GATE Aerospace Engineering Syllabus 2025

GATE Aerospace Engineering Syllabus 2025 comprises six sections: Engineering Mathematics, Flight Mechanics, Space Dynamics, Aerodynamics, Structures and Propulsion. The GATE syllabus and test papers 2025 has been released on the official website for all the papers.

GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus 2025 has six sections. The GATE Syllabus for Aerospace Engineering and its subject topics are divided into Core topics and Special topics. 90% of the questions will be covered from the Core Topics and the remaining 10% will be from the special topics. Along with this, candidates are also suggested to practice GATE previous year question papers.

The GATE 2025 exam will be conducted by IIT Roorkee as a computer-based test for a total of 30 test papers. The exam is scheduled to be conducted on Feb 1,2,15 and 16, 2025 in two sessions for 3 hours.

GATE Aerospace Engineering Syllabus 2025

The GATE Aerospace syllabus is divided into six parts:

Engineering Mathematics
Flight Mechanics
Space Dynamics
Aerodynamics
Structures
Propulsion

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Section 1: Engineering Mathematics

The following are the various topics and sub-topics to be covered in the Engineering Mathematics section.

Linear Algebra

Vector algebra
Matrix algebra
Systems of linear equations
Rank of a matrix
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Calculus

Functions of single variable
Limits
Continuity and differentiability
Mean value theorem
Chain rule
Partial derivatives
Maxima and minima
Gradient
Divergence and curl
Directional derivatives. Integration
Line
Surface and volume integrals. Theorems of Stokes
Gauss and Green.

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Differential Equations

First-order linear and nonlinear differential equations
Higher-order linear odes with constant coefficients. Partial differential equations and separation of variables methods.

Special Topics

Fourier series
Laplace transforms
Numerical methods for linear and nonlinear algebraic equations
Numerical integration and differentiation

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Section 2: Flight Mechanics

The following are the various topics and sub-topics to be covered in the Flight Mechanics Section.

Basics

Atmosphere: Properties, standard atmosphere
Classification of aircraft
Aeroplane (fixed-wing aircraft) configuration and various parts

Aeroplane performance

Pressure altitude( Equivalent, Calibrated, Indicated, Air Speeds)
Primary flight instruments: Altimeter, ASI, VSI
Turn-bank indicator
Drag polar
Takeoff and landing
Steady climb & descent, absolute and service ceiling
Cruise, cruise climb, endurance or loiter
Load factor, turning flight, V-n diagram
Winds: head, tail & crosswinds

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Static stability

The angle of attack, sideslip
Roll, pitch & yaw controls
Longitudinal stick fixed & free stability, horizontal tail position and size
Directional stability, vertical tail position and size
Dihedral stability
Wing dihedral, sweep & position
Hinge moments, stick forces

Special topics

Dynamic stability: Euler angles
Equations of motion
Aerodynamic forces and moments
Stability & control derivatives
decoupling of longitudinal and lateral-directional dynamics
Longitudinal modes
Lateral-directional modes

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Section 3: Space Dynamics

The following are the various topics and sub-topics to be covered in the Space Dynamics Section.

Core Topics

Central force motion
Determination of trajectory
Orbital period in simple cases

Section 4: Aerodynamics

The following are the various topics and sub-topics to be covered in the Aerodynamics Section.

Basic Fluid Mechanics

Conservation laws: Mass, momentum, (Integral and differential form)
Potential flow theory: Sources, Sinks, Doublets
Line vortex and their superposition
Viscosity, Reynolds number

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Airfoils and wings

Airfoil nomenclature
Aerodynamic coefficients: lift, drag and moment
Kutta-Joukoswki theorem
Thin airfoil theory, Kutta condition, starting vortex
Finite wing theory: Induced drag, Prandtl lifting line theory
Critical and drag divergence Mach number.

Compressible Flows

Basic concepts of compressibility, Conservation equations
One dimensional compressible flows, Fanno flow, Rayleigh flow
Isentropic flows
Normal and oblique shocks, Prandtl-Meyer flow
Flow-through nozzles and diffusers.

Special topics

Elementary ideas of viscous flows including boundary layers
Wind Tunnel Testing: Measurement and visualization techniques.

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Section 5: Structures

The following are the various topics and sub-topics to be covered in the Structures Section.

Strength of Materials

States of stress and strain
Stress and strain transformation
Mohr's Circle
Principal stresses
Three-dimensional Hooke's law
Plane stress and strain
Failure theories: Maximum stress, Tresca, Von Mises
Strain energy
Castigliano's principles
Analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate trusses and beams
Elastic flexural buckling of columns

Flight vehicle structures

Characteristics of aircraft structures and materials
Torsion, bending and flexural shear of thin-walled sections
Loads on aircraft

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Structural Dynamics

Free and forced vibrations of undamped and damped SDOF systems
Free vibrations of undamped 2-DOF systems

Special topics

Vibration of beams
Theory of elasticity: Equilibrium and compatibility equations
Airy’s stress function

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Section 6: Propulsion

The following are the various topics and sub-topics to be covered in the Propulsion Section.

Basics

Thermodynamics
Boundary layers
Heat transfer
Combustion thermochemistry

Thermodynamics of aircraft engines

Thrust, efficiency and engine performance of turbojet
Turboprop, turboshaft, turbofan and ramjet engines
Thrust augmentation of turbojets and turbofan engines
Aerothermodynamics of non-rotating propulsion components such as intakes, combustor and nozzle.

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Axial compressors

Angular momentum, work and compression
Characteristic performance of a single axial compressor stage
Efficiency of the compressor
Degree of reaction

Axial turbines

Axial turbine stage efficiency

Centrifugal compressor

Centrifugal compressor stage dynamics, inducer, impeller and diffuser.

Rocket propulsion

Thrust equation and specific impulse
Vehicle acceleration, drag, gravity losses,
Multi-staging of rockets
Classification of chemical rockets
Performance of solid and liquid propellant rockets

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GATE Aerospace Engineering Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme 2025

The GATE Aerospace Engineering Exam will consist of questions from the subject of General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and Subject-specific i.e. questions from Aerospace engineering subject.

The paper will have 85% of questions from Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mathematics topics. The remaining 15% of questions will be from General Aptitude. Candidates are required to attempt 65 questions. The time allocated is 3 HRs.

The following table explains the Marks Weightage for GATE Aerospace Engineering Exam in further detail:

GATE Aerospace Engineering Exam Pattern
Marks Weightage for GATE AE Exam
Section	Number of Questions	Total Marks	Marking Scheme
General Aptitude (GA)	10	15	5 MCQ’s for 1 mark each5 MCQ’s for 2 marks each
Engineering Mathematics	55	13	25 Questions for 1 mark each 30 Questions for 2 marks each
Aerospace Engineering (AE)	55	72	25 Questions for 1 mark each 30 Questions for 2 marks each

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GATE Aerospace Engineering Reference Books 2025

GATE books are available in the market for the GATE AE preparation. However, the following table contains the section-wise reference books for GATE Aerospace Engineering 2025:

GATE Aerospace Engineering Reference Books
Section	Books with the Name of Author/Publisher
Engineering Mathematics	Made Easy Engineering Mathematics - For GATE & ESE 2025
Engineering Mathematics	GATE Engineering Mathematics by R K Kanodia
Flight Mechanics	Introduction to Flight - John D. Anderson, Jr.
Flight Mechanics	Airplane Performance, Stability and Control By Courtland D. Perkins and Robert E. Hage
Space Dynamics	Rocket Propulsion and Space Dynamics by J. W. Cornelisse, H. F. R. Schöyer, K. F. Wakker
Aerodynamics	Aerodynamics for Engineering Students, By Edward Lewis Houghton and P. W. Carpenter
Aerodynamics	Fundamentals of Aerodynamics - John D, Anderson, Jr.
Structures	A Textbook of Strength of Materials - RK Bansal
Propulsion	Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion - Hill & Peterson
Propulsion	Gas Turbines - V Ganesan

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GATE Aerospace Engineering Previous Year’s Question Paper

We have added the GATE Aerospace Engineering past five years’ question papers along with the answer keys for all the students. Click on the link to download the question papers and the answer keys.