The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)is an all �India Examination conducted by the six Indian Institutes ofTechnology and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on behalf of theNational Coordinating Board - GATE, Ministry of Human ResourcesDevelopment (MHRD), Government of India.The objective of theexam is to identify meritorious and inspired candidates for admissionto Post Graduate Programmes in Engineering, Technology, Architectureand Pharmacy at the National level. In addition it serves as abenchmark for improvement of the Undergraduate Engineering Education inthe country.Now a days an ME or M.Tech degree is a desirablequalification for our young engineers seeking a rewarding professionalcareer. Engineering students, while in the final year of their degreecourse, spend considerable time in seeking an opportunity to pursuehigher studies in foreign universities, being oblivious of the factthat there are several institutions in the country, offeringspecialized postgraduate programmes in various disciplines. Attractivescholarships, Assistantships for postgraduate courses in Engineering /Technology / Architecture / Pharmacy in engineering colleges orinstitutes in the country are available to those who qualify throughGATE. Many of the engineering colleges and institutes specify GATE as amandatory qualification even for admission to their postgraduateprogrammes. Further GATE qualified candidates (in engineering subjects)are also eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) inCSIR Laboratories. With India becoming the hub of research anddevelopment (R&D) activities where several companies abroad areoutsourcing these activities to Indian research institutions like CSIR,M.Tech., students have a big chance to grab more opportunities in theresearch sector where a PG degree carries weight. Many top-notchindustries and business houses are using the GATE score as one of theperformance indicators for making recruitments. Some industries anduniversities abroad have even shown their interest in obtainingparticulars of GATE qualified candidates. So a student who hascompleted B.Tech. at a State engineering college can look forward todoing M.Tech. in a more reputed institute like an IIT or NIT by takingGATE and thus increase his value in the job market. The GATEexamination consists of a single paper of 3 hours duration and carriesa maximum of 150 marks. The eligibility criteria for appearing in theGate examination are as follows:� Bachelor's degree holdersin Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/ Pharmacy and those who are inthe final or pre final year of such programmes.� Master's degreeholders in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics or equivalentand those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programmes.However, if the degree is in Master of Computer Applications, thecandidate should have had courses in Mathematics at the Bachelor's orMaster's level.� Candidates in the second or higher year ofthe (Post B.Sc.) Four-Year Integrated Master's degree programme inEngineering/ Technology or in the third or higher year of the Five-yearIntegrated Master's degree/ Dual degree programme in Engineering/Technology. Candidates with qualifications obtained through examinationconducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/ AICTE asequivalent to B.E./ B.Tech. Those who have completed Section A orequivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.Beforeapplying for GATE 2008, candidates must assure themselves that theyhave chosen the right paper, which qualifies them to become eligible toseek admission to the specific programme they are interested in. Thecriteria for postgraduate admission with Scholarship/ Assistantship aredifferent in various Institutes. The zones and the correspondingadministrative institutes are: Zone 1 - Indian Institute of Science BangaloreZone 2 - Indian Institute of Technology BombayZone 3 - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Zone 4 - Indian Institute of Technology GuwahatiZone 5 - Indian Institute of Technology KanpurZone 6 - Indian Institute of Technology KharagpurZone 7 - Indian Institute of Technology MadrasZone 8 - Indian Institute of Technology RoorkeeSoif one wants to pursue M.Tech program in a leading institute of thecountry and get a good placement or if one wants to go forspecialization in the area of interest, GATE is literally a gateway tohigher education and a promising career in engineering.
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