In 2026, GATE registrations crossed 10 lakh — 10,11,719, according to the official GATE 2026 report — the biggest crowd the exam has seen in the years we could verify. But the headline hides the real story: where the crowd is going, and what the cut-off really measures.
1. The crowd keeps growing
The official reports give 9,36,019 registrations for GATE 2025 and 10,11,719 for GATE 2026 — a rise of about 8% in one year. Of those, 7,47,319 appeared in 2025 and 7,97,434 in 2026.
GATE registrations (lakh)
2025 and 2026: official statistical reports. *2024 as reported in published summaries; not checked against the PDF.
One number is steady: about 79–80% of those who register actually appear (79.8% in 2025, 78.8% in 2026). Roughly one in five drops out before exam day.
2. Computer Science isn’t just leading — it’s dominating
CS/IT is the single largest paper by a wide margin. In 2026, about 2.11 lakh candidates appeared in CS — more than double the next-largest paper, Electronics.
Candidates who appeared, by paper — GATE 2026
Official GATE 2026 report, in thousands.
The pattern across the two official reports is clear: CS, Electronics and Data Science grew (CS registrations rose about 25% from 2025 to 2026), while Civil, Mechanical and Electrical stayed flat or slipped. The centre of gravity has moved to computing.
3. The cut-off tells you about the paper, not the competition
Students often fixate on “last year’s cut-off.” But the General-category qualifying mark is the larger of 25 or the paper’s average plus standard deviation. In 2026, CS had an average of 18.51 and a standard deviation of 11.58, which gives about 30.1; the official cut-off was 30.0.
General-category qualifying marks
Marks out of 100. Official GATE 2025 and 2026 reports.
Mechanical’s cut-off fell by about ten marks in a single year, while CS barely moved. The cut-off reflects the paper, not the competition. Don’t plan around one number; prepare to clear the band comfortably. For the full paper-wise numbers, see our GATE 2026 official data analysis.
4. “Qualifying” is the easy part
In 2025, of 7,47,319 who appeared, 1,41,802 qualified — about 1 in 5 (18.97%). That sounds encouraging until you remember that qualifying is only the entry ticket.
What this means if you’re targeting 2027
- Expect a bigger crowd, not a smaller one. 10 lakh+ is the new normal — plan for the top ranks, not just the cut-off.
- CS is the most crowded arena. More takers means more pressure on rank. Depth beats cramming.
- Watch Data Science & AI. If it fits your background, DA is newer, growing, and has fewer takers than CS.
- Don’t prep for one cut-off. It moves with the paper. Aim well above the band.
FAQ
How many people take GATE each year?
10,11,719 registered for GATE 2026 and 9,36,019 for GATE 2025, per the official reports. About 79–80% of those who register actually appear.
Which is the most popular GATE paper?
Computer Science (CS/IT) by a wide margin — about 2.11 lakh candidates appeared in 2026, more than double Electronics.
How is the GATE qualifying mark decided?
For the General category it is the larger of 25 and the paper’s average plus standard deviation, so it differs by paper and year.
Is Data Science & AI (DA) worth choosing?
It’s new (from 2024) and growing fast, with about 69,000 candidates appearing in 2026, but still far smaller than CS. If your background fits, it can be a smart, forward-looking pick.
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