In the coming year, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) will see a major change in the convergence of subjects in the humanities and social sciences.

Students with a background in commerce and the arts, too, will opt for GATE 2021 in February that IIT-Bombay will conduct.

The qualifying requirements have also been changed from 10 + 2 + 4 to 10 + 2 + 3, requiring candidates to take part in the test in their third year of undergraduate studies.

News Subjects Added to GATE 2021

Recognizing the global concern about environmental concerns, environmental science and engineering, a total of 27 articles on the subject were also published. Despite fewer work prospects as a result of the pandemic, more are likely to seek higher education, and GATE will add to their choices.

With the introduction of subjects in the fields of humanities and social sciences, IIT-Bombay, as the organizing institution, decided to make GATE more inclusive.

Several leading institutes, including IIT-Bombay, are currently using UGC-NET scores or internal exams for admission to masters in humanities.

“Such students are not candidates for HRD ministry scholarships. With GATE ratings, they would have an additional gain from government scholarships. When PSUs hire candidates using GATE scores, they will also open up opportunities for arts and business students," said Professor Deepankar Choudhury, Organizing Chairman of GATE 2021.

Humanities, English, Economics, Linguistics, Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy will be offered in the first year, he said.

Read here: GATE 2021 Exam Dates Released.

Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director of IIT-Bombay, said, "This will create much-needed career opportunities for those in the fields of humanities and social sciences, as this may serve as a single standardized criterion for admission to various master's and doctoral programs in different IITs and other universities in India."

The IIT expects the number of applicants to increase with the new reforms in 2021. Almost 10 lakh students normally take the exam.

The tests, scheduled for February, will be spread over a longer span of six days instead of four days due to the pandemic.

GATE 2021 will be conducted from February 05-07, 2020 and February 12-14, 2021. Students can also appear for two subjects, unlike one so far, but only a prescribed set of combinations will be allowed in the first year.

The aim is to expand the opportunities to study in interdisciplinary fields.