The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 exams concluded day two on February 8, with Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Shift 2 reported as moderately difficult. Subject matter experts and student feedback indicate the paper included challenging Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) that tested time management.
GATE 2026 Day 2 Paper Analysis
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati administered the GATE 2026 exams for multiple subjects on February 8. The day featured two shifts. The second shift, held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, included papers for CS-1, ST, CS-2, EY, NM, and PE.
The CSE-2 paper presented a significant challenge. Questions focused on core areas like Algorithms, Operating Systems, and Programming & Data Structures. Engineering Mathematics questions in Linear Algebra and Probability were deemed moderate. Discrete Mathematics saw concept-based questions, while Graph Theory and Combinatorics contained trickier problems.
The General Aptitude section for CSE-2 was described as easy to moderate. Topics covered included basic Arithmetic, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning.
Subject-Specific Difficulty Levels
Analysis indicates varied difficulty across other subjects. Environmental Science and Engineering (EY) questions were generally considered moderate. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) was rated as easy to moderate.
The table below summarizes the reported difficulty and key topics for specific GATE 2026 subjects on February 8, Shift 2, based on student feedback and expert analysis.
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| CS-2 | Moderate | Algorithm, Operating System, Programming & Data Structure, Database, Computer Network, COA, Discrete Mathematics, Compiler Design, TOC |
| EY | Moderate | Population Ecology, Community Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Evolutionary Processes, Ecosystem functions and nutrient cycles |
| NM | Easy to moderate | Hydrostatics and Ship Stability, Resistance and Propulsion, Ship Structures and Strength of Materials |
| PE | Moderate | Reservoir Engineering, Drilling Engineering |
Earlier Sessions
The morning session on February 8 (Shift 1) was also reported as moderate. The CSE paper in this shift was noted as the toughest. The General Aptitude section for Shift 1 was considered easy.
The GATE 2026 examination schedule continues with remaining papers on February 14 and 15. These will also be conducted in two shifts per day.