Steps to Challenge GATE 2026 Answer Key (Soon) - Dates, Fees, Process & Refund Rules

Steps to challenge the GATE 2026 answer key require students to visit the official website, click on the link, raise & submit objections within deadlines. Students with provisional status could challenge the GATE answer key 2026 by visiting the GOAPs portal. You could challenge the GATE 2026 answer key IITR by going to the GOAPS portal and clicking on the raising objections link.
You had to log in with your enrollment ID & password and then pay the GATE answer key challenging fees of INR 500 per question (USD 10 for NRI applicants) to raise objections. The final answer key of GATE 2026, along with master question papers for each subject, has been released on the official website. GATE 2026 results have been released on March 19, 2026. Go through this article to get thorough details about the steps to challenge the GATE 2026 answer key.

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GATE Answer Key Important Dates 2026

Check out the important dates related to the GATE 2026 answer key challenge and final release:-

Event	Dates
GATE 2026 Exam Date	February 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026 Response Sheet Release Date	February 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026 Answer Key Release Date	February 2026 (Tentative)
Objections Against GATE 2026 Answer Key	February to March 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026 Final Answer Key Release Date	April 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026 Results on the Online Application Portal	March 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026 Scorecard	March 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026 Scorecard Download after the Deadline by Paying INR 500 Fees	June to December 2026 (Tentative)

How to Download the GATE Answer Key 2026?

The GATE 2026 answer key is available through the GOAPS portal. You can use the steps to download the GATE exam answer key.

• Step 1:Visit the official website of IIT Guwahati, gate2026.iitr.ac.in

• Step 2: Log in to the GOAPS portal using your Enrollment ID/ Email ID and password

• Step 3: Go to the answer key link for the subject for which you appeared

• Step 4: Save and download the answer key for future reference

How to Challenge the GATE Answer Key 2026?

GATE authorities provide the provision of challenging the GATE answer key 2026 in case you find any errors in it. To raise objections against the GATE 2026 answer key, IITR, you can find the steps mentioned below:-

• Log in to GOAPS portal link at gate2026.iitr.ac.in

• On the homepage, click on the content answer key option.

• You will be redirected to a new payment page.

• Pay the GATE answer key challenge fee, which is INR 500 for Indian students and US$10 for NRI students.

• After paying the GATE answer key challenge fees, you will be able to object.

• Find the question number for which you want to object to the official answer key, and also enter the question ID and the correct answer.

• Attach supporting documents in PDF format along with the section name and question number in the supporting document.

• You will have to raise objections within the 500-character limit.

• Go through the details provided and submit them.

GATE 2026 Answer Key Challenge Fees

One of the most important steps to challenge the GATE 2026 answer key is to pay the fee. The GATE answer key objection fees can be paid in an online mode through Credit Card or Debit Card, or Internet Banking Facility. Further, the GATE 2026 answer key challenge fee is INR 500/- for Indian students & $ 10 for NRI students.

GATE 2026 Answer Key Challenge Fee Refund Rules

If the challenge filed by students on any question of the GATE answer key is found to be correct, they will be eligible for a refund of INR 500 that was paid at the time of challenging the answer key. The amount will be refunded to the source paymentmethodd

Importance of GATE Answer Key 2026

The answer key to GATE 2026 contains all the answers to the questions asked in the GATE 2026 exam :-.

• The GATE exam answer key will enable you to assess your probable scores before the results are released. However, to evaluate the ranking, you would have to abide by the method of the official marking system.

• Using this system, you will be able to raise any questions or concerns regarding the GATE 2026 answer key within a limited timeline.

• All the issues/objections of the applicant shall be considered by the examining officials before the results of the GATE 2026 are declared.

• The GATE exam answer key would also provide clarity in the admission proces,s as it reduces the chance of unwanted consequences for the students and extra marks awarded in GATE 2026.

GATE Marking Scheme for MCQs, MSQs, NATs

Before checking the GATE answer key, you should be familiar with the marking scheme so that you can mark them appropriately. The table below shows the marking scheme for GATE MCQs, MSQs, and NATs. Make sure you pay attention because a mistake in calculating marks can affect your predicted result.

Steps to Calculate the Score Using the GATE Answer Key 2026

You can estimate their expected score using the GATE 2026 answer key by following the steps listed below:

1. Determine the total number of correct answers, then assign points based on those answers to arrive at the final score.

2. You must compute the number of points deducted for incorrect answers. (Only MCQs (multiple choice questions) will receive a negative grade. There will be no negative marking for NAT. The calculation is as follows:

• MCQ Marks: Total marks (1 mark) + Total marks (2 marks).

• Total marks (1 mark) = 1 x no. of correct attempts – 1/3 x no. of wrong attempts.

• Total marks (2 marks) = 2 x number of correct attempts – 2/3 x number of wrong attempts.

• NAT Marks: Total marks (1 mark) + Total marks (2 marks).

Formula: Total marks = Total marks secured for correct answer minus negative marks for incorrect answer.

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So, while raising objections against the GATE answer key 2026, carefully check out the serial number of the questions as mentioned in the official GATE 2026 question paper. Once the GATE answer key objection window is closed, the authorities will review all the objections received and verify the sources. If the objections raised by the students are true, the authorities will modify the GATE exam answer key. Following that, the final GATE answer key 2026 will be released. For any queries regarding the steps to challenge the GATE 2026 answer key, log on to our CollegeDekho Q&A Zone or contact our toll-free helpline number 18005729877.