The online application window for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2027), organized by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), is entering its final week for regular fee submissions. Candidates aiming for M.Tech admissions, direct Ph.D. recruitment, and public sector undertaking (PSU) engineering officer jobs must complete their registration and fee payment on the official GOAPS portal at gate2027.iitm.ac.in by Sunday, September 27, 2026, to avoid penalty fees.
GATE 2027 Registration Timelines & Official Schedule
Candidates can review the key application and examination schedule released by IIT Madras:
- Organizing Institute: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)
- Official Examination Portal: gate2027.iitm.ac.in
- Closing Date for Regular Registration (Without Late Fee): Sunday, September 27, 2026
- Extended Registration Window (With Late Fee): September 28 to October 5, 2026
- Application Rectification / Correction Window: October 21, 2026
- Admit Card Release Date: Early January 2027
- Computer-Based Examination (CBT) Dates: February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2027
- Announcement of GATE 2027 Results: March 19, 2027
Mandatory DigiLocker Verification Requirement
For GATE 2027, IIT Madras has made identity verification through DigiLocker mandatory for Indian nationals:
- Direct Profile Verification: Candidates must register on the GOAPS portal using their verified DigiLocker account. Personal details including Full Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Father's Name, and verified photo identification are retrieved directly from the national repository.
- Discrepancy Prevention: Information retrieved from DigiLocker must strictly match Class 10/12 secondary certificates. Date of Birth cannot be altered once fetched through DigiLocker.
- Non-DigiLocker Exception: Candidates without DigiLocker access or international applicants must undergo manual physical verification at the exam centre with an original government passport, PAN card, or voter ID.
Registration Fee Breakdown (Regular vs Extended Window)
The fee structure for GATE 2027 varies based on applicant category and application period:
- Female / SC / ST / PwD Candidates:
- Regular Period (till September 27): Rs. 900/- per test paper
- Extended Period (with late fee till October 5): Rs. 1,400/- per test paper
- All Other Candidates (General, OBC-NCL, EWS):
- Regular Period (till September 27): Rs. 1,800/- per test paper
- Extended Period (with late fee till October 5): Rs. 2,300/- per test paper
- Two-Paper Combination Fee: Candidates opting for two test papers must pay twice the respective individual paper fee.
Eligibility Criteria & Two-Paper Combinations
Applicants must satisfy the following academic and subject-combination rules:
- Academic Eligibility: Candidates currently enrolled in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate degree programme in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, or Humanities, or those who have already completed such qualifying degrees, are eligible.
- No Age Bar: There is no age restriction to appear for GATE 2027.
- Permissible Two-Paper Combinations: Candidates can select a primary paper and an optional secondary paper from the pre-approved combination matrix published by IIT Madras (e.g., Computer Science with Data Science & AI; Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace; Civil with Environmental Science).
Step-by-Step Online Registration Guide on GOAPS Portal
Follow these steps to submit your application before the September 27 regular deadline:
- Visit the official GATE 2027 portal at gate2027.iitm.ac.in and click on the 'Apply Online' link.
- Authenticate your candidate identity using DigiLocker to generate your GOAPS Enrollment ID.
- Fill in communication details, qualifying academic degrees, college addresses, and degree roll numbers.
- Select your primary (and optional secondary) test paper and choose three preferred examination cities from the same administrative zone.
- Upload a clear scanned photograph (white background, 5 KB to 200 KB) and signature (black ink, 5 KB to 200 KB).
- Review the completed application preview, pay the online registration fee, and download the confirmation slip.
PSU Recruitment & Postgraduate Fellowship Scope
A valid GATE 2027 scorecard (valid for three years) provides direct entry pathways into premier careers:
- PSU Recruitment Through GATE: Over 40 Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna public sector enterprises—including IOCL, ONGC, NTPC, BPCL, HPCL, BHEL, and Power Grid—recruit Executive Trainees and Assistant Managers based on GATE scores without separate written tests.
- Postgraduate Admissions: Admission to M.Tech, M.S., and Ph.D. programmes across all IITs, IISc Bangalore, and NITs with monthly MoE/MHRD stipends (Rs. 12,400/- for M.Tech; Rs. 37,000/- for Ph.D.).