GATE 2026: IIT Guwahati releases two-paper combination list, introduces new Energy Science section

The official website says that under unforeseen circumstances, certain combinations may be removed from the list at a later date. | Photo: iStock/ Getty Images

The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, has released the two-paper combination list for GATE 2026. The announcement says that candidates opting to appear in two test papers must have a primary choice of test paper. The second test paper must be chosen from the allowed combinations provided by IIT Guwahati. Additional combinations may be introduced later, depending on infrastructure and scheduling feasibility.

The official website says that under unforeseen circumstances, certain combinations may be removed from the list at a later date. In such cases, the fee paid towards the second test paper will be refunded to the candidates.

The table gives the codes of test papers allowed as the second paper for the candidate’s choice of the first paper. | Photo: Official GATE website

The examination centre of a candidate for the second test paper may be different, but in the same city as that for the first paper, due to infrastructure and scheduling constraints. The institute may open up additional two-paper combinations at a later date, which will be notified on the GATE 2026 website. This is subject to the availability of infrastructure and scheduling feasibility.

A new sectional paper on Energy Science is being introduced in the Engineering Sciences (XE) paper. GATE 2026 will be a computer-based test conducted and the test papers will be in English. The score obtained remains valid for a period of three years from the date of the result announcement.

The exam dates are February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. The results will be announced on March 19, 2026. The registration process will begin on August 25, 2025. The last date for regular registration is September 25, 2025, and the extended deadline with a late fee is October 6, 2025.

Candidates currently studying in the third year or higher of any undergraduate degree program, or those who have completed any government-approved degree in the mentioned fields, are eligible to appear for GATE 2026.

The list of test papers includes Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Architecture and Planning, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology, and many more.

The Engineering Sciences paper will include Engineering Mathematics as a compulsory section and offer optional sections such as Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science, Solid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Polymer Science and Engineering, Food Technology, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and a new section on Energy Science.

The Humanities and Social Sciences paper will include Reasoning and Comprehension as compulsory and offer optional subjects including Economics, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology.

The Life Sciences paper will include Chemistry as compulsory, along with optional subjects such as Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, and Food Technology.

The application fee for candidates in the categories of Female, SC, ST, and PwD is ₹1000 during the regular registration period and ₹1500 during the extended period. For all other candidates, the fee is ₹2000 during the regular period and ₹2500 during the extended period. For those applying for two papers, the fee will be double the fee for one paper.

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Published – August 21, 2025 03:24 pm IST

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