GATE — Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

What is GATE?

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national examination conducted jointly by the IITs and IISc on behalf of the Ministry of Education. It is the gateway to:

•M.Tech/ME/MS/MCA admissions at IITs, NITs, IIITs, CFTIs

•PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) recruitment — BHEL, NTPC, IOCL, ONGC, GAIL, BSNL, AAI, etc.

•PhD programmes at IITs/IISc

•GATE score valid for 3 years

Key Papers and Subject Codes

Computer Science & IT -- Software, IT companies, IT PSUs

Electronics & Communication -- Hardware, Telecom, BSNL JTO

Electrical Engineering -- Power sector, NTPC, PowerGrid

Mechanical Engineering -- Core manufacturing, ISRO, defense

Code	Paper	Common for

|------|-------|-----------|

CS	Computer Science & IT	Software, IT companies, IT PSUs
EC	Electronics & Communication	Hardware, Telecom, BSNL JTO
EE	Electrical Engineering	Power sector, NTPC, PowerGrid
ME	Mechanical Engineering	Core manufacturing, ISRO, defense
CE	Civil Engineering	Infrastructure, construction PSUs
IN	Instrumentation Engineering	Process industries
CH	Chemical Engineering	Oil & gas, IOCL, HPCL
PI	Production & Industrial	Manufacturing

Exam Pattern

•Duration: 3 hours

•Total marks: 100

•Questions: 65 (MCQ + MSQ + NAT)

- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): 4 options, 1 correct, negative marking (-1/3 for 1-mark, -2/3 for 2-mark)

- Multiple Select Questions (MSQ): Multiple correct, NO negative marking

- Numerical Answer Type (NAT): Enter number directly, NO negative marking

MCQ

4 options, 1 correct. Negative marking: -1/3 (1-mark), -2/3 (2-mark)

MSQ

Multiple correct options. NO negative marking

NAT

Numerical Answer Type -- enter number directly. NO negative marking

General Aptitude (common to all papers): 15 marks

•Verbal Ability: 5 marks

•Numerical Ability: 10 marks

Technical Subject: 85 marks

GATE CS — Marks Distribution

Subject	Approximate Marks

|---------|------------------|

Data Structures & Algorithms	12–15
DBMS	8–10
Operating Systems	8–10
Computer Networks	8–10
Theory of Computation	8–10
Compiler Design	5–7
Digital Logic	6–8
Computer Organisation & Architecture	5–7
Mathematics (Linear Algebra, Calculus, Probability, Discrete Maths)	13–15
General Aptitude	15

GATE EC — Marks Distribution

Subject	Approximate Marks

|---------|------------------|

Networks, Signals & Systems	15–18
Electronic Devices & Circuits	10–12
Analog Circuits	8–10
Digital Circuits	8–10
Control Systems	8–10
Communications	10–12
Electromagnetics	8–10
Mathematics	13–15
General Aptitude	15

Score vs Rank vs Marks (CS Reference)

GATE Score	Rank (approx)	Marks (approx)

|-----------|--------------|----------------|

900+	Top 100	80+
800–900	100–500	65–80
700–800	500–2000	55–65
600–700	2000–5000	45–55
500–600	5000–10000	35–45

Cutoff for IIT M.Tech (CS): typically 750+ score. For NITs: 600–700.

PSU Recruitment via GATE

Major PSUs that use GATE scores directly (no separate exam):

•BSNL — JTO (EC paper)

•BHEL — Engineer Trainee (multiple papers)

•NTPC — Engineer Executive (EE/ME/CS)

•IOCL — Engineer/Officer (multiple papers)

•ONGC — Engineer (multiple papers)

•PowerGrid — Executive Trainee (EE/CS)

•AAI — Junior Executive (CS/EC/EE)

•GAIL — Executive Trainee (multiple papers)

Score validity for PSUs: 1 year (not 3 years like for admissions).

GATE Overview & PYQ — Overview