IIT Madras has extended the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window for scrutiny defects. It opened on 14 October 2026 and was due to close on 21 October, but the official Important Dates page now shows the closing date as Saturday, 31 October 2026. If your application has a defect, you can fix it on GOAPS within the extended GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window without paying any additional fee.
The GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window is only for candidates whose applications were marked defective during scrutiny by the zonal institutes. If you are not sure what your status means, read our guide on the GATE 2027 application under scrutiny status, and use our steps to check your GATE 2027 application status on GOAPS. For the full timeline up to the exam, see what to do after GATE 2027 registration closed.
GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window: Old Date vs New Date
Only the closing date has moved. Here is what changed on the official schedule:
| Event | Earlier date | New date |
|---|---|---|
| Rectification window opens | 14 October 2026 (Wednesday) | No change |
| Rectification window closes | 21 October 2026 (Wednesday) | 31 October 2026 (Saturday) |
| Fee to fix a scrutiny defect | No additional fee | No additional fee |
| Data correction window (with fee) | TBA | TBA |
| City allotment notification | 4 January 2027 | No change |
The extension adds 10 more days to the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window. The exam dates stay the same: 6 to 7, 13 to 14 and 20 to 21 February 2027.
Who Needs the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window?
The official notice says application scrutiny is still in progress at the zonal institutes. During the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window, you will see 1 of 3 main statuses when you log in to GOAPS, and each needs a different action:
- Application Under Scrutiny: your zone is still checking your form. No action is needed yet, but check your email and GOAPS regularly. If you used an unverified DigiLocker account, you must give consent to DigiLocker Drive and upload your photo ID as explained below.
- Application is Defective: your zone found a problem. Read the defect email, correct it on GOAPS and submit. This is exactly what the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window is for.
- Application in Order and Accepted: your application has been cleared. You do not need to do anything.
After you fix a defect, the status changes to Under Scrutiny: Defect Rectification Done. That means your form has gone back to the zone for a second check. It is not an error, so do not submit again unless you get a fresh defect email. Keep checking your inbox until the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window closes, in case your zone asks for another fix.
Defect Email Deadline vs the 31 October Last Date
The defect emails that candidates have received so far ask them to fix the problem within 3 days of the email. The 31 October date is the outer limit of the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window, not a reason to wait. Fix your defect as soon as you get the email.
Acting early also gives your zone time to check your correction before the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window closes. If the fix is not accepted the first time, you still have days left to try again. A candidate who waits until 31 October has no such cushion.
How to Fix GATE 2027 Scrutiny Defects on GOAPS
Follow these steps inside the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window:
- Open the GOAPS login page and sign in through DigiLocker.
- Choose the same DigiLocker account you used to pay your GATE 2027 fee. If your mobile number is linked to more than 1 account, DigiLocker shows a list, so pick the right one before you tap Sign In.
- Open your application and read the defect remark shown against it. It will match the defect email from your zone.
- Correct what the remark asks for, such as a new photo, a clearer signature, a fresh live face capture or a missing certificate.
- Submit the correction and check that the status changes to Under Scrutiny: Defect Rectification Done.
- Save a screenshot of the new status for your records.
If your defect is about a photo or the live face capture, retake it in bright, even light against a plain background, since low lighting is a reason given in many defect remarks.
GATE 2027 Photo ID Defect for Unverified DigiLocker Users
If you applied with an unverified DigiLocker account, your photo ID is checked during scrutiny, and IIT Madras has issued separate instructions for the PHOTOID defect in the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window. These are the exact rules:
- Give consent to GATE 2027 to access your DigiLocker Drive.
- Create a folder named GATE2027 in your DigiLocker Drive. The name must have no space between GATE and 2027.
- Upload your photo ID inside that folder with the file name exactly PHOTOID.pdf, in capital letters.
- Keep the file size between 10 KB and 600 KB.
- Do all of this in the same DigiLocker account you used to pay the fee.
If you have done all 5 things and the defect still does not clear, or the Submit button does not respond, record a short screen video showing each of these points. Then send it to your registered zonal institute using the contact list below.
Also remember that for candidates who registered with an unverified DigiLocker account, the original documents will be checked again at the exam hall. Carry the same photo ID you uploaded.
Multiple DigiLocker Accounts? Use the One You Paid With
Many candidates have both a verified and an unverified DigiLocker account on the same mobile number. During the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window, and later for the admit card and scorecard, you must log in with the account through which the fee was paid. Check which account is selected every time before you proceed.
IIT Madras has also asked candidates not to delete either account after applying. All future GATE 2027 communication will be linked only to the DigiLocker account used to submit the application.
GATE 2027 Zonal Contact Details
If you are stuck during the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window, contact the zonal institute that sent your defect email. These are the official contact details of the 8 zonal coordinating institutes for GATE 2027:
| Zonal institute | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | [email protected] | 080-22932644, 080-22932392, 080-22933333 |
| IIT Bombay | [email protected] | 022-25767068, 022-25767022 |
| IIT Delhi | [email protected] | 011-26591749 |
| IIT Guwahati | [email protected] | 0361-2582751 |
| IIT Kanpur | [email protected] | 0512-2596962, 0512-2596963 |
| IIT Kharagpur | [email protected] | 03222-282091, 03222-282095 |
| IIT Madras | [email protected] | 044-22578200 |
| IIT Roorkee | [email protected] | 01332-284531 |
When you write, mention your enrollment ID, paper code, the exact defect remark and what you have already tried, and attach your screenshots or screen video. The IIT Madras helpdesk takes application queries from Monday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, on government working days only. Since 31 October is a Saturday, do not leave your query for the last day of the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window.
What Happens If You Miss the 31 October Deadline?
As per the official FAQs, candidates are given chances to rectify a defect up to a deadline. After that, an application that still has a defect is treated as provisional or rejected. The GATE 2027 fee is also non-refundable, so do not let the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window close with your defect still open.
Rectification Window vs Data Correction Window
These are 2 different windows. The GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window is free and only fixes defects that your zone has flagged. The data correction window is a separate, paid window where, as per the official FAQs, candidates can request changes such as a different paper by paying a fee. Its dates are still TBA on the official schedule.
So if you want to change a detail that was not flagged as a defect, wait for the data correction window notice on the official GATE 2027 Important Dates page. Do not use the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window for it, because this window is meant only for defects flagged during scrutiny.
FAQs on GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window
What is the new last date of the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window?
The window now closes on Saturday, 31 October 2026. It opened on 14 October 2026 and was earlier due to close on 21 October 2026.
Is there any fee to fix GATE 2027 scrutiny defects?
No. Candidates who receive a defect notification can fix the defect during the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window without paying any additional fee.
Do I need to log in if my status is Application in Order and Accepted?
No. This status means your application has been cleared by your zonal institute, and no action is needed from you.
How do I fix the GATE 2027 photo ID defect for an unverified DigiLocker account?
Give consent to DigiLocker Drive, create a folder named GATE2027 with no space, and upload your photo ID inside it as a PDF named PHOTOID, between 10 KB and 600 KB, from the same account you paid with.
Which DigiLocker account should I use for defect rectification?
Use the DigiLocker account through which you paid the GATE 2027 application fee. If your mobile number has more than 1 account, select the correct one before signing in.
Whom should I contact if my GATE 2027 defect does not clear?
Contact the zonal institute that sent your defect email, with a short screen video showing the steps you followed. The IIT Madras helpdesk takes application queries from 5 PM to 7 PM on working weekdays.
Can I change my GATE paper in the rectification window?
No. The GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window is only for defects found in scrutiny. Paper changes are handled in the separate data correction window with a fee, whose dates are still to be announced.
What happens if I do not fix my defect by 31 October 2026?
As per the official FAQs, an application whose defect is not fixed within the GATE 2027 Application Rectification Window is treated as provisional or rejected, and the application fee is non-refundable.