GATE · Branch-wise preparation

GATE Data Science and AI (DA): syllabus, who should take it and how to prepare

By the PrepMatic team · Updated 8 Oct 2026 · 8 min read

GATE DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) is a 100-mark paper with 15 marks of General Aptitude and 85 marks across seven subject sections: Probability and Statistics, Linear Algebra, Calculus and Optimization, Programming with Data Structures and Algorithms, Database Management and Warehousing, Machine Learning and AI. It has no separate Engineering Mathematics block, because the maths topics are full sections of the paper. DA was introduced in GATE 2024, programming is in Python, and the syllabus was revised for GATE 2027.

The DA paper at a glance

Compared with GATE CS, which has 13 marks of Engineering Mathematics and 72 of core subjects, DA puts the mathematics and the machine-learning content in front. The question types, negative marking and the on-screen calculator work as for every other paper; see the GATE exam pattern. As an illustration of scale, 91,764 candidates registered for DA in GATE 2026, 69,242 appeared and the General-category qualifying mark was 26.4 (official IIT Guwahati table). Qualifying marks change every year and are not predictable.

The GATE 2027 DA syllabus, section by section

Condensed from the official 2027 DA syllabus on the IIT Madras site.

We have not compared the 2027 list with earlier years, so don't assume which topics are new. The official DA syllabus PDF should be your checklist.

Should you take DA, CS or both?

Pick DA if you want M.Tech or MS programmes in data science, machine learning or AI and you are comfortable with probability and linear algebra. Pick CS if you want broad computer-science programmes or roles built on systems subjects. Many aspirants take both. DA's allowed second papers are CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, RA, ST and XE, and both papers go in one application. The CS preparation guide shows what the second paper adds.

Two checks before you commit. First, choosing a paper outside your own discipline is allowed, but each admitting institute decides whether it accepts that paper, so read the admission page of the programmes you want. Second, jobs: among the organisations on the GATE 2026 announcement list, only NIC (the National Informatics Centre, a government body) named DA, alongside CS and EC. Others such as EIL, NHAI, GAIL, NPCIL and POWERGRID named other papers. Hiring changes every year, so check current notices.

What to prioritise

GATE publishes no official weightage for the seven sections, and DA has only three real papers so far (2024 to 2026), so past-paper patterns are thin. Treat every section as examinable: 85 marks are spread over only seven sections, so skipping Calculus and Optimization or AI would be a poor trade. Give the three maths sections and Machine Learning the most time, because the rest of the paper builds on them.

• Probability and Statistics is the base for Machine Learning and AI. Know each distribution's mean, variance and typical use, and practise hypothesis tests until choosing between z, t and chi-squared is automatic.
• Linear Algebra matters twice: directly, and inside PCA and SVD. Practise rank, eigenvalues, projections and LU by hand.
• Calculus and Optimization is a short section. Single-variable only, so it is quick to finish.
• Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms is tested in Python. Trace code by hand and know the time complexity of each sorting and search method on the list.
• Database Management and Warehousing mixes SQL and relational algebra with data-warehouse vocabulary that students from a CS background often skip.
• Machine Learning questions combine concept and small calculations: running k-means for a step, computing a regression fit, reading a bias-variance situation.
• AI is search, logic and probabilistic inference. It is compact and rewards practice on small worked examples.

A worked probability example

A disease affects 1% of a population. A test is positive for 90% of people who have the disease and for 5% of people who do not. If someone tests positive, what is the probability they have the disease?

P(disease and positive) = 0.01 × 0.90 = 0.009. P(no disease and positive) = 0.99 × 0.05 = 0.0495. Total P(positive) = 0.0585. So P(disease given positive) = 0.009 / 0.0585 = 0.154, about 15.4%. A NAT version of this would ask for the answer to three decimal places.

A six-month order of study

The order front-loads mathematics because Machine Learning and AI depend on it.

If you have 12 months, stretch each block and add a second pass; the GATE preparation strategy has the general plans.

Books and sources

GATE recommends no books. These are widely used references.

For practice, use the official DA papers released since 2024 on the GATE downloads page; the previous year papers guide explains how. CS papers are a useful extra bank for probability, linear algebra, databases, searching, sorting and graphs, but check each question against the DA syllabus because CS code questions use C. The maths itself is covered in the Engineering Mathematics guide, and the whole exam is in the GATE hub.

Practising GATE DA with PrepMatic

PrepMatic's free GATE assessment is about 15 multiple-choice questions, untimed, and shows your weakest and strongest subjects with a projected score out of the paper's maximum. Since the DA paper spans seven sections, that subject-level view helps you decide where the first month goes. You can then follow a study plan built from your exam date and daily hours, and take topic tests and mocks focused on your weak subjects. The questions are AI-generated, not official papers, so keep the official DA papers for your final mock phase.

Frequently asked questions

Which programming language is used in GATE DA?

Python. The Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms section of the 2027 syllabus is written for Python, while GATE CS uses C.

Is there Engineering Mathematics in GATE DA?

There is no separate Engineering Mathematics block. Probability and Statistics, Linear Algebra and Calculus and Optimization are three of the seven subject sections, so the maths is examined as subject content, and Machine Learning and AI build on it.

When was GATE DA introduced?

GATE DA was first held in GATE 2024. The paper therefore has only a few official past papers, and the 2027 syllabus is a revised one.

Can I take GATE DA and CS together?

Yes, DA and CS are on each other's allowed lists, and both are applied for in one application. You sit one assigned session of each paper. DA cannot be combined with papers outside its list of CS, EC, EE, MA, ME, PH, RA, ST and XE.

Can a non-CS graduate take GATE DA?

Yes. Anyone in the third year or above of an eligible degree, or who has completed one, may apply, and choosing a paper outside your discipline is allowed. Each admitting institute decides whether it accepts that paper. See the GATE eligibility page.

Official sources

• GATE 2027 official website (IIT Madras): papers and syllabus, downloads and past papers.
• GATE 2027 DA syllabus PDF: the official section list.
• GATE 2027 Information Brochure: marks distribution and allowed paper combinations.
• GATE 2026 cut-off page (IIT Guwahati): the 2026 DA figures quoted above.

Check the latest information on the official site before relying on any detail here.

← All GATE guides