GATE 2028 Registration Date, Photo Size & Documents (Expected)
GATE 2028 registration is expected around August–September 2027, with exams in February 2028. Photo, signature and certificate rules to plan for.
These are based on the previous cycle and public reports. The official notification can change anything here.
Expected timeline
Around July 2027 (expected)
Organising institute and dates announced
IIT Madras announced the GATE 2027 dates and changes in a press release on 20 July 2026.
Late August to early October 2027 (expected)
Registration (GOAPS)
GATE 2027 registration opened between mid-August and 2 September 2026 (sources differ) and closed with late fee in early October 2026.
February 2028 (expected)
Exam
GATE 2027 is on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027, over the first three weekends of February.
Photo and signature spec
| File | Dimensions | File size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | 530 × 690 px | 5–600 KB | JPG |
| Signature | 580 × 180 px | 5–300 KB | JPG |
Other documents: Based on GATE 2027: photo up to 530x690 px and 600 KB, signature up to 580x180 px and 300 KB; certificates as PDF via DigiLocker. The 2028 organising institute may change these.
GATE 2028 has not been announced yet, and nor has its organising institute. Based on GATE 2027, registration is expected from around late August to early October 2027, with the exam in February 2028. Plan for photo and signature rules like 2027's, which were a photo of up to 530 x 690 px and 600 KB and a signature of up to 580 x 180 px and 300 KB, with certificates shared through DigiLocker.
GATE is run in rotation by IISc Bangalore and seven IITs. Each organising institute sets its own website and can tweak the rules, so read the 2028 brochure closely.
What you will probably need
| Item | Format | Size (GATE 2027) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPG | Up to 530 x 690 px, 600 KB | White background, face about 60–70% |
| Signature | JPG | Up to 580 x 180 px, 300 KB | Black or dark blue ink |
| Category / PwD / UDID certificates | 10–600 KB each | Shared via a DigiLocker folder in 2027 | |
| Photo ID | — | — | Aadhaar, passport, PAN, voter ID or driving licence |
| Degree status | — | — | College details; final-year students may need a certificate from the college |
What to do before registration opens
Set up DigiLocker. GATE 2027 used DigiLocker and facial registration. Create and verify your DigiLocker account early. IIT Madras said unverified accounts would be scrutinised separately.
Check your ID. Your name on the GATE form must match the photo ID you carry to the exam. Fix any spelling difference now.
Get certificates ready. SC/ST, PwD and UDID certificates need to be valid. Scan them, combine pages with JPG to PDF, and keep them between 10 and 600 KB with compress PDF to 500 KB.
Preparing the photo and signature
- Take a sharp front-facing photo on a white background close to the registration date.
- Crop so your face fills about two-thirds of the frame, and size it with the exam photo resizer.
- If the file is over the limit, use compress image to 500 KB.
- Sign on white paper, crop it to a wide strip, and keep it within the signature size limits.
Timeline notes
- Organising institute and dates: expected around mid-2027 (GATE 2027's were announced on 20 July 2026).
- Registration: expected late August to early October 2027, including a late-fee period.
- Correction window: expected mid-October 2027.
- Admit card: expected early January 2028.
- Exam: expected across weekends in February 2028.
Until the 2028 institute is named, the official GATE pages of IISc and the IITs are where the link will appear.
Photo tips specific to GATE
GATE allows larger and sharper photos than most Indian exams, and it pairs them with facial registration. That makes quality more important than file size.
- Use a recent photo that looks like you on exam day, with your face clearly lit and not tilted.
- Keep the face at about 60–70% of the frame. Too small a face is a common reason for a photo being flagged.
- Avoid heavy compression. A crisp 150–400 KB photo is better than a blurry 20 KB one.
- Keep the background plain and light.
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the late-fee period, which costs more and leaves no room for errors.
- Certificates with the wrong file names or sizes.
- An unverified DigiLocker account.
- Choosing a two-paper combination that is not allowed.
- A photo with a small face or a coloured background.
Questions
Which IIT will conduct GATE 2028?
It has not been announced. GATE rotates between IISc and seven IITs, and the organising institute is usually named about a year in advance. The GATE 2028 website will be on that institute's domain.
When will GATE 2028 registration start?
It is expected around late August or early September 2027, based on GATE 2027, which opened between mid-August and 2 September 2026.
Can third-year students apply for GATE 2028?
In recent years students in the third year or higher of an undergraduate degree have been eligible. Check the GATE 2028 brochure for the exact rule.