GATE CSE Syllabus 2026: Detailed Computer Science & IT Exam Pattern

Candidates preparing for the GATE 2026 examination must thoroughly analyze the official GATE CSE syllabus and exam pattern. A deep understanding of these components is essential to prioritize key topics and streamline your study plan. The syllabus encompasses both General Aptitude and core Computer Science Engineering subjects. By familiarizing yourself with the curriculum and expected weightage, you can significantly enhance your preparation and performance. We have provided a comprehensive breakdown of the CSE syllabus below to guide your studies effectively.

GATE CSE Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 

The GATE 2026 exam is a prestigious annual assessment taken by lakhs of engineering graduates seeking admission to top-tier Master's programs. With increasing applicant numbers, the competition continues to intensify. The most critical step toward success is mastering the official GATE Exam Syllabus 2026 for your chosen paper, which will be tested during the GATE 2026 examination. Scheduled for February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, the exam covers 30 subjects, with Computer Science (CSE) remaining one of the most sought-after disciplines.

GATE CSE Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026: Overview
Exam Name	Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026)
Examination Mode	Computer Based Test (Online)
Conducting Institute	Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati)
Duration	3 Hours
Section	General Aptitude (GA) Computer Science/ IT
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
Number of Questions	65 questions (including 10 from General Aptitude)
Total Marks	100 Marks
Marking Scheme	All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks
Official website	https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/

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GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2026

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has been designated as the conducting body for the GATE 2026 exam. Refer to the table below for a detailed overview of the exam pattern applicable to the GATE CSE paper.

Standardized Marks Distribution

• General Aptitude: 15 marks
• Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks
• Subject-Specific Questions: 72 marks
• Total: 100 marks

Applicable to specific papers (AR, CY, DA, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, XL):

• Subject: 85 marks
• General Aptitude: 15 marks

Negative Marking Policy

• MCQs (1 mark): ⅓ mark deducted for wrong answers
• MCQs (2 marks): ⅔ mark deducted for wrong answers
• No negative marking for MSQ and NAT

Subject-wise Breakdown for CSE

Sections	Quesitons	Marks/Question	Marks
General Aptitude	10 (MCQ/MSQ/NAT)	1 or 2 marks	15
Computer Science & Engineering	25 (MCQ/NAT) + 30 (MSQ/NAT)	1 and 2 marks	85
Total	65		100

GATE CSE Syllabus for Computer Science & IT

The GATE CSE syllabus is structured into 10 core sections: Engineering Mathematics, Digital Logic, Computer Organization and Architecture, Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, Operating Systems, Databases, and Computer Networks. We have provided an in-depth analysis of these topics to support your 2026 exam preparation.

Section 1: Engineering Mathematics Syllabus

Chapters	Topic
Discrete Mathematics	Propositional and first-order logic Sets, relations, functions, partial orders and lattices Monoids, Groups Graphs: connectivity, matching, colouring Combinatorics: counting, recurrence relations, generating functions
Line Graph	Matrices Determinants System of linear equations Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors LU Decomposition
Calculus	Limits Continuity and differentiability Maxima and minima Mean value theorem Integration
Probability & Statistics	Random variables Uniform, normal, exponential, poisson and binomial distributions Mean, median, mode and standard deviation Conditional probability and Bayes theorem

Section 2: Digital Logic

1. Boolean algebra
2. Combinational and sequential circuits
3. Minimization
4. Number representations and computer arithmetic (fixed and floating-point)

Section 3: Computer Organization and Architecture

1. Machine instructions and addressing modes
2. ALU, data-path and control unit
3. Instruction pipelining, pipeline hazards
4. Memory hierarchy: cache, main memory and secondary storage; I/O interface (interrupt and DMA mode)

Section 4: Programming and Data Structures

1. Programming in C
2. Recursion
3. Arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary search trees, binary, heaps, graphs.

Section 5: Algorithms

1. Searching, sorting, hashing
2. Asymptotic worst-case time and space complexity
3. Algorithm design techniques: greedy, dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer
4. Graph traversals, minimum spanning trees, shortest paths

Section 6: Theory of Computation

1. Regular expressions and finite automata
2. Context-free grammars and push-down automata
3. Regular and contex-free languages, pumping lemma
4. Turing machines and undecidability

Section 7: Compiler Design

1. Lexical analysis, parsing, syntax-directed translation
2. Runtime environments
3. Intermediate code generation
4. Local optimisation, Data flow analyses: constant propagation, liveness analysis, common subexpression elimination

Section 8: Operating System

1. System calls, processes, threads, inter-process communication, concurrency and synchronization.
2. Deadlock
3. CPU and I/O scheduling
4. Memory management and virtual memory
5. File systems

Section 9: Databases

1. ER-model
2. Relational model: relational algebra, tuple calculus, SQL
3. Integrity constraints, normal forms
4. File organization, indexing (e.g., B and B+ trees)
5. Transactions and concurrency control

Section 10: Computer Networks

1. Concept of layering: OSI and TCP/IP Protocol Stacks
2. Basics of the packet, circuit and virtual circuit switching
3. Datalink layer: framing, error detection, Medium Access Control, Ethernet bridging
4. Routing protocols: shortest path, flooding, distance vector and link-state routing
5. Fragmentation and IP addressing, IPv4, CIDR notation, Basics of IP support protocols (ARP, DHCP, ICMP), Network Address Translation (NAT)
6. Transport layer: flow control and congestion control, UDP, TCP, sockets
7. Application layer protocols: DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, Email

GATE CSE Syllabus PDF

Candidates opting for Computer Science are advised to download the comprehensive syllabus PDF via the link below to initiate a structured and disciplined study plan.

Download Official GATE CSE Syllabus PDF

GATE CSE Section-wise Weightage

To optimize your study strategy, we have tabulated the expected section-wise weightage for the GATE CSE syllabus below.

GATE Topic	Expected Weightage in Marks
Theory of Computation	7.5
Compiler Design	2.75
Computer Organization & Architecture	9
Programming & Data Structures	10.5
Algorithms	8
Digital Logic	5.25
Operating System	9
General Aptitude	15
Computer Networks	7.5
Soft. Engg/ Web Technology	1.5
Engineering Maths	14.75
Database	7.5

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