GATE 2026 Answer Key Challenge process has officially begun, allowing candidates to raise objections against the provisional answers released for the examination. The objection window is available till 28 February 2026, and challenges can be submitted online through the GOAPS portal using valid login credentials.
GATE 2026 Answer Key Challenge Dates and Result Schedule
The answer key challenge process is part of the post-exam activities for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering conducted this year. Candidates should carefully note all key dates to avoid missing deadlines. The GATE 2026 provisional answer key, response sheet, and question papers were released on 22 February 2026. The objection window opened on 25 February 2026 and will remain active till 28 February 2026. The GATE 2026 result is scheduled to be declared on 19 March 2026. The examination was conducted on 7, 8, 14, and 15 February 2026 under the supervision of Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, the organising institute for this session.
Who Can Challenge the GATE 2026 Answer Key?
Only candidates whose applications were found valid and complete are eligible to raise objections. Applicants marked as provisional due to discrepancies in photograph, signature, or eligibility conditions are not permitted to challenge the answer key, though they can view their response sheets. Candidates are advised to verify the question paper and corresponding response carefully before submitting any challenge, as the objection fee is non-refundable
Steps to Raise GATE 2026 Answer Key Objection at GOAPS
The objection process must be completed online through the official candidate portal. Candidates should keep their supporting documents ready before proceeding.
- Visit the official GATE website and access the GOAPS portal
- Log in using enrolment ID and password
- Select the question to be challenged
- Upload justification with valid academic or technical proof
- Pay the prescribed objection fee
- Submit the challenge and save the confirmation receipt
GATE 2026 Answer Key Challenge Fee Details
The objection fee for GATE 2026 is INR 500 per question. Candidates may challenge multiple questions by paying the fee separately for each. Payments can be made using UPI, debit card, credit card, or net banking. The fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.
What Happens After the Objection Window Closes?
Once the challenge window closes on 28 February 2026, all objections will be reviewed by subject experts. If any challenge is found valid, the corresponding answer will be revised in the final answer key.The final answer key cannot be challenged further. The GATE 2026 result, scheduled for 19 March 2026, will be prepared based on the final answer key only.