Gate For Science Students

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all –India Examination conducted by the six Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on behalf of the National Coordinating Board - GATE, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India.

The objective of the exam is to identify meritorious and inspired candidates for admission to Post Graduate Programmes in Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Pharmacy at the National level. In addition it serves as a benchmark for improvement of the Undergraduate Engineering Education in the country.
Now a days an ME or M.Tech degree is a desirable qualification for our young engineers seeking a rewarding professional career. Engineering students, while in the final year of their degree course, spend considerable time in seeking an opportunity to pursue higher studies in foreign universities, being oblivious of the fact that there are several institutions in the country, offering specialized postgraduate programmes in various disciplines.
Attractive scholarships, Assistantships for postgraduate courses in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Pharmacy in engineering colleges or institutes in the country are available to those who qualify through GATE. Many of the engineering colleges and institutes specify GATE as a mandatory qualification even for admission to their postgraduate programmes. Further GATE qualified candidates (in engineering subjects) are also eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in CSIR Laboratories.
With India becoming the hub of research and development (R&D) activities where several companies abroad are outsourcing these activities to Indian research institutions like CSIR, M.Tech., students have a big chance to grab more opportunities in the research sector where a PG degree carries weight.
Many top-notch industries and business houses are using the GATE score as one of the performance indicators for making recruitments. Some industries and universities abroad have even shown their interest in obtaining particulars of GATE qualified candidates. So a student who has completed B.Tech. at a State engineering college can look forward to doing M.Tech. in a more reputed institute like an IIT or NIT by taking GATE and thus increase his value in the job market.
The GATE examination consists of a single paper of 3 hours duration and carries a maximum of 150 marks. The eligibility criteria for appearing in the Gate examination are as follows:

• Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/ Pharmacy and those who are in the final or pre final year of such programmes.
• Master's degree holders in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics or equivalent and those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programmes. However, if the degree is in Master of Computer Applications, the candidate should have had courses in Mathematics at the Bachelor's or Master's level.

• Candidates in the second or higher year of the (Post B.Sc.) Four-Year Integrated Master's degree programme in Engineering/ Technology or in the third or higher year of the Five-year Integrated Master's degree/ Dual degree programme in Engineering/ Technology. Candidates with qualifications obtained through examination conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/ AICTE as equivalent to B.E./ B.Tech. Those who have completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.
Before applying for GATE 2008, candidates must assure themselves that they have chosen the right paper, which qualifies them to become eligible to seek admission to the specific programme they are interested in. The criteria for postgraduate admission with Scholarship/ Assistantship are different in various Institutes. The zones and the corresponding administrative institutes are:

Zone 1 - Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

Zone 2 - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Zone 3 - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Zone 4 - Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Zone 5 - Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Zone 6 - Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Zone 7 - Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Zone 8 - Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
So if one wants to pursue M.Tech program in a leading institute of the country and get a good placement or if one wants to go for specialization in the area of interest, GATE is literally a gateway to higher education and a promising career in engineering.