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.
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Probability and Statistics for GATE DA syllabus |
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Linear Algebra for GATE exam for GATE DA syllabus |
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Calculus and Optimization for GATE DA syllabus |
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Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms for GATE DA syllabus |
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Database Management and Warehousing for GATE DA syllabus |
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Machine Learning for GATE DA syllabus |
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AI for GATE DA syllabus |
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Particulars |
Details |
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Mode of Examination |
Computer Based Test (CBT) |
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Language of examination |
English |
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Duration |
3 Hours* |
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Number of papers (Subjects) |
30 test papers |
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Sections |
General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subject(s) |
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Type of Questions |
(a) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) (b) Multiple Select Question (MSQ) (c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) |
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Testing of abilities |
(a) Recall (b) Comprehension (c) Application (d) Analysis & Synthesis |
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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) |
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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 |
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Marking Scheme |
Questions carry either 1 mark or 2 marks |
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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. |
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Paper Code |
General Aptitude (GA) Marks |
Subject: Compulsory Section |
Subject: Optional Section(s) |
Total Marks |
Total Time* (Minutes) |
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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 |
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CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST |
15 |
85 |
-- |
100 |
180 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Banch / Discipline |
Recommended Safe Score (General Category) |
Top PSUs / Opportunities |
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GATE DS and AI syllabus Computer Science (CS) |
850 – 880 |
IOCL, ONGC, HPCL, BARC |
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Electronics & Communication (EC) |
820 – 850 |
BHEL, NTPC, DRDO, BEL |
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Electrical Engineering (EE) |
800 – 850 |
Power Grid, NTPC, IOCL |
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Mechanical Engineering (ME) |
780 – 820 |
ONGC, IOCL, GAIL, BHEL |
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Civil Engineering (CE) |
750 – 800 |
NBCC, EIL, SAIL, NHAI |
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Instrumentation Engineering (IN) |
760 – 800 |
HPCL, GAIL, BARC |
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Chemical Engineering (CH) |
720 – 760 |
IOCL, GAIL, HPCL |
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Metallurgical Engineering (MT) |
700 – 740 |
SAIL, BHEL, RINL |
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Production / Industrial (PI) |
720 – 750 |
BHEL, IOCL |
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Environmental Engineering (ES) |
700 – 740 |
NPCIL, EIL, GAIL |
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Approximate GATE Score Ranges (General Category): |
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Branch |
Top IITs |
Newer IITs |
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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+ |
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Electrical Engineering (EE) / Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) / VLSI / Power Electronics / Instrumentation: |
700 - 800+ |
600 - 700+ |
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Mechanical Engineering (ME) / Thermal Engineering / Design Engineering / Manufacturing: |
680 - 780+ |
580 - 680+ |
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Civil Engineering (CE) / Structural Engineering / Transportation Engineering / Environmental Engineering / Geotechnical Engineering: |
650 - 750+ |
550 - 650+ |
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Chemical Engineering (CH): |
600 - 700+ |
500 - 600+ |
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2025 |
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QUALIFYING MARKS |
TOPPERS MARKS |
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GEN |
OBC |
SC/ST/PH |
RANK |
MARKS |
SCORE |
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CE |
29.2 |
26.2 |
19.4 |
1 |
89.02 |
1000 |
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ME |
35.8 |
32.2 |
23.8 |
1 |
95.33 |
1000 |
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EE |
25 |
22.5 |
16.6 |
1 |
81.67 |
1000 |
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EC |
25 |
22.5 |
16.6 |
1 |
82.67 |
1000 |
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CS |
29.2 |
26.2 |
19.4 |
1 |
100 |
1000 |
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DA |
29 |
26.1 |
19.3 |
1 |
96.33 |
1000 |
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CH |
27.7 |
24.9 |
18.4 |
1 |
75.33 |
1000 |
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Code of the First Paper |
Code of the Second Paper |
Code of the First Paper |
Code of the Second Paper |
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AE |
CE, ME, XE |
GG |
GE |
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AG |
CE |
IN |
BM, EC, EE, ME |
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AR |
CE, GE |
MA |
CS, DA, PH, ST |
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BM |
BT, IN |
ME |
AE, DA, IN, NM, PI, XE |
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BT |
BM, XL |
MN |
- |
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CE |
AE, AG, AR, ES, GE, NM, XE |
MT |
XE |
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CH |
ES, PE, XE |
NM |
CE, ME |
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CS |
DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, ST |
PE |
CH |
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CY |
XE, XL |
PH |
CS, DA, EC, EE, MA, XE |
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DA |
CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, ST, XE |
PI |
ME, XE |
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EC |
CS, DA, EE, IN, PH |
ST |
CS, DA, MA, XH |
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EE |
DA, EC, IN, PH |
TF |
- |
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ES |
CE, CH, GE |
XE |
AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, PI |
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EY |
XL |
XH |
ST |
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GE |
AR, CE, CS, ES, GG |
XL |
BT, CY, EY |
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SR. |
Subject |
Book Name with Authors/Publishers |
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1 |
GATE data science syllabus for Probability and Statistics |
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists" by Sheldon M. Ross |
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2 |
GATE DA syllabus for Linear Algebra |
Introduction to Linear Algebra (Gilbert Strang) |
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3 |
GATE data science syllabus for Calculus and Optimization |
Mathematics for Machine Learning" by Marc Peter Deisenroth, A. Aldo Faisal, and Cheng Soon Ong |
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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 |
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5 |
GATE DA syllabus for Database Management and Warehousing |
Database System Concepts" by Abraham Silberschatz, Henry F. Korth, and S. Sudarshan |
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6 |
GATE data science syllabus for Machine Learning |
Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning" by Christopher M. Bishop |
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7 |
GATE DA syllabus for AI |
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach" by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig |
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.
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.
Unacademy has a variety of classes covering the entire syllabus of 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.
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.