GATE Data Science & AI (DA) Syllabus 2026: Complete Guide

GATE DA 2026: Everything You Need to Know

GATE Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA) is one of the newest and most popular GATE papers. With booming demand for data scientists, this paper opens doors to IITs, IISc, and top tech companies.

Exam Pattern

Core Syllabus Breakdown

1. Probability and Statistics (15-20%)

• Counting, probability axioms, conditional probability
• Random variables, distributions (Uniform, Binomial, Poisson, Normal, Exponential)
• Joint distributions, covariance, correlation
• Central limit theorem, sampling distributions
• Point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing

2. Linear Algebra (10-15%)

• Vector spaces, linear independence
• Matrices, rank, determinants
• Eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalization
• Singular value decomposition

3. Calculus and Optimization (10-15%)

• Limits, continuity, differentiability
• Taylor series, partial derivatives
• Gradient, Hessian, convexity
• Unconstrained optimization, gradient descent
• Constrained optimization, Lagrange multipliers

4. Machine Learning (25-30%)

• Supervised learning: Regression, Classification
• Linear regression, logistic regression
• Decision trees, Random forests, SVM
• Neural networks basics
• Unsupervised learning: Clustering, PCA
• Bias-variance tradeoff, cross-validation

5. Programming and Data Structures (15-20%)

• Python programming basics
• Arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues
• Trees, graphs, hashing
• Sorting and searching algorithms
• Time and space complexity analysis

6. AI and Deep Learning (10-15%)

• Search algorithms
• Knowledge representation
• Deep learning basics
• CNNs and RNNs overview

Preparation Strategy

GATE DA requires a balance of mathematical foundations and practical knowledge. Start with probability and linear algebra as they form the backbone of ML algorithms.

Month-wise Plan

• • Answer: GATE DA (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) is a GATE paper introduced in 2024 covering probability, statistics, machine learning, AI, and programming fundamentals.
  • Question: What is GATE DA?
• • Answer: GATE DA has 65 questions for 100 marks over 3 hours. It includes MCQs (1 & 2 marks), MSQs, and NAT questions across General Aptitude and core DA subjects.
  • Question: What is the GATE DA exam pattern?
• • Answer: A score above 50 out of 100 is generally considered good for GATE DA. For top IITs, you may need 60+ marks depending on the cutoff trends.
  • Question: What is a good GATE DA score?
• • Answer: Yes, students from CSE, IT, Mathematics, Statistics, and related branches can appear for GATE DA. There's no branch restriction.
  • Question: Can CSE students write GATE DA?
• • Answer: GATE DA is generally considered slightly less competitive than GATE CS due to fewer aspirants, but the syllabus is equally rigorous with heavy mathematical content.
  • Question: Is GATE DA easier than GATE CS?
• • Answer: Start with probability and statistics (2 months), then ML and AI (2 months), followed by programming (1 month), and revision with mock tests (1 month). Use MastersUp for structured practice.
  • Question: How to prepare for GATE DA in 6 months?