The 2 official GATE CS 2021 question papers are on this page as PDFs from IIT Bombay, with the original source linked beside each file. The GATE CS exam covers General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and CS core. Download them below, then sit the paper under exam timing with the attempt plan and error-log routine on this page.
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Download the paper
Download the official GATE CS 2021 question paper (PDF), hosted on this site with the official source linked.
Why this year matters
2021 will not mirror every new question type, but it still trains selection, stamina, and the chapters that keep coming back. Download only your paper code. Mixed-branch dumps wreck weightage learning.
After the paper, rebuild a short chapter-weight list for your code. NAT digit errors are silly misses if the setup was right; log them that way so you fix keystroke discipline, not concepts that were already fine.
Paper analysis
Snapshot of GATE CS 2021
GATE CS 2021 (set 1): 65 questions for 100 marks, made up of 34 MCQ, 13 MSQ and 18 NAT. General Aptitude is 15 marks and Engineering Mathematics 8, which leaves 77 for the computer science subjects. Every question is tagged on the GATE CS topic pages.
Subject-wise marks
Every question in the official GATE CS 2021 (set 1) paper, tagged by subject. Marks and question type come from the official answer key. 65 questions, 100 marks: 34 MCQ, 13 MSQ, 18 NAT.
| Subject | Questions | 1-mark / 2-mark | Marks | vs 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 | 5 / 5 | 15 | 0 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 5 | 2 / 3 | 8 | +3 |
| Discrete Mathematics | 6 | 3 / 3 | 9 | +1 |
| Digital Logic | 4 | 2 / 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Computer Organization & Architecture | 3 | 1 / 2 | 5 | -4 |
| Programming & Data Structures | 5 | 2 / 3 | 8 | -5 |
| Algorithms | 7 | 4 / 3 | 10 | +3 |
| Theory of Computation | 5 | 2 / 3 | 8 | -1 |
| Compiler Design | 5 | 2 / 3 | 8 | +4 |
| Operating Systems | 5 | 4 / 1 | 6 | -4 |
| Databases (DBMS) | 5 | 2 / 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Computer Networks | 5 | 1 / 4 | 9 | +3 |
Biggest shifts from 2020: Programming & Data Structures -5 marks; Computer Organization & Architecture -4 marks; Compiler Design +4 marks. Compare against GATE CS 2020 or see the year-by-year subject table.
What this paper stresses
- Algorithms led the paper with 10 marks, ahead of Discrete Mathematics (9) and Computer Networks (9).
- Heavier than usual: Algorithms 10 marks against a 11-year average of 6.8.
- Lighter than usual: Operating Systems 6 against 8.8; Programming & Data Structures 8 against 10.7.
- 18 NAT questions worth 26 marks: exact values, no options to eliminate.
- 13 MSQ questions worth 21 marks. MSQ has no negative marking, but one wrong extra option scores zero.
- Concepts that keep coming back and appear here: Context-Free Languages (11/11 years), Calculus (11/11 years), Linear Algebra (11/11 years), Number Representation (10/11 years), Paging & Virtual Memory (10/11 years).
- Asked in this paper only (of the 11 we tagged): Recovery, Query Processing.
What to extract before you move on
- Your marks per subject next to the table above. A gap in a heavy subject costs more than one in a light one.
- NAT, MSQ and MCQ miss counts. Each type needs a different drill.
- GA questions you guessed rather than knew.
- For each weak subject, open its topic page and solve the same concept from two other years.
How 2021 sits next to other years
Against GATE CS 2020: more marks in Compiler Design +4, Engineering Mathematics +3, Algorithms +3; fewer in Programming & Data Structures -5, Computer Organization & Architecture -4, Operating Systems -4. Against GATE CS 2022: more marks in Algorithms +5, Compiler Design +4, Digital Logic +3; fewer in Discrete Mathematics -4, Computer Organization & Architecture -4, Operating Systems -4. The year-by-year subject table shows every year side by side.
Looking for another shift, set or language? Check the official archive.
How to sit GATE CS 2021
- Grab your paper code PDF (and key when available) from the official GATE links.
- Three hours, one sitting, GA + Engg Maths (if applicable) + core. Re-key NAT answers before checking the key.
- When the clock ends, stop. Review should take at least as long as the attempt.
- Fill the error log the same day: section, topic, and miss type (concept, silly, time, or misread).
- Next session, repair only logged items. Then pick another year from the decade list.
Other years in this decade
- GATE CS 2026
- GATE CS 2025
- GATE CS 2024
- GATE CS 2023
- GATE CS 2022
- GATE CS 2020
- GATE CS 2019
- GATE CS 2018
- GATE CS 2017
- GATE CS 2016
FAQ
Where can I download the official GATE CS 2021 question paper?
Download it from this page: the official PDF is here, with a link to the conducting body’s original.
What does the GATE CS 2021 paper analysis include?
A year snapshot, what the paper stresses, what to extract into your error log, and how 2021 compares with neighbouring years on this hub.
How should I practise the GATE CS 2021 previous year paper?
Open the official PDF, sit it timed under current brochure rules, fill an error log the same day, read the paper analysis, then move to another year in the decade list.
Is GATE CS 2021 still useful if I finished newer papers?
Yes, for theme and weightage mining after your newest papers are logged. Skip deleted syllabus pockets.
Are memory-based GATE CS 2021 papers reliable?
Treat memory-based sets as interim. Reconcile contested items with official keys or response sheets when the conducting body publishes them.
Where is the GATE CS syllabus and pattern for this paper?
See the GATE CS syllabus & pattern page on this hub, and always re-check the latest official brochure before exam day.