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

Sakunth Kumar

Updated On: August 12, 2025 06:48 PM

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%. 

 

GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) Subject Wise Weightage

GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) Subject Wise Weightage 2026: GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 has been released by IIT Guwahati at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. GATE ME syllabus 2026 consists of 3 sections: Engineering Mathematics, General Aptitude, and Core Mechanical Engineering subjects. As per the GATE Mechanical Engineering section-wise weightage 2026, the General Aptitude section weightage is 15%, Engineering Mathematics section is 13%. The remaining 72% of the weightage is distributed among all Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 topics. Students must be aware of the GATE Mechanical Engineering subject wise weightage to know which are the high weightage topics and which topics carry low weightage in the previous years. In addition to that, GATE ME subject wise weightage will help you know the important topics from the GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering syllabus . As per the previous year paper's analysis, the high weightage topics of the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 are Heat Transfer, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Thermodynamics, Engineering Mechanics, etc. Students can check out the detailed GATE Mechanical Engineering subject wise weightage 2026 and GATE best books for Mechanical Engineering here.

Mechanical Engineering (ME) is one of the most opted papers in the GATE examination . IIT Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. GATE 2026 exam pattern and marking scheme have been released. While studying for GATE 2026, students must focus on the high weightage chapters of GATE Mechanical Engineering 2026. At the same time, students must not skip out the low weightage chapters of the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus 2026 as questions can be asked from any part of the syllabus.

Quick Links:

GATE 2026 Admit Card GATE 2026 Exam Centres
GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria GATE 2026 Exam Date

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 specialization.

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 analyze the high weightage chapters and focus on them during the exam preparation.

A total number 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 topic of the GATE Mechanical Engineering syllabus by analyzing 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 in studying the high-weightage topics of the GATE ME syllabus 2026.
  • By analyzing 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 what topic with high-weightage should be covered thoroughly. During last-minute revision, you can focus on the high-weightage topics.
  • You can prioritize 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 of top authors. Following are some of the best GATE books for Mechanical Engineering that have a good explanation of concepts and can be utilized 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.

Also Read: Best GATE Coaching Institutes in India

Other GATE Articles

Last Minute Preparation Tips for GATE Civil Engineering 2026

GATE 2026 Exam Day Instructions - Documents to Carry, Guidelines

Last Minute Preparation Tips for GATE Electrical Engineering 2026?

Last Minute Preparation Tips for GATE ECE 2026?

Last Minute Preparation Tips for GATE Civil Engineering 2026

GATE 2026 CS Subject Wise Marks, Percentage of Questions, Weightage

We hope that the above analysis of GATE Mechanical Engineering subject wise weightage 2026 shall help you in preparing for the exam effectively. Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for the latest GATE news and updates!

Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?

Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!

news_cta

FAQs

Which subject has the highest weightage in GATE mechanical?

As per the previous year GATE Mechanical Engineering subject wise weightage topics like Heat Transfer, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, etc carry high weightage in GATE ME.

Is 6 months enough for GATE mechanical?

Yes, 6 months can be enough for GATE Mechanical Engineering preparation if you have a proper study plan. However, we recommend that you begin your GATE preparation at least 8 months early so you have sufficient time for studying the syllabus topics, solving previous year papers/mock tests, and revision.

What is the weightage of vibration in GATE mechanical?

The vibration has around 6 to 8% weightage in GATE Mechanical Engineering 2026.

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

Linear Algebra, Probability and Statics, Calculus, Differential Equations, Numerical Methods, Complex Variable are the topics covered in the Engineering Mathematics of GATE 2026.

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.

View More
/articles/gate-mechanical-engineering-subject-wise-weightage-best-books/

Do you have a question? Ask us.

  • Typical response between 24-48 hours

  • Get personalized response

  • Free of Cost

  • Access to community

Recent Articles

Recent News

Subscribe to CollegeDekho News

By proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the CollegeDekho terms of use and privacy policy

Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India

View All