Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for Instrumentation Engineering

About Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an examination that is conducted nation-wide each year with the aim of assessing the extent to which an Engineering graduate understands the various subjects that together form the curriculum of a branch of Engineering Studies. It is organized for almost all the branches of Engineering and Technology.

Students of Engineering who wish to pursue a post-graduate course in Engineering after completing their graduation need to take this exam so that they can to apply for their desired courses. Students pursuing Engineering with Instrumentation as their concentration also need to take GATE if they wish to go further into the study of the same branch after graduation.

The question paper for the examination is set in accordance with the syllabi of the various branches of Engineering. Same is the case for Instrumentation. As Instrumentation is not so common a branch, the number of seats up for grabs through GATE for a post-graduate course in this field is also not very high.

Conducting GATE

The GATE is organized every year in the month of February jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven of the Indian Institutes of Technology. It is administered, controlled and conducted by these institutes on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB) – GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), and Government of India. Each year, one of the eight institutes is chosen as the “Organizing Institute” and is responsible for conducting the examination that year.

GATE eligibility

To be eligible to sit for the GATE, one should take up Science at the class 12 levels with Physics, Math and Chemistry. Following this, one needs to go for a graduate course in Engineering, i.e., B.Tech. Those who wish to go for an M.Tech or M.E. in Instrumentation later on should take up a similar course at the under-graduate level too. The branches that can be opted for are Instrumentation, Electronics, Applied Electronics and Instrumentation, etc. One’s aggregate marks throughout Engineering should be 50% at least to render them eligible for taking the GATE.

Attempting GATE

What matters in GATE is not only the rank that a student secures, but also the score that they get. This is especially true in the case of Instrumentation aspirants as the number of seats is extremely less and one needs to secure a rank under 100 to get into the top-most institutes.

The syllabus comprises of most of the subjects taught throughout B.Tech. One’s concepts and basics need to be very clear to be able to score well in this exam.

The application forms for GATE come out in the month of November and the exam takes place on the second Sunday of February. Some institutes also conduct interviews after the written test and select students on the basis of the cumulative result of both.

Besides providing one with a chance to study in one of the premier Science and/or Technological institutes of India, a high GATE score also gives those applying for jobs in the Public Sector an upper edge.

Courses one can apply for through GATE

• M.Tech (Instrumentation)
• M.E. (Aerospace)
• M.E. (Micro Electronics)
• M.E. (System Science and Automation)
• M.Tech (Electronic Design & Technology)