What is GATE?

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all India entrance Examination conducted jointly by IISc and seven IITs, every year in the month of January/February. The exam tests the comprehensive understanding of candidate in various undergraduate subjects including Engineering/Technology/Architecture and post-graduate level subjects in Science. The GATE score/Rank is used for admissions to Post graduate Programmes (ME, M.Tech, MS, direct PhD) in IISc, IITs and other prestigious Institutes / Universities in India, with financial assistance provided by MHRD. 

The GATE Score may also be used by PSUs for recruitment of candidates for prestigious jobs with attractive salary packages. Some of the PSUs which use GATE score for providing jobs include BARC, BHEL, IOCL, HPCL, NTPC, Power Grid, NHPC etc. GATE exam primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of the candidate in various undergraduate subjects in Engineering. The GATE score reflects the relative performance level in a particular branch. GATE score is valid for three years.

In GATE examination, candidates can apply for only one of the 23 papers listed in the table given below. Candidates are expected to appear in a paper appropriate to the discipline of their qualifying degree. However, candidates are free to choose any paper according to their admission plan, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria of the institutions in which they wish to seek admission. 

GATE Papers and the Paper Codes for GATE 

PAPER	CODE	PAPER	CODE
Aerospace Engineering	AE	Geology and Geophysics	GG
Agricultural Engineering	AG	Instrumentation Engineering	IN
Architecture and Planning	AR	Life Sciences	XL
Biotechnology	BT	Mathematics	MA
Civil Engineering	CE	Mechanical Engineering	ME
Chemical Engineering	CH	Mining Engineering	MN
Computer Science & Information Technology	CS	Metallurgical Engineering	MT
Chemistry	CY	Physics	PH
Electronics and Communication Engineering	EC	Production and Industrial Engineering	PI
Electrical Engineering	EE	Textile Engineering & Fibre Science	TF
Engineering Sciences	XE	Ecology and Evolution	EY
Petrolium Engineering	PE