GATE ME syllabus 2026
Explore 5 syllabus sections, download the source PDF and connect your revision to relevant previous year questions.
01 · EXPLORE THE SCOPE
Your syllabus at a glance
Choose a section to read its topics. Core and special topics follow the source document’s grouping; practice links appear where a catalog topic matches.
Engineering Mathematics
Linear Algebra · Calculus · Differential Equations
Applied Mechanics and Design
Engineering Mechanics · Mechanics of Materials · Theory of Machines
Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences
Fluid Mechanics · Heat Transfer · Thermodynamics
Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering
Engineering Materials · Casting, Forming and Joining Processes · Machining and Machine Tool Operations
General Aptitude
Basic English grammar · Basic vocabulary · Data interpretation
02 · SUBJECTS & TOPICS
Read the detailed syllabus
Use this as a revision checklist. Read the linked source PDF for the official wording and paper instructions.
Engineering Mathematics
Topics and scope
6 topicsLinear Algebra
Matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, eigen values and eigen vectors.
Calculus
- Functions of single variable, limit, continuity and differentiability, mean value theorems, indeterminate forms
- evaluation of definite and improper integrals
- double and triple integrals
- partial derivatives, total derivative, Taylor series (in one and two variables), maxima and minima, Fourier series
- gradient, divergence and curl, vector identities, directional derivatives, line, surface and volume integrals, applications of Gauss, Stokes and Green’s theorems.
Differential Equations
- First order equations (linear and nonlinear)
- higher order linear differential equations with constant coefficients
- Euler-Cauchy equation
- initial and boundary value problems
- Laplace transforms
- solutions of heat, wave and Laplace's equations.
Complex Variables
- Analytic functions
- Cauchy-Riemann equations
- Cauchy’s integral theorem and integral formula
- Taylor and Laurent series.
Probability and Statistics
- Definitions of probability, sampling theorems, conditional probability
- mean, median, mode and standard deviation
- random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions.
Numerical Methods
- Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations
- integration by trapezoidal and Simpson’s rules
- single and multi-step methods for differential equations.
Applied Mechanics and Design
Topics and scope
5 topicsEngineering Mechanics
- Free-body diagrams and equilibrium
- friction and its applications including rolling friction, belt-pulley, brakes, clutches, screw jack, wedge, vehicles, etc.
- trusses and frames
- virtual work
- kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies in plane motion
- impulse and momentum (linear and angular) and energy formulations
- Lagrange’s equation.
Mechanics of Materials
- Stress and strain, elastic constants, Poisson's ratio
- Mohr’s circle for plane stress and plane strain
- thin cylinders
- shear force and bending moment diagrams
- bending and shear stresses
- concept of shear centre
- deflection of beams
- torsion of circular shafts
- Euler’s theory of columns
- energy methods
- thermal stresses
- strain gauges and rosettes
- testing of materials with universal testing machine
- testing of hardness and impact strength.
Theory of Machines
- Displacement, velocity and acceleration analysis of plane mechanisms
- dynamic analysis of links
- cams
- gears and gear trains
- flywheels and governors
- balancing of reciprocating and rotating mass
- gyroscope.
Vibrations
- Free and forced vibration of single degree of freedom systems, effect of damping
- vibration isolation
- resonance
- critical speeds of shafts.
Machine Design
- Design for static and dynamic loading
- failure theories
- fatigue strength and the S-N diagram
- principles of the design of machine elements such as bolted, riveted and welded joints
- shafts, gears, rolling and sliding contact bearings, brakes and clutches, springs.
Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences
Topics and scope
4 topicsFluid Mechanics
- Fluid properties
- fluid statics, forces on submerged bodies, stability of float bodies
- control-volume analysis of mass, momentum and energy
- fluid acceleration
- differential equations of continuity and momentum
- Bernoulli’s equation
- dimensional analysis
- viscous flow of incompressible fluids, boundary layer, elementary turbulent flow, flow through pipes, head losses in pipes, bends and fittings
- basics of compressible fluid flow.
Heat Transfer
- Modes of heat transfer
- one dimensional heat conduction, resistance concept and electrical analogy, heat transfer through fins
- unsteady heat conduction, lumped parameter system, Heisler’s charts
- thermal boundary layer, dimensionless parameters in free and forced convective heat transfer, heat transfer correlations for flow over flat plates and through pipes, effect of turbulence
- heat exchanger performance, LMTD and NTU methods
- radiative heat transfer, Stefan-Boltzmann law, Wien's displacement law, black and grey surfaces, view factors, radiation network analysis.
Thermodynamics
- Thermodynamic systems and processes
- properties of pure substances, behavior of ideal and real gases
- zeroth and first laws of thermodynamics, calculation of work and heat in various processes
- second law of thermodynamics
- thermodynamic property charts and tables, availability and irreversibility
- thermodynamic relations.
Applications
- Power Engineering: Air and gas compressors
- vapour and gas power cycles, concepts of regeneration and reheat. I.C. Engines: Air-standard Otto, Diesel and dual cycles. Refrigeration and air-conditioning: Vapour and gas refrigeration and heat pump cycles
- properties of moist air, psychrometric chart, basic psychrometric processes. Turbomachinery: Impulse and reaction principles, velocity diagrams, Pelton-wheel, Francis and Kaplan turbines
- steam and gas turbines.
Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering
Topics and scope
8 topicsEngineering Materials
Structure and properties of engineering materials, phase diagrams, heat treatment, stress-strain diagrams for engineering materials.
Casting, Forming and Joining Processes
- Different types of castings, design of patterns, moulds and cores
- solidification and cooling
- riser and gating design. Plastic deformation and yield criteria
- fundamentals of hot and cold working processes
- load estimation for bulk (forging, rolling, extrusion, drawing) and sheet (shearing, deep drawing, bending) metal forming processes
- principles of powder metallurgy. Principles of welding, brazing, soldering and adhesive bonding.
Machining and Machine Tool Operations
- Mechanics of machining
- basic machine tools
- single and multi-point cutting tools, tool geometry and materials, tool life and wear
- economics of machining
- principles of non-traditional machining processes
- principles of work holding, jigs and fixtures
- abrasive machining processes
- NC/CNC machines and CNC programming.
Metrology and Inspection
- Limits, fits and tolerances
- linear and angular measurements
- comparators
- interferometry
- form and finish measurement
- alignment and testing methods
- tolerance analysis in manufacturing and assembly
- concepts of coordinate-measuring machine (CMM).
Computer Integrated Manufacturing
- Basic concepts of CAD/CAM and their integration tools
- additive manufacturing.
Production Planning and Control
- Forecasting models, aggregate production planning, scheduling, materials requirement planning
- lean manufacturing.
Inventory Control
- Deterministic models
- safety stock inventory control systems.
Operations Research
Linear programming, simplex method, transportation, assignment, network flow models, simple queuing models, PERT and CPM.
General Aptitude
Verbal Aptitude
2 topicsBasic English grammar
Tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech.
Basic vocabulary
Words, idioms, and phrases in context.
Reading and comprehension, Narrative sequence
0 topicsThe archive records this heading without separate topic details. Refer to the source PDF for its full context.
Quantitative Aptitude
2 topicsData interpretation
Data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2- and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables.
Numerical computation and estimation
Ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series. Mensuration and geometry. Elementary statistics and probability.
Analytical Aptitude
1 topicLogic
Deduction and induction, Analogy, Numerical relations and reasoning.
Spatial Aptitude
1 topicTransformation of shapes
- Translation, rotation, scale, mirroring, assembling, and grouping
- paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions.
03 · PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Turn the syllabus into a study routine
Learn, practise, then revisit
- Mark topics as new, learning or ready for revision.
- Study prerequisites, then attempt a small relevant PYQ set.
- Record the reason for each mistake and revise before increasing speed.
- Attempt a complete previous paper to check timing and mixed-topic recall.
Version, sources and coverage
Archived 2026 syllabus
Confirm upcoming-exam scope with the current organizing institute.
This taxonomy was extracted from the 2026 paper archive. Year-to-year changes have not been independently compared.
Some sections have no practice link because links require matching catalog labels. Imported tags do not establish complete coverage of every official subtopic.