GATE 2025: Application dates, fees, and exam centres

The application process for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2025 is set to begin on August 24, offering aspiring engineers and professionals the opportunity to advance their academic and career prospects. Applicants have until September 26 to submit their applications, with an extended deadline available until October 7 with a late fee. The highly anticipated exam is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2, 15, and 16, which are Saturdays and Sundays.

The application fee is Rs 1,800 for one paper, which could be submitted online. The fee is Rs 900 for female applicants and those belonging to Scheduled and differently-abled categories. The late fee is Rs 2,300 and 1,400 respectively. A candidate seeking to appear for two papers has to pay double this fee, but should submit a single application only.

Visit the official website at https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in

What is GATE?
GATE is a qualifying test and not an entrance exam. Candidates appearing for the test should submit separate applications to the institutions where they wish to pursue higher studies or join as employees. In fact, applicants qualifying in GATE can gain admission for postgraduate/doctoral studies in engineering, technology and architecture as well as doctoral studies in arts, science, commerce and humanities with financial aid from the Central government. Appointments in some leading public sector undertakings are conducted based on GATE scores. Similarly, GATE scores also are considered during certain direct appointments in ‘Grade A’ posts of the Central Government.

The upcoming test – GATE 2025 – is being organised by IISc (Indian Institute of Science), Bengaluru and seven IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). Meanwhile, the task of conducting the online test has been given to IIT Roorkee.

A candidate can attempt GATE any number of times. GATE score is valid for three years from the date of announcement of results.

Exam centres in Kerala
The following are the centres for GATE 2025 in IISc Bengaluru zone: Pathanamthitta, Angamaly, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Vadakara, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad, Payyanur and Kasaragod.

The centres in IIT Madras zone are: Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Kollam, Alappuzha, Chengannur, Kottayam, Kanjirappally, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Aluva and Ernakulam.

A candidate can mention three centres in each zone as choices in the application.

Stipend
Students joining an MTech course with a GATE score will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 12,400.

Similarly, candidates enrolling for PhD with GATE score along with BTech/MSc will receive Rs 37,000 a month as fellowship during the first two years and Rs 42,000 per month during the subsequent three years.

Who can apply?

• Applicants should fulfil any one of the following criteria to be eligible to appear for GATE 2025:
• Those who have completed or are studying at least in the third year of an undergraduate (UG) programme in engineering, technology, architecture, arts, science, commerce or humanities subjects.
• Third-year students of a four-year BS programme.
• Fifth-semester students of a bachelor degree course in medicine, dental surgery or veterinary science.
• Students in the third year of a bachelor course in engineering, technology, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, pharmacy or architecture.
• Third-year Pharm D students.
• Students in the first year or higher classes of an MA, MSc, MCA, post-BSc or Integrated MTech course.
• Those holding professional memberships which have been declared equivalent to bachelor degree courses by the Central Government also can apply. People holding higher qualifications than the above-mentioned degrees are also eligible.

Exam pattern

• The GATE 2025 exam will feature 30 subject papers, each carrying 100 marks.
• All papers will have common questions on ‘General Aptitude’ for 15 marks.
• Questions for the remaining 85 marks would be on specific subjects.
• In engineering papers, there would be questions on Mathematics for 13 marks and 72 on the subject.
• Mathematics questions will not be asked in 10 papers. Instead, questions for the entire 85 marks will be on the subject.
• The duration of the test is three hours.
• All questions will be of objective-type. There would be multiple-choice, multiple-select and numerical answer questions. Only one correct answer will be present for multiple-choice questions and negative marks will be applied for wrong answers. However, there will be no negative marks for multiple-select and numerical answer questions.
• An applicant can attempt either one or two papers. If two papers are selected, candidates should choose from among the combination of subjects offered. Details regarding the combinations are given on the website.