GATE 2027 Exam Dates: IIT Madras to Open Registration on August 14 at gate2027.iitm.ac.in — Full Schedule, New Papers & Everything You Need to Know

The countdown for one of India's most competitive postgraduate engineering entrance exams has officially begun. IIT Madras has announced the complete GATE 2027 schedule, confirming that GOAPS registration will begin on August 14, 2026, while the Computer-Based Test will be held on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2027. The notification and information brochure went live on the newly launched official portal on July 20, 2026.

This year marks the 45th edition of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, and it arrives with the most significant syllabus overhaul in five years — making it essential reading for every B.Tech, B.E., and M.Sc. student eyeing an M.Tech, direct PhD, or PSU recruitment opportunity at the IITs, NITs, IIITs, and IISc Bangalore.

GATE 2027 Registration Dates: Key Timeline

• Notification released: July 20, 2026

• GOAPS registration opens: August 14, 2026

• Regular registration closes (without late fee): September 21, 2026

• Extended registration with late fee closes: September 30, 2026

• Application correction window: October 14 to October 21, 2026

• Exam city allotment notice: January 4, 2027

• Admit card release: to be announced

• GATE 2027 exam dates: February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027

• Result declaration: to be announced

Candidates should treat these as provisional-but-confirmed dates straight from the IIT Madras brochure, and keep checking gate2027.iitm.ac.in for admit card and city-allotment updates closer to the exam.

How to Apply for GATE 2027: Step-by-Step

1. Visit the official website — gate2027.iitm.ac.in — or log in directly through the GOAPS portal at goaps.iitm.ac.in.

2. Register using a valid mobile number and email ID to generate your enrolment ID.

3. Fill in personal, academic, and category details.

4. Upload scanned photograph, signature, and category/PwD certificates as applicable.

5. Select your test paper (or two papers, if opting for the Two Paper Combination Model).

6. Pay the application fee online.

7. Download the confirmation page for your records.

Note: the entire process is online, from form filling to fee payment, and no offline mode is available. Candidates must submit only one application form — those planning to appear for two papers should select the second paper while filling out the same form, since separate applications will not be accepted.

What's New in GATE 2027? Robotics & Automation Paper, DigiLocker Verification

The GATE 2027 notification brings a few changes candidates cannot afford to miss:

• New paper introduced: IIT Madras introduced a new Robotics and Automation paper and revised the syllabus for select subjects to align with evolving industry requirements. This takes the total paper count to 30.

• Syllabus revision: Organisers revised test content after five years to reflect current academic standards — so aspirants preparing from old material must download the fresh syllabus PDF from the official site.

• Tech-enabled verification: The online portal now integrates DigiLocker and facial authentication to streamline candidate verification at test centres, a move aimed at tightening exam-security and reducing impersonation cases.

• Language update: The Textile Engineering and Fibre Science paper will now be offered only in English.

GATE 2027 Exam Pattern

• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

• Duration: 3 hours per paper, 65 questions carrying 100 marks

• Sessions: Morning and afternoon shifts across the six test dates

• Total papers: 30, including the new RA paper

• Paper combination: Candidates may attempt one paper, or two papers under the approved Two Paper Combination Model

Why GATE 2027 Matters

GATE scores are the gateway to M.Tech/M.E./direct PhD admissions at IITs, NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutions, and are also used by major PSUs — NTPC, ONGC, BHEL, IOCL, and others — for recruitment into engineering roles. A valid GATE score remains usable for three years from the date of result declaration, so this year's cohort has a longer runway to leverage their performance.

GATE 2027 In Brief: Quick Facts Table

• Conducting body: IIT Madras

• Exam name: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027

• Official website: gate2027.iitm.ac.in

• Application portal: GOAPS (goaps.iitm.ac.in)

• Registration start: August 14, 2026

• Registration end (no late fee): September 21, 2026

• Registration end (with late fee): September 30, 2026

• Exam dates: Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 2027

• Exam mode: CBT (Computer-Based Test)

• Total papers: 30 (new: Robotics and Automation)

• Score validity: 3 years