GATE Ecology and Evolution
IIT Madras (organising institute for GATE 2027) · Online (CBT) · Annual (February)
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GATE EY Cutoff
Category-wise cutoff marks and ranks for previous years.
2026 Cutoff
| Category | Marks | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General | 40 | — |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 36 | — |
| SC/ST/PwD | 26.6 | — |
2025 Cutoff
| Category | Marks | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General | 39.5 | — |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 35.5 | — |
| SC/ST/PwD | 26.3 | — |
2024 Cutoff
| Category | Marks | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General | 35.8 | — |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 32.2 | — |
| SC/ST/PwD | 23.8 | — |
Table of Contents
About GATE Ecology and Evolution (GATE EY) 2027
The GATE Ecology and Evolution (GATE EY) is one of the most competitive entrance exams, conducted by the IIT Madras (organising institute for GATE 2027). Preparing for the GATE EY requires systematic practice, conceptual clarity, and regular self-evaluation. Our platform offers dynamic mock tests, previous years' resolved papers, and AI-enabled analysis to help you secure a top rank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GATE EY syllabus?
GATE EY covers Ecology (populations, communities, ecosystems), Evolution (selection, drift, speciation, phylogenetics), Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology, Behavioural Ecology, and Applied Ecology (conservation, climate impacts, restoration). There is no separate Engineering Mathematics section — quantitative ecology is tested within the paper.
Who can appear for GATE EY?
Any graduate in science or engineering — the eligibility list is deliberately broad. The paper attracts BSc life-science students, BTech graduates switching to ecology, and wildlife researchers.
What is the GATE EY qualifying cutoff?
The General cutoff is consistently high because applicant numbers are small: 40 (2026), 39.5 (2025) and 35.8 (2024). A raw score of 45+ usually translates to a strong GATE score above 650.
Where does GATE EY lead?
PhD and integrated PhD in ecology/evolution at IISc, NCBS, IITs, IISERs and CES-style centres; wildlife research organisations (WII, ATREE, NCF); and conservation-science fellowships. It is one of the main entry routes to Indian ecology research besides CSIR-NET.
Is GATE EY harder than CSIR NET Life Sciences?
Different focus: GATE EY goes deep on ecology and evolution with quantitative problems, while CSIR-NET spans all of life sciences broadly. Serious ecology aspirants often write both — GATE EY for IIT/IISc PhDs, NET for JRF funding.
How to Prepare for GATE EY
Practise population and competition model numericals (Lotka-Volterra, logistic growth) — quantitative ecology questions are formula-driven
Read Odum and Begon for ecology fundamentals; Futuyma for evolution — previous GATE EY questions map closely to these texts
Build species-interaction and speciation concept maps — conceptual cross-links are the most-tested pattern
Solve previous GATE EY papers (2015-2026) — the paper is stable and question styles repeat
Stay current with conservation policy (WLPA, protected-area categories) for applied ecology questions