← MocksAll 5 GATE XH-C1 papers →
GATE Economics (XH-C1)
IISc · 108 min · 39 questions · Economics section · MCQ, MSQ and NAT
Accepted by IIT Madras
Your first mock is free
GATE 2026
39 questions · 108 min
About GATE XH-C1
Once a year · Computer-based test (CBT)
GATE Economics is the XH-C1 option of GATE's Humanities and Social Sciences paper. The paper is 100 marks in three hours: General Aptitude, a common Reasoning and Comprehension section, and the Economics section. Questions are multiple choice, multiple select and numerical answer, with negative marking on multiple choice only. IIT Madras admits to its MA Economics on this score.
Marking
- MCQ: +1 / −0.33, +2 / −0.67
- MSQ: +1 or +2, no negative marking, all options must be right
- NAT: +1 or +2, no negative marking
Eligibility
Students in the third or a later year of an undergraduate degree, and graduates. There is no qualifying score to sit the paper; each institute sets its own admission cutoff.
Key dates
2027 cycle
What gets asked
Full syllabus →Share of 196 past-paper questions.
Microeconomics
25%
Macroeconomics
19%
Statistics
9%
International Economics
8%
Economics of Growth and Development
7%
Indian Economy
6%
Books
All 6 books →Mathematics
Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics
Alpha C. Chiang & Kevin Wainwright
Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics
Olivier Blanchard
Statistics
Probability and Statistics for Economists
Bruce E. Hansen
Questions
Is there negative marking in GATE Economics (XH-C1)?
Yes for MCQ-type questions; Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carry no negative marking. See the exam pattern table above for the exact split this platform's papers use.
Is GATE Economics tough compared to IIT JAM or CUET-PG?
It's generally considered the most conceptually demanding of the three, with real analysis and general-equilibrium questions that go beyond what CUET-PG and, to a lesser extent, IIT JAM require.
What can a GATE Economics score be used for?
Admission to Economics programmes that accept it, such as IIT Madras's MA Economics, and some fellowships and public-sector recruitment. Each institute's notice says whether it accepts GATE that year.
How many years of GATE Economics papers should I practice?
All of them. XH-C1 has only run since 2021, so there are few past papers; sit each one timed.
Does GATE Economics require calculus at an advanced level?
Yes. Multivariable calculus, constrained optimisation (Lagrange and Kuhn-Tucker) and some real analysis are examined directly.