GATE ME at a Glance
Paper Code
ME
Paper Name
Mechanical Engineering
Exam Authority
IISc / IITs (Rotational)
Exam Mode
Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration
3 Hours (180 Minutes)
Important Dates
Check Latest Official Notification
Who Can Appear for GATE ME?
Standard official eligibility requirements for candidates.
Educational Qualification
Candidates currently in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program OR who have already completed any government approved degree program in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Science / Commerce / Arts are eligible.
Age Limit
There is absolutely no age limit criteria defined for candidates appearing for the GATE examination.
Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on the number of times a candidate can appear for the GATE examination.
GATE ME Exam Pattern
Structure and marking scheme of the Mechanical Engineering paper.
| Section | Total Questions | Total Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude (GA) | 10 Questions | 15 Marks | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | Combined with Core | ~13 Marks | ~13% |
| Core Mechanical Engineering | 55 Questions (incl. Math) | 85 Marks (incl. Math) | ~72% |
| Total | 65 Questions | 100 Marks | 100% |
GATE ME Syllabus
Official subject-wise topic breakdown for Mechanical Engineering.
01 Engineering Mathematics
Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential equations, Complex variables, Probability and Statistics, Numerical Methods.
02 Applied Mechanics and Design
Engineering Mechanics: Free-body diagrams and equilibrium; trusses and frames; kinematics and dynamics of particles and of rigid bodies in plane motion. Mechanics of Materials: Stress and strain, elastic constants, Poisson's ratio; Mohr's circle; thin cylinders; shear force and bending moment diagrams; bending and shear stresses. Theory of Machines: Displacement, velocity and acceleration analysis of plane mechanisms; dynamic analysis of linkages; cams; gears and gear trains; flywheels and governors. Vibrations: Free and forced vibration of single degree of freedom systems. Machine Design: Design for static and dynamic loading; failure theories; fatigue strength and the S-N diagram; principles of the design of machine elements such as bolted, riveted and welded joints; shafts, gears, rolling and sliding contact bearings, brakes and clutches, springs.
03 Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences
Fluid Mechanics: Fluid properties; fluid statics, manometry, buoyancy, forces on submerged bodies, stability of floating bodies; control-volume analysis of mass, momentum and energy; fluid acceleration; differential equations of continuity and momentum; Bernoulli's equation; dimensional analysis; viscous flow of incompressible fluids, boundary layer, elementary turbulent flow, flow through pipes, head losses in pipes, bends and fittings. Heat-Transfer: Modes of heat transfer; one dimensional heat conduction, resistance concept and electrical analogy, heat transfer through fins; unsteady heat conduction, lumped parameter system, Heisler's charts; thermal boundary layer, dimensionless parameters in free and forced convective heat transfer, heat transfer correlations for flow over flat plates and through pipes, effect of turbulence; heat exchanger performance, LMTD and NTU methods; radiative heat transfer. Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic systems and processes; properties of pure substances, behavior of ideal and real gases; zeroth and first laws of thermodynamics, calculation of work and heat in various processes; second law of thermodynamics; thermodynamic property charts and tables, availability and irreversibility; thermodynamic relations. Applications: Power Engineering: Air and gas compressors; vapour and gas power cycles, concepts of regeneration and reheat. I.C. Engines: Air-standard Otto, Diesel and dual cycles. Refrigeration and air-conditioning: Vapour and gas refrigeration and heat pump cycles; properties of moist air, psychrometric chart, basic psychrometric processes. Turbomachinery: Impulse and reaction principles, velocity diagrams, Pelton-wheel, Francis and Kaplan turbines.
04 Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering
Engineering Materials: Structure and properties of engineering materials, phase diagrams, heat treatment, stress-strain diagrams for engineering materials. Casting, Forming and Joining Processes: Different types of castings, design of patterns, moulds and cores; solidification and cooling; riser and gating design. Plastic deformation and yield criteria; fundamentals of hot and cold working processes; load estimation for bulk (forging, rolling, extrusion, drawing) and sheet (shearing, deep drawing, bending) metal forming processes; principles of powder metallurgy. Principles of welding, brazing, soldering and adhesive bonding. Machining and Machine Tool Operations: Mechanics of machining; basic machine tools; single and multi-point cutting tools, tool geometry and materials, tool life and wear; economics of machining; principles of non-traditional machining processes; principles of work holding, design of jigs and fixtures. Metrology and Inspection: Limits, fits and tolerances; linear and angular measurements; comparators; gauge design; interferometry; form and finish measurement; alignment and testing methods; tolerance analysis in manufacturing and assembly. Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Basic concepts of CAD/CAM and their integration tools. Production Planning and Control: Forecasting models, aggregate production planning, scheduling, materials requirement planning. Inventory Control: Deterministic models; safety stock inventory control systems. Operations Research: Linear programming, simplex method, transportation, assignment, network flow models, simple queuing models, PERT and CPM.
How to Prepare for GATE ME
A structured approach specifically tailored for Mechanical Engineering.
1 The Design & Mechanics Core
Strength of Materials (SOM) and Theory of Machines (TOM) are fundamental. Mastering free-body diagrams and stress analysis early will make Machine Design much easier.
2 The Thermal Core
Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics are heavily conceptual. Focus heavily on cycles (Otto, Diesel, Rankine) and the Bernoulli's equation applications. These subjects yield high marks.
3 Manufacturing & OR
Manufacturing processes carry massive weightage (15-18 marks). Don't ignore Operations Research; it is highly scoring and relies on relatively simple mathematical models.