GATE 2026 Branch-Wise Schedule Released; No Clash with ESE Exam

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has released the branch-wise schedule for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026. The detailed timetable, now available on the official exam portal, confirms that the earlier concern over a possible clash between the GATE and Engineering Services Examination (ESE) dates has been resolved. Candidates planning to appear in both exams can now proceed with structured preparation without scheduling conflicts. The newly released timetable covers all twenty-nine GATE papers and marks the final confirmation of exam dates for the February 2026 cycle. GATE 2026 is set to be held across four sessions on February seven, eight, fourteen, and fifteen. Each day will have two shifts: a forenoon session from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and an afternoon session from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

GATE 2026 Branch-Wise Schedule

The subject-wise exam schedule announced by IIT Guwahati includes the following paper distribution:

Saturday, February 7, 2026 Forenoon session (9:30 am – 12:30 pm): AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL Afternoon session (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm): AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH

Sunday, February 8, 2026 Forenoon session (9:30 am – 12:30 pm): CS-1, ST Afternoon session (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm): CS-2, EY, NM, PE

Saturday, February 14, 2026 Forenoon session (9:30 am – 12:30 pm): CE-1, EE, PI Afternoon session (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm): BM, CE-2, ME, MT

Sunday, February 15, 2026 Forenoon session (9:30 am – 12:30 pm): EC Afternoon session (2:30 pm – 5:30 pm): AR, DA

The schedule shows deliberate planning to separate overlapping engineering disciplines on adjacent days, giving aspirants a balanced time gap between tests.

ESE 2026 and GATE 2026: No Date Overlap

The Union Public Service Commission has already fixed the ESE Prelims 2026 for February 8. The exam will be held for Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electronics and Communication Engineering. Since the UPSC exam is conducted in a single day and the GATE papers scheduled on the same day belong to Computer Science, Statistics, Ecology, Naval Architecture, and Petroleum Engineering, none of the ESE core papers clash with GATE timings. This confirmation has brought relief to several candidates who sit for both exams every year. Many aspirants had raised concerns after the initial GATE notification, prompting close monitoring of the detailed schedule.

What Candidates Should Note?

The announcement of the branch-wise schedule allows candidates to reorganise their study plans according to their respective exam slots. With the exam window only a few months away, coaching centres and independent candidates are expected to revise their preparation roadmaps accordingly. The official release marks a major update in the GATE 2026 cycle, closing speculation around exam clashes and providing clarity for thousands of engineering graduates preparing for both national-level tests. Follow KollegeApply for the latest updates on College Admissions, Courses, Exam Dates, Results, Scholarships, Career Guidance, Education News, and Policy Changes — everything needed to stay ahead in the education journey