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GATE 2026 Exam Date Announced – Complete Schedule, Syllabus, and Key Details » GATE Syllabus for Data Science
exclusive batch for ds ai gate

GATE Syllabus for Data Science

Table of Content
  •  

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level entrance exam for postgraduate engineering programs in India. A new paper on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) has been introduced in GATE 2026. This is a welcome move that reflects the growing importance of these fields. It will also help to prepare for careers in data science and artificial intelligence, which are some of the most in-demand careers of the 21st century.

Table of Contents:

  1. GATE DA Syllabus 2026
  2. QUESTION PAPER PATTERN for GATE DS and AI syllabus 2026
  3. Paper code for GATE Data Science and AI syllabus
  4. PSUs Cut- Off for GATE DS and AI syllabus 2026
  5. IITs MTech Cut-Off for GATE DS and AI syllabus 2026
  6. GATE 2025 Cut-off marks
  7. GATE 2026 TWO-PAPER COMBINATIONS

GATE DA Syllabus 2026

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for GATE DA Syllabus 2026

Probability and Statistics for GATE DA syllabus

  • Counting (permutation and combinations) 
  • Probability axioms
  • Sample space 
  • Events 
  • Independent events 
  • Mutually exclusive events, 
  • Marginal, conditional and joint probability 
  • Bayes Theorem 
  • Conditional expectation and variance, 
  • Mean, median, mode and standard deviation 
  • Correlation, and covariance 
  • Random variables 
  • Discrete random variables and probability mass functions,
  • Uniform, Bernoulli, binomial distribution 
  • Continuous random variables and probability distribution function, uniform, exponential, Poisson, normal, standard normal, t-distribution, chi-squared distributions, cumulative distribution function, 
  • Conditional PDF, Central limit theorem, confidence interval, z-test, t-test, chi-squared test.

Linear Algebra for GATE exam for GATE DA syllabus

  • Vector space, subspaces 
  • Linear dependence and independence of vectors 
  • Matrices, projection matrix, orthogonal matrix, idempotent matrix, partition matrix and their properties, 
  • Quadratic forms, systems of linear equations and solutions;
    • Gaussian elimination 
    • Eigenvalues and eigenvectors 
    • Determinant 
    • Rank 
    • Nullity 
    • Projections 
    • LU decomposition
    • Singular value decomposition.

Calculus and Optimization for GATE DA syllabus

  • Functions of a single variable, 
  • Limit 
  • Continuity and differentiability 
  • Taylor series 
  • Maxima and minima 
  • Optimization involving a single variable.

Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms for GATE DA syllabus

  • Programming in Python 
  • Basic data structures: 
    • Stacks 
    • Queues Linked lists 
    • Trees 
    • Hash tables 
  • Search algorithms: 
    • Linear search and binary search, 
  • Basic sorting algorithms: 
    • Selection sort 
    • Bubble sort 
    • Insertion sort 
  • Divide and conquer: 
    • Mergesort 
    • Quicksort 
  • Introduction to graph theory 
  • Basic graph algorithms: traversals and shortest path.

Database Management and Warehousing for GATE DA syllabus

  • ER-model, 
  • Relational model: 
    • Relational algebra 
    • Tuple calculus 
  • SQL 
  • Integrity constraints 
  • Normal form 
  • File organization 
  • Indexing
  • Data types 
  • Data transformation such as normalization, discretization, sampling, compression 
  • Data warehouse modelling: schema for multidimensional data models, concept hierarchies, 
  • Measures: categorization and computations.

Machine Learning for GATE DA syllabus

  • Supervised Learning: 
    • Regression and classification problems, 
    • Simple linear regression, 
    • Multiple linear regression, 
    • Ridge regression, 
    • Logistic regression 
    • K-nearest neighbour, 
    • Naive Bayes classifier
    • Linear discriminant analysis, 
    • Support vector machine 
    • Decision trees, 
    • Bias-variance trade-off 
    • Cross-validation methods such as leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation, 
    • K-folds cross-validation, 
    • Multi-layer perceptron, feed-forward neural network
  • Unsupervised Learning: 
    • Clustering algorithms
    • K-means/k-medoid 
    • Hierarchical clustering 
    • Top-down 
    • Bottom-up: 
      • Single-linkage 
      • Multiple-linkage 
    • Dimensionality reduction, 
    • Principal component analysis.

AI for GATE DA syllabus

  • Search: 
    • Informed 
    • Uninformed 
    • Adversarial 
  • Logic 
  • Propositional 
  • Predicate 
  • Reasoning under uncertainty topics — 
    • Conditional independence representation 
    • Exact inference through variable elimination
    • Approximate inference through sampling.

QUESTION PAPER PATTERN for GATE DS and AI syllabus 2026

Particulars

Details

Mode of Examination

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Language of examination

English

Duration

3 Hours*

Number of papers (Subjects)

30 test papers

Sections

General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subject(s)

Type of Questions

(a) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ)

(b) Multiple Select Question (MSQ)

(c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT)

Testing of abilities

(a) Recall

(b) Comprehension

(c) Application

(d) Analysis & Synthesis

Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL

General Aptitude: 15 marks

Engineering Mathematics**: 13 marks

Subject Questions: 72 marks

Total: 100 marks

(**XE includes Engineering Mathematics section XE-A of 15 marks)

Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL

General Aptitude: 15 marks

Subject Questions: 85 marks

Total: 100 marks

Marking Scheme

Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks

Negative Marking

For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative marking.

For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

There is no negative marking for wrong answer(s) to MSQ or NAT questions.

There is no partial marking in MSQ.

Paper code for GATE Data Science and AI syllabus

Paper Code

General Aptitude (GA) Marks

Subject: Compulsory Section

Subject: Optional Section(s)

Total Marks

Total Time* (Minutes)

AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF; Subject marks in these papers include questions on Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper-specific.

15

85

--

100

180

CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST

15

85

--

100

180

AR: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 - Architecture or B2 - Planning

15

60

25

100

180

GE: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 can be selected during the exam. B1 - Surveying and Mapping or B2 - Image Processing and Analysis

15

55

30

100

180

GG: Part A is Common and Compulsory. Part B1/B2 must be chosen at the time of application. B1 - Geology or B2 - Geophysics

15

25

60

100

180

XE: Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam.

15

15

2 x 35

100

180

XH: Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any ONE of the other sections at the time of application.

15

25

60

100

180

XL: Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory. Applicants must select any TWO of the other sections during the exam.

15

25

2 x 30

100

180

PSUs Cut- Off for GATE DS and AI syllabus 2026

Banch / Discipline

Recommended Safe Score (General Category)

Top PSUs / Opportunities

GATE DS and AI syllabus Computer Science (CS)

850 – 880

IOCL, ONGC, HPCL, BARC

Electronics & Communication (EC)

820 – 850

BHEL, NTPC, DRDO, BEL

Electrical Engineering (EE)

800 – 850

Power Grid, NTPC, IOCL

Mechanical Engineering (ME)

780 – 820

ONGC, IOCL, GAIL, BHEL

Civil Engineering (CE)

750 – 800

NBCC, EIL, SAIL, NHAI

Instrumentation Engineering (IN)

760 – 800

HPCL, GAIL, BARC

Chemical Engineering (CH)

720 – 760

IOCL, GAIL, HPCL

Metallurgical Engineering (MT)

700 – 740

SAIL, BHEL, RINL

Production / Industrial (PI)

720 – 750

BHEL, IOCL

Environmental Engineering (ES)

700 – 740

NPCIL, EIL, GAIL

IITs MTech Cut-Off for GATE DS and AI syllabus 2026

Approximate GATE Score Ranges (General Category):

Branch

Top IITs

Newer IITs

Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) / Data Science / Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning:

750 - 850+ (Can go even higher for highly sought-after specializations at IITB, IITD, IISc)

650 - 750+

Electrical Engineering (EE) / Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) / VLSI / Power Electronics / Instrumentation:

700 - 800+

600 - 700+

Mechanical Engineering (ME) / Thermal Engineering / Design Engineering / Manufacturing:

680 - 780+

580 - 680+

Civil Engineering (CE) / Structural Engineering / Transportation Engineering / Environmental Engineering / Geotechnical Engineering:

650 - 750+

550 - 650+

Chemical Engineering (CH):

600 - 700+

500 - 600+

GATE 2025 Cut-off marks

2025

 

QUALIFYING MARKS

TOPPERS MARKS

GEN

OBC

SC/ST/PH

RANK

MARKS

SCORE

CE

29.2

26.2

19.4

1

89.02

1000

ME

35.8

32.2

23.8

1

95.33

1000

EE

25

22.5

16.6

1

81.67

1000

EC

25

22.5

16.6

1

82.67

1000

CS

29.2

26.2

19.4

1

100

1000

DA

29

26.1

19.3

1

96.33

1000

CH

27.7

24.9

18.4

1

75.33

1000

GATE 2026 TWO-PAPER COMBINATIONS

Table 1 gives the codes of test papers allowed as the second paper for the candidate’s choice of the first paper.

Code of the First Paper

Code of the Second Paper

Code of the First Paper

Code of the Second Paper

AE

CE, ME, XE

GG

GE

AG

CE

IN

BM, EC, EE, ME

AR

CE, GE

MA

CS, DA, PH, ST

BM

BT, IN

ME

AE, DA, IN, NM, PI, XE

BT

BM, XL

MN

-

CE

AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE

MT

XE

CH

ES, PE, XE

NM

CE, ME

CS

DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, ST

PE

CH

CY

XE, XL

PH

CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE

DA

CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, ST, XE

PI

ME, XE

EC

CS, DA, EE, IN, PH

ST

CS, DA, MA, XH

EE

DA, EC, IN, PH

TF

-

ES

CE, CH, GE

XE

AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, PI

EY

XL

XH

ST

GE

AR, CE, CS, ES, GG

XL

BT, CY, EY

GATE Data science and AI syllabus - Important Books

SR.

Subject

Book Name with Authors/Publishers

1

GATE data science syllabus for Probability and Statistics

Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists" by Sheldon M. Ross

2

GATE DA syllabus for Linear Algebra

Introduction to Linear Algebra (Gilbert Strang)

3

GATE data science syllabus for Calculus and Optimization

Mathematics for Machine Learning" by Marc Peter Deisenroth, A. Aldo Faisal, and Cheng Soon Ong

4

GATE DA syllabus for Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms

Data Structures and Algorithms in Python" by Michael T. Goodrich, Roberto Tamassia, and Michael H. Goldwasser

5

GATE DA syllabus for Database Management and Warehousing

Database System Concepts" by Abraham Silberschatz, Henry F. Korth, and S. Sudarshan

6

GATE data science syllabus for Machine Learning

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning" by Christopher M. Bishop

7

GATE DA syllabus for AI

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach" by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig

faq

FAQ for GATE Data Science and AI syllabus

What is the GATE DA syllabus?

GATE Data Science Syllabus, including Mathematics and Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Applied Probability, General Aptitude, Databases...Read full

Where can I download the official GATE syllabus for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science syllabus?

The official syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the conducting IIT’s website (GATE) or from the unacademy platform page.

Which platforms offer courses as per the GATE DA syllabus?

GATE Data Science courses can be found at Unacademy among others.

What are the best coaching services for GATE DA preparation?

The premier preparation tools for the GATE Data Science exam include expert instructors, complete syllabus coverage via scheduled courses and pract...Read full

Do all institutes follow the same GATE syllabus for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science syllabus?

GATE Data Science syllabus is the same for all IITs, but how they are taught can differ greatly among the IITs...Read full

Are there apps for GATE DA syllabus updates?

Yes, apps like the Unacademy app provide syllabus updates, study material, and practice questions.

How is the GATE syllabus for data science usually covered?

The syllabus for GATE Data Science is normally covered one subject area at a time using step-by-step testing supports and revising.

Which books are best for GATE DA syllabus preparation?

Good references for the preparation of the GATE Data Science exam include previously published GATE question sets along with standard academic leve...Read full

How can I find a subscription service offering GATE DA classes/professors?

Unacademy has a variety of subscription services that will allow you to use a subscription to access all the classes for the GATE DA (Data Science ...Read full

Where can I view all the content for GATE DS and AI syllabus?

Unacademy has a variety of classes covering the entire syllabus of GATE DA.

Is the GATE DA syllabus the same as CSE?

The GATE DA syllabus is not the same as that for CSE. The GATE DA syllabus focuses more on Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, and Statistics in co...Read full

Will the GATE DA syllabus change in 2026?

Any changes to the GATE DA syllabus in the year 2026 will be released by IIT, who is conducting the exams, through their official GATE website....Read full

What weight will Data Science have in GATE DA?

GATE DA contains a lot of Math and Programming questions, however, overall Data Science and AI will make up a large portion of the GATE DA exam....Read full

Is it important to solve old GATE DA papers when preparing for the GATE DA?

Yes, old GATE DA papers are a good indicator of the pattern, difficulty, and the key topic areas of emphasis in the GATE DA exams.

How much time do I need to complete the GATE DA syllabus?

Generally speaking, it takes approximately six to nine months to prepare for GATE DA, given the right planning and adequate practice.

GATE Data Science Syllabus, including Mathematics and Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Applied Probability, General Aptitude, Databases, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, some of the many subject areas will be covered in the GATE Data Science Syllabus

The official syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the conducting IIT’s website (GATE) or from the unacademy platform page.

GATE Data Science courses can be found at Unacademy among others.

The premier preparation tools for the GATE Data Science exam include expert instructors, complete syllabus coverage via scheduled courses and practice tests with instructor support for questions.

GATE Data Science syllabus is the same for all IITs, but how they are taught can differ greatly among the IITs

Yes, apps like the Unacademy app provide syllabus updates, study material, and practice questions.

The syllabus for GATE Data Science is normally covered one subject area at a time using step-by-step testing supports and revising.

Good references for the preparation of the GATE Data Science exam include previously published GATE question sets along with standard academic level textual references.

Unacademy has a variety of subscription services that will allow you to use a subscription to access all the classes for the GATE DA (Data Science and Engineering) exams.

Unacademy has a variety of classes covering the entire syllabus of GATE DA.

The GATE DA syllabus is not the same as that for CSE. The GATE DA syllabus focuses more on Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, and Statistics in comparison with CSE.

Any changes to the GATE DA syllabus in the year 2026 will be released by IIT, who is conducting the exams, through their official GATE website.

GATE DA contains a lot of Math and Programming questions, however, overall Data Science and AI will make up a large portion of the GATE DA exam.

Yes, old GATE DA papers are a good indicator of the pattern, difficulty, and the key topic areas of emphasis in the GATE DA exams.

Generally speaking, it takes approximately six to nine months to prepare for GATE DA, given the right planning and adequate practice.

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