List of documents, dress-code, prohibited items and other instructions

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati will begin the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 on February 7, continuing through February 8, 14, and 15. The national-level examination will be conducted in two shifts each day, covering a range of engineering, science, and architecture disciplines.

GATE 2026 Exam Schedule

Each GATE 2026 paper will be three hours in duration. IIT Guwahati plans to release the results on March 19.

GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines

Candidates are required to download and verify their GATE 2026 admit card in advance and adhere to all instructions provided by the conducting institute. Reporting to the exam center should be done at least 90 minutes before the scheduled start time. Candidates will not be permitted to log in 30 minutes after the examination begins.

GATE 2026 Dress Code

Male candidates are advised to wear simple, light, and comfortable clothing, avoiding items with large buttons, metal zips, badges, or excessive pockets. Belts, watches, rings, bracelets, goggles, and metallic accessories are prohibited. Open footwear, such as sandals or flip-flops, is required; shoes are not allowed. Head coverings are prohibited unless required for religious reasons, subject to security checks.

Female candidates should wear casual, comfortable attire without metal components, avoiding clothing with brooches, metallic embroidery, or heavy embellishments. Accessories, including jewelry, watches, stoles, belts, bangles, and hair accessories with metal parts, are not permitted. Shoes are also prohibited for female candidates, and sandals or flip-flops are recommended. Any head coverings or additional garments may be subject to thorough checking.

Important Candidate Instructions

Candidates should use the 20-minute reading period to carefully review all instructions. Rough sheets, blank paper, or any written material are not allowed. Scribble pads will be provided for rough work and must be returned after the exam, with the candidate’s name and registration number written on them. Candidates are encouraged to use the “View All Questions” option to plan their attempt strategy and save each answer after completion. Questions can be marked for review for later revisiting.