
How to Prepare Chemistry for GATE Life Sciences (XL) 2027
Studying biology and unsure where to begin with chemistry? Find the syllabus boundary, the depth to prepare and a clear starting point.
DigiLocker is now mandatory for Indian applicants. Here is what GOAPS will fetch, what you still need to upload, and what to check before registration opens.
Written by PsiGenei Editorial · Reviewed by Shabab Anwar · Published 25 Aug 2026 · Updated 26 Oct 2026 · 8 min read

This update may be out of date. Last checked 26 Oct 2026.
GATE 2027 registration opened on 2 September 2026 and has now closed. For Indian nationals, registering through DigiLocker is mandatory; an unverified DigiLocker account could also be used.
GATE will fetch seven details from DigiLocker: name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID, address, profile picture, and a verified ID card number.
Two common concerns can already be settled. You do not need to upload your academic marksheets to DigiLocker. The old photograph in Aadhaar or DigiLocker will not become your GATE application photograph; GOAPS will still require a recent photograph, signature, and photo-ID scan.
The exact linking and consent screens will only be clear once GOAPS goes live. Until then, here is what you can prepare safely.
According to the official GATE 2027 website, registration through DigiLocker is mandatory for all Indian nationals.
These seven details will be fetched:
DigiLocker supplies these identity-related fields. The rest of the application continues through GOAPS: you will enter your educational information, select the GATE paper and examination cities, and upload the prescribed files.
If you already have a verified DigiLocker account, use that account and review its details before applying. If you have never used DigiLocker, create and verify the account before opening the GATE form. Fixing a mismatch now is easier than discovering it while filling the application.
DigiLocker is a Government of India platform operated under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It provides access to digital documents and identity records.
For this application, three parts are worth distinguishing.
This contains the information associated with your DigiLocker account. After Aadhaar verification, some profile information is obtained through Aadhaar e-KYC.
These are digital records fetched directly from registered issuers, such as government departments, education boards and universities. They appear in the Issued Documents section.
This contains PDFs or images uploaded manually by the user. An uploaded file is useful for storage, but it is different from a record fetched directly from an issuer.
You do not have to build a complete academic-document folder for GATE. The official GATE FAQ says that Class 10, Class 12, undergraduate and postgraduate marksheets are not required in DigiLocker for the examination process.
The GATE website has listed the seven fetched fields, and says the DigiLocker-verified mobile number and email ID are used for the application. The same verified ID, in original, must be shown at the exam centre.
DigiLocker normally shares information with a requesting organisation after the user authenticates and gives consent. Once GOAPS opens, read the consent screen and inspect every fetched field before continuing.
Any tutorial published before 27 August can explain account preparation, but it cannot show the final GATE 2027 linking flow unless the live portal is available.
The name in your GATE application must match the valid photo ID submitted with the form. Do not add a title such as Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr or Prof.
If the name in your verified DigiLocker profile comes from Aadhaar, DigiLocker cannot replace it with a different name. The correction must first be completed through UIDAI. You can then refresh Aadhaar or complete e-KYC again in DigiLocker.
Check the spelling, order and initials against the ID you intend to use for GATE.
Your date of birth should match the photo ID submitted with the application.
An error in Aadhaar-sourced date-of-birth information must be corrected through UIDAI before the revised value can appear in DigiLocker. Aadhaar updates may require supporting documents and can take time, so begin a known correction before the registration deadline.
Check the mobile number linked to your DigiLocker account. You should also have access to the number registered with Aadhaar because Aadhaar authentication or an account update may require an OTP.
GATE says the DigiLocker-verified mobile number is used for the application.
If you have lost access to either number, use the official DigiLocker or UIDAI recovery process. Creating a fresh account does not correct the number attached to Aadhaar.
Open your DigiLocker profile and confirm that the email address is active and correctly written.
GATE says the DigiLocker-verified email ID is used for the application.
The GATE FAQ confirms that the address and date of birth will be fetched from DigiLocker/Aadhaar.
To change an Aadhaar-sourced address in DigiLocker, update Aadhaar first. GOAPS correction rules should be checked separately once the portal is live. UIDAI lists the current update routes on its Aadhaar update page.
An old Aadhaar or DigiLocker photograph will not be treated as your GATE application photograph. This is stated clearly in the GATE FAQ.
GATE will consider the recent photograph uploaded in GOAPS and the live photograph taken during registration. The uploaded photograph will also appear on the admit card and scorecard.
There is no need to delay the application only because the Aadhaar photograph is old or blurred. Prepare a recent photograph that follows the official GATE specifications.
GATE says the ID verified through DigiLocker is used, and the same ID, in original, must be shown at the exam centre.
The accepted photo IDs for Indian applicants are:
Keep a clear scan of the ID you intend to submit. It must show the photograph, name, date of birth and ID number. If those details appear on both sides of the card, combine the front and back in one PDF.
The same original ID must be carried to the examination centre.
Use the DigiLocker mobile app or visit digilocker.gov.in. Button names may differ slightly between the app and website, but the setup normally follows these steps:
Your Aadhaar-registered mobile number may be needed during e-KYC. If you no longer have access to it, follow the official UIDAI mobile-update route before beginning the GATE application.
Never share an OTP, security PIN or Aadhaar authentication details with a coaching institute, cybercafe operator or anyone offering to fill the form for you.
An approved Aadhaar correction may not appear in DigiLocker until Aadhaar is refreshed or e-KYC is completed again.
DigiLocker's official guidance gives the following process:
Verify what DigiLocker actually displays before starting the GATE form. A submitted Aadhaar update request is not the same as a completed update.
DigiLocker verification does not replace the prescribed uploads. According to the GATE required-documents page, applicants should keep these files ready where applicable:
The uploaded photograph must be a JPEG/JPG between 5 kB and 600 kB, with a resolution between 200 × 260 and 530 × 690 pixels. The background must be white, and the face should cover about 60–70% of the image.
The signature must be uploaded as a JPEG/JPG between 3 kB and 300 kB. Sign in black or dark-blue ink. GATE specifies a resolution between 250 × 80 and 580 × 180 pixels, with the signature covering about 70–80% of the image.
Check the official specifications again before uploading. A photograph or signature that does not meet the requirements can cause the application to be marked defective.
When GOAPS opens, inspect every fetched field before submitting the form. If the live portal differs from the pre-registration information, follow the current GOAPS instructions or contact the GATE 2027 helpdesk through the official website.
Editorial update note: This guide was first written on 24 August 2026 and updated on 26 October 2026 with GATE's later official information.
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Written by
Editorial Team
Educators, mentors and researchers from IIT Bombay, IISc, and AIIMS committed to making higher education and career guidance in the Life Sciences clearer, more practical, and more accessible.
Reviewed by Shabab Anwar
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