GATE 2026 Registration Hits 10 Lakh+, Biggest Competition Ever

The buzz around GATE 2026 has intensified after media discussions hinted that over 10 lakh candidates may have filled the application form this year. If the numbers hold, this becomes the highest-ever registration count in GATE history.

While IIT Guwahati (the organizing institute for GATE 2026) has not yet issued an official confirmation, multiple sources and RTI inquiries indicate that the participation graph has shot up sharply—especially in branches like Computer Science (CSE), Electronics (ECE) and Data Science (DA).

Let’s break down what’s happening, why the numbers are rising, and how it will impact competition.

GATE 2026: Why 10 Lakh+ Registrations is a Major Shift

For years, GATE participation has hovered within the 6–9 lakh range. But the speculation for 1 million+ candidates gives a clear message:
Interest in higher studies, PSU jobs, and tech-based M.Tech specializations is booming.

IIT Guwahati will conduct the exam on 7, 8, 14 and 15 February 2026 across multiple sessions. Notably, CSE and Civil Engineering papers have two slots each—CSE-1, CSE-2 and CE-1, CE-2—indicating a massive surge in applicants.

Some students assumed the two slots meant separate opportunities or different institute preferences, but that’s not the case.
The logic is simple:
More applicants → more slots required → normalization process ensures fairness.

Each slot receives a different question paper, and scores are normalized across shifts.

GATE Registration Trends: Year-by-Year Growth

A quick look at the past five years shows how quickly the participation has escalated:

The sharp jump from 2024 to 2026 highlights renewed student interest in core engineering, AI/ML courses, VLSI programs, and PSU recruitment.

Branch-Wise Competition Analysis for GATE 2026

1. Computer Science (CSE) – The Highest Spike Ever

CSE has seen nearly double the registrations in the past two cycles.

• GATE 2023: ~75,679

• GATE 2024: ~1.23 lakh

• GATE 2025: ~1.78 lakh

• GATE 2026 (expected): 2 lakh+ candidates

Why the surge?

• High placement packages

• Growing AI and ML domains

• Higher intake in IITs for CSE and AI programs

• Students preferring tech-based specializations over core engineering

2. Electronics & Communication (ECE) – Rising Due to VLSI Demand

ECE continues to rise steadily because VLSI and semiconductor jobs are booming in India. Even new IITs and NITs show strong placement trends.
Students aiming for VLSI, microelectronics and embedded systems are driving the rise.

3. Electrical Engineering – Mild Rise

Electrical shows a slight upward trend due to stable PSU opportunities and evergreen M.Tech programs.

4. Mechanical Engineering – Almost Constant

Despite being one of the largest engineering streams, Mechanical registrations remain stable.
Reason?

• Core placements fluctuating

• Limited new-age specializations compared to CSE/AI

5. Civil Engineering – Stable with Slight Variations

Civil consistently sees ~80,000 candidates each year.
Slot splitting in GATE 2026 hints at slightly higher numbers, but not a major spike.

6. Data Science & AI (DA) – New Branch, Rapid Growth

Introduced in GATE 2024, this branch is quickly becoming popular.

• GATE 2024: ~3,900

• GATE 2025: ~5,700
  Numbers will continue rising as AI and data fields expand.

Competition Level: Should Aspirants Worry?

A common concern is:
“If the number of candidates rises, will the GATE 2026 competition become extreme?”

Here’s the reality:

• Some branches show reduced competition: Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Aerospace remain stable with only slight fluctuations.

• Some branches show explosive growth: CSE, ECE and DA are witnessing a sharp rise.

• But top ranks are still achievable: GATE selection is not about beating everyone—
  it’s about reaching the top 200–500, which is absolutely possible with consistency.

• PSUs shifting recruitment patterns: Some PSUs that didn’t earlier consider GATE scores are now accepting them.
  However, it’s untrue that 75% of admissions depend solely on GATE scores—the statement varies by domain and institute.

What Should GATE 2026 Aspirants Do in the Remaining Months?

• Follow a structured study plan for the remaining 60 days

• Maintain accuracy and consistency

• Aim for a rank under 500 to keep IIT + PSU options open

• Give mocks in examination-like environments

• Analyse mistakes and revise repeatedly