GATE 2026 Question Paper & 2- Paper Combination

GATE 2026 Question Paper and 2 Paper Combination: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 was conducted by IIT Guwahati as the Organizing Institute. The examination was held on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026 in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The official GATE 2026 Master Question Papers and Answer Keys have also been released, allowing candidates to check the questions, answer keys and marking scheme for the respective test papers.

The GATE 2026 question paper carries a maximum of 100 marks and includes General Aptitude (GA) along with questions from the candidate’s selected subject. Candidates could appear for one or two GATE papers, but those choosing two papers were required to select the second paper only from the officially approved GATE 2026 two-paper combinations.

For students searching for GATE 2026 question paper PDF, GATE 2026 answer key, GATE 2026 exam pattern, GATE 2026 two paper combination, and GATE 2026 paper codes, the complete details are given below.

GATE 2026 Question Paper Highlights

Particular	Details
Examination	Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026
Organizing Institute	IIT Guwahati
Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Language	English
Total Test Papers	30
Duration	3 hours
Total Marks	100 marks
Question Types	MCQ, MSQ and NAT
General Aptitude	15 marks
Subject Component	Generally 85 marks
Maximum Questions	Generally 65 questions
Number of Papers a Candidate Can Attempt	One or Two
GATE 2026 Exam Dates	February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026
Result Date	March 19, 2026
Master Question Papers & Answer Keys	Released March 18, 2026

The official GATE website confirms that the examination contains 10 General Aptitude questions and 55 subject questions, making 65 questions in the standard paper pattern. However, the detailed distribution varies for certain papers and sectional papers.

GATE 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
GOAPS Registration Started	August 28, 2025
Regular Registration Deadline	October 7, 2025
Extended Registration Deadline with Late Fee	October 13, 2025
Application Rectification	October 28 – November 10, 2025
Admit Card Released	January 13, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam – Day 1	February 7, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam – Day 2	February 8, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam – Day 3	February 14, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam – Day 4	February 15, 2026
Candidate Response / Master Paper / Answer Key	February 22, 2026
Answer Key Challenge Window	February 25–28, 2026
Master Question Papers & Answer Keys Released	March 18, 2026
GATE 2026 Result	March 19, 2026
GATE 2026 Score Card Released	March 27, 2026

GATE 2026 Question Paper Pattern

The GATE 2026 exam pattern consists of three types of objective questions:

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)
• Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

The examination tests abilities including recall, comprehension, application, analysis and synthesis.

1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

In an MCQ, candidates are provided with multiple options and only one option is correct.

Negative marking is applicable to MCQs.

• For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark is deducted for an incorrect answer.
• For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark is deducted for an incorrect answer.

2. Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

In MSQs, one or more options may be correct. Candidates must select all the correct options to receive full marks.

There is no negative marking for MSQs.

The official instructions also state that there is no partial marking for MSQ questions.

3. Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

In NAT questions, candidates have to enter the numerical answer using the virtual keypad provided on the computer screen.

There is no negative marking for NAT questions. The answer must fall within the acceptable range specified in the official answer key to receive full marks.

GATE 2026 Marking Scheme

For most GATE papers, the question paper contains 100 marks, with 15 marks allocated to General Aptitude and the remaining marks allocated to the subject component. Some papers have specific sectional distributions.

Question Type	Marks	Negative Marking
1-mark MCQ	1	1/3 mark
2-mark MCQ	2	2/3 mark
1-mark MSQ	1	No negative marking
2-mark MSQ	2	No negative marking
1-mark NAT	1	No negative marking
2-mark NAT	2	No negative marking

Important: There is no partial marking for any question in GATE 2026.

GATE 2026 General Aptitude and Subject Marks

For most conventional engineering and science papers, the paper consists of:

• General Aptitude – 15 marks
• Engineering Mathematics – 13 marks, where applicable
• Subject Questions – 72 marks
• Total – 100 marks

For papers such as AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL, the official distribution is 15 marks for General Aptitude and 85 marks for subject questions.

Some papers have their own sectional arrangements. For example:

• AR: Part A is compulsory and candidates choose between Architecture and Planning sections.
• GE: Part A is compulsory with Surveying and Mapping or Image Processing and Analysis.
• GG: Candidates select Geology or Geophysics.
• XE: Engineering Mathematics is compulsory and candidates choose any two optional sections.
• XH: Reasoning and Comprehension is compulsory and candidates select one optional section.
• XL: Chemistry is compulsory and candidates select any two optional sections.

GATE 2026 Master Question Paper and Answer Key

The GATE 2026 Master Question Papers and Answer Keys were officially released on March 18, 2026. The official portal provides question papers and answer keys for the various GATE 2026 test papers.

The available papers include:

• AE – Aerospace Engineering
• AG – Agricultural Engineering
• AR – Architecture and Planning
• BM – Biomedical Engineering
• BT – Biotechnology
• CE – Civil Engineering
• CH – Chemical Engineering
• CS – Computer Science and Information Technology
• CY – Chemistry
• DA – Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
• EC – Electronics and Communication Engineering
• EE – Electrical Engineering
• ES – Environmental Science and Engineering
• EY – Ecology and Evolution
• GE – Geomatics Engineering
• GG – Geology and Geophysics
• IN – Instrumentation Engineering
• MA – Mathematics
• ME – Mechanical Engineering
• MN – Mining Engineering
• MT – Metallurgical Engineering
• NM – Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
• PE – Petroleum Engineering
• PH – Physics
• PI – Production and Industrial Engineering
• ST – Statistics
• TF – Textile Engineering and Fibre Science
• XE – Engineering Sciences
• XH – Humanities and Social Sciences
• XL – Life Sciences

Candidates should note that the Master Question Paper may not display the questions in exactly the same order as they appeared on the candidate’s computer screen. The official website advises candidates to use the Master Question Paper and its associated Answer Key together when checking responses.

GATE 2026 Question Paper PDF and Answer Key: Candidates can access the official papers through the GATE 2026 Master Question Papers and Answer Keys page.

GATE 2026 Two Paper Combination: Important Rules

One of the major features of GATE 2026 is the option to appear for two test papers.

Candidates could choose:

• One GATE paper, or
• Two GATE papers

However, candidates cannot select any two papers randomly. The second paper must be selected from the officially approved two-paper combination list issued by IIT Guwahati.

Candidates choosing two papers had to include both papers in the same application. The official information brochure also states that candidates should submit only one application form.

GATE 2026 Two Paper Combination List

The complete official combinations are given below:

Primary Paper	Allowed Secondary Paper(s)
AE	CE, ME, XE
AG	CE
AR	CE, GE
BM	BT, IN
BT	BM, XL
CE	AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE
CH	ES, PE, XE
CS	DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, ST
CY	XE, XL
DA	CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, ST, XE
EC	CS, DA, EE, IN, PH
EE	DA, EC, IN, PH
ES	CE, CH, GE
EY	XL
GE	AR, CE, CS, ES, GG
GG	GE
IN	BM, EC, EE, ME
MA	CS, DA, PH, ST
ME	AE, DA, IN, NM, PI, XE
MN	No secondary paper
MT	XE
NM	CE, ME
PE	CH
PH	CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE
PI	ME, XE
ST	CS, DA, MA, XH
TF	No secondary paper
XE	AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, PI
XH	ST
XL	BT, CY, EY

These combinations are taken from the official GATE 2026 Information Brochure, Table 4.

Important GATE 2026 Two-Paper Combinations

Some of the combinations likely to be particularly relevant to candidates include:

Computer Science (CS):

• CS + DA
• CS + EC
• CS + GE
• CS + MA
• CS + PH
• CS + ST

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA):

• DA + CS
• DA + EC
• DA + EE
• DA + MA
• DA + ME
• DA + PH
• DA + ST
• DA + XE

Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC):

• EC + CS
• EC + DA
• EC + EE
• EC + IN
• EC + PH

Electrical Engineering (EE):

• EE + DA
• EE + EC
• EE + IN
• EE + PH

Mechanical Engineering (ME):

• ME + AE
• ME + DA
• ME + IN
• ME + NM
• ME + PI
• ME + XE

Civil Engineering (CE):

• CE + AE
• CE + AG
• CE + AR
• CE + ES
• CE + GE
• CE + NM
• CE + XE

Engineering Sciences (XE):

• XE + AE
• XE + CE
• XE + CH
• XE + CY
• XE + DA
• XE + ME
• XE + MT
• XE + PH
• XE + PI

Important: The two-paper combination must be one of the combinations officially approved by GATE 2026. Candidates should not rely on unofficial combination lists when making their paper choice.

GATE 2026 Two Paper Combination: Fee

Candidates opting for two papers were required to pay twice the application fee applicable for one paper. The official brochure clearly states that the fee for two papers is twice the fee for a single paper.

For reference, the application fee per paper was:

Candidate Category	Regular Period	Extended Period
Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates	₹1,000	₹1,500
Other candidates	₹2,000	₹2,500

Therefore, candidates choosing two papers paid the applicable fee for each paper.

How to Check the Official Paper and Answer Key

Step 1: Visit the Official GATE 2026 Website

First, candidates should visit the official GATE 2026 website. It is recommended to use the official portal rather than relying on unofficial websites or third-party PDFs.

Once on the homepage, candidates should look for the section related to Question Papers, Master Question Papers or Answer Keys.

Step 2: Open the “Master Question Papers and Answer Keys” Section

After entering the official website, locate and click on the “Master Question Papers and Answer Keys” section.

This section contains the official examination materials released for the different GATE 2026 paper codes.

Candidates should make sure they are accessing the GATE 2026 documents and not question papers or answer keys from previous years.

Step 3: Select the Required GATE Paper Code

GATE 2026 offers multiple test papers covering different engineering, science, humanities and interdisciplinary disciplines.

Candidates should identify their correct paper code before downloading the documents.

For example, candidates should select the paper corresponding to the subject they appeared for rather than downloading a question paper for another discipline.

Important: Check the paper code carefully because the question paper and answer key are specific to each GATE paper.

Step 4: Download the GATE 2026 Master Question Paper PDF

After selecting the required paper, candidates can access the corresponding Master Question Paper PDF.

Click on the download option to save the PDF to your device.

The master question paper contains the questions used for the respective GATE examination paper. Candidates can use it to:

• Review the questions asked in GATE 2026
• Check individual questions and options
• Identify questions they attempted
• Analyse questions they left unanswered
• Review difficult and time-consuming questions
• Prepare for future entrance examinations

The master question paper is particularly useful for candidates who want to conduct a detailed post-exam analysis.

Step 5: Download the GATE 2026 Answer Key PDF

Candidates should then download the official GATE 2026 Answer Key corresponding to the same paper code.

The answer key contains the officially released answers for the questions in the respective paper.

Make sure that the question paper and answer key belong to the same paper code before beginning the analysis.

Step 6: Compare Your Responses with the Answer Key

After downloading both PDFs, candidates can compare their recorded answers with the official answer key.

Candidates should make a simple record of:

• Correct answers
• Incorrect answers
• Unattempted questions
• Questions carrying different marks
• Questions where the candidate is unsure about the response

This comparison can help candidates estimate their probable GATE 2026 score based on the applicable marking scheme.

Step 7: Analyse Your GATE 2026 Performance

After checking the answers, candidates should analyse their performance subject-wise or topic-wise.

For example, candidates can divide their incorrect answers into categories such as:

Conceptual mistakes: Questions where the underlying concept was not understood correctly.

Calculation mistakes: Questions where the candidate knew the concept but made an arithmetic or calculation error.

Time-management mistakes: Questions that were left unanswered because of insufficient examination time.

Question interpretation mistakes: Questions where the candidate misunderstood what was being asked.

This analysis can help candidates identify their strong and weak areas.

Step 8: Calculate Your Probable Score

Candidates can use the official GATE 2026 marking scheme to calculate an estimated score.

However, candidates should remember that the estimated score based on the answer key is not the final GATE score. The final result and score are determined by the official examination authorities after applying the applicable evaluation and, where relevant, normalisation procedures.

Therefore, candidates should treat their calculated marks only as an initial estimate until the official result is announced.

Why Should Candidates Download the Master Question Paper?

The GATE 2026 Master Question Paper is useful for more than just checking answers. Candidates can use it to understand the actual difficulty level of the examination and identify frequently tested concepts.

It can also help future GATE aspirants understand:

• Question difficulty
• Subject-wise question distribution
• Important concepts
• Numerical and conceptual question types
• Time-consuming sections
• Repeated concepts and topics

Candidates preparing for the next GATE examination can therefore use the 2026 master paper as an important practice and analysis resource.

The official answer key page provides papers and keys for the GATE 2026 test papers.

GATE 2026 Question Paper: What Candidates Should Check

While analysing the GATE 2026 question paper, candidates should pay attention to:

• General Aptitude questions
• Engineering Mathematics, wherever applicable
• Core subject questions
• MCQ, MSQ and NAT distribution
• 1-mark and 2-mark questions
• Negative marking applicable to MCQs
• Questions carrying no negative marking
• Difficulty level of individual sections
• Topics with repeated conceptual importance

The Master Question Paper is particularly useful for candidates preparing for future GATE examinations because it provides the actual questions asked in GATE 2026.

GATE 2026 Score Validity and Opportunities

The GATE 2026 score remains valid for three years from the date of announcement of results. Qualified candidates may use their GATE scores for admission to relevant Master’s and doctoral programmes, subject to the admission rules of the respective institution.

GATE scores are also used by several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in their recruitment processes. However, qualifying GATE does not guarantee admission, scholarship or PSU employment. Final selection depends on the individual institute or recruiting organisation’s rules.

GATE 2026 New Feature: Energy Science in XE

A notable change in GATE 2026 was the introduction of Energy Science (XE-I) as a new sectional option under Engineering Sciences (XE). Candidates appearing for XE have Engineering Mathematics as the compulsory section and must select any two additional sections.

The optional XE sections include:

• Fluid Mechanics
• Materials Science
• Solid Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Polymer Science and Engineering
• Food Technology
• Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• Energy Science

This makes GATE XE 2026 particularly relevant for candidates interested in interdisciplinary engineering and energy-related areas.

Conclusion

The GATE 2026 Master Question Papers and Answer Keys provide candidates with an important opportunity to review their examination performance and understand the questions asked in their respective papers. By downloading the correct Master Question Paper PDF and matching it with the official Answer Key, candidates can check their responses and estimate their probable marks.

Candidates should carefully follow the GATE 2026 marking scheme while calculating their expected score and remember that the estimated marks may differ from the final result. The master papers can also be useful for analysing subject-wise performance, identifying weak areas and improving preparation for future GATE examinations.

Aspirants are advised to rely on the official GATE 2026 website for authentic question papers, answer keys, results and other examination-related updates.