How to prepare for GATE exam? Which books should I refer?

The GATE paper will be divided into sections like engineering mathematics, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, etc.
Here's the GATE 2026 Syllabus for Civil Engineering

Bachelor's degree holder from IITs with a CGPA of 8.0 or above can get direct admission in M.Tech programme of IIT Dhanbad without GATE. The respective department reviews such applications and seats for such aspirants are supernumerary.

Yes, you can get M.Tech admission without a GATE  in Bangalore colleges through institute specific entrance exams. The seats are sponsored in IITs and NITS. Private and state universities also offer direct admissions via their own tests or merit. 

Source: External site and may vary.

No, the GATE cutoffs for IIT Patna 2025 admissions are currently unknown. The only availabe cutoff data for MSc admissions at IIT Patna comes from IIT JAM. The GATE cutoffs may differ from the IIT JAM however, the difficulty of both exams is relatively the same. Hence, candidates can expect similar

Yes, you can join M.Tech admission in M.Tech colleges in Mumbai without GATE through university-specific entrance exams like VITMEE, BITS HD, SRMJEEE PG, or through direct admission for IIT/NIT graduates with high CGPA, sponsored seats, or management quota, with options in private colleges like BITS