GATE 2027 application portal is finally live: apply by September 27

Confirmed answer — checked September 4, 2026: The GATE 2027 application portal is now live. IIT Madras activated GOAPS on September 2, 2026, replacing the earlier planned opening date of August 27. Candidates must submit the application by September 27 without a late fee; the extended window currently closes on October 5 with a late fee. Start early, especially if your DigiLocker details or documents need correction.

## What changed this week?

Confirmed — official notification, checked September 4, 2026: The GATE 2027 notifications page records that the “Application Portal is LIVE now” from September 2. The official important-dates page shows the opening date changing from August 14, then August 27, to September 2. The regular closing date has also moved from September 21 to September 27, while the late-fee deadline has moved from September 30 to October 5.

This is different from the earlier update that GOAPS was visible or that candidates could check application status. The practical change now is that candidates can complete and submit a fresh GATE 2027 application through the GOAPS registration link.

## Who should act now?

This applies to every GATE 2027 candidate, including Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Chemical, Instrumentation, XE, XL, XH, TF-to-XE9 candidates and the new Robotics & Automation (RA) cohort. It also matters to working professionals and re-attempt candidates who may be applying after a gap.

Confirmed — official portal, checked September 4, 2026: GATE 2027 is organised by IIT Madras, and the exam is scheduled across six dates: February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027. The current application schedule is:

| Task | Current date | What to do | |---|---:|---| | GOAPS opens | September 2, 2026 | Create or access your application | | Regular submission | September 27, 2026 | Submit without late fee | | Extended submission | October 5, 2026 | Submit with late fee | | Application rectification | October 14–21, 2026 | Correct permitted details if required | | City allotment notification | January 4, 2027 | Check the allotted examination city |

These dates are marked liable to change by the organising institute, so candidates should recheck the official important-dates page before relying on them.

## Do not treat DigiLocker as a formality

Confirmed — official FAQ and registration guidance, checked September 4, 2026: Registration through DigiLocker is mandatory for Indian nationals. The official FAQ says address and date of birth details will be fetched from DigiLocker or Aadhaar. However, the Aadhaar or DigiLocker photograph itself will not be used as the GATE application photograph: the portal requires a live facial image and a recent uploaded photograph.

The official registration guidance also recommends using a mobile phone with at least a 5 MP camera in a well-lit area. It lists current image limits of 600 KB and 530 × 690 pixels maximum for the photograph, and 300 KB and 580 × 180 pixels maximum for the signature.

For SC, ST and PwD candidates, the same guidance gives additional DigiLocker instructions for category, disability and UDID documents. Editorial guidance: do not wait until September 26 to discover that your name, date of birth, certificate or image cannot be verified. Check these items before beginning the full form.

## Fees and the cost of waiting

Confirmed — official application-fee page, checked September 4, 2026: For one paper, the regular fee is ₹1,000 for Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates and ₹2,000 for all other candidates, including foreign nationals. For two papers, the regular fees are ₹2,000 and ₹4,000 respectively. During the extended period, the corresponding one-paper fees are ₹1,500 and ₹2,500; two-paper fees are ₹2,500 and ₹4,500.

Reported — Careers360, September 2, 2026: Registration began through GOAPS after the delayed launch, with facial registration, document upload and payment included in the process. This reporting matches the official portal, but candidates should act on the IIT Madras schedule, not on a coaching or news-site countdown.

## If your application shows “defective” or “under scrutiny”

Confirmed — official FAQ, checked September 4, 2026: “Under Scrutiny” means the application is being reviewed. If a photograph, signature, ID number or other submission is defective, IIT Madras says candidates will be informed by email, SMS or phone and given an opportunity to rectify the defect. Beyond the specified rectification deadline, an application may be treated as provisional or rejected.

So the safest plan is simple: submit well before September 27, save the confirmation PDF, monitor your email and GOAPS status, and respond promptly to any defect message. If you do nothing, you risk paying the late fee after September 27—and the current schedule lists no application opportunity after October 5.

Sources - Official GATE portal - GATE 2027 — Important Dates, IIT Madras - GATE 2027 — Notifications, IIT Madras - GATE 2027 — FAQs, IIT Madras - GATE Application Form 2027 LIVE: GOAPS link active at gate2027.iitm.ac.in, Careers360

_Last verified: 2026-09-04._

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