How Many Times GATE Exam Conducted in a Year: The GATE examination serves as a pivotal gateway for aspirants who wish to pursue postgraduate education courses or seek employment in various public sector undertakings (PSUs) across diverse branches of engineering. One of the common questions that GATE aspirants often have is, "How Many Times GATE Exam is Conducted in a Year? Simply, the answer is once a year typically in February every year.
For 2026, the GATE exam is going to be held in February 2026 (tentative), as expected, for a total of 30 subjects. Most importantly, aspirants who wish to appear for the forthcoming GATE 2026 examination must strategize their preparation to improve their overall performance.
GATE is a national-level examination held for aspirants from diverse backgrounds such as engineering, science, commerce, arts, etc. in 8 regions across India. Only aspirants who are in their 3rd year of graduation or who have graduated are eligible to apply for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. The GATE scores are valid for a period of 3 years. Aspirants who qualify the GATE examination can apply for higher studies, government jobs, or various PSU jobs.
GATE 2026 Exam Overview | |
Particulars | Highlights |
Name of Exam | GATE 2026 |
GATE Full Form | Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering |
GATE is Conducted by | Jointly by 7 IITs and IISc, Bengaluru |
GATE Official Website 2026 | https://www.iitg.ac.in/gate-jam/ |
GATE 2026 Conducting Body | IIT Guwahati |
GATE 2026 Registration Dates (for regular period) | Fourth week of August 2025 |
Last date of GATE 2026 Registration (with late fees) | Fourth Week of September 2025-First week of October 2025 |
GATE Exam Date 2026 | In February 2026 (tentative) |
Purpose of the GATE Exam | Qualifying Examination for M.E., M.Tech., or Ph.D admissions and Government or PSU Recruitment |
Mode of Examination | Computer-Based-Test (CBT) |
Exam Duration | 180 Minutes (3 Hours) |
Total Number of Questions | 65 |
How Many Times GATE Conducted in a Year? | Once a Year |
Total GATE Papers | 30 (Data Science & Artificial Intelligence added) |
Total Number of GATE Attempts | No Restriction |
GATE Scorecard Validity | 3 Years |
The GATE exam, which is a computer-based test, includes 65 questions and takes place just once a year. Aspirants have the flexibility to either choose one subject or two subjects, following the GATE two subject combination provided by GATE officials. Therefore, the answer to the question of how many times the GATE exam is held in a year is only once.
While the GATE exam itself is an annual event, your GATE score remains valid for a longer duration. It can be used for up to three years for admission to postgraduate education programs and up to two years in the recruitment process of certain PSUs. This means a GATE score can open doors to opportunities for several years.
The GATE exam is an annual event that usually takes place in February. Aspirants can anticipate receiving their GATE scorecards, which provide an in-depth assessment of their performance, in March following the exam.
There is no limitation on the number of attempts for the GATE exam, which is a notable advantage. As long as applicants adhere to the requirements set forth by the organization in charge of conducting the GATE exam, they are free to apply as many times as they deem necessary. This flexibility empowers aspirants to strive for their best possible score and opens up opportunities for continuous improvement.
The GATE exam offers aspirants the opportunity to appear for the examination once a year, as it is conducted on an annual basis. This annual schedule ensures a fair and standardized evaluation process. This lack of restrictions proves the commitment to providing aspirants with ample chances to showcase their knowledge and skills.
In a nutshell, while the GATE exam occurs once annually, aspirants can choose to attempt it multiple times within the framework of their educational and career goals, thereby striving for continuous improvement and success.
GATE is an annual examination that thoroughly evaluates the comprehensive grasp of a range of undergraduate subjects in engineering and technology. Here are the key highlights of the GATE examination: