KNOW YOUR SYLLABUS

Blindly starting with the GATE preparation won't help you to achieve a good Rank and you may end up cursing yourself for wasting so much  of time reading unnecessary stuffs.
Before you kick-off for your preparation you should know in detail the prescribed GATE syllabus as per your Branch.

I am attaching herewith the syllabus for Mechanical Branch for GATE 2019 (The syllabus for GATE 2019 isn't released yet but it is same since last 5 years)

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Section 1: Engineering Mathematics


Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, eigenvalues and 
eigen vectors.
Calculus: Functions of single variable, limit, continuity and differentiability, mean 
value theorems, indeterminate forms; evaluation of definite and improper integrals; 
double and triple integrals; partial derivatives, total derivative, Taylor series (in one 
and two variables), maxima and minima, Fourier series; gradient, divergence and 
curl, vector identities, directional derivatives, line, surface and volume integrals, 
applications of Gauss, Stokes and Green’s theorems.
Differential equations: First order equations (linear and nonlinear); higher order linear 
differential equations with constant coefficients; Euler-Cauchy equation; initial and 
boundary value problems; Laplace transforms; solutions of heat, wave and 
Laplace's equations.
Complex variables: Analytic functions; Cauchy-Riemann equations; Cauchy’s 
integral theorem and integral formula; Taylor and Laurent series.
Probability and Statistics: Definitions of probability, sampling theorems, conditional 
probability; mean, median, mode and standard deviation; random variables, 
binomial, Poisson and normal distributions.
Numerical Methods: Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic 
equations; integration by trapezoidal and Simpson’s rules; single and multi-step 
methods for differential equations.

Section 2: Applied Mechanics and Design

Engineering Mechanics: Free-body diagrams and equilibrium; trusses and frames; 
virtual work; kinematics and dynamics of particles and of rigid bodies in plane 
motion; impulse and momentum (linear and angular) and energy formulations, 
collisions.
Mechanics of Materials: Stress and strain, elastic constants, Poisson's ratio; Mohr’s 
circle for plane stress and plane strain; thin cylinders; shear force and bending 
moment diagrams; bending and shear stresses; deflection of beams; torsion of 
circular shafts; Euler’s theory of columns; energy methods; thermal stresses; strain 
gauges and rosettes; testing of materials with universal testing machine; testing of 
hardness and impact strength.
Theory of Machines: Displacement, velocity and acceleration analysis of plane 
mechanisms; dynamic analysis of linkages; cams; gears and gear trains; flywheels 
and governors; balancing of reciprocating and rotating masses; gyroscope.
Vibrations: Free and forced vibration of single degree of freedom systems, effect of 
damping; vibration isolation; resonance; critical speeds of shafts.
Machine Design: Design for static and dynamic loading; failure theories; fatigue 
strength and the S-N diagram; principles of the design of machine elements such as 
bolted, riveted and welded joints; shafts, gears, rolling and sliding contact bearings, 
brakes and clutches, springs.

Section 3: Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences

Fluid Mechanics: Fluid properties; fluid statics, manometry, buoyancy, forces on 
submerged bodies, stability of floating bodies; control-volume analysis of mass, 
momentum and energy; fluid acceleration; differential equations of continuity and 
momentum; Bernoulli’s equation; dimensional analysis; viscous flow of 
incompressible fluids, boundary layer, elementary turbulent flow, flow through pipes, 
head losses in pipes, bends and fittings.
Heat-Transfer: Modes of heat transfer; one dimensional heat conduction, resistance 
concept and electrical analogy, heat transfer through fins; unsteady heat 
conduction, lumped parameter system, Heisler's charts; thermal boundary layer, 
dimensionless parameters in free and forced convective heat transfer, heat transfer 
correlations for flow over flat plates and through pipes, effect of turbulence; heat 
exchanger performance, LMTD and NTU methods; radiative heat transfer, Stefan-
Boltzmann law, Wien's displacement law, black and grey surfaces, view factors, 
radiation network analysis.
Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic systems and processes; properties of pure 
substances, behaviour of ideal and real gases; zeroth and first laws of 
thermodynamics, calculation of work and heat in various processes; second law of 
thermodynamics; thermodynamic property charts and tables, availability and 
irreversibility; thermodynamic relations.
Applications: Power Engineering: Air and gas compressors; vapour and gas power 
cycles, concepts of regeneration and reheat. I.C. Engines: Air-standard Otto, Diesel 
and dual cycles. Refrigeration and air-conditioning: Vapour and gas refrigeration 
and heat pump cycles; properties of moist air, psychrometric chart, basic 
psychrometric processes. Turbomachinery: Impulse and reaction principles, velocity 
diagrams, Pelton-wheel, Francis and Kaplan turbines.

Section 4: Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering

Engineering Materials: Structure and properties of engineering materials, phase 
diagrams, heat treatment, stress-strain diagrams for engineering materials.
Casting, Forming and Joining Processes: Different types of castings, design of 
patterns, moulds and cores; solidification and cooling; riser and gating design. 
Plastic deformation and yield criteria; fundamentals of hot and cold working 
processes; load estimation for bulk (forging, rolling, extrusion, drawing) and sheet 
(shearing, deep drawing, bending) metal forming processes; principles of powder 
metallurgy. Principles of welding, brazing, soldering and adhesive bonding.
Machining and Machine Tool Operations: Mechanics of machining; basic machine 
tools; single and multi-point cutting tools, tool geometry and materials, tool life and 
wear; economics of machining; principles of non-traditional machining processes; 
principles of work holding, design of jigs and fixtures.
Metrology and Inspection: Limits, fits and tolerances; linear and angular 
measurements; comparators; gauge design; interferometry; form and finish 
measurement; alignment and testing methods; tolerance analysis in manufacturing 
and assembly.
Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Basic concepts of CAD/CAM and their 
integration tools.
Production Planning and Control: Forecasting models, aggregate production 
planning, scheduling, materials requirement planning.
Inventory Control: Deterministic models; safety stock inventory control systems.
Operations Research: Linear programming, simplex method, transportation, 
assignment, network flow models, simple queuing models, PERT and CPM.

Go through each and every topic comprehensively and study that much only. From GATE exam perspective it is more important to know WHAT NOT TO READ THAN WHAT TO READ.
If you carefully observe the syllabus of GATE is very concise and made with application point of view.
Regarding " how to prepare and from which  reference books to be used?" I will let you know about it on my next post.
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