GATE 2027 Registration: Unverified DigiLocker Allowed, IISc Bangalore Safe Scores and What Aspirants Should Know

Searches for "gate" climbed sharply in India in mid-September 2026 — Google Trends recorded roughly 200 searches and 75% growth for the term in the 24 hours to September 18. The spike lines up with a key clarification from IIT Madras, the organising institute for GATE 2027, about the DigiLocker requirement that had worried many applicants. Here is what changed, what it means for your application, and what last year's data suggests about the scores needed for top institutes like IISc Bangalore.

GATE 2027 registration: the DigiLocker relaxation explained

An earlier GATE 2027 notification had stated that registration through DigiLocker was mandatory for Indian nationals, prompting candidates with unverified accounts to rush for verification. On September 18, 2026, IIT Madras eased that position. According to EdexLive, applicants can now complete GATE 2027 registration even with an unverified DigiLocker account by choosing the default ID proof option while filling the form.

Crucially, this is a relaxation of the process, not a waiver of document checks. Applications submitted through unverified accounts will be scrutinised after the registration deadline, and original documents will be physically verified at the examination hall. IIT Madras continues to recommend a verified DigiLocker account for a smoother experience at the exam venue, so if you still have time, completing verification is the safer route.

Marksheets do not need to go on DigiLocker

A related clarification in the GATE 2027 FAQ confirms that candidates are not required to upload their Class 10, Class 12, undergraduate or postgraduate marksheets to DigiLocker for registration. That removes another common misconception that had slowed down applications.

What score do you need for IISc Bangalore?

For aspirants targeting M.Tech at IISc Bangalore, a Careers360 analysis published on September 9, 2026 projects safe GATE 2027 scores from IISc's 2026 cutoffs. General category candidates likely need a score above 900 for Computer Science and Engineering, and 880 or more in the CS paper for the Artificial Intelligence programme. At the lower end, Chemical Engineering (526) and Civil Engineering (602) recorded among the lowest general-category closing scores in 2026.

Treat these as projections, not official cutoffs. Actual 2027 admission scores will shift with the paper you choose, your category and the seat matrix. The same analysis shows, for instance, that Aerospace Engineering admits through multiple GATE papers — AE, EE, ME, XE and CH — each with a different threshold, so the paper you sit for can matter as much as the raw score.

Practical checklist before you apply

• Register only through the official GATE 2027 portal run by IIT Madras (gate2027.iitm.ac.in); some third-party reports have cited other addresses.
• If your DigiLocker account is unverified, select the default ID proof option — but keep every original document ready for post-deadline scrutiny and exam-centre verification.
• Do not upload academic marksheets to DigiLocker; it is not required.
• Confirm the current fee structure, category concessions and the exact registration deadline in the official GATE 2027 brochure before paying, as these details were not covered in the reports reviewed here.

The bottom line: the September 18 update removes DigiLocker verification as a blocker, but it shifts the burden of proof to document checks later in the process. Apply early, keep originals handy, and verify your account if you can.