GATE 2027 rectification window extended: fix defects free till October 31
By TUF News Desk · Published 20 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Anyone who submitted their GATE 2027 form with a blurry photograph or a mismatched ID just got ten extra days. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras, which is organising GATE 2027, has extended the application rectification window to October 31, 2026. The window had been scheduled to close on October 21; the October 21 date is now struck out on the official timeline.
CareerIndia reported the extension on Tuesday afternoon. The correction window opened on October 14 and is now live for scrutiny defects only.
What you can fix for free
This window covers problems that IIT Madras flagged during the scrutiny of your application, not voluntary changes to details you entered correctly. If you received a defect email or see an item flagged under Application Status in GOAPS, log in and respond to it.
Re-uploading a rejected or blurred photograph or signature costs nothing. Correcting a mismatched photo identity number is also free, as is uploading missing SC, ST or Persons with Disabilities certificates through DigiLocker. Use the file names IIT Madras specifies: CATEGORY.pdf for a category certificate and PWD_CERT.pdf for a PwD certificate, both inside a “GATE2027” folder in your DigiLocker account.
The photo itself has to meet strict rules, so check the two uploads first. It must be a recent colour passport photo on a white background, with the face covering 60 to 70 per cent of the frame, in JPEG format between 200 by 260 and 530 by 690 pixels. The signature has to be in dark blue or black ink, between 250 by 80 and 580 by 180 pixels, filling 70 to 80 per cent of the box.
What costs money, and what you cannot change at all
IIT Madras has published a fee schedule for candidate-requested changes. Most self-requested edits, such as changing exam cities or the exam paper, cost Rs 500 per paper. Changes that move a candidate from a lower application fee group to a higher one, like switching from female to another gender or from SC or ST to an unreserved category, cost Rs 1,500, which is the Rs 500 correction charge plus the Rs 1,000 fee difference.
CareerIndia notes that the separate fee-based data-change window may be announced on its own schedule, so candidates should confirm on GOAPS exactly when these edits open before paying anything. Some things stay locked: the enrolment ID, the registered email and mobile number, and adding a second paper are not part of the editable list. If something outside the list is genuinely wrong, the GATE 2027 helpdesk accepts application queries Monday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, on 044-22578200.
Do it on GOAPS, and do not wait
Corrections happen only on the GOAPS portal. Our admission documents checklist is a useful companion while you have your uploads open, since a second mistake in a corrected form cannot be fixed again; there is no second window. Log in with your DigiLocker credentials, open the Defects section, follow the note shown, re-upload compliant files and resubmit. Then check that your application status moves to Defect Rectification Done.
The official dates after the window: exam city allotment on January 4, 2027, and the examination on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027. Results are expected on March 19, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for GATE 2027 application rectification?
October 31, 2026. IIT Madras extended the window from the earlier October 21 deadline. Rectification of scrutiny defects is free; self-requested data changes carry a fee.
Which details can be fixed for free in the GATE 2027 rectification window?
Re-uploading a rejected photograph or signature, correcting a mismatched photo ID number, and uploading missing SC, ST or PwD certificates through DigiLocker are all free.
Where do I make the corrections?
On the GOAPS portal, also reachable through the official GATE 2027 website. Corrections can only be made there; no other site or agent can change your form.
When will GATE 2027 be held?
The computer-based test is scheduled for February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027, with exam city allotment planned for January 4, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for GATE 2027 application rectification?
October 31, 2026. IIT Madras extended the window from the earlier October 21 deadline. Rectification of scrutiny defects is free; self-requested data changes carry a fee.
Which details can be fixed for free in the GATE 2027 rectification window?
Re-uploading a rejected photograph or signature, correcting a mismatched photo ID number, and uploading missing SC, ST or PwD certificates through DigiLocker are all free.
Where do I make the corrections?
On the GOAPS portal at goaps.iitm.ac.in, which is also reachable from the official GATE 2027 website, gate2027.iitm.ac.in. Corrections can only be made there; no other site or agent can change your form.
When will GATE 2027 be held?
The computer-based test is scheduled for February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027, with exam city allotment planned for January 4, 2027.
Sources: CareerIndia, GATE Notes, Collegedunia