The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for network cognizant uplink transmissions during inter radio access technology (IRAT) handovers. For example, the method may include skipping inter radio access technology (IRAT) measurements during one or more dedicated channel (DCH) measurement occasion (DMO) or idle interval gaps of a transmission timing interval (TTI). The method further includes transmitting data on an uplink from a user equipment (UE) to a network entity during the entire duration of the TTI and determining whether the network entity is decoding the data transmitted on the uplink based on a response received from the network entity. As such, network cognizant uplink transmissions during inter radio access technology (IRAT) handovers may be achieved.