Which is the hardest subject in GATE - The exam toughness is quite a subjective entity, which highly depends on individual preparation. Based on analysis of past exam data, Mechanical Engineering(ME), Electrical Engineering(EE), and Electronics and Communication Engineering(EC) are some of the subjects that are considered the hardest in GATE. Some papers are universally regarded as tougher due to their vast syllabus, conceptual depth, and intense competition. The GATE 2026 exam will be held on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026. Candidates must go through the GATE 2026 syllabus and must be aware of the GATE exam pattern as well.
The NTA will soon announce the GATE 2026 admit card release dates on its official website at gate2026.nta.nic.in. Here are the details given below mentioned on the GATE 2026 admit card.
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The following subjects are listed as the hardest subjects for the GATE examination because of the highest number of participants, vast and comprehensive syllabus and a difficult level of questions. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is considered one of India’s toughest engineering entrance exams, testing candidates on in-depth technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. While the difficulty level of GATE is largely discussed in this article, we will discuss which is the hardest subject in GATE, why it is challenging, and how competition varies across streams.
Also Check: GATE Eligibility Criteria | GATE Subject Wise Weightage
GATE Subject | Difficulty Level |
Very High | |
Very High | |
High | |
High | |
High | |
Moderate-High | |
Moderate-High |
While difficulty is subjective, Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) are often considered the hardest subjects in GATE. These papers have:
A vast syllabus covering core technical subjects.
High competition due to the large number of aspirants.
Conceptually tough questions require analytical problem-solving.
Other papers like Electronics (EC), Civil (CE), and Computer Science (CS) are also tough but depend on how well a candidate understands core concepts.
Below is the curated list of candidates who appeared in the GATE examination for years 2025, 2024 and 2023. Some subjects reported a higher number of candidates participating in the exam. The highest number of participating candidates implies higher competition and a tougher level.
GATE Subject with Code | Number of Candidates Participated in GATE Exam | ||
2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 63489 | 65,546 | 62015 |
Electrical Engineering (EE) | 55292 | – | 67701 |
Electronics and Communication Engg. (EC) | 45833 | 63,092 | 81475 |
Civil Engineering (CE) | 83187 | 85,869 | 79951 |
Computer Science & IT (CS) | 75679 | 1,23,967 | 170825 |
Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 8746 | 9,900 | 11935 |
Chemical Engineering (CH) | 13607 | 13,937 | 14843 |
GATE cutoff of the recent years gives a clear idea about a comprehensive comparison among the difficulty levels of different subjects, which one is easier and which one is harder. Here is the year-wise general cutoff for subjects regarded as the hardest subjects in the GATE Exam.
Year-wise cutoff for the Hardest GATE Subject
GATE Subject with Code | Year wise General cutoff for GATE Exam(Out of 100) | ||
2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 28.4 | 28.6 | 35.8 |
Electrical Engineering (EE) | 25 | 25.7 | 25 |
Electronics and Communication Engg. (EC) | 29.9 | 25 | 25 |
Civil Engineering (CE) | 26.6 | 28.3 | 29.2 |
Computer Science & IT (CS) | 32.5 | 27.6 | 29.2 |
Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 34.8 | 32.7 | 25.6 |
Chemical Engineering (CH) | 32.10 | 25 | 27.7 |
Mechanical Engineering is regarded as the hardest subject because of:
Particulars | Details |
Extensive Syllabus | Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design, Manufacturing, etc., require in-depth study. |
Complex Numerical Problems | Many questions involve multi-step calculations. |
High Number of Candidates | ME consistently has one of the largest applicant pools in GATE. |
Conceptual & Analytical Blend | Both theoretical understanding and numerical accuracy are tested rigorously. |
Electrical Engineering (EE) : Why is it tough?
Electrical Engineering is also extremely challenging due to:
Particulars | Details |
Mathematically Intensive Topics | Power Systems, Electrical Machines, Control Systems. |
Tough Numerical Problems | Accuracy and time management are critical. |
Demanding Competition | It attracts a high number of applicants, making the cut-offs competitive. |
Yes, the choice of paper significantly affects perceived difficulty:
Papers like Instrumentation (IN), Chemical Engineering (CH), though tough, have fewer candidates, reducing competition.
However, core branches (ME, EE, EC, CE, CS) remain the most competitive due to higher participation.
Subjects like Environmental Science (ES) and Geology (GG) are considered moderate in toughness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While subjects with fewer applicants may have slightly lower cut-offs, the conceptual depth of questions remains tough. So preparation is equally important.
Yes, GATE CS is challenging due to its conceptual subjects like Algorithms, Data Structures, and DBMS, combined with high competition.
Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) are widely regarded as the toughest papers in GATE.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
The link to the question paper is attached here. You can access the question papers along with the answer key on the careers360 website. Careers360 also provides students with preparation tips that will help them in preparing and the mock test and analyse their in-depth performance.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/last-15-years-gate-papers-solutions
Thank you.
Hello,
Here is a link for the sample papers for GATE Exam with DA subjects. Tap on the link given below to open it:
Thankyou.
Hello aspirant,
If you missed the correction window for GATE 2026, the portal will not allow changes right now. Usually, IIT opens a correction period only once. Since you need to change your surname, the best option is to contact the GATE organizing institute through their official support email or
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