GAT B Syllabus is divided into two parts, including Part A and Part B, with a different GAT B syllabus for each part.
- GAT B Syllabus Part A is based on the NCERT class 12th syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
- GAT B Syllabus Part B is based on the graduation level syllabus for Biotechnology, including topics like Biomolecules, Viruses, Cell Structure and Function, Genetic Engineering, Cellular Processes, and so on.
- GAT B Part A syllabus has a total weightage of 60 questions, and GAT B syllabus Part B has a maximum weightage of 100 questions.
- From the GAT B syllabus, for Part B, only 60 questions are compulsory, whereas all questions are compulsory in GAT B syllabus for Part A.
In section A of the GAT B question paper, 1 mark will be awarded for each correct answer, and 0.5 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. However, in GAT B question paper, Section B, 3 marks will be awarded for each correct answer, and 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer from the overall score.
Also Read
Official GAT B Syllabus Download PDF
Aspirants can download the official GAT B syllabus from the table below.
| Official GAT B Syllabus PDF 2026 | Download Here |
Key Summary
- GAT B syllabus is divided into 2 parts, including Part A and Part B.
- GAT B Syllabus Part A is based on the class 12 Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics syllabus.
- GAT B Syllabus Part B includes Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and allied areas.
- 60 questions will be asked from the GAT B syllabus Part A, and 100 questions from the GAT B Syllabus Part B.
- Only 60 questions are compulsory in the GAT B section A, whereas all questions are compulsory in the GAT B section B.
- A maximum of 60 marks can be scored in GAT B syllabus Section A, with 1 mark for each correct answer and -0.5 for each incorrect answer.
- A maximum of 180 marks can be scored from GAT B syllabus Section B, with 3 marks for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect answer.
What is GAT B Syllabus?
GAT B syllabus is divided into two parts, including Part A and Part B, and is designed to assess the knowledge of candidates in class 12 level PCBM subjects and graduation level Biotechnology domain subjects.
Part A of the GAT B syllabus is based on topics included in class 12th Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The maximum weightage of the GAT B syllabus Part A is 60 questions. Part B syllabus is based on domain subjects of Biotechnology, such as Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and allied areas, and has a maximum weightage of 100 questions.
GAT B Syllabus- Part A
GAT B syllabus Part A is based on the class 12th syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
- A total of 60 questions will be asked in the GAT B syllabus Part A, and all 60 questions are compulsory.
- Students can score a maximum of 60 marks in the GAT B syllabus Part A.
| Physics | Chemistry |
|---|---|
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| Biology | Mathematics |
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Important Books for GAT B Syllabus Part A
| Book Name | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|
| Concepts of Physics | H. C. Verma |
| Physical Chemistry | O. P. Tandon |
| Mathematics | R. D. Sharma |
| Biology Vol 1 and Vol 2 | Trueman |
| Physics Textbook | NCERT |
| Chemistry Textbook | NCERT |
| Mathematics Textbook | NCERT |
| Biology Textbook | NCERT |
GAT B Syllabus- Part A Marking Scheme
As per the GAT B marking scheme, for each correct answer, 1 mark will be awarded, and for each incorrect answer, 0.5 mark will be deducted from the overall score.
| Answer Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | 1 mark |
| Incorrect Answer | -0.5 mark |
GAT B Syllabus- Part B
GAT B syllabus Part B is based on the graduation level domain subjects of Biotechnology. The syllabus includes topics like Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and allied areas.
For GAT B syllabus Part B, students will be required to solve a total of 60 questions out of 100 questions.
| GAT B Part B Topics | GAT B Syllabus Part B |
|---|---|
| Biomolecules | Structure and functions, Biological membranes, structure, action potential, and transport processes; Enzymes- classification, kinetics, and mechanism of action; Basic concepts and designs of metabolism (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids), photosynthesis, respiration, and the electron transport chain; Bioenergetics.Biological membranes, structure, action potential, and transport processes; Enzymes- classification, kinetics, and mechanism of action; Basic concepts and designs of metabolism (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids), photosynthesis, respiration, and electron transport chain; Bioenergetics. |
| Viruses | structure and classification; Microbial classification and diversity(bacterial, algal, and fungal); Methods in microbiology; Microbial growth and nutrition; Aerobic and anaerobic respiration; Nitrogen fixation; Microbial diseases and host-pathogen interaction. |
| Cell | Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure; Cell cycle and cell growth control; Cell-Cell communication, Cell signaling, and signal transduction. |
| Genetics | Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes; Mutations and mutagenesis; Nucleic acid replication, transcription, translation and their regulatory mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; Mendelian inheritance; Gene interaction; Complementation; Linkage, recombination and chromosome mapping; Extra chromosomal inheritance; Microbial genetics (plasmids, transformation, transduction, conjugation); Horizontal gene transfer and Transposable elements; RNA interference; DNA damage and repair; Chromosomal variation; Molecular basis of genetic diseases. |
| Microscopes | Principles of microscopy-light, electron, fluorescent, and confocal; Centrifugation- high speed and ultra; Principles of spectroscopy-UV, visible, CD, IR, FTIR, Raman, MS, NMR; Principles of chromatography- ion exchange, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction, affinity, GC, HPLC, FPLC; Electrophoresis; Microarray. |
| Immunology | History of Immunology; Innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immunity; Antigen; Antibody structure and function; Molecular basis of antibody diversity; Synthesis of antibody and secretion; Antigen-antibody reaction; Complement; Primary and secondary lymphoid organs, B and T cells and macrophages; Major histocompatibility complex (MHC); Antigen processing and presentation; Polyclonal and monoclonal antibody; Regulation of immune response; Immune tolerance; Hypersensitivity; Autoimmunity; Graft versus host reaction. |
| Bioinformatics | Major bioinformatics resources and search tools; Sequence and structure databases; Sequence analysis (biomolecular sequence file formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment, phylogeny); Data mining and analytical tools for genomic and proteomic studies; Molecular dynamics and simulations (basic concepts including force fields, protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, protein-ligand interaction) |
| Genetic Engineering | Restriction and modification enzymes; Vectors; plasmid, bacteriophage and other viral vectors, cosmids, Ti plasmid, yeast artificial chromosome; mammalian and plant expression vectors; cDNA and genomic DNA library; Gene isolation, cloning and expression; Transposons and gene targeting; DNA labeling; DNA sequencing; Polymerase chain reactions; DNA fingerprinting; Southern and northern blotting; In- situ hybridization; RAPD, RFLP; Site-directed mutagenesis; Gene transfer technologies; Gene therapy. |
| Plant Tissue Culture | Totipotency; Regeneration of plants; Plant growth regulators and elicitors; Tissue culture and Cell suspension culture system: methodology, kinetics of growth and nutrient optimization; Production of secondary metabolites by plant suspension cultures; Hairy root culture; transgenic plants; Plant products of industrial importance. |
| Animal Biotechnology | Animal cell culture; media composition and growth conditions; Animal cell and tissue preservation; Anchorage and non-anchorage dependent cell culture; Kinetics of cell growth; Micro & macro-carrier culture; Hybridoma technology; Stem cell technology; Animal cloning; Transgenic animals. |
| Biochemical Engineering | Chemical engineering principles applied to biological systems, Principle of reactor design, ideal and non-ideal multiphase bioreactors, mass and heat transfer; Rheology of fermentation fluids, Aeration and agitation; Media formulation and optimization; Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization and product formation; Sterilization of air and media; Batch, fed-batch, and continuous processes; Various types of microbial and enzyme reactors; Instrumentation control and optimization; Unit operations in solid-liquid separation and liquid-liquid extraction; Process scale-up, economics and feasibility analysis. |
| Engineering Principles of Bioprocessing | Upstream production and downstream; Bioprocess design and development from lab to industrial scale; Microbial, animal and plant cell culture platforms; Production of biomass and primary/secondary metabolites; Biofuels, Bioplastics, industrial enzymes, antibiotics; Large-scale production and purification of recombinant proteins; Industrial application of chromatographic and membrane-based bio-separation methods; Immobilization of biocatalysts (enzymes and cells) for bioconversion processes; Bioremediation-Aerobic and anaerobic processes for stabilization of solid/liquid wastes. |
| Molecular Biology | Tissue culture and its application, Micropropagation. Meristem culture and production of virus-free plants. Anther and microspore culture. Embryo and ovary culture. Protoplast isolation. Protoplast fusion-somatic hybrids, cybrids. Somaclones. Synthetic seeds. In vitro germplasm conservation. Cryopreservation. Organelle DNA, Satellite and repetitive DNAs. DNA repair. Regulation of gene expression. Recombinant DNA technology-cloning vectors, restriction enzymes, and gene cloning. Methods of gene transfer in plants. Achievements and recent developments of genetic engineering in agriculture. Development of transgenics for biotic & abiotic stress tolerance, bioethics, terminator technology, nanotechnology, DNA fingerprinting, and gene silencing. |
GAT B Syllabus- Part B Marking Scheme
As per the GAT B marking scheme for Part B, 3 marks will be awarded for each correct answer, and 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer from the overall score.
| Answer Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | 3 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 mark |
Important Books for GAT B Syllabus Part B
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GAT B 2026 Exam Pattern
As per the GAT B exam pattern, there will be a total of 160 questions, with 60 questions from the GAT B Syllabus Part A and 100 questions from the GAT B Syllabus Part B.
- All questions are compulsory from section A, and only 60 questions are compulsory from section B.
- From section A, students can score a maximum of 60 marks.
- From section B, students can score a maximum of 180 marks.
| GAT B Section | Number of Questions | Questions to be Attempted | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Section B | 100 | 60 | 180 |
GAT B 2026 Syllabus- Topic Wise Weightage
| Section | Topics | Weightage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Part A: Class 12th PCBM | Basic Mathematics, Analytical Reasoning, General Biology, General Biotechnology, Comprehension, General English, and Logical Reasoning | 25% |
| Part B: Subject Knowledge | Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology, Genetics and Evolution, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Plant and Animal Biotechnology, Immunology, Bioprocess Engineering, Microbiology, Systems Biology, and Bioinformatics | 75% |
GAT B Syllabus Weightage- Percentage
| Chapter/Topic | Approximate Weightage (%) |
|---|---|
| Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology | 10-12% |
| Genetics and Evolution | 8-10% |
| Cell Biology | 8-10% |
| Biochemistry | 8-10% |
| Plant and Animal Biotechnology | 10-12% |
| Immunology | 8-10% |
| Bioprocess Engineering | 8-10% |
| Microbiology | 8-10% |
| Systems Biology | 5-7% |
| Bioinformatics | 5-7% |
GAT B Syllabus Weightage- Number of Questions
| Subject/Topic | Expected Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology | 10-12 |
| Genetics and Evolution | 6-8 |
| Cell Biology | 6-8 |
| Biochemistry | 6-8 |
| Plant and Animal Biotechnology | 8-10 |
| Immunology | 6-8 |
| Bioprocess Engineering | 6-8 |
| Microbiology | 6-8 |
| Systems Biology | 2-4 |
| Bioinformatics | 2-4 |
GAT B Syllabus 2026- Preparation
Students can follow the steps listed below to prepare for the GAT B 2026 examination.
- Check and analyze the GAT B syllabus 2026.
- Understand the GAT B exam pattern and type of questions.
- Collect GAT B study material relevant to the GAT B syllabus.
- Prepare a study plan and follow it regularly to ace the GAT B examination.
- Solve previous years’ papers and sample questions.
- Appear for GAT B mock tests to improve time management and accuracy.
Also Read
GAT B Syllabus FAQs
Ques. How many Questions are expected in GAT B?
Ans. As per the GAT B exam pattern released by NTA, there will be a total of 160 questions. GAT B paper will be divided into two sections, including Section A and Section B.
- From section A, a total of 60 questions will be asked.
- From section B, a total of 100 questions will be asked, out of these, students will be required to solve a total of 60 questions.
Ques. What is GAT-B Section A syllabus?
Ans. GAT B section A syllabus is based on the syllabus for class 12th Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. The GAT B syllabus includes topics from class 12th-class NCERT books for each subject
Ques. Is the GAT B exam tough?
Ans. GAT B exam is considered to be easier or moderate, than other entrance exams like IIT JAM etc. The questions are designed to test not just theoretical knowledge, but also the practical and applied aspects of biotechnology. However, with thorough preparation, understanding the core concepts, practicing mock tests, and managing time efficiently, the exam becomes more manageable.
Ques. How to start preparing for GAT B?
Ans. Students must create a study plan to start their preparation for GAT B. To create a study plan for the GAT-B exam, start by reviewing the syllabus and identifying the topics that you need to focus on. Then, create a schedule for covering all of the topics in the syllabus. Be sure to allocate enough time for each topic and to include time for practice and revision
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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