GATE 2026 Syllabus has been officially released by IIT Guwahati for all 30 test papers. It outlines the topics and subject areas from which questions will be asked in the exam. The syllabus covers undergraduate-level concepts in Engineering, Science, Humanities, and interdisciplinary fields. Candidates must carefully go through the syllabus of their chosen paper to plan preparation effectively. A clear understanding of the syllabus ensures focused study and better chances of scoring high in GATE 2026.
The Paper-wise GATE 2026 Syllabus provides a detailed breakup of topics for each subject paper. Below is a concise list of all papers and the major subject areas covered under them.
Below is the table for GATE Syllabus 2026 for XE,XH, XL sections:
| Paper | Compulsory Section | Optional Sections |
|---|---|---|
| XE (Engineering Sciences) | Engineering Mathematics (A) (Compulsory) (15 marks) |
Any 2 from B–I (Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science, Solid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Polymer Science, Food Tech, Atmospheric Sciences, Energy Science) (2x35 = 70 marks) |
| XH (Humanities & Social Sciences) | Reasoning & Comprehension (B1) (Compulsory) (25 marks) |
Any 1 from C1–C6 (Economics, English, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology) (60 marks) |
| XL (Life Sciences) | Chemistry (P) (Compulsory) (25 marks) |
Any 2 from Q–U (Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology) (2x30 = 60 marks) |
Below is the PDF for the subject-wise GATE 2026 syllabus:
Below is the table for GATE 2026 syllabus PDF for XE, XH, and XL sections:
| XE Paper Sections | XH Paper Sections | XL Paper Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | Reasoning and Comprehension | Chemistry |
| Fluid Mechanics | Economics | Biochemistry |
| Materials Science | English | Botany |
| Solid Mechanics | Linguistics | Microbiology |
| Thermodynamics | Philosophy | Zoology |
| Polymer Science and Engineering | Psychology | Food Technology |
| Food Technology | Sociology | - |
| Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences | - | - |
| Energy Science | - | - |
GATE 2026 syllabus covers a wide range of topics across Engineering, Science, and Humanities, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of candidates’ knowledge. A well-planned approach based on the official syllabus, focusing on core subjects and General Aptitude, will greatly enhance your chances of success in the exam.
Ques: What is the weightage of General Aptitude in GATE 2026?
Ans: General Aptitude has a weightage of 15% in every GATE paper. It tests verbal, numerical, and analytical reasoning skills, while the remaining 85% weightage is dedicated to subject-specific topics.
Ques: Where can I download the GATE 2026 syllabus PDF?
Ans: The official GATE 2026 syllabus PDF for all 30 papers is available on the IIT Guwahati GATE 2026 website under the "Exam Papers and Syllabus" section or in Prepp.in.
Ques: Is the GATE 2026 syllabus the same for all papers?
Ans: No, each GATE paper has a different syllabus. Only the General Aptitude section is common across all papers, while the subject syllabus depends on the chosen discipline.
Ques: What subjects are compulsory in GATE 2026?
Ans: The only compulsory section for all GATE 2026 papers is General Aptitude. For XE, Engineering Mathematics is compulsory; for XL, Chemistry is compulsory; for XH, Reasoning and Comprehension is compulsory.
Ques: Does GATE 2026 have negative marking?
Ans: Yes, negative marking applies in GATE 2026 for MCQs. One-mark questions have a deduction of ⅓ mark, while two-mark questions have a deduction of ⅔ mark. MSQ and NAT have no negative marking.
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