GATE 2026 Registration Window Closes Today; Late Fee Extension Opens on October 7
Registration window for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 officially stops today, October 6, 2025, the last chance to apply for candidates without paying the final fee.
This year, the prestigious national-level examination is being conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. M. Tech, M.E., M.S., and Ph.D. Programs in top institutions across India, as well as to achieve opportunities for recruitment in major public sector undertakings (PSUs).
Thousands of engineering and science bachelor’s of various subjects are already registered for the exam, while many more people expect to complete their submissions before midnight. IIT Guwahati has provided this extended window in response to student requests and technical difficulties faced by applicants in the last week.
Originally, the last date for submission of late fees was September 28, 2025, but it was extended twice – first to 30 September and then by 6 October – to accommodate more candidates.
The registration process is being conducted online through the official portal gate 2026.iitg.ac.in, where applicants can fill their personal details, upload the required documents and pay the examination fee.
Candidates who fail to complete their registration till date, can still apply by paying a late fee of 500 between October 7 and October 9, 2025.
The examination of Gate 2026 is to be held on 7 February, 8, 14, and 15, 2026 in various centers in India. The admit card is expected to be released in January 2026, and the result will be announced in March 2026.
Registration timeline and fee structure
The online application process for Gate 2026 began on August 28, 2025, through the GOAPS portal hosted by IIT Guwahati (Gate 2026.Itg.ac.in).
Initially, the time limit of applications without a late fee was slated to September 28, 2025, which was a time limit extension from the earlier program.
In response to the student’s demand, IIT Guwahati further enhanced the internal “No late fee” window through October 6, 2025, which is the last day to apply at standard rates today.
Applicants must pay the prescribed fee at the time of submission:
| Category | Registration Fee (normal) | Registration with Late Fee (if applicable) |
| Female / SC / ST / PwD candidates (per test paper) | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
| All other candidates (including foreign nationals) | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 |
After today, the application portal will permit submissions only with the late fee through October 9.
Why the Extension?
The extension of the registration timeline comes as no surprise to many students. Various exam-related processes, including document verification, form submission, and fee payments, often face technical glitches at the eleventh hour.
IIT Guwahati’s decision to stretch the “no-late-fee” deadline to October 6 is largely seen as a relief for aspirants who were scrambling to coordinate all required documents, especially amid tight schedules.
However, education-industry observers caution that delaying too much could overburden the processing infrastructure and hamper downstream deadlines (like admit card release and exam logistics). The leadership at IIT Guwahati appears to have balanced the demand for flexibility with the imperative to maintain scheduling discipline.
What Students Must Know Today
- Submit today: Applicants who haven’t registered yet must complete their application, upload required documents (photo, signature, identity proof, educational credentials), and make the payment by midnight.
- Check details carefully: Once submitted, changes or corrections might not be allowed for all fields. Candidates should ensure accuracy in name spelling, paper selection, exam city preferences, etc.
- Late submissions with a fee: After today, submissions will attract a ₹500 penalty and will be accepted only till October 9.
- Eligibility criteria: Students in the 3rd or higher year of any undergraduate engineering, science, technology, architecture, humanities, or arts program (or graduates) are eligible to apply.
- New subject: GATE 2026 introduces a new paper under Engineering Sciences (XE-I, Energy Science), bringing the total number of test papers to 30.
Exam Dates and Afterwards
GATE 2026 is scheduled to be held on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026, across two sessions each day (morning and afternoon). The results are expected to be announced on March 19, 2026. After the results, qualifying candidates can apply for postgraduate programmes or PSU recruitment opportunities, depending on their scores and cutoffs.
Reactions from Aspirants and Educators
Many students welcomed the extension, calling it the “last-minute lifeline” in the midst of the delay in collecting busy academic schedules and necessary documents. Some difficulties are cited such as acquiring tapes, scanning documents in prescribed formats, or finalizing the examination center preferences, as contributing to the causes of their delay.
However, a section of the coaching community said that extension should come with clear communication to avoid confusion. Some students may misunderstand and believe that registration will remain open indefinitely, which can disrupt the plan.
Prof., an experienced instructor for competitive examinations. Ramesh Patel commented:
“Extensions are helpful, but aspirations should not be relaxed. Wait until the last days raise the risk – the server crash, connectivity issues, or unknown mistakes in filling the form can all derail the qualified student.”
What next for students?
- Immediately Act: If you have not yet applied, do it today. Do not wait till the last minute.
- Double-check: Review all data fields, verify the document upload and confirm the payment.
- Use the late window if necessary: If you remember today for any reason, you have till 9 October – although you. Will pay an additional 500.
- Prepare for the exam: parallel to registration, students should intensify the preparation of the exam, with concept focus on concept clarity and practice tests.
- Monitor the official update: Check the Gate 2026 portal regularly for announcements on admit cards, examination centers and guidelines.
The deadline today marks a critical juncture in the GATE 2026 timeline. For many aspirants, this is their last chance to apply without penalty. With the late fee window offering a short safety net, it remains crucial for candidates to act decisively. IIT Guwahati’s balance between flexibility and schedule discipline will now be tested in the coming weeks as preparations shift toward exam conduct and result processing.
