
The GATE 2026 Chemistry exam will assess candidates across three key sections: Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. These sections will include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), multiple-select questions (MSQs), and numerical answer type (NAT) questions.
| Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| Chemistry Syllabus | Download PDF |
| General Aptitude Syllabus | Download PDF |
“The overall syllabus has not introduced any new section or has removed any from the earlier syllabus.”
The Core Chemistry Subjects consist of 85% of the total marks. The General aptitude will have 15% marks. You will get 25 questions worth 1 mark each and 30 questions carrying 2 marks each in GATE Chemistry Exam 2026.
Key Statistics Related to GATE Chemistry Syllabus from the Previous Year:
Trending Topics Related to Gate 2026 Syllabus:
3.1 Important Topics For Gate Chemistry 2026
7.1 Section 1: Physical Chemistry
7.2 Section 2: Inorganic Chemistry
7.3 Section 3: Organic Chemistry
8.1 4-Week Preparation Guide for GATE Chemistry 2026
The exam is designed to assess the candidate's understanding and application of core chemical concepts, along with their general aptitude. The exam is divided into two main sections: General Aptitude and Chemistry, with a total of 65 questions worth 100 marks. The duration of the exam is 3 hours, and candidates will face different types of questions, including MCQs, MSQs, and NATs.
| Sections in GATE CY Paper | Number of Questions | Types of Questions | Total Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 | MCQ | 15 | 3 hours |
| Chemistry | 55 | MCQ, MSQ, or NAT | 85 | |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
Out of the total 65 questions, the exam includes a variety of question types, including Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), along with Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. The marking scheme also incorporates 1 marks for incorrect answers in MCQs, while MSQs have no negative marking.
| Type of Question | Marks per Question | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | 1 mark or 2 marks | 1/3 for 1-mark, 2/3 for 2-marks |
| Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) | 1 mark or 2 marks | No negative marking |
| Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | 1 mark or 2 marks | No negative marking |
Based on the analysis of past trends, Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry is the highest weighted topic, accounting for 17% of the total marks, while Coordination Chemistry in Inorganic Chemistry has a weightage of 11%. Candidates should focus more on these high-weightage areas while preparing for the exam.
| Section | Topic | Approximate Weightage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Chemistry | Chemical Equilibrium | 6 |
| Chemical Kinetics | 8 | |
| Group Theory | 4 | |
| Quantum Mechanics | 10 | |
| Thermodynamics | 8 | |
| Inorganic Chemistry | Coordination Chemistry | 11 |
| Main Group Elements | 5 | |
| Organometallics | 3 | |
| Bioinorganic Chemistry | 2 | |
| Organic Chemistry | Reaction Mechanisms | 17 |
| Stereochemistry | 5 | |
| Spectroscopy | 5 | |
| Biomolecules | 3 |
| Section | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Physical Chemistry |
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| Inorganic Chemistry |
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| Organic Chemistry |
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| Analytical Chemistry |
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| Biomolecules |
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Based on the GATE 2026 Chemistry syllabus, certain sections carry more weight in terms of the number of questions. High-priority topics like Chemical Kinetics, Organic Synthesis, and Reaction Mechanisms each contribute 5 questions, making them high-weightage areas, and Reaction Mechanisms also hold a similar importance with 5 questions. On the other hand, Group Theory, Main Group Elements, and Transitional Elements each contribute 3 questions.
| Section | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Chemical Equilibrium | 4 |
| Chemical Kinetics | 5 |
| Group Theory | 3 |
| Transitional Elements | 3 |
| Stereochemistry | 4 |
| Organic Synthesis | 5 |
| Biomolecules | 2 |
| Experimentation Techniques in Organic Chemistry | 2 |
| Reaction Mechanisms | 5 |
| Spectroscopy | 2 |
| Main Group Elements | 4 |
| Organometallics | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Spectroscopy | 2 |
| Solids | 2 |
| Radioactivity | 2 |
| Heterocyclic Compounds | 2 |
| Pericyclic Reactions and Photochemistry | 2 |
After checking the GATE Chemistry syllabus question papers from 2023 to 2019, we have observed the following distribution of questions across major topics:
| Year | Physical Chemistry | Organic Chemistry | Inorganic Chemistry | Analytical Chemistry | Total Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 55 |
| 2022 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 6 | 55 |
| 2021 | 22 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 55 |
| 2020 | 18 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 55 |
| 2019 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 55 |
Yes, while the GATE exam is challenging, with focused preparation it is definitely achievable. Many candidates successfully clear the exam each year by mastering topics and managing their time effectively.
The competition is very high. In GATE 2024, around 8.1 lakh candidates appeared for the exam, but only 17-18% managed to qualify. It checks in-depth knowledge of core subjects of engineering and requires effective time management since around 85% questions are from specialized topics. Here are the statistics:
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Candidates (GATE 2024) | 8.1 lakh |
| Qualifying Percentage (GATE 2024) | 17-18% |
| Number of Questions | 65 questions (100 marks) |
| Core Subjects Weightage | 85% (Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry) |
| General Aptitude Weightage | 15% |
| Difficulty Level (2024) | Moderate to Tough |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark for 1-mark MCQs, 2 marks for 2-mark MCQs |
| Expected High-Weightage Topics | Chemical Kinetics, Organic Synthesis, Chemical Equilibrium, Reaction Mechanisms |
| Cutoff (General Category, 2024) | 32-34 marks (out of 100) |
| Top 3 Core Subjects | Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry |
| Topic | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Structure | Postulates of quantum mechanics. Operators. Time dependent and time independent, Schrödinger equations. Born interpretation. Dirac bra-ket notation. Particle in a box: infinite and finite square wells; concept of tunneling; particle in 1D, 2D and 3D-box; applications. Harmonic oscillator: harmonic and anharmonic potentials; Hermite polynomials. Rotational motion: Angular momentum operators, Rigid rotor. Hydrogen and hydrogen-like atoms: atomic orbitals; radial distribution function. Multi-electron atoms: orbital approximation; electron spin; Pauli exclusion principle; Slater determinants. Approximation Methods: Variation method and secular determinants; first-order perturbation techniques. Atomic units. Molecular structure and Chemical bonding: Born-Oppenheimer approximation; Valence bond theory and linear combination of atomic orbitals – molecular orbital (LCAO-MO) theory. Hybrid orbitals. Applications of LCAOMO theory to H2+, H2; orbital theory (MOT) of homo- and heteronuclear diatomic molecules. Hückel approximation and its application to annular π – electron systems. |
| Group Theory | Symmetry elements and operations; Point groups and character tables; Internal coordinates and vibrational modes; symmetry adapted linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO-MO); construction of hybrid orbitals using symmetry aspects. |
| Spectroscopy | Atomic spectroscopy; Russell-Saunders coupling; Term symbols and spectral details; origin of selection rules. Rotational, vibrational, electronic and Raman spectroscopy of diatomic and polyatomic molecules. Line broadening. Einstein’s coefficients. Relationship of transition moment integral with molar extinction coefficient and oscillator strength. Basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance: gyromagnetic ratio; chemical shift, nuclear coupling. |
| Equilibrium | Laws of thermodynamics. Standard states. Thermochemistry. Thermodynamic functions and their relationships: Gibbs-Helmholtz and Maxwell relations, Gibbs-Duhem equation, van’t Hoff equation. Criteria of spontaneity and equilibrium. Absolute entropy. Partial molar quantities. Thermodynamics of mixing. Chemical potential. Fugacity, activity and activity coefficients. Ideal and Non-ideal solutions, Raoult’s Law and Henry’s Law, Chemical equilibria. Dependence of equilibrium constant on temperature and pressure. Ionic mobility and conductivity. Debye-Hückel limiting law. Debye-Hückel-Onsager equation. Standard electrode potentials and electrochemical cells. Nernst Equation and its application, the relationship between Electrode potential and thermodynamic quantities, Potentiometric and conduct metric titrations. Phase rule. Clausius- Clapeyron equation. Phase diagram of one component system: CO2, H2O, S; two component systems: liquid- vapour, liquid-liquid and solid-liquid systems. Fractional distillation. Azeotropes and eutectics. Statistical thermodynamics: microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles, Boltzmann distribution, partition functions and thermodynamic properties. |
| Kinetics | Elementary, parallel, opposing and consecutive reactions. Steady state approximation. Mechanisms of complex reactions. Unimolecular reactions. Potential energy surfaces and classical trajectories, Concept of Saddle points, Transition state theory: Eyring equation, thermodynamic aspects. Kinetics of polymerization. Catalysis concepts and enzyme catalysis. Kinetic isotope effects. Fast reaction kinetics: relaxation and flow methods. Diffusion controlled reactions. Kinetics of photochemical and photophysical process |
| Surfaces and Interfaces | Physisorption and chemisorption. Langmuir, Freundlich and Brunauer– Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherms. Surface catalysis: Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. Surface tension, viscosity. Self-assembly. Physical chemistry of colloids, micelles and macromolecules. |
| Topic | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Main Group Elements | Hydrides, halides, oxides, oxoacids, nitrides, sulfides – shapes and reactivity. Structure and bonding of boranes, carboranes, silicones, silicates, boron nitride, borazines and phosphazenes. Allotropes of carbon, phosphorus and sulphur. Industrial synthesis of compounds of main group elements. Chemistry of noble gases, pseudohalogens, and interhalogen compounds. Acid-base concepts and principles (Lewis, Brønsted, HSAB and acid base catalysis). |
| Transition Elements | Coordination chemistry – structure and isomerism, theories of bonding (VBT, CFT, and MOT). Energy level diagrams in various crystal fields, CFSE, applications of CFT, Jahn-Teller distortion. Electronic spectra of transition metal complexes: spectroscopic term symbols, selection rules, Orgel and Tanabe-Sugano diagrams, nephelauxetic effect and Racah parameter, charge-transfer spectra. Magnetic properties of transition metal complexes. Ray-Dutt and Bailar twists, Reaction mechanisms: kinetic and thermodynamic stability, substitution and redox reactions. Metal-metal multiple bond. |
| Lanthanides and Actinides | Recovery. Periodic properties, spectra, and magnetic properties. |
| Organometallics | 18-Electron rule; metal-alkyl, metal-carbonyl, metal-olefin and metal- carbene complexes and metallocenes. Fluxionality in organometallic complexes. Types of organometallic reactions. Homogeneous catalysis - Hydrogenation, hydroformylation, acetic acid synthesis, metathesis and olefin oxidation. Heterogeneous catalysis - Fischer- Tropsch reaction, ZieglerNatta polymerization. |
| Radioactivity | Detection of radioactivity, Decay processes, half-life of radioactive elements, fission and fusion processes. |
| Bioinorganic Chemistry | Ion (Na+ and K+) transport, oxygen binding, transport and utilization, electron transfer reactions, nitrogen fixation, metalloenzymes containing magnesium, molybdenum, iron, cobalt, copper and zinc. |
| Solids | Crystal systems and lattices, Miller planes, crystal packing, crystal defects, Bragg’s law, ionic crystals, structures of AX, AX2, ABX3 type compounds, etc. |
| Instrumental Methods of Analysis | UV-visible, fluorescence and FTIR spectrophotometry, NMR and ESR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy (Fe and Sn) and X-ray crystallography. Chromatography including GC and HPLC. Electroanalytical methods- polarography, cyclic voltammetry, ion-selective electrodes. Thermoanalytical methods. |
| Topic | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Stereochemistry | Chirality and symmetry of organic molecules with or without chiral centres and determination of their absolute configurations. Relative stereochemistry in compounds having more than one stereogenic centre. Homotopic, enantiotopic and diastereotopic atoms, groups and faces. Stereoselective and stereospecific synthesis. Conformational analysis of acyclic and cyclic compounds. Geometrical isomerism and optical isomerism. Configurational and conformational effects, atropisomerism, and neighbouring group participation on reactivity and selectivity/specificity |
| Reaction Mechanism | Basic mechanistic concepts – kinetic versus thermodynamic control, Hammond’s postulate and Curtin-Hammett principle. Methods of determining reaction mechanisms through kinetics, identification of products, intermediates and isotopic labelling. Linear free-energy relationship – Hammett and Taft equations. Nucleophilic and electrophilic substitution reactions (both aromatic and aliphatic). Addition reactions to carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom (N and O) multiple bonds. Elimination reactions. Reactive intermediates — carbocations, carbanions, carbenes, nitrenes, arynes and free radicals. Molecular rearrangements. |
| Organic Synthesis | Synthesis, reactions, mechanisms and selectivity involving the following classes of compounds – alkenes, alkynes, arenes, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, nitriles, halides, nitro compounds, amines and amides. Uses of Mg, Li, Cu, B, Zn, P, S, Sn and Si based reagents in organic synthesis. Carbon-carbon bond formation through coupling reactions - Heck, Suzuki, Stille, Sonogoshira, Negishi, Kumada, Hiyama, Tsuji-Trost, olefin metathesis and McMurry. Concepts of multistep synthesis - retrosynthetic analysis, strategic disconnections, synthons and synthetic equivalents. Atom economy and Green Chemistry, Umpolung reactivity – formyl and acyl anion equivalents. Selectivity in organic synthesis – chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity. Protection and deprotection of functional groups. Concepts of asymmetric synthesis – resolution (including enzymatic), desymmetrization and use of chiral auxiliaries, organocatalysis. Carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming reactions through enolates (including boron enolates), enamines and silyl enol ethers. Stereoselective addition to C=O groups (Cram, Prelog and Felkin-Anh models). |
| Pericyclic Reaction and Photochemistry | Electrocyclic, cycloaddition and sigmatropic reactions. Orbital correlations - FMO and PMO treatments, Woodward-Hoffmann rule. Photochemistry of alkenes, arenes and carbonyl compounds. Photooxidation and photoreduction. Di-π-methane rearrangement, Barton-McCombie reaction, Norrish type-I and II cleavage reaction. |
| Heterocyclic Compounds | Structure, preparation, properties and reactions of furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, indole, quinoline and isoquinolin |
| Biomolecules | Structure, properties and reactions of mono- and di-saccharides, physicochemical properties of amino acids, chemical synthesis of peptides, chemical structure determination of peptides and proteins, structural features of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, steroids, terpenoids, carotenoids, and alkaloids. |
| Experimental Techniques in Organic Chemistry | Optical rotation (polarimetry). Applications of various chromatographic techniques such as thin-layer, column, HPLC and GC. Applications of UV-visible, IR, NMR and Mass spectrometry in the structural determination of organic molecules. |
Based on the past data, core topics always have high marks in the exams. These core subjects take up around 60 to 70% of marks Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. s in the total exams and hence should be given importance.
In addition, practicing mock tests and revision consistently will improve your time management skills, which is critical for this 3-hour exam. The following study plan is designed to cover all these areas systematically over 4 weeks, with a focus on concept clarity, problem-solving, and regular assessment.
| Week | Focus Area | Topics | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Core Concepts and Fundamentals | Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics | Revise basic concepts and formulas. Practice previous year questions (PYQs). Solve 20-30 MCQs daily. |
| Quantum Chemistry, Molecular Spectroscopy | Watch concept videos or refer to standard textbooks (e.g., Atkins, McQuarrie). | ||
| Week 2 | Organic and Inorganic Chemistry | Reaction Mechanisms: SN1, SN2, E1, E2, and aromatic substitution reactions. | Make concise notes for reaction mechanisms. Focus on reagent-based questions. |
| Transition Metals, Coordination Chemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry | Understand electronic configurations, ligand field theory. Solve GATE PYQs. | ||
| Week 3 | Physical Chemistry and Advanced Topics | Thermodynamics, Chemical Kinetics, Electrochemistry, Surface Chemistry | Practice numericals daily. Revise graphs and key formulas. |
| Polymers, Solid State Chemistry, and Nuclear Chemistry | Solve mixed-topic quizzes to strengthen conceptual clarity. | ||
| Week 4- | Revision and Mock Tests- | Full syllabus revision- | Review notes and highlighted sections. Focus on weak areas. |
| Mock Tests: 3 full-length tests + analysis. Simulate real exam conditions during tests. Analyze mistakes and rectify them. |
A good GATE score in Chemistry depends on the candidate's target goals. For admission to top institutes such as IITs and IISc, a score of 750-850+ (General category) is typically required. For NITs and PSUs, a score in the range of 600-700 is often considered competitive.
Here is the table for the approximate GATE Chemistry score based on category and institutes:
| Category | Top Institutes (IITs/IISc) | NITs/Other Institutes | PSUs |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 750-850+ | 600-700 | 600-700 |
| OBC | 700-750 | 550-650 | 550-650 |
| SC/ST | 550-650 | 450-550 | 450-550 |
| PH (PwD) | 500-600 | 400-500 | 400-500 |
| Books | Author/Publisher | Ratings | Approximate Price (in INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GATE Chemistry: Previous Years’ Solved Papers (Latest Edition) | Atlantic Research Division | 4.5/5 | ₹350 - ₹450 |
| Chapter-wise Solved Papers (2000-2021) | Dr. Sanjay Saxena & Preeti Gupta | 4.3/5 | ₹450 - ₹550 |
| 2000+ Physical Chemistry MCQs Questions & Answers for CSIR NET, GATE, BARC & SET | Rajiv Abhyankar | 4.4/5 | ₹500 - ₹600 |
| UGC CSIR NET/SET IIT GATE CHEMICAL SCIENCES | Subrata Sengupta & Dipendu Patra | 4.2/5 | ₹600 - ₹700 |
| Concept Check in Organic Chemistry | Avinash More | 4.3/5 | ₹300 - ₹400 |
| Success Guide to Inorganic Chemistry | Tauheed Nadeem | 4.5/5 | ₹400 - ₹500 |
| Success Guide to Organic Chemistry | Tauheed Nadeem | 4.6/5 | ₹400 - ₹500 |
| Chapter-wise Solved Papers Chemistry GATE 2022 | Sanjay Saxena & Preeti Gupta | 4.4/5 | ₹500 - ₹600 |
| GATE 2022: Chemistry Year-wise Previous Solved Papers 2000-2019 | GKP | 4.2/5 | ₹350 - ₹450 |
| GATE Chemistry Solved Papers | Career Endeavour Publications | 4.1/5 | ₹350 - ₹450 |
| Wiley’s GATE Chemistry Chapter-Wise Solved Papers | Wiley Editorial | 4.4/5 | ₹550 - ₹650 |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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