This page lists GATE PI previous year question papers for 10 years, 2016 to 2026, with 17 official PDFs (question papers and answer keys). GATE PI (GATE Production and Industrial Engineering) is conducted by IISc Bangalore or one of the IITs, in rotation, and covers General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and PI core. Pick a year below for the paper, answer key and a timed practice plan; confirm dates and pattern on gate2027.iitm.ac.in.
Year-wise question papers
GATE PI 2026
GATE PI 2026 paper and answer key from IIT Guwahati, 20 NAT and 33 MCQ, 12 MSQ.
GATE PI 2025
GATE PI 2025 paper and answer key from IIT Roorkee, 30 NAT and 34 MCQ, 1 MSQ.
GATE PI 2024
GATE PI 2024 paper and answer key from IISc Bangalore, 26 NAT and 33 MCQ, 6 MSQ.
GATE PI 2023
GATE PI 2023 paper and answer key from IIT Kanpur, 27 NAT and 38 MCQ.
GATE PI 2022
GATE PI 2022 answer key from IIT Kharagpur, 34 NAT and 31 MCQ.
GATE PI 2021
GATE PI 2021 question paper with answer key from IIT Bombay.
GATE PI 2019
GATE PI 2019 paper and answer key from IIT Madras, 24 NAT and 41 MCQ.
GATE PI 2018
GATE PI 2018 paper and answer key from IIT Guwahati, 31 NAT and 34 MCQ.
GATE PI 2017
GATE PI 2017 answer key from IIT Roorkee, 21 NAT and 44 MCQ.
GATE PI 2016
GATE PI 2016 paper and answer key from IISc Bangalore, 24 NAT and 41 MCQ.
Not hosted: 2020. We could not retrieve a complete PI PDF from an official GATE site or its Internet Archive capture for that year, so no page is shown rather than a partial file.
Answer first
For GATE PI (PI), solve paper-code-specific previous year questions under timed conditions, keep General Aptitude alive weekly, and build a subject-weight tally from every PI paper you can get. Mixed-branch PDF dumps destroy the signal you need.
Why PI-only PYQs matter
- Official structure: Production and Industrial Engineering has its own subject mix: Engineering Mathematics, General Engineering, Manufacturing Processes, Quality and Reliability and more.
- NAT precision: Typed-answer questions reward unit discipline and the rounding range printed in the key. Log a correct setup with a wrong unit as a silly miss.
- MSQ logic: From 2021 the keys include multi-select questions, which score only when every correct option, and no wrong one, is chosen. Practise them with a written option audit.
- M.Tech, PhD and PSU alignment: The same PI papers feed several goals, with different cut-off arithmetic.
Pattern snapshot (verify brochure)
Single paper, computer-based, three hours. 65 questions for 100 marks: 10 General Aptitude (15 marks) and 55 Production and Industrial Engineering questions (85 marks, with Engineering Mathematics inside the core). Question types are MCQ, NAT and, from 2021, MSQ. Wrong MCQ answers lose 1/3 or 2/3 of the question’s marks; MSQ and NAT have no negative marking.
| Block | Role in PI prep |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | Fixed short daily or weekly block; high ROI marks |
| Engineering Mathematics | Weekly NAT pairs from sticky chapters |
| Core PI | Subjects chosen from your own paper tally; MSQ option audits |
Core topic map for GATE PI
Engineering Mathematics
Linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability, statistics and numerical methods.
General Engineering
Engineering mechanics, strength of materials, theory of machines and vibrations, engineering materials.
Manufacturing Processes
Casting, forming, joining, machining and machine tools, metrology, CNC, additive and non-traditional processes.
Quality and Reliability
Control charts, sampling plans, process capability, reliability, TQM concepts.
Industrial Engineering
Work study, plant layout, inventory, forecasting, scheduling, production planning and control.
Operations Research
Linear programming, transportation and assignment, network models, queueing, simulation.
Engineering Economy and Costing
Interest formulae, depreciation, break-even analysis, cost estimation.
Pareto guidance: Mark counts per subject are not tabulated on this hub, so build your own tally. After each paper, count how many questions each subject contributed and let the running average decide your order of study.
Prep timelines using PI PYQs
3-month plan
In month 1, sit one full PI paper to see where you stand, and work on your three weakest areas. In month 2, practise PI PYQs subject by subject, starting with the ones that carry the most marks in your tally. In month 3, alternate full papers with revising the formulas from your error log.
6-month plan
Finish the syllabus with weekly PI PYQ tagging. In the second half, sit one full paper most weeks plus subject revision from misses only. Use older papers for topic drills and keep the latest two years for timed mocks.
12-month plan
Syllabus, then subject-wise PI PYQs, then full papers, then revision cycles. Keep GA alive all year. Common weak spots to watch: Manufacturing processes, operations research, industrial engineering and quality.
Common mistakes
- Solving mixed-paper dumps from other GATE codes.
- Ignoring the latest official PI syllabus PDF.
- No NAT re-entry practice.
- Skipping GA because core feels endless.
FAQ
Where can I find GATE PI previous year question papers?
On this hub: the official Production and Industrial Engineering papers and answer keys for 10 of the 11 years from 2016–2026, from the organising institutes’ sites. Each year page links the original source.
How many years of GATE PI PYQs should I solve?
Aim for 8-10 recent years of paper code PI for subject weightage, with every recent year timed at least once.
Are GATE PI PYQs enough?
They are the best practice available, but they do not replace the official syllabus, studying the concepts, and keeping up General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics.
Should I mix other GATE paper codes with PI?
No for core subject practice. GA can be cross-practised and mathematics templates transfer, but core questions should stay PI-only.
How should I use an error log?
Same day: tag each miss by block (GA, mathematics, core), subject, and miss type (concept, silly, time or misread). Next sessions repair logged items only.
Where to get the official papers
GATE PI question papers, answer keys and notifications are published by the IISc or IIT organising that year’s exam on its own GATE website (IIT Madras for GATE 2027: gate2027.iitm.ac.in). Download them from there. We link to the official files and add practice notes, but the latest official notification is the final word on dates, pattern and eligibility.