GATE 2027: last chance to apply with late fee ends October 12
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Late-fee registration for GATE 2027, run by IIT Madras, closes October 12, 2026; the exam is on February 6-21, 2027 and form correction runs October 14-21.
What Happened
Students who still want to sit the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027 have until Monday, October 12, 2026 to apply, with a late fee. IIT Madras, which is organising GATE 2027, had extended the regular registration deadline to October 5 from September 27, and the late-fee window that followed closes on October 12. Applications are made only through the GOAPS portal at gate2027.iitm.ac.in. The exam will be held on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027, and a window to correct submitted forms will run from October 14 to October 21, 2026.
Key Facts
- Last date to apply with late fee: October 12, 2026, on gate2027.iitm.ac.in.
- Regular registration closed on October 5, 2026, after an extension from September 27.
- Exam dates: February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027.
- Form correction window: October 14 to October 21, 2026.
- Regular fee per paper: Rs 1,000 for women, SC, ST and PwD candidates, and Rs 2,000 for others.
- Late fee: an extra Rs 500, taking the fee per paper to Rs 1,500 or Rs 2,500, as reported by education portals.
- Indian nationals must log in through DigiLocker to apply.
- Admit cards are expected in early January 2027.
Why It Matters
GATE is one of the most important exams for engineering and science students in India. A good score is used for admission to MTech, ME and some PhD programmes at IITs, NITs and other institutes, and many public sector companies use GATE scores to shortlist candidates for jobs. For a final-year student, missing the window can mean waiting a full year for the next attempt.
That is why the October 12 date matters. Anyone who has not yet applied, or who started a form and did not finish it, now has one last chance, at a higher fee. Students should also make sure their payment has gone through and that their form shows as submitted, since an incomplete application is not counted.
The correction window from October 14 to 21 is the time to fix mistakes in details such as category, exam paper or exam city choices. Students should check their forms carefully during that week rather than assume errors can be changed later. The organising institute decides which fields can be edited.
With the exam about four months away, the dates also give students a clear timeline. The exam is spread over three weekends in February, and each candidate will only find out the date and session of their paper when the detailed schedule and admit cards come out.
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Late-fee registration closes | October 12, 2026 |
| Form correction | October 14 to 21, 2026 |
| Admit cards | Early January 2027 |
| Exam | February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027 |
Impact
Short-term: Students who have not applied must finish their GOAPS form and pay the late fee by October 12, 2026.
Long-term: GATE 2027 scores will shape postgraduate admissions and public sector recruitment for the 2027-28 cycle.
Who is affected: Final-year and graduated engineering, technology, science and architecture students, and working professionals planning a master's degree or a public sector job.
Key Takeaway
October 12, 2026 is the last date to apply for GATE 2027, with a Rs 500 late fee, before the exam in February 2027.
Questions and Answers
What is the last date to apply for GATE 2027?
The last date is October 12, 2026, with a late fee. Regular registration without a late fee closed on October 5.
When is the GATE 2027 exam?
The exam will be held on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027, organised by IIT Madras.
How much does it cost to apply now?
Education portals report a regular fee of Rs 1,000 per paper for women, SC, ST and PwD candidates and Rs 2,000 for others, plus a Rs 500 late fee. Check the final amount on the GOAPS portal.
Can I correct mistakes in my GATE form?
Yes. A correction window will be open from October 14 to October 21, 2026 on the GOAPS portal.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
