GATE History : GATE First Held in 1983 with Just 2 Streams and Application Fee Under Rs 50

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) was first conducted on February 26, 1983, to select candidates for postgraduate engineering courses across five IITs—Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and Madras—and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. Today, GATE is used for admission into master's and doctoral programs in IITs, IISc, and for recruitment by public sector undertakings (PSUs).

GATE 1983 Exam Pattern

In 1983, only students qualifying for GATE were eligible for an 18-month scholarship. The eligibility criteria have remained largely the same for 41 years. Students with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology, or those in the final year of such courses, could appear for the engineering stream. Even Associate Members of the Institution of Engineers (AMIE) or those with equivalent qualifications recognized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) were eligible.

For the science stream, candidates with an MSc in subjects like agricultural sciences, chemistry, earth sciences, life sciences, mathematics, materials science, physics, and regional planning, or those in the final year of such programs, could appear.

GATE Eligibility and Paper Pattern (Now)

Unlike the past, GATE no longer separates engineering and science streams. Now, undergraduate students and those in their third year or higher of any government-approved course in engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce, arts, or humanities can appear for GATE 2025.

The current paper format has three types of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). The exam carries 100 marks, with 15 marks reserved for general aptitude. While negative marking applies to MCQs, there is none for MSQs or NATs.

Changes in Result Calculation

In 1983, GATE results were based on percentile and fractile classification. Today, results are based on raw marks (for single-session papers) or normalized marks (for multi-session papers), calculated against qualifying marks.

Application Process Evolution

In the early days, students submitted paper application forms, along with a registration fee, to their chosen exam center (IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, or IISc Bangalore). The application form required a postal order of Rs 5 and a self-addressed envelope with a Rs 4.50 stamp for receiving the admit card. The registration fee was Rs 45, with exemptions for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.

Now, the entire GATE application process is conducted online, including the release of admit cards via the official GATE website.

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