Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee) on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India. Qualifying in GATE is a mandatory requirement for seeking admission and/or financial assistance to:
(i) Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering/Technology/Architecture and (ii) Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Arts and Science, in the institutions supported by the MoE and other Government agencies. Even in some colleges and institutions, which admit students without MoE scholarship/ assistantship, the GATE qualification is mandatory.
Many Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have been using the GATE score in their recruitment process.
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national examination conducted to test the comprehensive understanding of the candidates in various undergraduate subjects in Engineering, Technology, Science, Architecture and both undergraduate and post-graduate level subjects in Commerce, Arts, Humanities and Science. Last year, GATE was conducted for 30 subjects (referred to as “Test Papers”). GATE is a Computer Based Test (CBT) and is held every year on every Saturday & Sunday of February from 1st to 3rd week.
Note: The GATE score remains valid for THREE YEARS from the date of announcement of the results (till next announcement for any change is made).
Use of GATE Score for Employment
In the past, several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have used GATE score to shortlist the candidates for employment. A few such organizations are:
PSUs for All Engineering Branches: Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Coal India Limited (CIL), Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL), Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Engineers India Limited (EIL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited (OPGC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO), Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), etc.
PSUs for Chemical Engineering:
Coal India Limited (CIL)
Engineers India Limited (EIL)
Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
NLC (Nayveli Lignite Corporation) India Limited (known as NLCIL),
National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), etc.
Direct recruitment to Group-A level posts in central government, i.e., Senior Field Officer (Tele), Senior Research Officer (Crypto) and Senior Research Officer (S&T) in Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, is now being carried out on the basis of GATE score. The details of the scheme of recruitment are normally published in National Newspapers/ Employment News/ Rozgar Samachar by the concerned authority. Some other Government of India Organizations may also utilize GATE 2025 score for their recruitment purpose.
Exam Related Details: The scheme, types and number of questions, marks distribution, negative marking etc. and all the other relevant details can be found in the information brochure available in pdf on the website of organizing Institute (IIT/IISc) or on the webpage of any of the IITs.