BET 2026 (Biotechnology Eligibility Test) is a national-level fellowship examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The BET 2026 exam was held on May 17, 2026, and NTA declared the BET 2026 result on June 10, 2026, with scorecards now available for download on the official NTA portal. More than 12,700 candidates appeared for the exam, competing for 375 DBT fellowship positions — 275 in Category I (JRF) and 100 in Category II (Project Fellowship).
- Counselling: BET 2026 counselling is decentralised — qualified candidates must independently contact DBT-approved institutes and submit their scorecards for PhD admission. Most institutes began their selection processes in the third week of June 2026, with admissions continuing through July 2026 and beyond.
- Scorecard: The BET 2026 scorecard is available for download at exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/. You need your application number and date of birth to log in. Scorecards remain valid until June 10, 2027 — one year from the result declaration date.
- Category I JRF: The top 275 candidates on the BET 2026 merit list qualify for DBT-JRF fellowships at ₹37,000 per month for the first two years. You must enroll in a PhD programme at a recognised university or institute and activate your fellowship before June 10, 2027.
- Category II Fellowship: The next 100 candidates in merit (ranks 276 to 375) are eligible for project-linked fellowships under DBT-sponsored schemes. You need to secure a position in a DBT-funded research project at an approved institute within the scorecard validity period.
What is BET 2026 (Biotechnology Eligibility Test)?
BET 2026 is a national-level fellowship entrance examination for candidates who want to pursue PhD research in biotechnology and life sciences with DBT funding. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, sponsors this test every year to identify meritorious researchers and award them junior research fellowships for doctoral studies.
NTA conducts BET annually alongside GAT-B (Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology) — two separate tests held on the same day but with different purposes. While GAT-B is for admission to postgraduate biotechnology programmes, BET is exclusively for DBT-JRF fellowships to support PhD research. Both are applied for through the same NTA portal at exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/.
More than 15,300 candidates registered for BET 2026, and around 12,700 appeared for the exam on May 17, 2026, across 54 cities and 79 examination centres. The exam identifies the top 375 researchers — 275 for Category I (JRF) and 100 for Category II (Project Fellowship) — from across India.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2026 |
| Commonly Known As | BET or DBT-JRF Exam |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Sponsoring Authority | Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | May 17, 2026 |
| Exam Timing | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Result Declaration | June 10, 2026 |
| Total Registrations | 15,327 candidates |
| Total Appeared | Around 12,700 candidates |
| Fellowship Seats (Category I) | 275 (DBT-JRF) |
| Fellowship Seats (Category II) | 100 (Project Fellowship) |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Number of Exam Cities | 54 |
| Official Website | exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/ |
BET 2026 Result
NTA declared the BET 2026 result on June 10, 2026 — 24 days after the exam was held on May 17, 2026. The result was published after NTA experts reviewed all challenges submitted during the provisional answer key objection window (May 23–24, 2026) and prepared the final answer key.
You can access your BET 2026 result at the official portal exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/. The result shows your total marks, BET Score (out of 100), all-India rank, category rank, and fellowship category — Category I, Category II, or Not Qualified.
If your name appears in the BET 2026 merit list, begin the fellowship activation process immediately. Your scorecard is valid for one year only — until June 10, 2027.
How to Check BET 2026 Result
- Visit exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/ on your browser.
- Click on the BET 2026 Result or Candidate Login link on the homepage.
- Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth or password to log in.
- Your result will appear on screen. Note your total marks, BET Score, and rank.
- Download and save your scorecard — you will need it for PhD applications and fellowship enrollment.
What BET 2026 Result Contains
- Candidate name and application number
- Roll number and exam date
- Category (General / OBC-NCL / SC / ST / EWS / PwD)
- Total marks obtained (out of 300)
- BET Score (out of 100, calculated as Total Marks ÷ 3)
- All India Rank (AIR) and category rank
- Fellowship status — Category I, Category II, or Not Qualified
The BET 2026 merit list was prepared using the final answer key, with a standard tie-breaking policy applied where candidates scored identically.
BET 2026 Scorecard: How to Download
The BET 2026 scorecard has been available for download since June 10, 2026. You need this scorecard to apply for PhD admission at DBT-approved institutes and to formally enroll in the DBT-JRF fellowship programme. Keep multiple digital and printed copies in a safe place.
Your BET 2026 scorecard is valid until June 10, 2027. You must complete PhD enrollment and activate your fellowship before this date or your eligibility lapses.
Steps to Download BET 2026 Scorecard
- Visit exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/ on your browser.
- Click on Scorecard or Candidate Login on the homepage.
- Log in with your Application Number and Date of Birth or password.
- Your scorecard will appear on screen. Click Download or Print to save a copy.
- Store the scorecard securely — you will submit it when applying to institutes and during DBT registration.
BET 2026 Scorecard: Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Scorecard Available From | June 10, 2026 |
| Scorecard Validity | Up to June 10, 2027 |
| Access Portal | exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/ |
| Login Credentials | Application Number + Date of Birth / Password |
| Purpose | PhD admission applications, DBT-JRF fellowship enrollment |
| Contents | Name, roll number, marks, BET Score, rank, fellowship category |
BET 2026 Cutoff Marks
The BET 2026 qualifying cutoff is the minimum score a candidate must achieve to be declared qualified in the exam. NTA and DBT set separate cutoffs for each category as per Government of India reservation norms. Candidates who meet the cutoff and rank within the top 375 positions become eligible for DBT fellowships.
The BET qualifying cutoff is expressed as a BET Score out of 100, where BET Score = Total Marks (out of 300) ÷ 3. So a General category cutoff of 50 means you need at least 150 actual marks out of 300 in the exam.
Note: The category-wise cutoffs in the table below are reference ranges based on previous year trends. Check the official NTA portal for the confirmed BET 2026 qualifying cutoff figures once published.
BET 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks (Category-wise)
| Category | BET 2025 Cutoff (Out of 100) | BET 2026 Expected Cutoff (Out of 100) |
|---|---|---|
| General / UR | 50–55 | 50–55 |
| EWS | 45–50 | 45–50 |
| OBC-NCL | 45–50 | 45–50 |
| SC | 38–43 | 38–43 |
| ST | 35–40 | 35–40 |
| PwD | 30–35 | 30–35 |
Source: NTA Official GAT-B BET Portal
Factors That Affect BET 2026 Cutoff
- Difficulty level of the paper — a tougher BET exam leads to a lower cutoff
- Number of candidates who appeared — around 12,700 sat for BET 2026
- Total fellowship seats available — fixed at 375 (275 Category I + 100 Category II)
- Performance distribution across categories and specialisation fields
- Single-shift exam — BET 2026 was a one-shift exam, so no score normalisation was applied
Since BET 2026 was conducted in a single shift from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, all candidates sat the same paper. Marks are divided directly by 3 to arrive at the BET Score used for the merit list and cutoff comparison.
Category I and Category II: DBT-JRF and Project Fellowship
The BET 2026 result divides all qualified candidates into two categories based on their all-India rank. Your rank determines the type of fellowship you receive and the flexibility you have in choosing where to pursue your PhD.
BET 2026: Category I vs Category II
| Feature | Category I (DBT-JRF) | Category II (Project Fellowship) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Seats | 275 | 100 |
| Rank Bracket | Top 275 on merit | Ranks 276 to 375 |
| Fellowship Type | DBT-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) | Project-linked Fellowship |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹37,000 per month (first 2 years) | Equivalent to NET/GATE fellowship rates |
| Where You Can Join | Any recognised university or research institute in India | Must join a DBT-sponsored project at an approved institute |
| PhD Requirement | Enroll in a PhD programme at a recognised institute | Work on a DBT-funded project under an eligible principal investigator |
| Flexibility | High — freedom to choose your institute and supervisor | Moderate — tied to a specific funded project |
| Reservation | Government of India norms — OBC-NCL 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, EWS 10%, horizontal PwD reservation | |
Category I is the most sought-after outcome for BET candidates. The ₹37,000 per month stipend gives you financial stability during the first two years of your PhD. After two years, the fellowship typically upgrades to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) at ₹42,000 per month, subject to an annual performance assessment by your institute and DBT.
Category II fellows have strong prospects too. You can approach principal investigators (PIs) who hold active DBT-sponsored grants and request a position on their projects. Once you formally join a DBT-funded project, your fellowship becomes active. Many Category II fellows later secure competitive fellowships through other national-level schemes as their research progresses.
Both categories follow the same Government of India reservation norms — 27% OBC-NCL, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 10% EWS, and horizontal reservation for PwD candidates — applied within each category’s seat bracket separately.
BET 2026 Important Dates
The BET 2026 examination cycle ran from March 2026 to June 2026. All key milestones from registration through result declaration have been completed. The decentralised counselling at participating institutes is the active phase right now for qualified candidates. The fellowship activation deadline of June 10, 2027 is the most critical upcoming date every BET 2026 qualifier must track.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Counselling at Participating Institutes | June 2026 onwards (ongoing) | (Ongoing) |
| Fellowship Activation Last Date | June 10, 2027 | Upcoming |
| Application Registration Opens | March 19, 2026 | (Over) |
| Application Submission Deadline | April 9, 2026 (5:00 PM) | (Over) |
| Fee Payment Deadline | April 9, 2026 (11:50 PM) | (Over) |
| Form Correction Window | April 11–13, 2026 | (Over) |
| Admit Card Release | May 13, 2026 | (Over) |
| BET 2026 Exam Date | May 17, 2026 (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) | (Over) |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | May 23, 2026 | (Over) |
| Answer Key Challenge Deadline | May 24, 2026 (11:50 PM) | (Over) |
| Result Declaration | June 10, 2026 | (Out) |
| Scorecard Download Available | June 10, 2026 onwards | (Available) |
Source: NTA Official GAT-B BET Portal
BET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
You must meet all eligibility conditions set by DBT to appear for BET 2026. Candidates who do not meet these criteria will have their result cancelled even if they perform well in the exam.
Educational Qualification
You need a degree in biotechnology, life sciences, or an allied subject. NTA accepts the following qualifications for BET:
- A four-year Bachelor’s degree (8-semester programme) in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or related subjects — such as BSc (Hons) or BE/BTech in Biotechnology
- A Master’s degree (MSc or MTech) in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Botany, Zoology, or related fields
- Final-year students awaiting their qualifying degree results are also eligible to appear
Minimum Marks in Qualifying Degree
| Category | Minimum Percentage Required |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC-NCL | 60% |
| SC / ST / PwD | 55% |
Age Limit
There is no upper age limit for BET 2026. Any eligible candidate can appear for the exam regardless of their age.
Citizenship
Only bonafide Indian citizens residing in India can apply for BET 2026. Non-resident Indians and foreign nationals are not eligible.
Number of Attempts
BET does not restrict how many times you can attempt the exam. You can appear in multiple years as long as you continue to meet the educational qualification criteria.
BET 2026 Application Process
The BET 2026 application process was entirely online and ran from March 19 to April 9, 2026. All applications were submitted only through the official NTA portal at exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/. The same application covers both BET and GAT-B — you select the exam you are registering for during form filling.
BET 2026 Application Fee
| Category | BET Only | GAT-B + BET Combined |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS | ₹1,300 | ₹2,600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | ₹650 | ₹1,300 |
The application fee was paid online (credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI) and is non-refundable under all circumstances.
BET 2026 Application Steps
- Step 1: Registration — Visit the NTA BET portal and click on New Registration. Enter your name, email ID, and mobile number to receive your login credentials.
- Step 2: Fill the Application Form — Log in and fill in your personal, academic, and contact details. Select BET as your exam from the options provided.
- Step 3: Upload Documents — Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph, signature, and qualifying mark sheet in the formats and file sizes specified by NTA.
- Step 4: Aadhaar-Based eKYC — Complete identity verification using your Aadhaar number through the NTA portal’s eKYC module.
- Step 5: Pay Application Fee — Select your preferred payment method, complete the fee payment, and save the payment confirmation.
- Step 6: Submit and Download Confirmation — Submit the completed form and download the confirmation page as proof that your application was received.
A form correction window was available from April 11 to 13, 2026, which allowed candidates to fix errors in personal details, category, and uploaded documents. Any additional fee due to category change had to be paid during this window.
BET 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
BET 2026 was a Computer-Based Test (CBT) held in a single shift on May 17, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The exam has 200 questions in total, but you need to attempt only 100. This structure gives you the freedom to pick questions from a large pool in Section B based on your area of expertise.
BET 2026 Exam Pattern Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Language | English only |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) |
| Total Questions in Paper | 200 |
| Questions to Attempt | 100 |
| Marks per Correct Answer | +3 |
| Negative Marking | −1 per incorrect answer |
| Unattempted Questions | 0 (no penalty) |
| Total Marks | 300 |
BET 2026 Section-wise Breakdown
| Section | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Marks | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | 50 | 50 (all compulsory) | 150 | 10+2 Science, General Aptitude, General Biotechnology |
| Section B | 150 | Any 50 of your choice | 150 | Specialised Biotechnology (10 fields to choose from) |
| Total | 200 | 100 | 300 | — |
Section A tests your foundation in Physics, Chemistry, and General Biotechnology at the Class 12 level. Section B has 150 questions spread across 10 specialised biotechnology fields — you pick any 50 questions from the field that matches your strongest area. This allows you to skip fields you have not studied in depth and focus entirely on your core domain.
If you attempt more than 50 questions in Section B, only the first 50 responses will be considered for evaluation. Plan your time carefully before you start Section B.
BET 2026 Syllabus
The BET syllabus is divided into two sections. Section A covers foundational science topics at the 10+2 level and is compulsory for all candidates. Section B covers advanced biotechnology at the UG/PG level across 10 specialised fields, and you only need to attempt questions from the field of your choice.
Section A Syllabus
Section A covers three broad areas at the Class 12 level:
- Physics: Mechanics, thermodynamics, waves and optics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, electronic devices, and communication systems
- Chemistry: Physical Chemistry (atomic structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics), Inorganic Chemistry (periodic table, p/d/f-block elements, coordination compounds), Organic Chemistry (hydrocarbons, functional groups, biomolecules, polymers)
- General Aptitude and General Biotechnology: Logical reasoning, numerical ability, molecular biology basics, DNA structure and function, cell biology, recombinant DNA technology, genomics, proteomics, and intellectual property rights (IPR) in biotechnology
Section B Syllabus: 10 Specialised Fields
Section B covers 150 questions across 10 specialised biotechnology fields. You need to attempt any 50. The 10 areas and their key topics are:
- Medical Biotechnology: Disease mechanisms, molecular diagnostics, immunology, vaccine development, clinical trials, therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies
- Agricultural Biotechnology: Plant molecular biology, transgenic crops, biopesticides, soil microbiome, and crop improvement techniques
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Drug discovery and development, biopharmaceuticals, fermentation technology, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory affairs
- Industrial Biotechnology: Enzyme technology, biocatalysis, microbial fermentation, bioreactor design, and downstream processing
- Plant Biotechnology: Plant tissue culture, plant secondary metabolites, phytoremediation, and genetic engineering in plants
- Animal Biotechnology: Animal cell culture, transgenic animals, reproductive biotechnology, and animal genetics and genomics
- Marine Biotechnology: Marine organisms, marine natural products, aquaculture biotechnology, and marine genomics
- Environmental Biotechnology: Bioremediation, biological waste management, biodegradation of pollutants, and environmental genomics
- Food Biotechnology: Food fermentation and preservation, food safety and quality, functional foods, and food-grade microorganisms
- Bioinformatics: Sequence analysis and alignment, structural bioinformatics, biological database management, computational biology, and systems biology
Since Section B lets you attempt any 50 of 150 questions, focus on one or two fields where your MSc or BTech specialisation lies. For example, if you studied Medical Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, attempt questions from those two fields and fill remaining slots from the closest related area.
Recombinant DNA technology, molecular cloning, PCR, gene expression, and genomics topics appear across multiple Section B fields. Strong preparation in these cross-cutting themes adds value to your score regardless of which specialised field you choose.
BET 2026 Admit Card
NTA released the BET 2026 admit card on May 13, 2026 — four days before the exam on May 17, 2026. The admit card was available exclusively on the official NTA portal and had to be downloaded online. No physical admit card was sent to candidates by post.
Every candidate was required to carry a printed copy of the BET 2026 admit card to the exam centre. Entry without a valid admit card was not permitted.
What the BET 2026 Admit Card Contained
- Candidate’s name, photograph, and signature
- Application number and roll number
- Exam name, date, and shift timing (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
- Name and full address of the allotted examination centre
- Reporting time and general exam day instructions
- Barcode or QR code for identity verification at the exam centre
Documents Required at the BET 2026 Exam Centre
- Printed copy of BET 2026 admit card
- Original government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar card, PAN card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence)
- One recent passport-size photograph matching the one uploaded during application
For BET 2027, admit cards are typically released 4 to 7 days before the exam. Candidates planning for next year should keep checking the official NTA portal from April 2027 onwards.
BET 2026 Answer Key
NTA released the provisional BET 2026 answer key on May 23, 2026 — six days after the exam. Candidates who disagreed with any answer had until May 24, 2026 (11:50 PM) to raise a challenge by paying ₹200 per question as a non-refundable processing fee.
NTA subject experts reviewed all challenges before preparing the final answer key, which was then used to calculate BET 2026 scores and declare the result on June 10, 2026. NTA does not separately publish which challenges were accepted or rejected. The final answer key is binding and no further appeals are accepted after the window closes.
BET Answer Key Process (How It Works)
- Provisional Answer Key: Released first so candidates can estimate their score and identify possible errors.
- Objection Window: A short window to challenge wrong answers by paying ₹200 per question (non-refundable).
- Expert Review: NTA subject experts examine every objection and decide whether any answer needs correction.
- Final Answer Key: The corrected key used to prepare the result. It is final and cannot be challenged further.
The answer key challenge process is the only official mechanism for candidates to flag errors. Marks are calculated solely on the basis of the final answer key, not the provisional one.
BET 2026 Counselling Process
BET 2026 does not have a centralised counselling process. Unlike NEET-PG or GATE counselling, there is no single portal where you register, fill institute preferences, and get a seat allotted. BET counselling is fully decentralised — each of the 79 DBT-approved institutes selects candidates through its own independent admissions process.
Most DBT-approved institutes began PhD admission and selection processes in the third week of June 2026, and these are continuing through July 2026. If you have qualified BET 2026, contact your target institutes immediately with your scorecard and academic documents.
BET 2026 Fellowship Enrollment: Step-by-Step
- Step 1: Identify a Research Supervisor — Browse faculty profiles at DBT-approved institutes and find a principal investigator (PI) whose research area matches your interest. Shortlist three to five PIs before applying.
- Step 2: Apply for PhD Admission — Submit a PhD admission application to your chosen institutes with your BET 2026 scorecard, academic transcripts, research statement, and other documents the institute requires.
- Step 3: Appear for Interview — Most institutes conduct a research interview or seminar presentation to assess your scientific aptitude, subject knowledge, and fit with the research group.
- Step 4: Receive Admission Letter — If selected, the institute issues a provisional admission letter and PhD enrollment confirmation.
- Step 5: Register Online with DBT — After receiving your enrollment letter, complete online registration with DBT through the official DBT-JRF portal to formally record your fellowship.
- Step 6: Institute Submits Sanction Request — The institute sends a fellowship sanction request to DBT on your behalf. Fellowship payments begin after DBT issues the sanction letter.
You must complete PhD enrollment and activate your fellowship before June 10, 2027. If you miss this deadline, your BET 2026 scorecard expires and you will need to re-appear for BET 2027 to be considered for a fresh fellowship.
Since there is no central seat allotment, apply to multiple DBT-approved institutes simultaneously to improve your chances. Different institutes have different interview timelines, so stay organised with application deadlines across all your target institutes.
Institutes Accepting BET 2026 Score
The BET 2026 score is accepted by 79 institutes across India that are funded or approved by DBT for fellowship enrollment. These include autonomous research institutes, central universities, IITs, and state universities with strong biotechnology research programmes.
Some of the prominent DBT-supported institutes where BET 2026 qualifiers can apply:
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad — A premier DBT-funded institute offering an integrated PhD programme in life sciences and biotechnology
- National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi — A DBT-supported autonomous institute with research focus areas in molecular biology, immunology, and infectious diseases
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad — Specialises in forensic biology, cancer genomics, and functional genomics
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi — Focused on plant genomics, crop improvement, and plant functional biology
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal — DBT-funded institute with research in biodiversity, bioresources, and natural products
- National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune — Research in stem cell biology, cell signalling, and microbial diversity
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru — DBT-funded institute for stem cell biology and tissue regeneration research
- IITs and Central Universities — Several IITs (including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur), JNU, BHU, and University of Hyderabad also enroll DBT-JRF fellows in their PhD programmes
Always verify that your chosen institute and supervisor are currently approved by DBT for JRF enrollment before you apply. The full and up-to-date list of approved institutes is available at the DBT-JRF official website.
Source: DBT-JRF Official Website
BET 2026 Preparation Tips
BET is a highly competitive exam — around 12,700 candidates appeared for BET 2026 for only 375 fellowship positions. If you are planning to appear for BET 2027, these preparation strategies will help you score well and secure a fellowship.
1. Build a Strong Section A Foundation
Section A has 50 compulsory questions on Physics, Chemistry, and General Biotechnology at the Class 12 level. NCERT textbooks for Classes 11 and 12 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are the best resource here. Do not underestimate Section A — these questions are predictable and every mark counts.
2. Choose One or Two Section B Fields and Go Deep
You only need to attempt 50 of 150 Section B questions. Identify your one or two strongest specialisation fields from the 10 available areas and concentrate your preparation there. Spreading preparation across too many fields reduces accuracy and wastes study time. Depth beats breadth in Section B.
3. Solve Previous Year BET Papers
NTA releases previous year BET question papers on the official portal. Solving the last five years of papers helps you understand question patterns, difficulty distribution, and topics that appear most frequently. After solving each paper, analyse your weak areas and revisit those topics in your textbooks.
4. Manage Negative Marking Carefully
BET deducts 1 mark for every wrong answer. Only attempt questions you are reasonably confident about. Leaving a question unattempted costs you nothing, but a wrong answer costs you 1 mark on top of the 3 marks you missed. Target accuracy first, then coverage.
5. Understand the BET Score Formula
Your BET Score (used for cutoff and ranking) = Total Marks ÷ 3. To target a General category fellowship, aim for a BET Score above 55, which means at least 165 actual marks out of 300. Setting a specific marks target based on this formula makes your preparation goal concrete and measurable.
6. Master Cross-cutting Molecular Biology Topics
Recombinant DNA technology, PCR, gel electrophoresis, gene cloning, CRISPR-Cas9, mRNA biology, and gene expression regulation appear in questions across multiple Section B fields. Mastering these cross-cutting topics improves your score across any specialisation you choose and also strengthens Section A performance.
7. Follow Recent Biotechnology Advances
BET sometimes includes questions on recent developments in biotechnology — gene editing platforms, mRNA therapeutics, biosimilar regulation, single-cell sequencing, and synthetic biology. Reading monthly review articles in science publications or following DBT announcements keeps you aware of current biotech advances that could appear in the exam.
BET 2026 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ques. Has the BET 2026 result been declared?
Ans. Yes, the BET 2026 result was declared by NTA on June 10, 2026. You can check your result and download your scorecard by logging in with your application number and date of birth at the official NTA portal exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/. Scorecards are valid until June 10, 2027.
Ques. What is the BET 2026 qualifying cutoff for General category?
Ans. The BET 2026 qualifying cutoff for General / UR category is expected to be around 50 to 55 on the BET Score scale (out of 100). BET Score is calculated as Total Marks out of 300 divided by 3, which means you need approximately 150 to 165 actual marks out of 300 to qualify. Confirm the official category-wise cutoff on the NTA portal once published.
Ques. What is the difference between Category I and Category II in BET 2026?
Ans. Category I includes the top 275 candidates on the BET 2026 merit list. They receive a direct DBT-JRF fellowship at ₹37,000 per month and can join any recognised university or research institute in India for PhD research. Category II covers ranks 276 to 375 — these candidates get project-linked fellowships and must secure a position in a specific DBT-sponsored research project to activate their fellowship. Category I offers greater flexibility in choosing your institute and supervisor; Category II is tied to a funded project.
Ques. How to download BET 2026 scorecard?
Ans. You can download the BET 2026 scorecard from the official NTA portal at exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/. Log in with your application number and date of birth, click the scorecard download link, and save or print your scorecard. You will need it when applying to DBT-approved institutes and during the DBT-JRF registration process. The scorecard remains valid until June 10, 2027.
Ques. Is BET 2026 the same as GAT-B 2026?
Ans. No, BET and GAT-B are two separate examinations conducted by NTA on the same day — May 17, 2026. BET (Biotechnology Eligibility Test) is for DBT-JRF fellowships to support PhD research. GAT-B (Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology) is for admission to postgraduate MSc biotechnology programmes at DBT-supported institutes. GAT-B was held in the morning shift (9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon), while BET was held in the afternoon (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM). You can apply for both through the same NTA portal and sit both exams on the same day.
Ques. What is the BET 2026 exam pattern?
Ans. BET 2026 was a Computer-Based Test (CBT) of 3 hours held in English only. The paper has 200 questions in total, but you need to attempt only 100. Section A has 50 compulsory questions on Class 12 Science and General Biotechnology (150 marks). Section B has 150 questions across 10 specialisation fields — you attempt any 50 of your choice (150 marks). Each correct answer gives +3 marks, each wrong answer gives −1 mark, and unattempted questions carry no penalty. The total is 300 marks.
Ques. What is the BET 2026 fellowship amount for Category I?
Ans. Category I BET 2026 fellows receive ₹37,000 per month for the first two years of their PhD programme. After two years, the fellowship upgrades to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) at ₹42,000 per month, subject to an annual performance review by the institute and DBT. Fellows also receive a contingency grant of ₹30,000 per year and HRA as applicable. Category II fellows receive a fellowship equivalent to current NET/GATE rates, as applicable to the DBT-sponsored project they join.
Ques. Is there an age limit for BET 2026?
Ans. No, there is no upper age limit for BET 2026. Any Indian citizen who holds a qualifying degree — Master’s or 4-year Bachelor’s in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or related fields — with at least 60% marks for General/EWS/OBC-NCL or 55% for SC/ST/PwD can appear for BET regardless of their age.
Ques. How many fellowship seats are available in BET 2026?
Ans. BET 2026 has a total of 375 fellowship positions — 275 Category I (DBT-JRF) positions and 100 Category II (Project Fellowship) positions. Both categories follow Government of India reservation norms with seats reserved for OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), EWS (10%), and horizontal reservation for PwD candidates. Among around 12,700 candidates who appeared for BET 2026, competition for the 375 positions was intense, with roughly 34 candidates per fellowship seat.
Ques. Can I apply to multiple institutes with my BET 2026 scorecard?
Ans. Yes, you can apply to as many DBT-approved institutes as you want with your BET 2026 scorecard. Since BET counselling is decentralised and each institute selects candidates independently, applying to multiple institutes is strongly recommended. Your scorecard is valid until June 10, 2027, giving you up to a year to secure PhD enrollment and activate your DBT-JRF fellowship.
Ques. What happens if I do not activate my BET 2026 fellowship before June 10, 2027?
Ans. If you do not complete PhD enrollment and formally activate your DBT-JRF fellowship by June 10, 2027 — one year from the BET 2026 result date — your scorecard will expire and your fellowship eligibility will lapse. DBT does not grant extensions to the one-year validity period. You will need to re-appear for BET 2027 to be eligible for a fresh fellowship. Start your institute applications as early as possible to avoid this situation.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on official notifications from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. BET 2026 candidates should verify all dates, cutoffs, and fellowship details on the official NTA portal at exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/ and the DBT-JRF official website before taking any action. Collegedunia is not responsible for any discrepancy in the information published here.
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