With the official notification and a updated two-paper combination list released by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, the organizing institute for this edition, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 is expected to undergo significant changes. The announcement has clarified the situation for candidates who want to take several exams and emphasized that the authorized pairings must be followed during the registration procedure. 

IIT Guwahati has made it clear for GATE 2026 that applicants can only select their second paper from a permitted set of pairings related to their main subject paper. Neither during the regular registration window nor during the extended registration period will any changes from this list be allowed. The institute has made it clear that applications will be turned down if a paper is selected from outside the approved list. The change has been made to guarantee impartiality, logistical practicality, and consistency in the way the test is administered. 

The GATE 2026 test will be given entirely in English on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, with two sessions each day. The registration process will begin on the official website at gate2026.iitg.ac.in on August 25, 2025. Before submitting their applications, aspirants have been urged to carefully examine the two-paper combination list. 

According to the revised arrangement, candidates must choose their main paper and then pick the secondary paper from the approved list of possibilities. For instance, individuals applying for Aerospace Engineering (AE) may choose Civil Engineering (CE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), or Engineering Sciences (XE) as their second topic. Likewise, applicants for Computer Science (CS) may choose to combine their main essay with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA), Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC), Geomatics Engineering (GE), Mathematics (MA), Physics (PH), or Statistics (ST). As a further example, candidates for Civil Engineering (CE) may select their second paper from among AE, Agricultural Engineering (AG), Architecture (AR), Environmental Science (ES), Geomatics Engineering (GE), Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM), or XE. 

Even if many fields have been coupled with several alternatives, there are a few courses, like Mining Engineering (MN) and Textile Engineering & Fiber Science (TF), that do not allow for a second-paper combination. Multidisciplinary fields like XE (Engineering Sciences) and XL (Life Sciences), on the other hand, offer a broader range of combinations with a number of fundamental disciplines. Additionally, IIT Guwahati has clarified that additional two-paper combinations may be introduced at a later stage, depending on logistical feasibility and availability of infrastructure. Additionally, if necessary, the institute retains the option to remove any combination from the list; in that case, candidates who have already paid fees for a second paper will be entitled to a complete refund. 

Another thing to remember is that the examination center for the second paper may be different from the one for the main paper, even if both locations are still in the same city, due to administrative and logistical concerns. This arrangement was made to accommodate the demanding schedule of the national-level exam, which draws hundreds of thousands of candidates annually. 

The addition of a new sectional paper on Energy Science under the Engineering Sciences (XE) section is one of the most important academic improvements to GATE 2026. Reflecting the increasing focus on interdisciplinary research and sustainable energy systems in the energy industry, the paper is titled XE-1. The GATE 2026 test will now consist of 30 papers, including sectional choices and complete papers, broadening the range of opportunities for candidates from various scientific and engineering disciplines. 

The two-paper choice has been very popular among candidates in recent years since it gives them the chance to demonstrate their knowledge in many areas and increase their chances of being accepted into graduate programs or finding jobs in public sector enterprises (PSUs). IIT Guwahati hopes to guarantee that the choices reflect logical academic connections between allied subjects by improving and limiting the available combinations, as opposed to arbitrary pairings that could jeopardize the integrity of the exam. 

One of the most difficult exams in the nation is the GATE, which is administered collectively by the IITs and IISc Bengaluru on behalf of the Ministry of Education’s National Coordination Board (NCB), Department of Higher Education. It is acknowledged by a number of PSUs for recruiting purposes and serves as a portal for admission into Master’s and Doctoral programs in top universities. As scientific and technological advancements have occurred throughout the years, the test has changed to incorporate new fields and interdisciplinary topics. 

The new measures, such as the stricter two-paper combination system, the possibility of center bifurcation within cities, and the addition of Energy Science as a sectional paper, are anticipated to make GATE 2026 more organized and in line with modern academic and industry demands, with IIT Guwahati taking the lead this year. The pathway is now clearer for candidates to organize their plan, but they must adhere to the authorized procedures during the application process in order to be considered. 

Candidates are encouraged to keep up with the official site, carefully choose their papers, and get ready for one of the most important academic and career-defining exams in India, as registration begins later this month.