE CSE best books to study well but do not have an idea on where to start should follow the pointers below:
First, check out the GATE CSE syllabus and exam pattern
Now go through the old GATE question papers to know which topics have been asked repeatedly as per the previous trends
Now, those topics that have been asked more should be started with while preparing the best book for GATE CSE
While preparing for such topics, students are advised not to end up studying a handful of topics. To deal with this, they should make a timetable to give portioned time.
Students are advised to analyse their knowledge with the help of question papers and GATE mock tests while they prepare with the help of the best books for GATE CSE.
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Candidates who are preparing to appear for the exam should be aware of the exam pattern of GATE 2026 to perform well. It shall allow them to know about the duration of the exam, the total questions asked and the marks held by them, the types of questions, etc. Thus, refer to the table below containing the GATE exam pattern 2026 and understand the strategy:
Particulars | Specifications |
Exam duration | 3 hours |
Exam mode | Online (Computer-based test) |
Type and total number of Questions | Total 65 Questions MCQs and MCQs and/or Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions |
Total marks of the exam | 100 |
Total number of sections |
|
Marking Scheme |
|
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, IIT Guwahati releases the GATE exam syllabus for CSE.
The GATE CSE syllabus includes topics in Digital Logic, Computer Organization and Architecture, Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, Operating System, Databases, and Computer Networks, along with an aptitude section. Official syllabus will be available soon.
Create a study plan by allocating specific time to each subject and topic. Focus on your weaker areas first and gradually move to stronger ones. Include regular practice of previous year papers and mock tests to assess your progress.
The order of study can vary based on your strengths and weaknesses. However, it's generally a good idea to start with fundamental subjects like Digital Logic and Programming, and then move on to more complex topics like Algorithms and Operating Systems.
To select the best books for GATE CSE 2026 , candidates should ensure the books cover the complete syllabus, provide detailed explanations of concepts, include ample practice questions, and offer previous years' solved papers. Referring to reviews or recommendations from toppers and educators can also help.
Yes, negative marking is applicable for MCQs: 1 mark for a wrong answer in 1-mark questions, and 2 marks for a wrong answer in 2-mark questions. There is no negative marking for NAT questions.
The best-recommended books for the GATE 2026 syllabus for CSE are:
Time management during the GATE CSE exam is crucial. Allocate specific time limits for each section and question. If a question is taking too long, move on and come back to it later if time allows.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
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 !
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