Registration status and current next step
GATE 2027 registration is closed. GOAPS opened on Pending verification. The regular-registration deadline was 5 October 2026, the extended late-fee deadline was 12 October, and IIT Madras later ran a special window from 10:30 am on 15 October to 10:29 am on 16 October. The official dates page records earlier changes with strike-through text. The notifications page confirms that the portal closed on 16 October.
The open step for some applicants is scrutiny-defect correction. The published window is 14-31 October 2026, and the organising institute says no extra fee applies to this correction. It is not a fresh registration period. Log in to GOAPS, read any notice from the assigned zone, correct the specific item and check the application status again. The FAQ lists status labels such as under scrutiny, defective, rectification done and accepted. A payment receipt alone does not show that scrutiny is complete.
DigiLocker and application information
GATE 2027 requires Indian nationals to register through DigiLocker. After consent, the portal fetches personal and identity information, including name, date of birth, contact details and ID data. The official notices recommend a verified DigiLocker profile. Candidates who use an unverified account can select the available default photo-ID option, but their applications receive further scrutiny and original identification is verified at the test centre. Candidates are told not to delete the account used for registration because later GATE communication is tied to it.
Make sure the application name and the selected photo ID agree. The 2027 FAQ says academic marksheets are not required in DigiLocker for the examination process. Candidates who need disability-related concessions or accommodations should follow the current brochure and portal instructions for required certificates and file names. Use the present-year checklist rather than assuming the upload list from a previous cycle is still valid.
The online form covers personal details, the selected paper, city choices, photograph and signature, optional second paper, and payment. A candidate may appear in one paper or two authorised combinations; the second paper is added to the original application. The FAQ says applicants should not create another enrolment ID or submit duplicate applications for the second paper. After submission, keep the application PDF and payment record for personal reference, then monitor the portal for scrutiny status.
GATE 2027 application fees
The official fee table varies by candidate category, registration period and paper count. Female, SC, ST and PwD candidates paid ₹1,000 for one paper or ₹2,000 for two during the regular period. In the extended period, those fees were ₹1,500 and ₹2,500. All other candidates, including foreign nationals, paid ₹2,000 for one paper or ₹4,000 for two during the regular period, and ₹2,500 or ₹4,500 respectively in the extended period. The official page defines PwD as Persons with Benchmark Disability.
These are application charges, not institute tuition, counselling or hostel costs. The second-paper charge is not the same for every category. Additional payment service, processing or bank charges may be payable by the candidate. The current fee page should be checked for the exact category and period before payment; for this cycle, the registration windows have ended.
The organising institute says the fee is non-refundable except for duplicate transactions supported by valid proof. If payment status is unclear, first log in and check whether GATE received it. The FAQ advises candidates to confirm the transaction status before initiating a fresh payment. A candidate should not assume that a bank debit means the application has been accepted, or that a withdrawn application will receive a refund.
After you submit
Application scrutiny takes place after submission and payment. Check GOAPS and the email or DigiLocker account associated with the application. If a defect is reported, the message should identify the action required. The current rectification deadline is Pending verification. For an unverified account, the official site says additional consent or photo-ID steps may be required. If no defect is listed, confirm that the final status is accepted rather than relying only on a downloadable application form.
The separate candidate-requested data-correction window with a fee is listed as TBA. It is distinct from the current no-fee defect-rectification window. Some application details cannot be edited immediately after the final PDF is generated; later changes depend on an official correction window and its rules. The GATE FAQ describes possible later changes to paper, city or category for a fee, but applicants should wait for the 2027 dates and instructions rather than reuse the 2026 correction calendar.
Where to get help
For GATE portal or examination issues, use the IIT Madras helpdesk and the zonal contact shown with the application notice. Keep a copy of relevant correspondence. The official FAQ says a printed application form does not need to be sent to the organising institute or zonal office. Questions about whether a GATE paper qualifies you for a particular course belong to that admitting institute. Registration eligibility and programme eligibility are separate decisions.