The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has announced key details for the GATE 2027 exam, including the schedule, a revised syllabus, and a new test paper on Robotics and Automation (RA). The examination will be conducted over six days in February 2027, with the online application portal expected to open in mid-August 2026.
GATE 2027 Exam Dates and Registration
According to the institute, GATE 2027 will be held as a computer-based test spread across six days in February 2027. Candidates can expect the application process to begin in mid-August 2026 through the GOAPS portal, following the usual pattern of registration, admit card release, exam, and result declaration. IIT Madras is the organising institute this year, as GATE rotates among the IITs and IISc Bangalore.
New Robotics and Automation Paper Introduced
A new test paper on Robotics and Automation has been added to GATE 2027, taking the total number of test papers to 30. This addition reflects the growing academic and industry focus on robotics and automation as a distinct engineering discipline, alongside existing papers in core and emerging fields such as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Syllabus Revised After Five Years
IIT Madras has revised the syllabus across various papers for the first time in five years, aligning the exam content with recent developments in engineering, science, and allied disciplines. The revision is aimed at keeping GATE relevant to current academic and industry requirements. Changes have also been made to the paper codes under the XE, XH, and XL sectional papers, along with updates to the Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) paper.
Registration Security and Score Validity
To strengthen the registration process, IIT Madras has announced that online applications will be integrated with DigiLocker and facial authentication. Candidates are encouraged to use these features for smoother verification and hassle-free entry into examination centres. As before, the GATE score will remain valid for three years from the date of result declaration.
