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Before building any preparation plan, a candidate needs to understand what the exam is — its structure, how it is scored, what types of questions appear, how much each section contributes, and what the timeline looks like from application to result. This page compiles all essential GATE DA exam information in one place so that preparation decisions are grounded in an accurate understanding of the exam itself.
GATE DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted annually in February as part of the broader GATE examination. It is one of the newest GATE papers, introduced in 2023, and has been growing rapidly in popularity as data science and AI establish themselves as core engineering disciplines.
For the complete preparation guide including syllabus, PYQs, and mock tests, visit the GATE DA Complete Guide.
| Parameter Details | |
| Full Paper Name | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence |
| Paper Code | DA |
| Category | Science and Technology |
| Year Introduced | GATE 2023 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 65 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Sections | General Aptitude + DA Core |
| Medium | English only |
| Virtual Calculator | Provided on-screen |
| Physical Calculator | Not permitted |
| Rough Sheets | Provided by test center |
| Conducting Body | IITs and IISc (rotates annually) |
| Frequency | Once per year (February) |
| Score Validity | 3 years from result |
| Application Portal | GOAPS (gate20XX.iiX.ac.in) |
| Application Opens | September each year |
| Result | March each year |
GATE DA is designed for candidates with backgrounds or aspirations in Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, and Artificial Intelligence. Its introduction reflected an industry and academic reality: data science has become sufficiently distinct as a discipline to warrant a dedicated national assessment pathway separate from traditional computer science.
The paper tests a carefully balanced mix of foundational mathematics (probability, statistics, linear algebra, calculus), computational thinking (programming, data structures, algorithms), applied machine learning (supervised and unsupervised methods, neural networks, model evaluation), data management (databases, data warehousing), and classical AI (search, logic, probabilistic reasoning).
This breadth is intentional. The GATE DA qualifying candidate is expected to demonstrate not just programming ability or mathematical fluency in isolation, but a genuine integration of these skills — the combination that defines a technically grounded data scientist.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and the eight Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs):
The organizing responsibility rotates among these nine institutions year by year. The organizing institute for a given year is announced in June of the preceding year. The official GATE portal, application system, and all communications are managed by the organizing institute for that year.
GATE is conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and has national recognition as the primary standardized test for graduate engineering admissions and PSU recruitment.
GATE DA follows a predictable annual calendar. The dates below are expected timelines based on the established pattern from previous GATE examination years.
| Event Expected Month Notes | ||
| Organizing Institute Announcement | June | Confirmed by Ministry of Education |
| Official Notification and Brochure | July | Published on official GATE portal |
| GOAPS Application Portal Opens | September | Online only via official portal |
| Application Deadline (Regular) | Late October | Typically last week of October |
| Late Application Window (if any) | November | With additional fee; not guaranteed every year |
| Application Correction Window | November | 5 to 7 days; limited fields editable |
| Mock Test on GOAPS | December to January | Practice run of exam interface |
| Admit Card Download | January | From official GOAPS portal |
| GATE DA Exam | February | Typically spread over 2 sessions on 1 or 2 days |
| Provisional Answer Key | February | 1 to 2 weeks post-exam |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | February | 5 to 7 days |
| Final Answer Key | Late February / Early March | After reviewing challenges |
| Result Declaration | March | On official GOAPS portal |
| Scorecard Download Opens | March | Available for 3 years from result date |
For live updates as official dates are announced, the GATE DA Information page carries all notifications in real time.
The GATE DA exam is 3 hours long and contains 65 questions worth 100 marks. The paper is divided into two sections:
Section 1 — General Aptitude (GA): 10 questions, 15 marks Section 2 — Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Core: 55 questions, 85 marks
General Aptitude is common across all GATE papers. It tests Verbal Ability and Numerical Ability.
| Part Topics Questions Marks | |||
| Verbal Ability | Grammar, sentence completion, reading comprehension, critical reasoning | 5 | 5 to 10 (mix of 1 and 2 mark) |
| Numerical Ability | Arithmetic, data interpretation, logical reasoning | 5 | 5 to 10 (mix of 1 and 2 mark) |
The exact split between 1-mark and 2-mark questions within GA can vary year to year, but the total always adds up to 15 marks.
The core section covers all DA-specific subjects. Within the 55 core questions:
The subject-wise distribution within the 55 core questions varies slightly year to year, but the approximate expected contribution from each section is:
| Subject Approximate Questions Approximate Marks | ||
| Probability and Statistics | 9 to 11 | 13 to 17 |
| Machine Learning | 9 to 12 | 14 to 20 |
| Linear Algebra | 6 to 8 | 10 to 14 |
| Calculus and Optimization | 5 to 7 | 8 to 12 |
| Programming and Data Structures | 7 to 9 | 10 to 14 |
| Database Management and Warehousing | 3 to 5 | 5 to 8 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 3 to 5 | 5 to 8 |
Three types of questions appear in the GATE DA exam. Understanding each type precisely is essential for developing the right attempt strategy.
MCQs are the most common question type. Each MCQ presents a question with four options labeled (A), (B), (C), and (D). Exactly one option is correct.
Marking for MCQ:
Strategy for MCQ: The negative marking on MCQs requires disciplined decision-making. Never guess purely randomly on a MCQ. However, if even one wrong option can be eliminated with confidence, the expected value of attempting the remaining options becomes positive. The mathematical break-even for guessing from 4 options is exactly neutral (+1 × 25% + (-0.33) × 75% = 0). Guessing from 3 options after eliminating one is consistently positive.
Develop a consistent rule: attempt a MCQ only when at least two of the four options can be confidently eliminated or when the correct answer is reasonably identifiable. Apply this rule uniformly throughout the exam.
MSQs look similar to MCQs — four options presented — but one or more options can be correct. The candidate must select all correct options.
Marking for MSQ:
Strategy for MSQ: Since there is no negative marking, always attempt MSQs. However, because partial credit is not given, attempting an MSQ when uncertain about all correct options risks getting 0 even after partial correct selections. Attempt MSQs when there is strong confidence about the correct options. If uncertain, entering the best available answer still costs nothing.
NAT questions require the candidate to type a numerical value as the answer using the virtual keyboard. No options are provided. The candidate must compute the correct numerical answer independently.
Marking for NAT:
Strategy for NAT: Always attempt NAT questions. Since there is absolutely no penalty for a wrong NAT response, entering any reasonable estimate is better than leaving it blank. NAT questions typically cover:
Building speed and accuracy for these specific calculation types is one of the highest-leverage activities in GATE DA preparation.
| Question Type Mark Value Correct Incorrect Unattempted | ||||
| MCQ | 1 mark | +1 | -1/3 | 0 |
| MCQ | 2 marks | +2 | -2/3 | 0 |
| MSQ | 1 mark | +1 | 0 | 0 |
| MSQ | 2 marks | +2 | 0 | 0 |
| NAT | 1 mark | +1 | 0 | 0 |
| NAT | 2 marks | +2 | 0 | 0 |
Key insight: Approximately 60 to 65% of GATE DA marks are in MCQ format. Managing MCQ negative marking is therefore central to maximizing score. A candidate who attempts all 65 questions randomly would likely score near zero or negative due to MCQ penalties. A candidate who attempts only clearly known answers and all NAT/MSQ questions tends to score significantly better.
The GATE DA syllabus spans eight sections covering:
General Aptitude (15 marks): Verbal ability and numerical ability
Probability and Statistics (13 to 17 marks): Probability axioms, distributions, Bayes theorem, expectation, hypothesis testing, regression
Linear Algebra (10 to 14 marks): Matrices, systems of equations, eigenvalues, SVD, PCA foundations
Calculus and Optimization (8 to 12 marks): Single and multivariable calculus, gradient descent, convexity
Programming and Data Structures (10 to 14 marks): Python, C basics, arrays, trees, graphs, sorting, algorithms, complexity
Database Management and Warehousing (5 to 8 marks): ER model, SQL, normalization, OLAP, star and snowflake schemas
Machine Learning (14 to 20 marks): Supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, model evaluation, regularization
Artificial Intelligence (5 to 8 marks): Search algorithms, logic, Bayesian networks
For the complete topic-by-topic breakdown with preparation priority guidance and recommended books for each section, visit the GATE DA Syllabus page. Track preparation coverage across all topics using the GATE DA Syllabus Tracker.
GATE DA is conducted exclusively as a Computer-Based Test (CBT). There is no pen-and-paper mode available. All candidates appear at designated test centers and answer questions on assigned computer terminals.
The CBT interface contains:
The GATE virtual calculator provides standard scientific calculator functionality:
Candidates who practice on the virtual calculator layout during mock tests in the GATE DA Test Series will be fully comfortable with it on exam day without any wasted time.
Plain rough sheets are provided by the test center at each terminal. Candidates use them for scratch work, calculations, and working through problems. All rough sheets must be submitted to the invigilator before leaving the exam hall. They cannot be taken outside.
A GATE DA score that meets the qualifying cutoff for the candidate's category is called a "qualified" score. The qualifying cutoff for General category candidates has historically ranged between 25 and 32 marks out of 100. The corresponding GATE Score (normalized out of 1000) for a qualifying candidate is 350.
Beyond qualifying, a GATE DA score is used for:
M.Tech Admissions: IITs with Data Science, AI, and ML programs, NITs through CCMT, IIITs, and central universities accept GATE DA scores for admissions. The score cutoffs range from approximately 520 for newer programs to 860+ for top IIT programs. Full cutoff data is on the GATE DA Cutoff page.
PSU Recruitment: Government organizations in research, technology, and analytics that require data science competency are increasingly using GATE DA scores for initial screening. This includes organizations like DRDO, BARC, ISRO, and several others.
Research Fellowships: Some DST, SERB, and DBT research fellowship programs require GATE qualification as a basic eligibility criterion.
| Parameter GATE DA GATE CS | ||
| Paper Code | DA | CS |
| Year Introduced | 2023 | 1990s |
| Core Technical Focus | Statistics, ML, AI | Core CS (TOC, Compiler, OS, Networks) |
| Math Intensity | Very High | Moderate |
| Programming Language | Python primary | C primary |
| ML/AI Content | 30+ marks | Minimal |
| PYQ Availability | 3 years | 30+ years |
| PSU Acceptance | Growing | Established |
| IIT Programs Targeted | DS, AI, ML programs | CS programs |
For candidates from CS backgrounds interested in data science, and for candidates from Mathematics or Statistics backgrounds interested in engineering admissions, GATE DA is the more appropriate paper. For more on this choice, visit the GATE DA FAQ.
With the exam pattern clearly understood, the most effective next steps are:
Step 1 — Verify eligibility: Confirm that the qualifying degree meets GATE DA requirements. Visit the GATE DA Eligibility Criteria page.
Step 2 — Study the syllabus: Go through the complete GATE DA Syllabus page. Understand which sections carry the most marks (ML and Probability are the top two) and plan subject-wise study time accordingly.
Step 3 — Begin tracking: Start using the GATE DA Syllabus Tracker from day one to log topic-by-topic completion. A topic should be marked complete only after associated PYQs are solved.
Step 4 — Practice with PYQs: After completing each topic, solve all tagged PYQs from the GATE DA PYQ Master Bank. Year-wise papers are at 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Step 5 — Start mock testing: Enroll in the GATE DA Test Series on AspirantMitraa. Begin with topic-wise tests immediately and build toward full-length mocks 3 to 4 months before the exam.
Q. What is the duration of the GATE DA exam? 3 hours (180 minutes). There is no break during the exam.
Q. How many sections does GATE DA have? Two sections: General Aptitude (15 marks) and the DA Core (85 marks). Within the DA Core, questions cover all technical subjects in the syllabus without sub-sections or time limits per subject.
Q. Can candidates switch between sections during the exam? Yes. The CBT interface allows free movement between General Aptitude and the DA Core section at any time during the 3 hours.
Q. Is there a minimum time required in each section? No. Candidates can move between sections freely without any minimum time requirement per section.
Q. What happens if a candidate accidentally clears a saved answer? The "Clear Response" button removes a saved answer. Candidates must re-select their answer if they accidentally clear it. The question palette will show the question as "visited but unanswered" after clearing, making it easy to identify.
Q. Can the same question be answered multiple times or changed? Yes. Answers can be changed any number of times during the exam duration. The last saved answer before the timer ends is the one that counts.
Q. What if there is a technical issue during the exam? Technical issues (screen freeze, power interruption) should be reported immediately to the invigilator. CBT centers have backup systems. In case of genuine technical failure affecting the exam, the organizing institute takes appropriate remedial action.
More questions answered on the GATE DA FAQ page.
GATE DA is a 3-hour, 65-question, 100-mark Computer-Based Test on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence conducted every February. The paper has two sections: General Aptitude (15 marks) and DA Core (85 marks). Three question types appear — MCQ (with negative marking), MSQ (no negative marking), and NAT (no negative marking).
The highest-weightage sections are Machine Learning (14 to 20 marks) and Probability and Statistics (13 to 17 marks). Applications open every September on the GOAPS portal, and results are declared in March. The GATE DA score is valid for 3 years.
The most effective preparation path combines complete GATE DA Syllabus coverage tracked through the GATE DA Syllabus Tracker, PYQ practice from all three available years through the GATE DA PYQ Master Bank, and regular mock testing through the GATE DA Test Series.
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