GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) Subject Wise Weightage & Best Books 2026

GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 has been released at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. As per the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage, Mechanical Engineering carries 72% weightage, General Aptitude with 15%, and Engineering Mathematics having 13%.

Table of Contents

GATE Mechanical Engineering Topic Wise Weightage 2026
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2026
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Marks Weightage 2023
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject-Wise Marks Weightage 2022
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2021 (SET 1)
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2021 (SET 2)
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2020
GATE 2019 Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2018
GATE ME Subject Wise Weightage 2017
GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2016
Best GATE Books for Mechanical Engineering 2026
Faqs

GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) Subject Wise Weightage 2026: The GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering syllabus has been officially released by IIT Guwahati on the website gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The syllabus includes three key parts – General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Core Mechanical Engineering subjects. The General Aptitude section carries 15% weightage, while Engineering Mathematics covers 13%. The remaining 72% is allotted to core topics such as Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, and Engineering Mechanics. According to the latest exam analysis, these areas have consistently held higher importance in past GATE exams. IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. As Mechanical Engineering remains one of the most popular papers, you should prioritise high‑weightage topics while still reviewing all parts of the syllabus. Understanding the subject‑wise weightage helps plan your preparation strategically and improve your chances of scoring a top rank.

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GATE Mechanical Engineering Topic Wise Weightage 2026

The GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering exam will consist of 3 sections, namely Engineering Mathematics, General Aptitude, and Mechanical Engineering specialisation. Students can check the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 topic-wise weightage below.

Total No. of Questions	Total Number of Questions	Marks Allotted
General Aptitude	15	10
Engineering Mathematics	13	10
Mechanical Engineering Subjects	72	45
Total	100 Questions	65 Marks

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2026

IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 syllabus for Mechanical Engineering. The GATE ME syllabus 2026 consists of 4 sections, namely Engineering Mathematics, Applied Mechanics and Design, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences and Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering. Among all these 4 sections of the GATE 2026 ME syllabus, there are various topics and sub-topics. Students must know the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage to know important topics and prepare them well. The GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage will help students analyse the high-weightage chapters and focus on them during the exam preparation.

A total of 65 questions will be asked from the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026. The GATE 2026 exam will be held for a total of 100 marks. Students can check out the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage from 2022 to 2015 below.

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Marks Weightage – 2022-2015
Subjects	GATE 2022	GATE 2021	GATE 2020	GATE 2019	GATE 2018	GATE 2017	GATE 2016	GATE 2015
Heat Transfer	10 marks	6 marks	4-5 marks	6 marks	3-5 marks	5 marks	7 marks	6 marks
Engineering Mechanics	8 marks	2 marks	4 marks	4 marks	3-5 marks	3 marks	4-6 marks	6 marks
Engineering Mathematics	13 marks	13 marks	13 marks	14 marks	13 marks	14 marks	15 marks	12 marks
Fluid Mechanics	4 marks	6 marks	7 marks	7 marks	9 marks	9 marks	8 marks	7 marks
General Aptitude	15 marks	15 marks	15marks	15 marks	15 marks	15 marks	15 marks	15 marks
Machine Design	3 marks	7 marks	6 marks	6 marks	4 marks	6 marks	2-6 marks	4 marks
Industrial Engineering	8 marks	7 marks	6 marks	4-5 marks	5 marks	4-5 marks	4-5 marks	5 marks
Thermal Engineering	4 marks	6 marks	13 marks	9 marks	11 marks	10 marks	11 marks	12 marks
Manufacturing Engineering	15 marks	18 marks	16 marks	15 marks	16 marks	14 marks	14 marks	16 marks
Theory of Machines and Vibrations	7 marks	7 marks	8 marks	9 marks	7 marks	8 marks	7 marks	9 marks
Mechanics of Materials	6 marks	7 marks	5 marks	9 marks	11 marks	9 marks	11 marks	8 marks

Also Read: Last Minute Preparation Tips for GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering?

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Marks Weightage 2023

Students can check out the GATE ME syllabus weightage 2023 for various topics below:

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject/Topics	Average Marks
Gear and Gear Train	2
Column	–
Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration Analysis	2
Bending Theory	2
DOF	2
Engineering Mathematics	15
Engineering Mechanics	4
Fluid Mechanics	5-7
Flywheel and Governors	2
General Aptitude	15
Heat Transfer	5
Hydraulic Machines	2
IC Engine	2
Metal Cutting	2
Material Science	02
Machine Design	5
Machine Tool Operations	2
Industrial Engineering	5-7
Materials Science	–
Metal Casting	2
RAC	2
Metal Forming	2-4
Metrology and Inspection	2-3
Simple Stress and Strain	2
Power Plan Engineering	–
Principal Stresses	1
Strength of Materials	8
Non-Conventional Machining Process	2
SFD and BMD	2
Production Engineering	15
Slope and Deflection	2
Joining Process	2-4
Theory Of Machine	8
Thin Cylinder	–
Torsion Theory	–
Vibration	2

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject-Wise Marks Weightage 2022

Students can check out the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage of topics 2022 below.

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subjects	Average Marks
I C Engine	2
Thermodynamics	4
Engineering Mechanics	8
Fluid Mechanics and Machinery	4
Engineering Mathematics	15
General Aptitude	15
Heat Transfer	10
Industrial Engineering	8
Machine Design	3
TOM & Vibrations	7
Power Plant	3
Refrigerating and Air Conditioning	-
Strength of Materials	6
Manufacturing Engineering and Materials	15

Also Read: GATE 2026 Paper Analysis

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2021 (SET 1)

Go through the GATE ME subject wise weightage 2021 along with the average marks and topics below.

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject/Topics	Topics	Average Marks
Fluid Mechanics & Machinery	Flow-Through Jets Fluid Properties Fluid Machinery Pressure & Manometry	6
Thermodynamics	Properties of Pure Substances Thermodynamics Relation The first law of Thermodynamics	6
Engineering Mathematics	Linear Algebra Laplace Probability Differential Equation Limit & Continuity Complex Number	13
Engineering Mechanics	Langrangian equation	2
Engineering Materials	Heat Treatment & Crystallography	–
Industrial Engineering	Sequencing Queuing Theory Inventory PERT & CPM	7
General Aptitude	Numerical Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning	15
Heat Transfer	FIns Conduction Unsteady State of Conduction Radiation	6
IC Engine	Working of Cycles	1
Strength of Materials	Stresses & strains Deflection of Beams Bending of Beams	7
Machine Design	Fatigue Loading Welded Joints Springs Brakes	7
manufacturing	Metal Cutting Computer Integrated Manufacturing Metrology & Inspection Machine tools Casting, Welding, Forming	18
PP	Rankine cycle	2
Theory of Machines & Vibrations	Balancing Simple Mechanics & their inversion Gyroscope Vibration	7
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning	Psychrometry Air conditioning	3
Total		100

Quick Link:

GATE 2023 Question Paper PDF with Solutions and Answer Key PDF	GATE 2022 Question Paper PDF with Solutions and Answer Key PDF
GATE 2021 Question Paper PDF with Solutions and Answer Key PDF	GATE Civil Engineering Question Paper
GATE CSE Question Paper	GATE ME Question Paper

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2021 (SET 2)

Check out the GATE ME subject wise weightage 2021 for the SET 2 exam along with the average marks below.

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject/Topics	Topics	Average Marks
Thermodynamics	Properties of Pure Substance Entropy	3
Engineering Mathematics	Differential Equation Linear Algebra Integral Calculus Complex Number Laplace Probability Numerical Methods	13
Engineering Mechanics	Friction Trusses Laws of Motion	5
Fluid Mechanics & Machinery	Fluid Kinematics Turbulent Flow Fluid Dynamics Fluid Machinery	9
General Aptitude	Numerical Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning	15
Heat Transfer	Free & Force Convection Heat Exchanger	5
IC Engine	–	–

Machine Design	Fatigue Loading	2
PP	Rankine cycle Compressible Flow	4
Industrial Engineering	PERT & CPM Transporation & assignment Inventory Forecasting	7
Engineering Materials	Phase Diagram	1
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning	Air conditioning Basics of refrigeration	3
Strength of Materials	Theory of Failures Deflection of Beams Buckling	7
Theory of Machines & Vibrations	Velocity & acceleration analysis of simple mechanism Gear & Gear trains Flywheel Governor Vibration	10
Manufacturing	Metal Cutting Computer Integrated Manufacturing Metrology & Inspection Machine tools Casting, Welding, Forming Non-Conventional Machining Powder Metallurgy	16

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2020

Students can check out the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject wise weightage for the academic year 2020 in the following table.

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subjects	GATE ME Topics	Average Marks
Thermodynamics	Entropy Thermodynamic Relations Properties of Pure Substance Laws of thermodynamics	4.5
Engineering Mathematics	MATRIX Complex number Laplace Vector Integration Probability Numerical Methods	13.5
Engineering Materials	Heat Treatment & Crystallography	1.5
Engineering Mechanics	Dynamic of motions Force & its Resolution Truss Rotational motion Collision	3.5
Fluid Mechanics & Machinery	Fluid Statics Properties of Fluid Fluid Kinematics Laminar Flow through Pipe & Plates Dimensional Analysis Fluid Dynamics Fluid Machinery	9.5
Heat Transfer	Steady & Unsteady State of Conduction Heat Exchanger Radiation Fins Free & Forced Convection	4.5
General Aptitude	Numerical Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning	15
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning	Basics of refrigerator and pump Psychrometry	1.5
IC Engine	Working of Cycles	2.5
Industrial Engineering	Inventory Linear Programming Production Planning & Control PERT & CPM Line Balancing	6.5
Machine Design	Joints, Clutch, Gear, & shaft Static & variable loading	4.5
Manufacturing	Welding, Casting, Metal Forming, Metal Cutting & Machine Tools Non-conventional machining Metrology & Inspection Computer-integrated manufacturing	15.5
Power plant	Rankine cycle A gas turbine Compressor	4.5
Strength of Materials	Shear Force & Bending Moment Diagrams, Mohr circle Principal Stresses Buckling of Column	5.5
Theory of Machines & Vibrations	Gear & Gear Trains Flywheel Simple Mechanism & their inversions Balancing Mechanical Vibration Cams	7.5

GATE 2019 Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage

Go through the GATE ME subject-wise weightage 2019 given below.

Topic	Marks Weightage
Engineering Mechanics	4
Engineering Mathematics	14
General Aptitude	15
Theory of Machines and Vibrations	9.5
Mechanics of Material	9
Machine Design	6
Thermal Engineering	9.5
Fluid Mechanics	7
Industrial Engineering	4.5
Heat Transfer	6.5
Manufacturing Engineering	15

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2018

The GATE ME subject-wise weightage for the academic year 2018 has been mentioned below.

Topic	Marks Weightage
Theory of Machines and Vibrations	7.5
Engineering Mathematics	13.5
Engineering Mechanics	3.5
Mechanics of Material	11
General Aptitude	15
Machine Design	4
Thermal Engineering	11
Fluid Mechanics	9.5
Manufacturing Engineering	16.5
Heat Transfer	3.5
Industrial Engineering	5

GATE ME Subject Wise Weightage 2017

Check out the GATE ME 2017 subject-wise weightage below.

Topic	Marks Weightage
Engineering Mathematics	14.5
General Aptitude	15
Mechanics of Material	9
Engineering Mechanics	3
Fluid Mechanics	9.5
Machine Design	6.5
Theory of Machines and Vibrations	8.5
Manufacturing Engineering	14
Heat Transfer	5.5
Thermal Engineering	10
Industrial Engineering	4.5

GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject Wise Weightage 2016

You can find out the important topics of the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus by analysing the subject-wise weightage below.

Topic	Marks Weightage
Mechanics of Material	11.6
General Aptitude	15
Engineering Mathematics	15
Engineering Mechanics	4.6
Theory of Machines and Vibrations	7.3
Machine Design	2.6
Thermal Engineering	11.3
Fluid Mechanics	8
Manufacturing Engineering	14.3
Heat Transfer	7.3
Industrial Engineering	4.5

Benefits of Analysing GATE Mechanical Engineering Subject-Wise Weightage

Going through the GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage will help you with your exam preparation in the following ways:

The GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage will help you plan your study accordingly. You can allot more time to studying the high-weightage topics of the GATE ME syllabus 2026.
By analysing the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject-wise weightage 2026, you can figure out the GATE Mechanical Engineering important topics and study them well. The important topics of the GATE ME syllabus carry high-weightage and have several questions asked of them.
While doing revision, you know which topic with high-weightage should be covered thoroughly. During last-minute revision, you can focus on the high-weightage topics.
You can prioritise topics with more marks and not spend days studying topics with much less weightage.

Quick Links:

GATE 2026 Rank Predictor	GATE 2026 College Predictor

Best GATE Books for Mechanical Engineering 2026

To prepare for the GATE ME paper, students must study from the best books for GATE 2026 . Students must refer to the books that are as per the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 and are by top authors. The following are some of the best GATE books for Mechanical Engineering that have a good explanation of concepts and can be utilised for exam preparation.

Name of the Book	Author
Engineering Mechanics	RK Rajput
Engineering Mathematics	UC Jindal
Mechanics of Materials	Beer & Johnson
Mechanics of Materials	BC Punima
Mechanical Vibrations	GC Grover
Theory of Mechanisms and Machines	A Ghosh and AK Malik
A Text-Book of Fluid Mechanics	RK Bansal
Design of Machine Elements	VB Bhandari
Fluid Mechanics - Fundamentals and Applications	Cengel & Cimbala
Heat Transfer (Revised Edition)	JP Holman
Power Plan Engineering	PK Nag
Internal Combustion Engines	V Ganesan
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning	CP Arora
Manufacturing Engineering and Technology	Kalpakjian
Operation Research	Kanti Swarup

You can get these books from all the leading bookstores or e-commerce portals. If you are in the final year of B.Tech , you can also visit your college library for these books.

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FAQs

Which subject has the highest weightage in GATE 2026 mechanical?

You can boost your GATE Mechanical score by prioritising high-weightage topics from recent years, like Manufacturing Engineering (up to 16 marks), Industrial Engineering (around 5 marks), Heat Transfer (5-6 marks), and Engineering Mechanics (2-8 marks). These areas often carry 24% or more in sections like Materials, Manufacturing, and Industrial Engineering.

What is the weightage of vibration in GATE 2026 mechanical?

In GATE Mechanical Engineering 2026, you will find vibrations carrying about 6 to 8% weightage, typically 6 to 8 marks out of 100. Past trends show it is bundled with the Theory of Machines at 7 to 9 marks, making it a scoring area. Focus here to boost your rank effectively.

What are the topics covered in GATE 2026 ME Engineering Mathematics?

For GATE 2026, you will find Engineering Mathematics covering key areas like Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Methods, and Complex Variables. These topics typically carry 13-15 marks across branches, based on recent trends, making them a high-scoring section if you master the basics. Focus on practice to boost your score.

Which topics had more weightage in the past few years for GATE Mechanical Engineering?

The topics which had more weightage in the recent years are Mechanics of Materials, Theory of Machines and Vibrations, Thermal Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.

Are marks and weightage of subjects fixed in GATE?

No, the marks and weightage of each subject for GATE are not fixed but by analyzing the previous year question papers it can be concluded that it follows a certain pattern that can be useful by GATE aspirants for their exam preparation.