GATE 2027 Registration: Regular Application Deadline Approaches on September 27

Prospective candidates for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027 have only five days remaining to complete their registration without incurring additional costs. The regular application window, managed by IIT Madras, is scheduled to conclude on September 27, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to finalize their submissions promptly to avoid the technical congestion often associated with the final days of the registration period.

While the primary deadline is set for late September, IIT Madras has confirmed an extended registration window that will remain open until October 5, 2026. However, those who miss the initial cutoff will be required to pay a late fee of INR 500 per paper. The standard application fee for the regular period is INR 1,000 for female, SC, ST, and PwD candidates, while all other applicants are charged INR 2,000. During the extended window, these fees increase to INR 1,500 and INR 2,500, respectively.

Application Process and Documentation Requirements

To register for the examination, candidates must visit the official GOAPS portal at gate2027.iitm.ac.in. The application process involves creating an account, generating an enrolment ID and password, and providing personal, academic, and exam city preferences. As part of the submission, candidates are required to complete a facial registration process and upload necessary documents, including a recent passport-sized photograph, a scanned signature, a valid photo identification such as an Aadhaar or PAN card, and relevant category certificates.

A key component of the 2027 application process is the integration of DigiLocker for Indian nationals. While IIT Madras strongly recommends using a verified DigiLocker account, the institution has clarified that candidates with unverified accounts may still proceed with their applications. In such instances, the submitted documents will be subject to manual scrutiny by the examination authorities following the close of the registration period. Applicants are advised to ensure that their name, date of birth, contact details, and address are accurately updated within their DigiLocker profile before proceeding.

Once the registration process is complete, candidates are required to select their preferred examination cities, with the option to choose up to six locations. IIT Madras has scheduled the GATE 2027 examinations to take place over several dates in February 2027, specifically February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21. By submitting their forms before the September 27 deadline, candidates can secure their preferred exam centers and transition their focus toward their final preparation.