GATE 2027 Registration Delayed: IIT Madras Says Applications Will Start Soon

Published: Friday, August 28, 2026, 10:59 [IST]

The GATE 2027 registration process has been delayed after the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), the organising institute for the examination, did not activate the application link on August 27, 2026, as previously scheduled. The official GATE 2027 portal has removed the specific registration start date and currently states that online applications will "start soon."

GATE 2027 Registration Postponed — Photo Credits - AI Image

GATE 2027 Registration Delayed as IIT Madras Portal Says Applications Will Start Soon

The delay affects candidates planning to appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027. The application closing date remains September 27, 2026, unless IIT Madras announces any further changes. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor the official GATE 2027 portal for the revised registration schedule and application link.

GATE 2027 Registration Postponed

According to the latest status on the official portal, the GATE 2027 registration process has been temporarily postponed. IIT Madras has not announced a specific reason for the delay or provided a new registration start date so far.

Candidates who were expecting the application window to open on August 27 will therefore have to wait for further instructions. The September 27, 2026 deadline currently remains unchanged.

Candidates should avoid relying on unofficial registration dates and should check the official GATE portal for the latest announcement before submitting their applications.

GATE 2027 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

GATE 2027 will be conducted as a three-hour Computer-Based Test (CBT). The examination paper will be available in English and will contain 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks.

The marks distribution will include:

General Aptitude: 15 marks
Core domain subject: 85 marks
Question types: MCQ, MSQ and NAT
1-mark MCQ: One-third mark negative marking for an incorrect answer
2-mark MCQ: Two-thirds mark negative marking for an incorrect answer
MSQ and NAT: No negative marking

Candidates should carefully understand the marking scheme while preparing their examination strategy.

GATE 2027 New Paper and Syllabus Changes

IIT Madras has introduced Robotics and Automation (RA) as the 30th GATE paper. The new paper provides a dedicated examination option for candidates interested in areas such as robotics, smart systems, automation and mechatronics.

The institute has also announced changes to certain existing papers and syllabi. The Biotechnology (BT) syllabus and subject weightage have been revised.

Structural and formatting changes have also been introduced for papers including:

Engineering Sciences (XE)
Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
Life Sciences (XL)
Textile Engineering (TF)

Candidates should check the latest syllabus and paper-specific information before finalising their preparation plan.

GATE 2027 Two-Paper Combination

Candidates can appear for up to two GATE 2027 papers, subject to the combinations approved by IIT Madras. Those opting for a second paper will have to pay an additional application fee, effectively increasing the applicable fee compared with candidates appearing for a single paper.

The approved combinations include options involving papers such as Computer Science and Information Technology (CS), Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC), Electrical Engineering (EE), Civil Engineering (CE), Robotics and Automation (RA), Physics (PH), Mathematics (MA) and others.

Candidates should select their second paper only from the officially permitted combinations.

GATE 2027 Application: What Candidates Should Do

Since the registration link has not yet been activated, candidates should keep the necessary documents and information ready. Once registration begins, applicants will need to complete the online application through the official GATE portal.

Candidates should:

1. Visit the official GATE 2027 website.

2. Check the latest registration notification.

3. Complete the registration process when the application link becomes active.

4. Enter personal, academic and communication details.

5. Select the appropriate GATE paper or approved two-paper combination.

6. Upload the required documents and photograph.

7. Pay the prescribed application fee.

8. Review all details carefully before submitting the form.

9. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.

The application deadline is currently September 27, 2026.

GATE 2027 Registration Delay: Key Points

The GATE 2027 registration process has not started as per the earlier August 27 schedule. The official portal now indicates that applications will start soon, while the closing date remains September 27.

The introduction of Robotics and Automation as the 30th paper, revisions to selected syllabi and the availability of approved two-paper combinations are among the important updates for GATE 2027 aspirants. Candidates should wait for the official registration link and carefully review the latest application instructions before applying.

IIT Madras is expected to announce the revised registration schedule through the official GATE 2027 portal. Candidates should regularly check the official website for updates rather than relying on unverified dates circulating online.