The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an All-India Examination conducted by the Seven Ills and IISC, Bangalore, on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India. The objective of GATE is to identify meritorious and motivated candidates for admission to Post Graduate Programs in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, and Pharmacy at the national level. The overall coordination and responsibility lies with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore designated as the Organizing Institute for GATE 2008. Admission to post graduate programs with MHRD and some other government scholarship/assistantship at engineering colleges/institutes in the country are open to those who qualify through GATE. GATE qualified candidates with Bachelor degree in Engineering/ Technology! Architecture! Pharmacy or Master degree in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications are eligible for Master/Doctoral programs in Engineering! Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy as well as for Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Science. To avail the scholarship, the candidate must additionally secure admission to such a postgraduate program, as per the prevailing procedure of the admitting institution. GATE qualification, however, is not required for candidates with Master degree in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/ Pharmacy who may be seeking scholarship/assistantship for relevant doctoral programs.
Some institutions specify GATE as the mandatory qualification even for admission of self-financing students to postgraduate programs. GATE qualified candidates in Engineering disciplines are also eligible for the award of junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. Some government organizations prescribe GATE qualification as a requirement for applying to the post of a Scientist/Engineer. The GATE 2008 examination consists of a single paper (150 marks) of 3 hours duration. The question paper will consist of only objective type questions. Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice is correct. Wrong answers carry negative marks.
