GATE Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) is a specialized branch in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, designed for aspirants pursuing careers in humanities and social sciences research, teaching, and related fields. GATE XH was introduced in 2021, making it one of the newer branches in the GATE examination. This branch consists of multiple sub-papers (XH-C1 through XH-C6) covering various humanities and social science subjects. This branch tests your understanding of economics, English literature, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Practicing GATE XH previous question papers is crucial for understanding the exam format and improving your performance.
Humanities and Social Sciences explore human behavior, society, culture, and thought. GATE XH aspirants typically include graduates from various humanities and social science backgrounds who wish to pursue higher studies or careers in research institutions, universities, government organizations, and industries requiring social science expertise. The field encompasses areas such as Economics (XH-C1), English Literature (XH-C2), Linguistics (XH-C3), Philosophy (XH-C4), Psychology (XH-C5), and Sociology (XH-C6).
Key Subjects in GATE Humanities and Social Sciences
Core Humanities Subjects
- Economics (XH-C1)
- English Literature (XH-C2)
- Linguistics (XH-C3)
- Philosophy (XH-C4)
Social Sciences Subjects
- Psychology (XH-C5)
- Sociology (XH-C6)
- Research Methods
- Social Theory
GATE Humanities and Social Sciences Previous Question Papers (2021-2025)
Download GATE XH previous year question papers with answer keys from 2021 to 2025. These GATE Humanities and Social Sciences previous question papers help you understand the exam pattern, question types, difficulty level, and time management strategies. Solve these previous papers regularly to identify important topics and improve your problem-solving speed. These solved previous year papers are essential for effective GATE XH preparation. Regular practice with these previous question papers will help you score better in the actual exam.
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| GATE 2025 | Question Paper|Answer Key |
| GATE 2024 | Question Paper|Answer Key |
| GATE 2023 | Question Paper|Answer Key |
| GATE 2022 | Question Paper|Answer Key |
| GATE 2021 | Question Paper|Answer Key |
GATE XH Paper Pattern & Trends
Exam Pattern: GATE XH consists of 65 questions (55 technical + 10 General Aptitude) worth 100 marks. The paper duration is 3 hours. Candidates must choose one sub-paper from XH-C1 (Economics), XH-C2 (English), XH-C3 (Linguistics), XH-C4 (Philosophy), XH-C5 (Psychology), or XH-C6 (Sociology). Topics vary by sub-paper but generally include theoretical concepts, research methods, and applied knowledge in the chosen discipline. Studying the previous question papers helps you understand how these topics are distributed in the actual exam. Analyzing these previous question papers reveals the weightage of each topic.
Recent Trends (2021-2025)
Recent GATE XH previous question papers have shown consistent emphasis on theoretical foundations with questions on core concepts, theories, and methodologies, typically accounting for 40-50% of the paper. Research methods topics focus on quantitative and qualitative research techniques, maintaining 15-20 marks. Applied knowledge covers real-world applications and case studies, typically 10-15 marks. Critical analysis includes interpretation of texts, data, and arguments, typically 10-15 marks. Each sub-paper has its specific focus areas based on the discipline. Reviewing these recent previous question papers helps understand the current exam trends. These previous question papers are essential for identifying important topics.
Historical Analysis (2021)
GATE Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) was introduced in 2021, making it one of the newer branches. The inaugural 2021 paper established the foundation for the current exam pattern, with balanced coverage of theoretical concepts, research methods, and applied knowledge across different sub-papers. Since its introduction, the paper has maintained consistency in topic distribution and difficulty level. Analyzing these previous year papers helps identify recurring topics and question patterns. These previous question papers provide valuable insights into the evolution of the exam since its introduction.
GATE XH Cutoff Marks
GATE 2025:
- Economics (XH-C1): General - 40.0, OBC/EWS - 36.0, SC/ST/PwD - 26.6
- English (XH-C2): General - 40.0, OBC/EWS - 36.0, SC/ST/PwD - 26.6
- Linguistics (XH-C3): General - 40.0, OBC/EWS - 36.0, SC/ST/PwD - 26.6
- Philosophy (XH-C4): General - 40.0, OBC/EWS - 36.0, SC/ST/PwD - 26.6
- Psychology (XH-C5): General - 40.0, OBC/EWS - 36.0, SC/ST/PwD - 26.6
- Sociology (XH-C6): General - 40.0, OBC/EWS - 36.0, SC/ST/PwD - 26.6
GATE 2024:
- Economics (XH-C1): General - 37.0, OBC/EWS - 33.3, SC/ST/PwD - 24.6
- English (XH-C2): General - 48.0, OBC/EWS - 43.2, SC/ST/PwD - 32.0
- Linguistics (XH-C3): General - 49.7, OBC/EWS - 44.7, SC/ST/PwD - 33.1
- Philosophy (XH-C4): General - 39.3, OBC/EWS - 35.3, SC/ST/PwD - 26.1
- Psychology (XH-C5): General - 52.7, OBC/EWS - 47.4, SC/ST/PwD - 35.1
- Sociology (XH-C6): General - 36.0, OBC/EWS - 32.4, SC/ST/PwD - 24.0
GATE 2023:
- Economics (XH-C1): General - 47.3, OBC/EWS - 42.5, SC/ST/PwD - 31.5
- English (XH-C2): General - 52.4, OBC/EWS - 47.1, SC/ST/PwD - 34.9
- Linguistics (XH-C3): General - 46.4, OBC/EWS - 41.7, SC/ST/PwD - 30.9
- Philosophy (XH-C4): General - 38.0, OBC/EWS - 34.2, SC/ST/PwD - 25.3
- Psychology (XH-C5): General - 54.9, OBC/EWS - 49.4, SC/ST/PwD - 36.6
- Sociology (XH-C6): General - 50.0, OBC/EWS - 45.0, SC/ST/PwD - 33.3
Related Resources
GATE XH Cutoff Marks
GATE Humanities and Social Sciences cutoff marks for all years
GATE Exam Pattern
GATE exam structure, marking scheme, and question types
Note: All GATE XH previous question papers are provided for educational purposes. Regular practice with these previous year papers, combined with a strong understanding of core concepts, is essential for success in GATE Humanities and Social Sciences. Make sure to download and save these previous papers for offline practice. Solving these previous question papers under timed conditions will help you prepare effectively for the actual GATE XH exam. These previous question papers serve as valuable study materials for your preparation.