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Article Summary
- GATE CSE syllabus 2026 covers General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and core Computer Science subjects in a 100-mark, 3-hour CBT with MCQ, MSQ, and NAT questions, where core subjects together contribute about 72% of the total marks.
- Expected GATE CSE 2026 subject-wise weightage highlights high-impact areas: General Aptitude and Programming & Data Structures carry 15 marks each, Engineering Mathematics 13 marks, Computer Networks 10 marks, and Operating Systems 9 marks.
- GATE CSE exam pattern 2026 includes 65 questions for 100 marks, with sections divided into General Aptitude (15 marks, 10 questions), Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), and core CSE subjects (72 marks), testing technical, numerical, and logical skills.
The GATE syllabus for CSE covers all the core areas of Computer Science Engineering, along with General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics. The paper is a 100-mark computer-based test (CBT) and includes MCQs, MSQs, and NAT questions. A clear understanding of the GATE 2026 syllabus for CSE helps candidates plan their preparation, prioritise high-weightage topics, and avoid studying unnecessary content. Read this article to understand the GATE CSE Syllabus, subject-wise weightage, detailed topic coverage, and the latest exam pattern.
Contents
GATE 2026 Expected Subject-Wise Weightage
The GATE Computer Science paper consists of multiple core technical subjects along with General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics. In the table below, we have listed the names of the CSE subjects along with their total weightage in the GATE exam.
| Topics | Expected Weightage (2026) |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 |
| Discrete Mathematics | |
| Digital Logic | 6 |
| Computer Organization and Architecture | 8 |
| Programming and Data Structure | 15 |
| Algorithms | 7 |
| Theory of Computation | 6 |
| Compiler Design | 4 |
| Operating System | 9 |
| Databases | 7 |
| Computer Networks | 10 |
Note: It is crucial to note that the weightage mentioned above is the expected weightage based on previous year trends.
Also Read: Aptitude Syllabus for GATE | Check Topic Wise Aptitude Syllabus
Complete Breakdown of GATE CSE Syllabus in 2026
The GATE CSE syllabus 2026 clearly lists all the topics that candidates must prepare for the exam. The syllabus mainly includes three major parts: General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Core Computer Science subjects.
Core subjects such as Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Operating Systems, Databases, and Computer Networks carry the maximum weight. Having a clear idea of the complete GATE CSE syllabus 2026 helps students plan their studies in a structured way and avoid missing any important topics.
GATE CSE Syllabus 2026 for General Aptitude
The General Aptitude section is common for all GATE papers and carries 15% of the total marks. This section checks basic English skills, logical thinking, and numerical ability. It is considered a high-scoring section if practised regularly.
| Topics | Sub-topics |
| Verbal Aptitude | English grammar, vocabulary, reading, and comprehension, narrative sequencing |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Data interpretation, 2 & 3-dimensional plots, maps & tables, numerical computation and estimation (ratios, percentages, powers, exponents & logarithms), permutations & combinations, mensuration & geometry, elementary statistics & probability |
| Analytical Aptitude | Logic (deduction & induction), analogy, numerical relations & reasoning |
| Spatial Aptitude | Transformation of shapes (translation, mirroring, rotation & scaling), assembling & grouping, paper folding, cutting, and patterns (2 & 3 dimensions) |
GATE CSE Syllabus 2026 for Engineering Mathematics
The Engineering Mathematics section builds the base for problem-solving in the exam. It covers topics from Linear Algebra, Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, and Probability & Statistics. This section contributes around 13% of the total marks, and strong fundamentals here help in solving both direct and integrated questions.
| Topics | Syllabus |
| Linear Algebra | Matrices, determinants, system of linear equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, LU decomposition |
| Calculus | Limits, continuity and differentiability, maxima and minima, mean value theorem, integration |
| Discrete Mathematics | Propositional and first order logic, sets, relations, functions, partial orders and lattices, monoids, groups, graphs (connectivity, matching, coloring), combinatorics (counting, recurrence relations, generating functions) |
| Probability and Statistics | Random variables, uniform distributions, normal distributions, exponential distributions, Poisson distributions, binomial distributions, mean, median, mode and standard deviation, conditional probability, Bayes theorem |
GATE CSE Syllabus 2026 for Core Subjects
The core subjects form the most important part of the GATE CSE paper and together contribute nearly 72% of the total marks. These subjects test both conceptual understanding and practical problem-solving ability. To score well, candidates must develop strong fundamentals and practise a wide range of problems.
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Digital Logic | Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential circuits, minimization, number representations and computer arithmetic (fixed and floating-point) |
| Computer Organization and Architecture | Machine instructions and addressing modes, ALU, data-path and control unit, instruction pipelining and pipeline hazards, memory hierarchy (cache, main memory and secondary storage), I/O interface (interrupt and DMA mode) |
| Programming and Data Structures | Programming in C, recursion, arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary search trees, binary heaps, graphs |
| Algorithms | Searching, sorting, hashing, asymptotic worst-case time and space complexity, algorithm design techniques (greedy, dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer), graph traversals, minimum spanning trees, shortest paths |
| Theory of Computation | Regular expressions and finite automata, context-free grammars and push-down automata, regular and context-free languages, pumping lemma, Turing machines and undecidability |
| Compiler Design | Lexical analysis, parsing, syntax-directed translation, runtime environments, intermediate code generation, local optimization, data flow analyses (constant propagation, liveness analysis, common subexpression elimination) |
| Operating System | System calls, processes, threads, inter-process communication, concurrency and synchronization, deadlock, CPU and I/O scheduling, memory management and virtual memory, file systems |
| Databases | ER-model, relational model (relational algebra, tuple calculus, SQL), integrity constraints, normal forms, file organization, indexing (B and B+ trees), transactions and concurrency control |
| Computer Networks | Concept of layering (OSI and TCP/IP protocol stacks), basics of packet, circuit and virtual circuit switching, data link layer (framing, error detection, MAC, Ethernet bridging), routing protocols (shortest path, flooding, distance vector and link-state routing), fragmentation and IP addressing, IPv4 and CIDR notation, IP support protocols (ARP, DHCP, ICMP), Network Address Translation (NAT), transport layer (flow control, congestion control, UDP, TCP, sockets), application layer protocols (DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, Email) |
Also Read: GATE Architecture Syllabus
GATE CSE Exam Pattern 2026
Understanding the exam pattern and structure of the GATE CSE 2026 paper is very important for aspirants preparing for the exam. The GATE 2026 Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) examination will be conducted in computer-based (online) mode.
The paper is designed to assess candidates’ technical understanding, numerical ability, and logical thinking within a fixed time framework. The total duration of the examination is 3 hours, and the maximum score is 100 marks. All these questions can be a combination of MCQ, MSQ, and NAT.
| Section | Marks Weightage | Number of Questions |
| General Aptitude (GA) | 15 Marks | 10 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 Marks | Varies |
| Core CSE Subjects | 72 Marks | Varies |
| Total | 100 Marks | 65 |
Preparation Tips for GATE CSE 2026
Preparing for GATE CSE 2026 requires a clear study plan, a strong understanding of core concepts, and regular practice. Since the exam focuses on both theory and problem-solving skills, candidates should balance conceptual learning with numerical practice. A structured and consistent approach can significantly improve performance.
- Start by understanding the complete GATE CSE syllabus and identify high-weightage subjects such as Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, DBMS, and Computer Networks.
- Build strong fundamentals before solving advanced problems, especially in Engineering Mathematics and core Computer Science subjects.
- Practise previous years’ GATE questions regularly to understand the exam pattern, question difficulty, and commonly repeated topics.
- Take mock tests frequently and analyse your mistakes to improve accuracy, time management, and question-selection strategy during the actual exam.
The GATE CSE syllabus 2026 covers a balanced mix of General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and core Computer Science subjects, with core topics contributing the majority of marks. Understanding the exam pattern, subject-wise weightage, and detailed syllabus helps candidates focus on high-impact areas and avoid unnecessary topics. With a structured study plan, strong fundamentals, and consistent practice through previous papers and mock tests, aspirants can significantly improve their performance and maximise their GATE score.
FAQs
The GATE syllabus for CSE covers General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and core computer science subjects such as Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, DBMS, Computer Networks, Digital Logic, Computer Architecture, Compiler Design and Theory of Computation.
The GATE CSE syllabus usually remains almost the same every year, with only very minor adjustments occasionally. Most core subjects and topics stay stable, so candidates can safely prepare using previous years’ syllabus and standard reference materials.
Yes, Engineering Mathematics is a compulsory part of the GATE CSE syllabus and carries significant weight. It mainly includes discrete mathematics, linear algebra, probability, statistics and calculus, which help test logical reasoning and problem-solving ability.
General Aptitude is an important section in the GATE CSE syllabus and is common for all branches. It tests verbal ability, numerical ability and logical reasoning, and contributes a fixed and reliable portion of marks in the paper.
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