GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) PYQs: previous year papers, answer keys and the 2027 syllabus
All 10 official ME papers from 2020 to 2026 with their answer keys (each as a PDF), how the marks were spread across topics, and what changed for GATE 2027.
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GATE ME previous year papers with answer keys
Topic-wise weightage
GATE ME marks by topic, 2020–2026
Marks out of the 85 subject marks in each paper (General Aptitude adds 15), counted from the official papers and keys. Where a year had two sets, the sets are averaged first, so each year counts once. On average, Manufacturing Engineering carried the most marks (14.6 per paper); Mechanics of Materials varied the most, from 6 to 16 marks.
Year by year
| Topic | Average | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineering | 14.6 | 15 | 16 | 13.5 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 12 |
| Mechanics of Materials | 8.5 | 6.5 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| Fluid Mechanics | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 6 |
| Industrial Engineering | 7.1 | 6.5 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
| Thermodynamics | 6.8 | 10 | 6.5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| Heat Transfer | 6.7 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 |
| Theory of Machines | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Applied Mechanics | 4.1 | 4 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Machine Design | 3.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Calculus | 3.3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Vibrations | 2.9 | 3 | 4.5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Differential Equations | 2.7 | 1 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Thermal Applications | 2.4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Engineering Materials | 2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Linear Algebra | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | – |
| Complex Variables | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Probability and Statistics | 1.7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Numerical Methods | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
GATE 2027 syllabus
What changed in the GATE 2027 ME syllabus
Mostly additions: two-degree-of-freedom vibration, control basics, combustion, additive manufacturing, automation and quality topics.
Added or expanded
- Free and forced vibration of two-degree-of-freedom systems; damping estimation; transmissibility ratio
- Control systems: transfer function and PID controller
- Boiling and condensation; one-dimensional high-speed compressible flow through converging and converging-diverging nozzles
- Basics of combustion: air-fuel ratio and equivalence ratio; pumps and pump characteristics
- Crystal structure of metals; polymers, composites and ceramics; casting defects; solid-state welding; non-destructive testing
- Tool geometry (ASA and ORS systems); additive manufacturing processes and products
- Pneumatic, electro-pneumatic and hydraulic actuators; programmable logic controllers
- Work study, productivity, six sigma, and quality and reliability concepts
Removed
- Lagrange's equation
- Heisler's charts (unsteady conduction stays)
- Testing with the universal testing machine (now 'mechanical properties of materials')
1 past ME question is on removed topics
These topics are no longer listed in the 2027 syllabus, so you can give them less time. They stay in the papers (the papers are official), marked in each answer key.
Compared line by line with the official 2026 syllabus. Source: GATE 2027 information brochure, IIT Madras (revised 27 September 2026).
Download the official GATE 2027 ME syllabus (PDF)Questions about GATE ME
Which topics carry the most marks in GATE ME?
Across the official GATE Mechanical Engineering papers from 2020–2026, the topics with the most marks per paper on average were Manufacturing Engineering (14.6 marks), Mechanics of Materials (8.5 marks), Fluid Mechanics (8.2 marks). General Aptitude adds a fixed 15 marks.
Has the GATE 2027 ME syllabus changed?
Yes. Mostly additions: two-degree-of-freedom vibration, control basics, combustion, additive manufacturing, automation and quality topics.
Are GATE ME previous year papers still useful for 2027?
Yes, for most topics: the core of the syllabus is the same. Questions on topics removed in 2027 (Lagrange's equation; Heisler's charts (unsteady conduction stays)) are no longer listed in the 2027 syllabus, so give them less time.
When is the GATE 2027 exam?
GATE 2027 is organised by IIT Madras on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027, in a forenoon (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM) and an afternoon (2:30 PM to 5:30 PM) session. Results are due on 19 March 2027. The date of each paper is announced by IIT Madras.
How many GATE ME papers can I practise on Lemyte?
10 official papers from 2020–2026. Each one runs as a full 3-hour test on an exam-style screen and is marked with the official answer key.