The GATE 2026 examination will be taking place on 7th February, 8th February, 14th February and 15th February 2025. The exam is one of the most competitive postgraduate exams for students to take. However, on 8th February 2025, the UPSC ESE Prelims examination will also be taking place. As many engineering students aim to give both examinations, this clash of exam dates is causing confusion and distress amongst exam aspirants. As of now, students are feeling as though they will be required to make a choice between one exam or the other and are unsure as to which exam will be better for them.
How to Make a Better Choice Between GATE and ESE?
Students may be confused and unsure as to which exam to choose between the GATE examination and the ESE Prelims exams. Provided below is an overview of some tips all aspiring students can consider to make better-informed decisions between the two exams if the exam dates don’t change and continue to overlap.
The tips are as follows:
- Long-Term Goals:It is crucial for students to keep their long-term goals and plans in mind when they decide which exam to give. If students are aiming for top PSUs or pursuing IITs, they can continue to give the GATE examination. However, if students are aiming for government engineering, administrative and overlapping jobs, ESE could be a better option for them.
- Prepare for Both Carefully:Both exams do share some common ground in terms of subjects. These subjects include common engineering subjects, engineering mathematics and GA subjects. If a GATE exam branch for a student does not fall on the same day as the ESE exam, they may prepare for both exams with careful planning.
- Competition: Students who are intimidated by the competition of the GATE exam and are deciding between which examination to go for may prefer the ESE as it consists of significantly less competition in comparison to the GATE paper. While GATE has around 8 lakh aspirants, ESE consists of around 2 to 3 lakh per year. However, a drawback students must consider is that ESE does have lesser vacancies.
- Backups: If a student decides to give one over the other, it is crucial for them to keep backup exams and other options open due to the competitive nature of both exams. This could be through other exams or jobs if a student is not sure as to what to do.
Students Can Also Read: Best Online Courses for GATE
Will the dates for ESE Prelims Change?
As of yet, the ESE exam date still remains to be 8th February 2025. However, due to growing concern of students who aspire to give both exams, a change can be expected from either GATE or ESE. The ESE expected to release a notification on 17th September 2025, and students remain hopeful that a change in date will be in order to help students suffering from the confusion of choosing between both examinations.
GATE 2026 Important Dates
Provided below is an overview of the important dates for the GATE 2026 examination. Following the schedule for the GATE 2026 examination is very important as students are updated on all key events and deadlines about the GATE examination.
The schedule is as follows:
Event | Date |
GATE Online Application Form Opening | 28th August 2025 |
GATE Online Application Form Closing | 28th September 2025 |
Extended Period for Paying Fees for GATE | 9th October 2025 |
GATE 2025 Examination Date | 7th February 2026 8th February 2026 14th February 2026 15th February 2026 |
GATE 2026 Results | 19th March 2026 |
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