Which is the Hardest Subject in GATE 2026? Difficulty Ranking & Insights

Which is the Hardest Subject in GATE 2026? Difficulty Ranking & Insights

Ongoing Event

GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 18 Sep 2025, 04:52 PM IST

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.

This Story also Contains

  1. List of Hard GATE Subjects 2026
  2. Which is the Hardest Subject in GATE?
  3. Number of Candidates appeared in GATE Examination
  4. Cutoff for Hardest GATE Subjects
  5. Why is Mechanical Engineering (ME) considered the hardest subject in GATE?
  6. Does Paper Selection Affect GATE Difficulty?
Which is the Hardest Subject in GATE 2026? Difficulty Ranking & Insights
Which is the Hardest Subject in GATE 2026? Difficulty Ranking & Insights

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

Which is the Hardest Subject in GATE?

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.

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Other papers like Electronics (EC), Civil (CE), and Computer Science (CS) are also tough but depend on how well a candidate understands core concepts.

Number of Candidates appeared in GATE Examination

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.

Candidates Participated in GATE Exam

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

Cutoff for Hardest GATE Subjects

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

Why is Mechanical Engineering (ME) considered the hardest subject in GATE?

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.

Does Paper Selection Affect GATE Difficulty?

  • 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.

GATE Previous Year Question Paper's
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does fewer applicants in a paper make it easier to crack GATE?
A:

While subjects with fewer applicants may have slightly lower cut-offs, the conceptual depth of questions remains tough. So preparation is equally important.

Q: Is Computer Science (CS) in GATE difficult?
A:

Yes, GATE CS is challenging due to its conceptual subjects like Algorithms, Data Structures, and DBMS, combined with high competition.

Q: Which is the hardest subject in GATE overall?
A:

Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) are widely regarded as the toughest papers in GATE.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello,

Yes, you can change your category from General to OBC in the GATE application form. This can be done during the correction window, which typically opens after the last date for application submission.

You will need to pay a correction fee of Rs. 500. Please ensure you upload a valid OBC certificate as per the prescribed format and date mentioned by GATE.

To make the change, log in to the GOAPS portal, navigate to the "Change personal data" section, and update your category. Submit the changes and pay the required fee.

Remember to complete the correction before the deadline, as no changes will be accepted after the final date.

Hope it helps !

Hello,

You can register for GATE on the official GATE website : gate2025.iitr.ac.in (https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in/)

Steps to register:

  1. Go to the GATE website.

  2. Click on “GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS)” .

  3. Create a new account with your email and mobile number.

  4. Fill in your personal, educational, and exam details .

  5. Upload your photo, signature, and documents as required.

  6. Pay the application fee online using net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI .

After payment, you will get a confirmation and your application will be submitted.

Hope it helps !

Hello Candidate,

The last date for registration of GATE examination is 28 September 2025 without late fee. But there is 9th October 2025 is last date with late fee .

So Don't be late or fill the form.

Thank you

Hello Candidate,

You can get free study material from here and also you can download it :

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-material

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/best-gate-preparation-materials

Here is study material, question papers, preparation tips and much more.

Hey! If you want to make changes in your GATE application after submission, you can do it through the correction window on the official GOAPS website. Log in with your enrollment ID or email and password, click on Application Form Correction, and make the necessary edits like personal details, academic info, exam paper, category, or exam centre. Some changes may require a small fee. After editing, submit the form and download the updated copy for your records.

Remember, the correction window is open for a limited time, so make the changes before the deadline.