IIT Madras has reopened GATE 2027 registration for 1 last time. The GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration opens on Thursday 15 October 2026 at 10:30 AM and closes on Friday 16 October 2026 at 10:29 AM. That is exactly 24 hours, with the late fee, on the same GOAPS portal. The official notice says clearly that no further extension will be granted beyond this period.
If you missed the 12 October deadline, this GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration is your final chance to sit for GATE 2027. Already applied? You do not need this window. Use the GATE 2027 application form correction window instead to fix any detail. For the full road ahead, read our GATE 2027 registration closed guide, and keep our list of common GOAPS mistakes open while you fill the form.
What IITM Announced About the GATE 2027 Registration Reopening
On 14 October 2026, the notifications page of gate2027.iitm.ac.in posted this update: due to multiple requests received and upon consideration, the online registration portal (with late fee) will be reopened from 15 October 2026, 10:30 AM to 16 October 2026, 10:29 AM.
The same message appears as a pop-up on the official home page, with 2 extra lines. First, no further extension will be granted beyond this period. Second, candidates are highly recommended to complete their registration at the earliest without waiting for the last day. The Important Dates page now lists it as a new row called Special Window for Registration (with late fee).
GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration: Dates and Timings
Unlike earlier deadlines, which gave only a date, the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration has an exact opening and closing time. Here is where it sits in the updated official schedule.
| Stage | Date and Time | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Regular registration (no late fee) | 5 October 2026 | Closed |
| Extended registration (with late fee) | 12 October 2026 | Closed |
| GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration (with late fee) | 15 October 2026, 10:30 AM to 16 October 2026, 10:29 AM | Final chance |
| Application rectification | 14 to 21 October 2026 | Open for submitted forms |
| City allotment notification | 4 January 2027 | Upcoming |
| Admit card download | To be announced | Upcoming |
| GATE 2027 exams | 6 to 7, 13 to 14 and 20 to 21 February 2027 | Upcoming |
| Result | 19 March 2027 | Upcoming |
The GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration closes at 10:29 AM on Friday, not midnight. Many candidates may assume the window runs through Friday, so mark 10:29 AM on 16 October as your hard stop.
Who Should Use the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration
The GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration is meant for candidates who have no paid application yet. Find your case below.
| Your Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Never started a GATE 2027 form | Register fresh on GOAPS during the special window |
| Started a form but did not pay before 12 October | Log in and try to complete it; if the account is gone, register again |
| Paid, but status still shows Application submitted | Write to the helpdesk with your payment reference before paying again |
| Applied and paid successfully | Do not register again; use the correction window if needed |
IIT Madras said on 7 September that unpaid accounts would be deleted after the registration portal closes. So if you started a form but never paid, your old login may not work in this window. In that case, start a new registration with the same DigiLocker account rather than waiting for the old one to load.
Never use the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration to create a second paid application if you already have one. The fee is non-refundable, and a duplicate form only causes trouble during scrutiny.
GATE 2027 Late Fee in the Special Window
Every form submitted in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration pays the extended-period fee. The late fee is a flat ₹500 for the whole application, whether you choose 1 paper or 2.
| Category | 1 Paper | 2 Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Female, SC, ST, PwD | ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 |
| All others, including foreign nationals | ₹2,500 | ₹4,500 |
Payment in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration is online inside GOAPS. Keep 2 payment options ready, such as UPI and a debit card, in case 1 of them fails when many candidates pay at once.
Ready List: Finish These Before 10:30 AM on 15 October
You get only 24 hours, so do the slow work before the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration even opens. None of these steps needs GOAPS to be live.
- DigiLocker login works. Sign in once and check your name and date of birth. A verified account (e-KYC done) gives a smoother process at the exam hall.
- GATE2027 folder is ready. Put your category or PwD certificate in the DigiLocker Drive folder named GATE2027 with the file name asked for, sized between 10 KB and 600 KB.
- Photo and signature are scanned. Keep a recent photo and a clear signature ready as per the official Photograph and Signature page.
- Paper is decided. If you want 2 papers, check the allowed 2-paper combinations on the official site first.
- 6 exam cities are chosen. List your preferred cities in order so you do not lose time on the form.
- College details are at hand. College name, address with PIN code, roll number and qualifying degree details.
How to Apply in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration
The process inside the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration is the same as before. Only the time limit is shorter.
- Open GOAPS at goaps.iitm.ac.in/login, or click Login on the official site, any time after the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration opens at 10:30 AM on 15 October.
- Sign in through DigiLocker and allow GOAPS to fetch your details.
- Check fetched details such as name and date of birth, then add parent details, address and college information.
- Select your paper or papers and fill your 6 exam city choices.
- Complete the live face capture in good light and upload your photo and signature.
- Review every field once, then pay the fee online and save the confirmation page and payment reference.
After paying in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration, log in again and confirm that your status says the application is submitted and payment received successfully. If it does not, act on it the same day while the window is still open.
Problems in the 24-Hour Window and Quick Fixes
Heavy traffic is likely when the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration opens and again just before it closes. Here is how to handle the usual problems.
| Problem | What to Do |
|---|---|
| GOAPS loads slowly or times out | Wait a few minutes and log in again; do not keep clicking submit |
| DigiLocker data does not match the portal | Complete e-KYC in DigiLocker and try again, as advised by IITM |
| Live face capture fails | Move to better light and try another browser; candidates with visual impairment should contact the helpdesk |
| Money deducted but status not updated | Do not pay twice; email the helpdesk with your enrolment ID and payment reference |
| UPI keeps failing | Switch to a debit card or net banking |
The GATE helpdesk is at [email protected] and 044-22578200. Phone support for application queries runs Monday to Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, so on Friday 16 October the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration will close before the helpdesk phone line opens. Raise any issue on Thursday itself.
Why You Should Not Wait for Another Extension
GATE 2027 registration has already moved 3 times: the start date shifted to 2 September, regular registration was extended to 5 October, and the late-fee window ran till 12 October. This GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration is the first notice to say in plain words that no further extension will be granted.
The GATE 2027 exams start on 6 February, and IIT Madras still has to finish scrutiny and allot cities by 4 January. There is very little room left in that schedule, so treat the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration and its close on 16 October at 10:29 AM as truly final.
After You Apply in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration
Once your form is in, it goes through scrutiny like every other application. Watch your email, SMS and WhatsApp for any defect message, and see our guide on GATE 2027 application under scrutiny if your status changes. You can track progress using our steps to check GATE 2027 application status.
The rectification window is listed till 21 October 2026, so if you spot a mistake after submitting in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration, you may still be able to fix it for a small fee. Then put the remaining months into study with our 4-month plans for CSE, ECE, EE, ME and Civil, and follow our GATE Updates page for the next official notice.
FAQs on GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration
When is the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration?
It runs from 15 October 2026, 10:30 AM to 16 October 2026, 10:29 AM. That is a single 24-hour window.
Has IITM reopened GATE 2027 registration?
Yes. On 14 October 2026, IIT Madras announced that the online registration portal with late fee will reopen for this 24-hour special window.
What is the fee in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration?
The late fee applies. Female, SC, ST and PwD candidates pay ₹1,500 for 1 paper and ₹2,500 for 2 papers. All others pay ₹2,500 for 1 paper and ₹4,500 for 2 papers.
Will GATE 2027 registration be extended again after 16 October?
No. The official notice says no further extension will be granted beyond this period.
I already applied for GATE 2027. Should I apply again in the special window?
No. Do not create a second application. Use the rectification window, open till 21 October 2026, to change any detail.
My unpaid GATE 2027 form is not loading. What should I do?
IIT Madras said unpaid accounts would be deleted after the portal closed. Start a fresh registration with the same DigiLocker account during the special window.
Can I apply on the evening of 16 October?
No. The window closes at 10:29 AM on 16 October 2026, not at midnight. Finish your form and payment on 15 October if you can.
Where do I apply in the GATE 2027 Special Window for Registration?
On the official GOAPS portal, the same one used for regular registration. Open the official GATE 2027 website and click Login.