The most important question to ask oneself before preparing for any exam is why one should take the exam in the first place, as that desire will drive one to do well on it. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) administers the GATE exam, which gauges candidates' knowledge of undergraduate subjects on a fundamental level. Seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute for Science, Bangalore jointly conducts GATE (IISc, Bangalore). These institutions are in charge of the exam's administration; they are not actively involved in writing the exam's questions. In addition to being held by IITs, this exam is one of the most esteemed in India due to the abundance of career prospects it opens up.
The Opportunities Available after GATE
Postgraduate (M.Tech) Entrance: - Admission to post-graduate programmes at several IITs and National Institutes of Technology is deemed to require the GATE score (NITs). Recruitment for M.Tech programmes entails passing the GATE exam, meeting the college's cut-off, and going through an interview stage before receiving a final admissions decision.
Different benefits of the M.Tech program are:
1. Better job opportunities
2. Higher pay packages
3. Subject specialization
4. Handsome stipend
5. GATE scorecard is valid for M.Tech admission for three years.
Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Entrance: -After several PSUs in the public sector (PSUs) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with IITs to conduct recruitment through GATE, the exam saw a significant increase in popularity. So, passing GATE can also help you land direct employment in the public sector.
The most lucrative aspects of PSU jobs are:
1. High pay packages (above Rs 50,000 per month)
2. Work-life balance
3. Extra benefits such as oil or electricity at a subsidized rate
4. Support for higher education such as MBA
A valid GATE score from the current year is required for PSU recruitment, followed by a round of Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). The weight assigned to the GATE score ranges from 75% to 85%. PGCIL, NTPC, NHPC, IOCL, BHEL, and other PSUs are among the ones that use GATE for recruitment.
PSU recruitment is one of the main reasons why students enter the GATE exam, according to Shiksha.com's recent interactions with certain students. The majority of students, according to the students, hope to be selected for the hiring processes carried out by various PSUs. But if they were chosen for the M. Tech. degree, they would enrol in the course and begin getting ready for the GATE exam that would be held the following year. The only reason for doing it is to get chosen for PSUs.
Why is there such a focus on getting chosen for PSUs? The top motivators for working for a PSU are the excellent pay, job security, extra benefits, and high social standing. Additionally, aspirants pay attention to other tests outside GATE that are offered by other PSUs. Along with GATE, this exam also contains other PSU recruiting exams like ISRO, DRDO, BARC, etc.
Fellowship Program in Management (FPM)
1. It is a five-year program run at IIMs. This program has the following features:
2. A monthly stipend of Rs 29,000-30,000 is offered
3. No tuition fees for four years and nine months
For students who live off-campus will get a house-rent allowance (HRA) of Rs 8,000 for a single student and Rs 13,000 for married students.
Post Graduate Diploma in Management
1. National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) offers various courses in PGDM such as:
2. Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE)
3. Post Graduate Diploma in Manufacturing Management (PGDMM)
4. Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management (PGDPM)
For all of the aforementioned programmes, the applicant must have a valid GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) score as of June 15 and have earned a minimum of 60% aggregate marks at their engineering or technology graduation (relatable by 5% for SC/ST/PD (Physically Disabled) applicants).
MS Program: - Exams like the GRE and TOEFL are not a concern if you want to pursue higher education abroad. Some universities, like National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, take into account GATE scores for admission of Indian students (NTU).
GATE score must be within three years or less from the date of application and the GATE percentile must be above 90.
State Electricity Boards: - Earlier, several state electrical boards held autonomous examinations, but today many of them work with IITs to fill positions through GATE. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDC), Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), and Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited are some of the state boards that utilise GATE for hiring (OPGEN).
For recruitment, you have to apply with your GATE registration number on their respective websites.
Research Opportunities
Certain research posts at Bhabha Atomic Research Center are accessible through GATE (BARC). However, BARC administers its hiring exams. Additionally, organisations like ISRO do their exams in a manner similar to that of GATE.
So, I assume you now have a general understanding of what is available to you after passing the GATE exam. As the name of the exam suggests, it serves as a gateway to a variety of employment alternatives. I therefore wish anyone who wants to get ready for GATE the best of luck.