M.Tech Robotics at IITs Through GATE + New GATE 2027 RA Paper | Complete Guide
Updated 21 July 2026 · Includes New GATE RA Paper

M.Tech in Robotics & Automation at IITs Through GATE

A verified, institute-by-institute guide to every IIT offering a dedicated M.Tech in Robotics, Automation, or Mechatronics — plus full coverage of the new GATE 2027 Robotics & Automation (RA) paper announced on 20 July 2026.

Quick Answer

Which IITs offer M.Tech in Robotics through GATE?

As of the 2026–27 admission cycle, seven IITs run dedicated, named M.Tech degrees in robotics or automation admitted through GATE:

  • IIT Delhi — M.Tech in Robotics (interdisciplinary, 4 specialisations)
  • IIT Madras — M.Tech in Robotics (newly launched, from July 2026)
  • IIT Kanpur — M.Tech in Automation & Robotics
  • IIT Hyderabad — M.Tech in Robotics & Intelligent Systems (RIS)
  • IIT Jodhpur — M.Tech in Robotics & Mobility Systems
  • IIT Patna — M.Tech in Mechatronics
  • IIT Bhubaneswar — M.Tech in Robotics & Artificial Intelligence

From GATE 2027, IIT Madras has introduced a dedicated Robotics and Automation (RA) paper — the first GATE paper built specifically for this field. See the full RA breakdown ↓

Entry is currently via GATE ME, EE, EC, CS, or IN depending on the institute, followed by COAP counselling. IIT Roorkee is the coordinating institute for COAP 2026. Additional robotics specialisations exist inside Mechanical, Electrical, and AI departments at several other IITs.

Robotics is one of the few PG specialisations in India where demand from industry has outrun the supply of trained graduates. IIT Delhi's own faculty framed the launch of its programme around exactly this gap, noting a clear scarcity of personnel trained in robotic technologies against an automation industry growing rapidly both in India and internationally.

The complication for aspirants is that robotics does not sit inside any one traditional engineering department. That single fact explains most of the confusion around these programmes — the same degree may be run by Computer Science at one IIT, Mechanical & Aerospace at another, and a standalone interdisciplinary research platform at a third. Your eligible GATE paper changes accordingly.

This page lists only programmes verified against official institute admission pages and brochures. Where an IIT offers robotics as a specialisation rather than a named degree, we say so explicitly rather than inflating the list.

Dedicated M.Tech Robotics Programmes at IITs

Named degrees, verified against institute sources. Admission through GATE + COAP.

Dedicated M.Tech Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics programmes at IITs admitted through GATE, with host department and admission notes
IIT Programme Department / Host Notes
IIT Delhi M.Tech in Robotics Joint: CSE, EE, ME, Yardi School of AI & CoE-BIRD Four specialisations. Selection uses GATE plus a coding test and interview. [source]
IIT Madras M.Tech in Robotics NEW Department of Engineering Design Two-year programme launching July 2026. GATE 2026 score plus interview. [source]
IIT Kanpur M.Tech in Automation & Robotics Centre for Robotics and Mechatronics GATE-based. IITK does not publish fixed cut-offs; department brochures set criteria. [source]
IIT Hyderabad M.Tech in Robotics & Intelligent Systems (RIS) Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Hands-on ROS, Gazebo, rapid prototyping. Soft, marine, aerial & transportation robotics. [source]
IIT Jodhpur M.Tech in Robotics & Mobility Systems IDRP — Robotics & Mobility Systems Listed in the AY 2026–27 M.Tech advertisement. Regular, sponsored & part-time modes. [source]
IIT Patna M.Tech in Mechatronics School of Engineering Sensors, drives, hydraulics & pneumatics, PID, CNC, industrial robotics. [source]
IIT Bhubaneswar M.Tech in Robotics & Artificial Intelligence School of Mechanical Sciences Mechatronics, robot dynamics & control, sensors and actuators, FMS. [source]

Always confirm against the current-year admission brochure before applying. Programme names and host departments do change between cycles.

Newest Entrant

IIT Madras opens M.Tech in Robotics from July 2026

IIT Madras announced a new M.Tech in Robotics alongside programmes in Semiconductor Materials Technology and Computational Engineering. Students will be trained in robot design, control systems and automation technologies, with lab-based project work.

The Head of Engineering Design framed the goal as giving students strong foundations in robotic system design plus practical experience on advanced platforms, spanning manufacturing, healthcare and autonomous systems. Admission is on GATE score followed by interview — a fresh programme usually means a less crowded first cohort.

Robotics as a Specialisation (Not a Named Degree)

These are legitimate robotics routes, but the degree certificate will name the parent discipline.

IIT Guwahati — Systems, Control & Automation

Offered as an M.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with specialisation in Systems, Control and Automation. This is the GATE route at IITG. Note the seat count is small, so cutoffs run tight. [source]

IIT Hyderabad — AI and Electrical routes

Beyond the RIS degree, the Department of AI lists Robotics and Industry 4.0 plus Autonomous Navigation among its focus areas, and Electrical Engineering runs a Systems & Control stream investigating control theory, AI and robotics for industrial automation, automotive and aerospace. [source]

IIT Madras — Engineering Design dual degree

Separate from the new M.Tech, the department runs a dual degree in Engineering Design with a Robotics specialisation, and lists Robotics as one of four doctoral research focus areas. [source]

IIT Gandhinagar — interdisciplinary specialisation

IITGN invites M.Tech applications for AY 2026–27 with an interdisciplinary curriculum; robotics appears as a specialisation area rather than a standalone named degree. Verify current discipline listings on the institute admissions page. [source]

Executive & Online Routes (No GATE Required)

For working professionals who cannot commit to a two-year residential programme.

Executive and online M.Tech robotics programmes at IITs that do not require GATE, with structure and eligibility
Institute Programme Structure & Eligibility
IIT Bhilai Executive M.Tech in Applied Mechatronics & Robotics Five semesters (3 online, 2 offline). Needs minimum 2 years relevant experience in the preceding 3 years, and 55% in the qualifying degree. Graduates are considered eligible for PhD admissions. [source]
IIT Guwahati M.Tech in Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (SISS) Hybrid model combining online learning with practical exposure. Open to 4 or 5-year bachelor's degrees across engineering and design, or a master's in science, engineering, commerce, medicine or business. Mathematics up to Class 12 required. [source]
IIT Delhi Executive Programme in Robotics (certificate) Five-month online programme with one-day campus immersion. Six modules covering robotics and automation, sensing and perception, actuators and motion, modelling, AI and ML, embedded control and mechatronics. Not an M.Tech degree. [source]

Which GATE Paper Should You Write?

Robotics programmes accept multiple papers. Choose based on your B.Tech branch and target institute.

GATE ME

Strongest for IIT Hyderabad RIS, IIT Patna Mechatronics, IIT Bhubaneswar, and IIT Kanpur Automation & Robotics. Kinematics, dynamics, control and manufacturing carry directly into robotics coursework.

GATE EE / EC

Best route for IIT Guwahati Systems, Control & Automation and control-heavy tracks elsewhere. Control systems, signals, and power electronics are the load-bearing subjects.

GATE CS / DA

Increasingly relevant as robotics shifts toward perception and learning. IIT Delhi's selection includes a coding test, and modern robotics curricula lean heavily on AI/ML, computer vision and autonomous navigation.

GATE RA NEW 2027

The purpose-built option from GATE 2027. Compulsory Part A on mathematics, mechatronics and robotics principles, plus your choice of Electrical or Mechanical in Part B. Full details below ↓

GATE IN

Instrumentation candidates are eligible at several mechatronics programmes given the sensors, transducers, signal conditioning and measurement overlap.

Breaking · Notification 20 July 2026

GATE 2027 Robotics & Automation (RA): The New Paper

A dedicated GATE paper for robotics now exists. This changes the calculus for every aspirant on this page.

IIT Madras, the organising institute for GATE 2027, has introduced a new paper on Robotics and Automation with the paper code RA. The syllabus across GATE has been revised after five years to keep pace with growing demands, and the Textile Engineering and Fibre Science paper has been converted into a sectional component under Engineering Sciences. GATE 2027 will be conducted as a computer-based test with a total of 30 test papers.

For anyone targeting the M.Tech programmes listed above, this is the most consequential change in years. Until now, robotics aspirants had to route through ME, EE, EC, CS or IN and hope their background matched what the department wanted. From 2027, there is a paper built for exactly this purpose.

RA paper structure

The RA paper uses an interdisciplinary structure split into a compulsory Part A and an optional Part B. Every candidate attempts Engineering Mathematics, Basics of Mechatronics, and Principles of Robotics and Automation in Part A. For Part B, candidates choose the stream matching their academic background — and this choice is made during the examination itself, not at application time.

PART A — Compulsory for all candidates

Engineering Mathematics — linear algebra (matrices, determinant, rank, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, trace, adjoint, solving linear equations), calculus (limits, continuity, differentiability, mean value theorems, definite and improper integrals) and related topics.

Basics of Mechatronics — sensors and actuators.

Principles of Robotics and Automation — kinematics and manufacturing automation.

PART B1 — Electrical Engineering

Analog circuits, embedded systems, signals and systems, and control systems. The natural choice if your B.Tech is EE, EC, EI or IN.

PART B2 — Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of materials, kinematics, dynamics, machine design and manufacturing. The natural choice if your B.Tech is ME, production, mechatronics or automobile.

Marks and marking scheme

The RA paper carries 100 marks in total. General Aptitude is compulsory and accounts for 15 of those marks, with the remaining 85 covering the RA syllabus. The exam pattern is otherwise unchanged from previous years: negative marking applies to MCQs, with one-third of a mark deducted for a wrong answer on a one-mark MCQ, while MSQ and NAT questions carry no negative marking.

Key dates for GATE RA 2027

Important dates for GATE 2027 Robotics and Automation paper registration and examination
Event Date
Notification released20 July 2026
GOAPS registration opens14 August 2026
Regular registration closes21 September 2026
Registration with late fee closes30 September 2026
Application correction window14–21 October 2026
Examination dates6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 February 2027
Result announcement19 March 2027

The paper-wise schedule assigning RA to a specific date and shift is published separately by IIT Madras. Reported exam-date lists vary slightly across secondary sources; treat the official brochure as authoritative.

What else changed in GATE 2027

  • Registration is now integrated with DigiLocker and facial authentication. IIT Madras advises completing verification in advance for smooth entry into exam centres.
  • The exam is conducted only in English.
  • Candidates may appear for one or two papers from the approved two-paper combinations.
  • GATE scores remain valid for three years from the date results are declared.
  • Paper codes for the XE, XH and XL sectional papers have been updated. Check the brochure before applying.

Should you switch to RA?

An honest caveat: because RA debuts in 2027, no institute has yet published which of its M.Tech programmes will accept an RA score, and there are no previous year papers or cutoff trends to calibrate against. The programmes listed on this page currently admit through ME, EE, EC, CS and IN. Whether IIT Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Patna or Bhubaneswar will add RA to their eligible-paper lists for the 2027–28 cycle is a decision each department makes independently, and those admission brochures typically appear between January and March.

The pragmatic route is the two-paper option. Pairing RA with your core paper — ME or EE depending on background — keeps every existing programme open while positioning you for departments that adopt RA. Committing to RA alone before institutes announce acceptance is a real risk, and one worth weighing against the advantage of a first-cohort field with no established competition.

Preparing for GATE 2027?

Piyush Wairale runs structured GATE preparation with concept lectures, PYQ analysis, and full-length mock tests — built and taught by an IIT Madras M.Tech alumnus with 20,000+ students across GATE, PSU and Bank IT Officer programmes.

View GATE Courses →

How the Admission Process Works

STEP 01

Qualify GATE

Most IITs accept GATE scores from the current year plus the previous two. IIT Madras, for instance, accepts GATE 2024, 2025 or 2026 scores, with a separate application form required for each score used. [source]

STEP 02

Register on COAP

COAP registration is free, but it is not an application portal. You must apply separately to each institute, and the COAP registration number is a mandatory field on those applications. Twenty-four institutes and the PSU NPCIL participate. [source]

STEP 03

Apply to each institute individually

Deadlines differ. In the 2026 cycle, IIT Madras closed applications on 27 April, IIT Palakkad on 25 April, and IIT Kanpur ran 19 March to 13 April. Meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee selection — departments routinely set higher cut-offs than the institute minimum. [source]

STEP 04

Clear the shortlisting round

Robotics programmes are more likely than average to add a test or interview. IIT Delhi uses GATE plus a coding exam plus an interview; IIT Madras uses GATE plus interview.

STEP 05

Accept the offer on COAP

Offers appear on COAP across multiple rounds. For each offer you choose to accept and freeze, retain and wait, or reject and wait. Deadlines within each round are strict and non-negotiable.

The IIT B.Tech exemption

B.Tech graduates from IITs with a CGPA of 8.0 or above are generally eligible to apply without a GATE score. IIT Gandhinagar and IIT Madras both list this route, and at IITGN such candidates are exempt from the COAP requirement. If you hold an IIT B.Tech with a strong CGPA, check this before assuming you need GATE at all.

Career Outcomes

IIT Hyderabad's RIS brochure points graduates toward top-tier technology companies, R&D centres and emerging deep-tech startups, with hands-on proficiency in Gazebo, ROS and rapid prototyping workflows as the differentiator. IIT Madras expects graduates to move into robotics, automation, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

The applied domains that recur across programme literature are worth noting when choosing a specialisation: healthcare and rehabilitation, transportation and mobility, hazardous environments, energy, environmental protection, and industrial automation.

Research infrastructure matters too. IIT Hyderabad hosts TiHAN, a Technology Innovation Hub sanctioned by DST under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, focused on autonomous navigation and data acquisition systems including UAVs and RoVs. IIT Delhi's ecosystem includes IHFC, a non-profit Section 8 company on cobotics with participation from more than 50 institute faculty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many IITs offer a dedicated M.Tech in Robotics?

Seven IITs currently run named degrees in robotics, automation, mechatronics or robotics with AI: Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Patna and Bhubaneswar. Several more offer robotics as a specialisation inside Mechanical, Electrical or AI departments.

Can a Computer Science graduate apply for M.Tech Robotics?

Yes. IIT Delhi's programme is jointly offered by CSE, EE, ME, the Yardi School of AI and CoE-BIRD, and its selection process includes a coding exam. IIT Bhilai's executive programme explicitly targets IT professionals and software engineers. Perception, planning and learning modules make CS backgrounds well suited to modern robotics.

Is GATE mandatory for M.Tech Robotics at IITs?

For regular full-time programmes, yes, with two exceptions. IIT B.Tech graduates with CGPA 8.0 or above can apply without GATE at several institutes, and sponsored candidates are exempted at some. Executive and hybrid programmes such as IIT Bhilai's and IIT Guwahati's SISS route do not require GATE but do require work experience or specified degree eligibility.

What is the difference between Robotics and Mechatronics M.Tech?

Mechatronics programmes such as IIT Patna's emphasise the integration of mechanical systems with electronics and control — sensors and transducers, stepper motors and servo drives, hydraulics and pneumatics, PID control, CNC machines and industrial robotics. Robotics programmes lean further into autonomy: perception, navigation, planning and machine learning. Mechatronics is the broader industrial-automation foundation; robotics is the autonomy-focused subset.

What is COAP and do I need to register?

COAP is the Common Offer Acceptance Portal, started in 2017 to give GATE candidates a single platform for accepting M.Tech offers and PSU job offers. Registration is free and mandatory — participating institutes require the COAP number on their applications. It is not an application portal, so you still apply to each institute separately. IIT Roorkee coordinates COAP 2026.

Which is the newest M.Tech Robotics programme at an IIT?

IIT Madras, launching from July 2026 under the Department of Engineering Design, announced alongside new programmes in Semiconductor Materials Technology and Computational Engineering.

What is the GATE Robotics and Automation (RA) paper?

RA is a new GATE test paper introduced by IIT Madras from GATE 2027, bringing the total to 30 papers. It has an interdisciplinary structure: a compulsory Part A covering Engineering Mathematics, Basics of Mechatronics and Principles of Robotics and Automation, plus an optional Part B where candidates choose either Electrical Engineering (B1) or Mechanical Engineering (B2). The paper carries 100 marks including 15 for General Aptitude.

Do IITs accept the GATE RA score for M.Tech Robotics admission?

Not yet confirmed. RA debuts in February 2027, and individual institutes have not published which programmes will accept it. GATE RA scores may be considered for admission to relevant postgraduate and doctoral programmes subject to the criteria set by each institute. The safest strategy is to use the two-paper option, pairing RA with your core paper (ME or EE), and to check each department's 2027-28 admission brochure when it is released.

When is GATE 2027 and when do applications open?

The GATE 2027 notification was released on 20 July 2026 by IIT Madras. GOAPS registration opens on 14 August 2026, with regular applications closing 21 September 2026 and late-fee registration until 30 September 2026. The correction window runs 14 to 21 October 2026. The examination is held across six days in February 2027, with results scheduled for 19 March 2027.

Can working professionals do M.Tech Robotics without quitting their job?

Yes. IIT Bhilai's Executive M.Tech runs five semesters with three online and two offline, requiring a minimum of two years relevant industrial or teaching experience within the preceding three years. IIT Guwahati's SISS programme uses a hybrid model designed for balancing professional commitments. IIT Jodhpur also admits part-time and sponsored candidates to its Robotics & Mobility Systems programme.

Build the GATE score that gets you there

Robotics programmes at IITs are small-intake and interview-gated. A strong GATE score is the entry condition, not the finish line. Get structured preparation with PYQ-driven practice and full-length mocks.

Start Preparing Today →

Questions? Write to support@piyushwairale.com or call 9423071961

References

Sources & Official Links

Every programme claim on this page is traceable to one of the sources below. Official institute pages and brochures are marked Primary; aggregator listings used only for supporting detail are marked Secondary. Verified July 2026.

Institute programme pages & brochures

  1. IIT Delhi — Launch announcement, inter-disciplinary M.Tech in Robotics. PRIMARY
    home.iitd.ac.in/show.php?id=286&in_sections=News
  2. IIT Madras — Press release: new M.Tech and MA programmes in frontier technologies. PRIMARY
    iitm.ac.in/happenings/press-releases-and-coverages/iit-madras-launches-new-mtech-and-ma-programs-frontier
  3. IIT Madras — Department of Engineering Design, programmes page. PRIMARY
    ed.iitm.ac.in/program.html
  4. IIT Madras — M.Tech and M.A. admissions portal (GATE score validity, COAP requirement). PRIMARY
    mtechadm.iitm.ac.in
  5. IIT Hyderabad — M.Tech Robotics & Intelligent Systems (RIS) admissions brochure. PRIMARY
    iith.ac.in/assets/files/brochures/july_2025/pg/MTech_RIS_admissions_aug_2025.pdf
  6. IIT Hyderabad — Department of Electrical Engineering (Systems & Control stream). PRIMARY
    ee.iith.ac.in
  7. IIT Hyderabad — Department of Artificial Intelligence (Robotics & Industry 4.0 focus areas). PRIMARY
    ai.iith.ac.in
  8. IIT Jodhpur — IDRP Robotics & Mobility Systems department page. PRIMARY
    iitj.ac.in/rm
  9. IIT Jodhpur — Advertisement for admission to M.Tech degree programmes, AY 2026–27. PRIMARY
    iitj.ac.in — AdvertisementMTech-202627 (PDF)
  10. IIT Patna — M.Tech Mechatronics syllabus, School of Engineering. PRIMARY
    academics.iitp.ac.in/files/mtech_syllabus/mechatronics.pdf
  11. IIT Bhubaneswar — Curriculum, M.Tech Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (School of Mechanical Sciences). PRIMARY
    iitbbs.ac.in — Curriculum-SMS-M.Tech-Robotics-and-AI (PDF)
  12. IIT Kanpur — PG Admissions, July 2026 semester. PRIMARY
    iitk.ac.in/doaa/pgadmission
  13. IIT Guwahati — M.Tech in Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SISS). PRIMARY
    iitg.ac.in/oes/odp/mtech/rai
  14. IIT Guwahati — Course structure, M.Tech programme in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. PRIMARY
    iitg.ac.in/acad/CourseStructure — Robotics and AI (PDF)
  15. IIT Gandhinagar — M.Tech admissions and eligibility, AY 2026–27. PRIMARY
    iitgn.ac.in/admissions/mtech
  16. IIT Bhilai — Executive M.Tech in Applied Mechatronics and Robotics, programme brochure. PRIMARY
    iitbhilai.digivarsity.com — Executive M.Tech brochure (PDF)
  17. IIT Palakkad — M.Tech and M.Sc admissions notification, AY 2026–27. PRIMARY
    iitpkd.ac.in/notifications — M.Tech and M.Sc admissions

GATE 2027 & the Robotics and Automation (RA) paper

  1. IIT Madras — Press release: dates, syllabus revision and new paper introduction in GATE 2027. PRIMARY
    iitm.ac.in — GATE 2027 announcement
  2. GATE 2027 — Official website (information brochure, syllabus, GOAPS registration). PRIMARY
    gate2027.iitm.ac.in
  3. The Tribune — IIT Madras to conduct GATE 2027 in February; robotics and automation introduced. SECONDARY
    tribuneindia.com — GATE 2027 robotics paper
  4. Testbook — GATE Robotics & Automation (RA) 2027: paper code, syllabus structure, pattern and dates. SECONDARY
    testbook.com — GATE RA 2027
  5. Physics Wallah — GATE RA Syllabus 2027: Part A and Part B topic breakdown. SECONDARY
    pw.live — GATE RA syllabus 2027

Counselling & admission process

  1. COAP 2026 — Common Offer Acceptance Portal, coordinated by IIT Roorkee (participating institutes, registration rules). PRIMARY
    coap2026.iitr.ac.in/coap2026
  2. IIT Delhi — COAP 2026 schedule and institute information. PRIMARY
    home.iitd.ac.in/coap2026.php

Verification note: Programme details on this page were compiled from official institute admission pages, brochures and press releases current to July 2026. Programme names, host departments, seat matrices and deadlines change between admission cycles. Always confirm against the current-year information brochure on the institute's official website before applying. This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any IIT.