GATE 2015: Apply from September 1st

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), the all India examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of the candidate in various undergraduate subjects in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture and Post-graduate level subjects in Science will be held as online Test on January 31, 2014, February 1, February 7, February 8 and February 14, 2014. The Online Examination will be held in 2 sessions, with the forenoon session being from 9 am 12 noon and the afternoon session being from 2 pm to 5 pm.

The GATE score of a candidate reflects a relative performance level in a particular subject in the exam across several years and is used for admissions to Post-graduate Programs like M.E., M.Tech, and direct Ph.D in Indian institutes of higher education with financial assistance provided by MHRD and other Government agencies. The score may also be used by Public and Private Sector Undertakings for employment screening purposes.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee) jointly administer the conduct of GATE with IIT Kanpur as the Organizing Institute (OI) FOR 2015. They would be responsible for the end-to-end process and coordination amongst the administering Institutes.

A valid GATE score is essential for obtaining financial assistance during Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering/ Technology/Architecture, and Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Science in Institutes supported by the MHRD or other Government agencies.

GATE has a single paper of 3 hour duration. There will be 65 questions carrying a maximum of 100 marks which includes, apart from the core subject of the paper, 10 questions carrying a maximum of 15 marks, which test the General Aptitude (GA) (Language and Analytical Skills).

Zone-wise List of Cities in which GATE 2015 will be held is given in the Prospectus and at http://gate.iitk.ac.in/GATE2015/# . An applicant can choose two primary choices and one secondary choice while applying. If an applicant chooses a particular city as the first choice, then the corresponding zone to which this city belongs will appear, and the applicant will be able to choose another city as the second choice only from this zone. These choices will be the primary choices in a specific zone. However, a third choice has also been introduced in GATE 2015, which is the applicant’s secondary choice. The list of 3rd choice cities will be as specified by each zone and this will be used only when the cities of primary choice are not available.

Eligibility for applying for GATE is as follows:

 Applicant should satisfy one among the different criteria prescribed.

(i)B.E/B.Tech/ B.Arch/ B.Pharm: Those who are currently in the 4th year or have already completed Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Technology/ Architecture/Pharmacy (Post-Diploma/Post B.Sc./ 4 years after 10+2)

(ii)B.S: Those currently in the 4th year or have already completed Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Post-Diploma/ 4 years after 10+2)

(iii) M. Sc./ M.A./ MCA or equivalent: Those currently in the final year or already completed Master’s degree in any branch of Science/ Mathematics / Statistics / Computer Applications or equivalent

(iv) Int. M.E/ M.Tech (Post-B.Sc.): Currently in the 2nd/3rd/4th year or already completed Post-BSc Integrated Master’s Degree programs in Engineering / Technology (Four year program)

(v) M.Tech or Dual Degree(after Diploma or 10+2) : Those currently in the 4th/5th year or already completed Integrated Master’s Degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering / Technology (Five year program)

(vi)Integrated M.Sc/ Integrated B.S-M.S: Those currently in the final year or already completed Integrated M.Sc. or Five year integrated B.S.-M.S. program

(vii) Professional Society Examinations (equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch.): Those who have completed section A or equivalent of such professional courses like B.E. / B.Tech./B.Arch. equivalent examinations, of Professional Societies, recognized by MHRD/ UPSC/ AICTE (AMIE by Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India)

The Copies of Certificates to be submitted by those who passed in the year 2014 or earlier and by those expected to complete in 2015 or later are given in the Prospectus.  Applicants, who have to submit a certificate from their college Principal, as prescribed in the Prospectus, have to obtain one from his/her institution beforehand and upload the same during the online submission of the application form. Those who have appeared in the final semester/year exam in 2014, but with a backlog (arrears/failed subjects) in any of the papers in their qualifying degree should upload a copy of any one of the mark sheets of the final year or should obtain a declaration from their Principal along with the signature and seal beforehand and upload the same during the online submission of the application form.

The Qualifying Disciplines for Eligibility Degrees in Engineering/Technology Discipline are Aeronautical Engg./ Aerospace Engg; Agricultural Engg; Applied Mechanics; Architecture; Automobile Engg.; Biochemical Engg.; Biomedical Engg.; Biotechnology; Ceramic & Glass Technology; Chemical Engg.; Chemical Technology; Civil/Civil & Environmental/ Structural Engg./ Construction Engg.;Computer Engg.,/Computer Science Engg./ Technology; Control and Instrumentation; Electrical Engg./ Electrical and Electronics Engg./Power Engineering; Electro-Chemical Engg.; Electronics & Comm./Electronics Engg./Comm. Engg. /Telecommunication Engg.; Energy Engg.; Environmental Engg.; Food Technology/Food Processing Engg.; Industrial Engg.; Industrial Management; Information Science/Information Technology/Information and Communication Technology; Instrumentation/ Electronics/Control; Instrumentation & Process Control; Manufacturing Engg.; Material Science and Engineering; Mechanical Engg.; Mechatronics; Medical Instrumentation; Metallurgical Engg./ Industrial Metallurgy; Mineral Engg./Mineral Dressing; Mining Engg./Technology, Mining & Machinery; Naval Architecture/Marine Engg.; Oil Technology; Paint Technology; Petro-Chemical Engg.; Petroleum Engg./Technology; Planning; Plastic Technology; Polymer Technology/Science; Production & Industrial Engg.; Renewable Energy; Rubber Technology; Textile Engineering & Fibre Science and all other disciplines in Engg./Technology.

The qualifying disciplines for Science include Agricultural Science, Applied Electronics, Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Bio-Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Applications, Earth Sciences, Electronics, Engineering Physics, Geology/ Geophysics, Industrial Chemistry, Life Science/Veterinary/Animal Science, Life Sciences, Life Sciences (Botany), Life Sciences (Zoology), Materials Science, Mathematics/Applied Mathematics, Microbiology, Nano Science & Technology, Nuclear Physics, Operations Research, Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacy, Physics, Radio Physics, Radio Physics & Electronics, Statistics, Textile Chemistry and all other disciplines in Sciences.

GATE 2015 will be conducted in 22 different subjects. The subject and the codes are as follows. Aerospace Engineering (Code AE); Agricultural Engineering (AG); Architecture and Planning (AR); Biotechnology (BT); Chemical Engineering (CH); Chemistry (CY); Civil Engineering (CE); Computer Science and Information Technology (CS); Ecology and Evolution (EY); Electrical Engineering (EE); Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC); Engineering Sciences (XE); Geology and Geophysics (GG); Instrumentation Engineering (IN); Life Sciences (XL); Mathematics (MA); Mechanical Engineering (ME); Metallurgical Engineering (MT); Mining Engineering (MN); Physics (PH); Production and Industrial Engineering (PI); Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF).

XE (Engineering Sciences) and XL (Life Sciences) papers are of general nature and will comprise of different sections. The XE paper will have subsections, Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) (Code A), Fluid Mechanics (B), Materials Science (C), Solid Mechanics (D), Thermodynamics (E), Polymer Science and Engineering (F) and Food Technology (G).

The XL Paper has the following sections, namely, Chemistry (Compulsory) (Code H), Biochemistry (I), Botany (J), Microbiology (K), Zoology (L) and Food Technology (M).

Those choosing XE or XL will have to answer the compulsory section mentioned and two other sections in the list. The choice of two sections from B to G for XE and from I to M for XL can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered at a time. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to G or I to M as applicable).

A candidate can appear in only 1 paper. The syllabus for each of the papers is given in the Prospectus. The applicant has to make a choice of the appropriate paper for GATE, while applying. Applicant is expected to appear in a paper appropriate to the discipline of his/her qualifying degree. However, the candidate is, free to choose any paper according to his/her admission plan, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria of the institutions in which he/she wishes to seek admission. Applicants may refer to the websites of that institutes concerned for more details regarding the admission criteria in any particular institute.

The question paper will consist of both multiple choice questions (MCQ) and numerical answer type questions. The pattern of question papers is explained in the Prospectus. The examination for all the papers will be conducted as Online Computer Based Test (CBT). Candidates will be shown the questions in a random sequence on a computer screen. They are required to either select the answer (for MCQ type) or enter the answer for numerical answer type question using a mouse on a virtual keyboard (keyboard of the computer will be disabled). Candidates will be provided with scribble pad for rough work and these have to be returned back after the examination. At the end of the 3-hour window, the computer will automatically close the screen from further actions.

In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.

In the papers bearing the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.

There will be Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to mark the correct answer(s). There will be Numerical Answer Questions of 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. For these questions the answer is a real number, to be entered by the candidate using the virtual keypad. No choices will be shown for this type of questions. More details about the examination are given in the Prospectus.

In all papers, GA questions carry a total of 15 marks. The GA section includes 5 questions carrying 1-mark each and 5 questions carrying 2-marks each. Application can be submitted only online. Application fee for GATE 2015 for male applicants (General/OBC) is Rs. 1500/-. For women applicants of any category, other applicants (General/OBC) and SC / ST / PwD (Person with a Physical Disability) applicants, it would be Rs.750/-.

Payments would have to be made online by selecting either SBI I-collect or Axis Bank I-Connect, or using any bank Debit Card/Credit Card, Net Banking and e-challan facilities only. Additional charges will be applicable as per the rule of the bank from where the money is being transferred.

The major activities related to GATE are carried out through the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS). It is an online interface provided for interaction with the GATE Office. The login to this interface is through the GOAPS Enrolment ID and a GOAPS password. With this interface, an applicant can (i) Apply for the examination online (ii) Upload photograph, signature and other documents like graduation certificate/ certificate from Principal, caste certificate (if applicable) etc (iii) Pay the application fee through net-banking (iv) theck the Status of application form: Received, Under Scrutiny, Accepted, Defect Status, Status after Rectification, Rejected with Valid Reasons, Admit Card Ready for Download, etc. (v) Contact the Zonal GATE Offices in case of any queries/problems (vi) Download Admit Card (vii) View answers, marks and GATE score. Details related to the online application are available in the Prospectus.

GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS) Website will open at 00:00 hrs on 1st September 2014 (Monday). The last date for submission of online application through Website will be 23:59 hrs on 1st October 2014 (Wednesday). The last date for request for change in the choice of city will be 21st November 2014 (Friday). Admit Card will be available on the Online Application Interface for printing from 17th December 2014 (Wednesday). Results will be announced on the Online Application Website at 17:00 hrs on 12th March 2015 (Thursday). 

As per the directives of the MHRD and depending upon the norms adopted by a specific institute or department of the Institute, a candidate may be admitted directly into a course based on his/her performance in GATE only or based on his/her performance in GATE and an admission test/interview conducted by the department to which he/she has applied and/or the candidate’s academic record. If the candidate is to be selected through test/interview for post-graduate programs, a minimum of 70% weightage will be given to the performance in GATE and the remaining 30% weightage will be given to the candidate’s performance in test/interview and/or academic record, as per MHRD guidelines.

The admitting institutes could however prescribe a minimum passing percentage of marks in the test/interview. Some colleges/institutes specify GATE qualification as the mandatory requirement even for admission without MHRD scholarship/assistantship. To avail of the financial assistance (scholarship), the candidate must first secure admission to a program in these Institutes, by a procedure that could vary from institute to institute. Qualification in GATE is also a minimum requirement to apply for various fellowships awarded by many Government organizations. Candidates are advised to seek complete details of admission procedures and availability of MHRD scholarship/assistantship from the concerned admitting institution.

The criteria for postgraduate admission with scholarship/assistantship could be different for different institutions. The management of the post-graduate scholarship/assistantship is also the responsibility of the admitting institution. Similarly, reservation of seats under different categories is as per the policies and norms prevailing at the admitting institution and Government of India rules.

Several public sector undertakings including Indian Oil Corporation Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation, Power Grid India etc; have, in the past, used GATE scores for screening for providing a salaried employment.

The Prospectus for GATE 2015 can be downloaded from http://gate.iitk.ac.in/GATE2015/