GATE 2026 Syllabus For CSE (Computer Science & Engineering)

GATE Exam 2026 Syllabus for CSE GATE stands for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, an entrance exam conducted each year for getting admission into the most prestigious institutes across the country, including IISc Bengaluru, IITs, NITs, IIITs, and many others. The GATE authority (IIT Guwahati for this year) has released the official notification regarding the GATE 2026 exam.

Candidates who are willingly interested in pursuing their higher studies from one of the most esteemed institutes in the country or have the ambition to join PSUs and want to dig deep into their core sectors, can take the GATE examination in 2026.

GATE CSE Syllabus 2026

The GATE Syllabus comprises two sections. The first one is the General Aptitude Section, which is of 15 marks, and the other one is the Computer Science and Information Technology Section, which is of 85 marks.

General Aptitude (GA) - 15 Marks

Verbal Aptitude

Covers basic English grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension skills to test understanding, accuracy, and effective use of the English language.

Basic English Grammar:

• Tenses
• Articles
• Adjectives
• Prepositions
• Conjunctions
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Parts of Speech

Basic Vocabulary:

• Selecting Words
• Idioms and Phrases
• Reading Comprehension

Quantitative Aptitude

Focuses on numerical ability, data interpretation, and mathematical concepts such as ratios, percentages, algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability to assess problem-solving and analytical skills.

Data Interpretation:

• Bar Graph
• Line Graphs
• Pie Chart
• Table Chart

Numerical Computation and Estimation:

• Ratio and Proportion
• Percentages
• Powers
• Exponents and Logarithms
• Permutations and Combinations
• Series
• Mensuration and Geometry
• Elementary Statistics and Probability

Analytical Aptitude

Assesses logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and numerical relationships.

• Statement and Conclusions
• Statement and Assumptions
• Syllogisms
• Analogy: Verbal Analogies
• Number Series
• Alphanumeric Series

Spatial Aptitude

Tests the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate shapes and patterns in 2D and 3D space

• Translation
• Rotation
• Scaling
• Mirroring
• Assembling
• Grouping
• Paper Folding
• Cutting

Computer Science and Information Technology (CS/IT) - 85 Marks

Engineering Mathematics

The syllabus or important topics of Engineering Mathematics for the GATE CSE exam are provided below.

Discrete Mathematics

• Propositional and First-Order Logic
• Sets, Relations, Functions,Partial Orders and Lattices
• Monoids, Groups
• Graphs: Connectivity, Matching, Coloring
• Combinatorics: Counting, Recurrence Relations,Generating Functions 

Linear Algebra

• Matrices
• Determinants
• System of Linear Equations
• Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
• LU Decomposition

Calculus

• Limits, Continuity and Differentiability
• Maxima and Minima
• Mean Value Theorem
• Integration

Probability and Statistics

• Random Variables
• Uniform,Normal, Exponential,Poisson and Binomial Distributions 
• Mean, Median, Mode and Standard Deviation
• Conditional Probability and Bayes Theorem

Digital Logic and Design

• Boolean Algebra
• Combinational and Sequential Circuits
• Minimization
• Number Representations and Computer Arithmetic(Fixedand Floating Point)

Computer Organization and Architecture

• Machine Instructions and Addressing Modes.
• ALU, Data Path and Control Unit.
• Instruction Pipelining, Pipeline Hazards.
• Memory Hierarchy: Cache, Main Memory and Secondary Storage
• I/O Interface (Interrupt and DMA Mode)

Programming and Data Structures

• Programming in C
• Recursion
• Arrays,Stacks,Queues
• Linked Lists, Trees, Binary Search Trees, Binary Heaps
• Graphs

Algorithms

• Searching, Sorting, Hashing.
• Asymptotic Worst Case Time and Space Complexity
• Algorithm Design Techniques: Greedy, Dynamic Programming and Divide-and-Conquer
• Graph Traversals,Minimum Spanning Trees,Shortest Paths

Theory of Computation

• Regular Expressions and Finite Automata
• Context-Free Grammar and Push-Down Automata
• Regular and Context-Free Languages,Pumping Lemma
• Turing Machines and Undecidability

Compiler Design

• Lexical Analysis
• Parsing, Syntax-Directed Translation
• Runtime Environments
• Intermediate Code Generation
• Local Optimization
• Data Flow Analysis: Constant Propagation,Liveness Analysis,Common Subexpression Elimination

Operating System

• System Calls,Processes,Threads
• Inter-Process Communication, Concurrency and Synchronization
• Deadlock
• CPU and I/O Scheduling
• Memory Management and Virtual Memory
• File Systems

Databases

• ER-Model
• Relational Model: Relational Algebra, Tuple Calculus
• SQL
• Integrity Constraints, Normal Forms
• File Organization, Indexing (e.g., B and B+ Trees)
• Transactions and Concurrency Control

Computer Networks

• Concept of Layering: OSI and TCP/IP Protocol Stacks
• Basics of the Packet,Circuit, and Virtual Circuit Switching
• Data Link Layer:Framing,Error Detection,Medium Access Control, Ethernet Bridging
• Routing Protocols: Shortest Path, Flooding, Distance Vector and Link State Routing
• Fragmentation and IP Addressing, IPv4,CIDR Notation
• Basics of IP Support Protocols(ARP,DHCP,ICMP), Network Address Translation (NAT)
• Transport Layer:Flow Control and Congestion Control,UDP, TCP, Sockets
• Application Layer Protocols: DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, Email

GATE 2026 Expected Subject-Wise Weightage

GATE 2026 Exam Dates

The GATE 2026 exam will tentatively happen in two shifts on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) in the first and second week of February. The GATE exam date helps a candidate in planning and preparing accordingly for the exam and also provides ample time for candidates to practice and revise.

GATE 2026 Exam Pattern

Marking Scheme: There are a total of 65 questions in the paper, out of them 10 questions are from Section A, i.e. from General Aptitude and the other 55 questions are from Section B or of core disciplined.

Questions are of three types:

The General Aptitude section has 10 questions out of which 5 questions are of 1 mark and the other 5 are of two marks making a total of 15 marks. All these questions can be a combination of MCQ, MSQ and NAT.

This year there is no change in the syllabus of the GATE CSE examination most probably, the syllabus is assumed to be completely the same as in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. In the year 2020, IIT Bombay made a few changes to the GATE CSE syllabus for the GATE CSE 2021 and since then the same syllabus is being followed. 

This year for the GATE 2026 examination IIT Guwahati is the organizing authority and most probably no changes have been made to the GATE CSE syllabus 2026. The paper will be divided into two sections:

• Section A: General Aptitude - This section comprises a share of 15 marks and discusses general aptitude and reasoning.
• Section B: Computer Science and Information Technology - This section has a share of 85 marks and discusses the core disciplined subject.

GATE 2026 Quizzes

This quiz contains

• SET 1 | Quiz
• SET 2 | Quiz

How to Prepare for GATE 2026?

GATE is one of the toughest competitive exams which requires practice and preparation to crack it. There are various ways to prepare for a GATE exam. Some of them are listed below.

• Make Proper Planning: It's always good to have proper planning before starting to prepare for an exam. Divide the plan into weekly, monthly and yearly plans.
• Know Your Strength and Weakness: Before going deep into anything, it's a mandatory step to know about yourself, about your strengths and weaknesses.
• Study Well: Without proper study, it is very difficult to clear the exam. We are providing you with the proper material for studying the syllabus of GATE. You can refer to GATE CS Notes for study for GATE.
• Revise Well: You need to revise well for clearing any examination, whether it is GATE or any exam. You can refer to the short notes of GATE CSE for revision and the Last Minute Notes for Revision.
• Practice Previous Year Questions: It is very important to practice Previous Year Questions for clearing any exam. We have previous year's questions of all the subjects that directly helps in your preparation.
• Practice Mock Tests: Mock Tests help in analyzing the exam papers before the actual exam. It is also very much useful for any examination. We also provide free mock tests for students to prepare for the examination.