The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is not just an entrance exam for higher education—it also serves as a gateway to prestigious government jobs in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). For engineering graduates aspiring to build a career in India’s leading government-owned companies, qualifying GATE is the first major step.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, which is conducting GATE 2026, has recently extended the registration dates. As per the revised schedule, candidates can now start applying from August 28, 2025, through the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Initially, the registration was set to begin on August 25.

The last date to apply without a late fee is September 28, 2025, while candidates can still register with a late fee until October 9, 2025. The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, across two shifts—morning (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM) and afternoon (2:30 PM to 5:30 PM). Results are scheduled to be declared on March 19, 2026.

Traditionally, GATE scores were used for admission into postgraduate programs, research fellowships, and opportunities for studying abroad. However, in recent years, GATE has also become a recruitment channel for many PSUs. These government-owned companies—where the central or state government holds at least 51% stake—rely heavily on GATE scores for shortlisting candidates.

Clearing the GATE exam is only the first step. After securing a valid score, candidates applying for PSU jobs must go through additional stages such as:

• Group Discussions (GD)

• Personal Interviews (PI)

• In some cases, written tests or technical interviews

Based on performance in these stages and the GATE score, a merit list is prepared. Finally, selected candidates receive job offers from the respective PSU.

Several top public sector enterprises in India accept GATE scores for recruitment. Here’s a look at some of the major PSUs:

• Airports Authority of India (AAI)

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)

• Coal India Limited (CIL)

• Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)

• Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL)

• Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)

• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)

• Engineers India Limited (EIL)

• GAIL (India) Limited

• GRID India

• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL)

• National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)

• National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC)

• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

• National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)

• Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL)

• North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO)

• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

• Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL)

• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)

• Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO)

• Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL)

• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)

• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

These organizations offer a wide range of roles in engineering, operations, and management, making GATE an excellent pathway to a stable and rewarding career in the public sector.

If you are preparing for GATE 2026, remember that your score is not limited to academic opportunities but can also secure you a high-paying government job in India’s largest PSUs. With the exam scheduled for February and applications beginning on August 28, candidates must gear up for both the test and the subsequent recruitment process.

For those aiming at PSU jobs, cracking GATE could be the turning point that opens doors to long-term career security, growth, and the pride of serving in India’s premier government-owned enterprises.