The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) has announced a change in the examination centre for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2025. Candidates who were originally assigned Prayagraj as their February 15 and 16 exam centres, will now appear for the exam in Lucknow.

This decision comes in response to the unprecedented crowd buildup in Prayagraj due to the Mahakumbh, which has led to severe traffic congestion and logistical challenges. Recently, roads leading to the event witnessed a 300-kilometer-long traffic jam, with lakhs of pilgrims stranded in vehicles for hours.

To accommodate this change, IIT Roorkee has issued fresh admit cards for the affected candidates. Aspirants must log in to the GOAPS portal and download the updated admit cards by clicking the provided link on the portal's designated page.

The newly assigned examination centres can be found here. Furthermore, the same details can be checked by the candidates on their admit cards.

On February 9, traffic leading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj came to a standstill, as an overwhelming number of vehicles stretched for nearly 300 kilometres. Lakhs of pilgrims, eager to attend the world’s largest religious gathering, were left stranded in their vehicles, some hundreds of kilometers away from the venue.

The unprecedented rush is attributed to the event’s final days, as spiritual leaders and sadhus from various Akhadas are set to depart starting February 11. As a result, devotees are making their way in large numbers for a final glimpse and blessings.

To accommodate the movement of these religious leaders, several traffic restrictions will remain in effect across Prayagraj in the coming days. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to manage the massive influx of pilgrims and ensure smooth proceedings.