Syllabus overview
GATE XH syllabus 2027 for Humanities and Social Sciences, with the official PDF, marks distribution, question types, allowed second papers and preparation checklist.
Highlights
XH is the official GATE code for Humanities and Social Sciences.
The examination is a 3-hour CBT for 100 marks in English.
General Aptitude contributes 15 compulsory marks.
Allowed second-paper codes: ST.
The page is being expanded into a unit-wise checklist from the official IIT Madras PDF.
Quick facts
- Exam
- GATE
- Paper / stage
- XH · Humanities and Social Sciences
- Current cycle
- 2026
- Page type
- Syllabus
- Conducting body
- GATE
- Language
- English
Detailed syllabus
How to Use the GATE XH Syllabus
- Download the official PDF and preserve its section order in your study tracker.
- Allocate time by marks structure first, then by your diagnostic-test performance within each unit.
- After finishing a unit, solve paper-specific previous-year questions before moving it to revision status.
- If you plan a second paper, build a separate checklist and use overlap only as a time-saving aid—not as a substitute for the second syllabus.
Related GATE 2027 Pages
- Use the complete GATE 2027 syllabus hub to switch between all 30 official papers.
- Check the GATE 2027 notification page before relying on registration, correction or exam dates.
Exam pattern
GATE XH Exam Pattern 2027
| Section | Marks | How it applies |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 | Common to all papers |
| XH0 Reasoning and Comprehension | 25 | Compulsory XH section |
| One XH optional section | 60 | Chosen during the application |
| Total | 100 | 3-hour CBT |
Section: General Aptitude
- Marks
- 15
- How it applies
- Common to all papers
Section: XH0 Reasoning and Comprehension
- Marks
- 25
- How it applies
- Compulsory XH section
Section: One XH optional section
- Marks
- 60
- How it applies
- Chosen during the application
Section: Total
- Marks
- 100
- How it applies
- 3-hour CBT
GATE XH Question and Marking Rules
| Question type | Possible marks | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 1 or 2 | Yes: 1/3 for a wrong 1-mark MCQ; 2/3 for a wrong 2-mark MCQ |
| MSQ | 1 or 2 | No negative marking and no partial marking |
| NAT | 1 or 2 | No negative marking |
Question type: MCQ
- Possible marks
- 1 or 2
- Negative marking
- Yes: 1/3 for a wrong 1-mark MCQ; 2/3 for a wrong 2-mark MCQ
Question type: MSQ
- Possible marks
- 1 or 2
- Negative marking
- No negative marking and no partial marking
Question type: NAT
- Possible marks
- 1 or 2
- Negative marking
- No negative marking
Subject-wise syllabus
GATE XH Syllabus 2027: Unit-wise Checklist
What the completed subject page will include
- Every official section and subtopic in the same source order, rewritten only for clarity without changing scope.
- A section-wise preparation checklist that candidates can use for revision tracking.
- High-overlap areas with the permitted second-paper choices and relevant previous-year question links.
- Paper-specific common mistakes, study sequencing and final revision guidance.
Allowed Second Paper with XH as Primary
| Primary paper | Permitted secondary paper(s) |
|---|---|
| XH — Humanities and Social Sciences | ST — Statistics |
Primary paper: XH — Humanities and Social Sciences
- Permitted secondary paper(s)
- ST — Statistics
GATE XH Syllabus 2027: exam pattern and key details
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Exam | GATE |
| Paper / stage | XH · Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Current cycle | 2026 |
| Page type | Syllabus |
| Conducting body | GATE |
| Language | English |
Detail: Exam
- Current information
- GATE
Detail: Paper / stage
- Current information
- XH · Humanities and Social Sciences
Detail: Current cycle
- Current information
- 2026
Detail: Page type
- Current information
- Syllabus
Detail: Conducting body
- Current information
- GATE
Detail: Language
- Current information
- English
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not prepare from an old syllabus without comparing it with the latest official notice and the requirements for your exact exam stage.
Candidates also ask
The official IIT Madras syllabus covers the complete Humanities and Social Sciences test-paper scope. This draft is reserved for a verified section-by-section explanation from the official PDF before publication.
GATE XH is a 100-mark, 3-hour Computer-Based Test. General Aptitude carries 15 marks and the remaining distribution follows the paper-specific table on this page.
ST — Statistics
Frequently asked questions
Use the official IIT Madras PDF button on this page. The source file is linked directly from the GATE 2027 test-papers and syllabus page.
Yes. General Aptitude is common to all GATE 2027 papers and carries 15 marks.
GATE papers use MCQ, MSQ and NAT questions carrying one or two marks.
Wrong MCQ answers attract negative marking. MSQ and NAT questions have no negative marking, and MSQ has no partial marking.
Downloads
Official GATE XH Syllabus 2027
- Download GATE XH Humanities and Social Sciences Syllabus 2027 PDFNEWFEATUREDDownload
Official resources
Topics covered
- GATE XH syllabus 2027
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- GATE 2027 PDF
- IIT Madras
Research methodology and editorial review
Research methodology
GovtJobsNet editors compare the latest official GATE notice, conducting-body resources and published amendments before updating this page. Where an official 2026 document is pending, the page is marked and reviewed again after release.
- Last updated
- 4 August 2026
- Content cycle
- GATE 2026
Candidate questions and discussion
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