The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has officially released the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 provisional answer key, along with the master question papers and individual response sheets. Aspirants who appeared for the engineering aptitude test across various disciplines can now log in to the GOAPS portal to review their answers, calculate their expected scores, and prepare for the upcoming results announcement on March 19, 2026.
Conducted successfully on February 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th, 2026, the examination spans across 30 distinct papers. Candidates can utilize the direct official login link to access their portal: Click to Download GATE 2026 Answer Key & Response Sheet (Link Active).
GATE 2026 Schedule & Important Timeline
To help candidates stay track of post-exam milestones, here is the official schedule detailing answer key releases, objections, and final result declarations:
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th February 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Released | 22nd February 2026 |
| Raise Objection Dates | To be notified |
| Final Answer Key | Expected in early March 2026 |
| Result Release Date | 19th March 2026 |
| Scorecard release for candidates | 27th March 2026 |
How to Download the GATE 2026 Answer Key?
Candidates can seamlessly retrieve their provisional answer keys by following these straightforward steps:
- Visit the official GATE 2026 website at www.gate2026.iitr.ac.in
- Click on the “Answer Key” link available on the homepage
- Log in using your GATE 2026 enrollment ID and password
- Select your paper/subject from the dropdown menu, and the provisional answer key is displayed on the screen
- Download or save the PDF for future reference.
How to Raise an Objection for GATE Answer Key 2026
If candidates identify any discrepancy in the provisional answer keys, they have the facility to challenge them online:
- Log in to the official GATE portal
- Navigate to the “Answer Key Challenge” section
- Select the question they wish to challenge
- Upload supporting documents or references, if applicable
- Pay the applicable fee per challenge (usually non-refundable unless the objection is accepted).
Subjects Covered in GATE 2026
The examination was administered across a total of 30 specialized papers. Here is the complete list of subjects covered:
- AE
- AG
- AR
- BM
- BT
- CE
- CH
- CS
- CY
- DA
- EC
- EE
- ES
- EY
- GE
- GG
- IN
- MA
- ME
- MN
- MT
- NM
- PE
- PH
- PI
- ST
- TF
- XE
- XH
- XL
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
Understanding the marking scheme is critical for accurately calculating your prospective scores using the response sheet. Each paper consists of 65 questions (including 10 General Aptitude questions) spanning a duration of 3 hours.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks |
| Negative Marking (MCQ) | 1-mark MCQ- 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer 2-mark MCQ- 2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer |
| Negative Marking (MSQ & NAT) | No negative marking for MSQ and NAT questions |
| Partial Marking | No partial marking is given for any question |
Top Institutes Accepting GATE Scores
A valid GATE scorecard (which remains valid for three years for higher education and PSU recruitment) opens doors to premier institutes across India. For additional resources regarding results, check out GATE Score Card 2026 Out – Click to Check.
| NIRF Ranking | Name of Institutes |
|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Madras |
| 2 | IIT Delhi |
| 3 | IIT Bombay |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur |
| 6 | IIT Roorkee |
| 7 | IIT Guwahati |
| 8 | IIT Hyderabad |
| 9 | NIT Trichy |
| 10 | IIT Indore |
| 11 | IIT BHU(Varanasi) |
| 11 | ISM Dhanbad |
| 12 | NIT Karnataka |
| 13 | Anna University |
| 14 | NIT Rourkela |
| 15 | Jadavpur University |
| 16 | ICT (Institute of Chemical Technology) |
| 17 | NIT Warangal |
| 18 | IIT Bhubaneswar |
| 19 | IIT Gandhinagar |
| 20 | IIT Patna |
| 21 | IIT Mandi |
| 22 | Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology |
What's Next After Checking the GATE Answer Key?
Once candidates calculate their expected marks using the provisional answer key, they should keep track of the objection window dates to challenge ambiguous or incorrect answers. Following the review of objections, IIT Guwahati will release the final answer key in early March 2026, leading up to the official result declaration on March 19, 2026, and the official scorecard availability on March 27, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Recommended Reads
- GATE 2026 Answer Key Released by IIT Guwahati: Check Response Sheets and Challenge Objections
- GATE 2026 Exam Dates, Pattern, Syllabus & Important Guidelines
- GATE 2026 Final Answer Key Released: Calculate Your Scores Now
- GATE 2022 Admit Card: Rescheduled Release Date & Download Instructions
- GATE 2026: Official Registration, Exam Dates, and Complete Application Guide
- GATE 2026 Results & Scorecards Released by IIT Guwahati: Check Cutoffs & Counselling
Negative Marking & Net Score Calculator
Calculate your exact post-answer-key net marks after deducting 1/3rd or 1/4th negative penalty across SSC, UPSC, and State exams.
Never miss another exam update!
Get the fastest exam results, recruitment news, and educational guides delivered directly to your phone.