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The GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026 has officially been released by IIT Guwahati on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The GATE Biotechnology Exam 2026 will be conducted in a CBT Mode in 3 hours.
- According to the GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern, the GATE BT Exam will include 2 sections: General Aptitude of 15 Marks and Biotechnology of 85 Marks, with the question types like MCQs, MSQs and NATS.
- The MCQs will have negative marking, whereas MSQs and NATs will not have any negative marking, which makes them a scoring opportunity.
- The General Aptitude section will include verbal ability, analytical aptitude, quantitative aptitude and spatial aptitude.
- The Section of GATE Biotechnology will include Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Bioprocess Engineering, Recombinant DNA Technology and Plant/Animal/Microbial Biotechnology, along with Engineering Mathematics.
For scoring well in the GATE Exam, candidates should focus on section-wise weightage, time management and revision strategy to increase their GATE BT Score.
Candidates should stay updated on the official GATE Website for the latest updates regarding the GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern.
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| Key Summary: In this Article, we have discussed about GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026.
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What is the GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026?
The GATE Biotechnology Exam pattern includes the structure, marking scheme and question type. The GT BT Exam is a 3-hour CBT that includes 65 questions carrying 100 Marks.
The GATE Exam is divided into General Aptitude (15 marks) and Biotechnology, including Engineering Mathematics (85 marks), with questions including MCQs, MSQs, and NATs.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude (GA) | 10 |
| 15 | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 10–13 | 1 or 2 marks each | 13–15 | 13–15% |
| Core Biotechnology | 42–45 | 1 or 2 marks each | 70–72 | 70–72% |
| Total | 65 | 1 or 2 marks each | 100 | 100% |
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GATE Paper AnalysisGATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise
According to the GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026, different topics and sections have different weightage. In total, the exam is of 100 marks with 65 questions, so understanding the topic-wise exam pattern is important for preparation.
GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern: General Aptitude (GA) – 15 Marks
This section includes verbal, analytical, quantitative, and spatial reasoning skills. It is common for all GATE Exams.
| Sub-Topic | Marks Distribution | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability | 4–5 marks | 2–3 | Easy–Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 4–5 marks | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Analytical & Logical Apt. | 3–4 marks | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Spatial Aptitude | 1–2 marks | 1 | Easy |
| Total | 15 marks | 10 Questions | Mixed |
GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern: Engineering Mathematics: 13–15 Marks
This section is compulsory and overlaps with many Biotechnology concepts.
The Mathematics exam is of a moderate difficulty level; regular practice is important as it contributes 15% of the exam.
| Sub-Topic | Marks Distribution | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear Algebra | 2–3 marks | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Calculus | 4–5 marks | 2–3 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Differential Equations | 2–3 marks | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Probability & Statistics | 3–4 marks | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Numerical Methods | 2–3 marks | 1–2 | Easy–Moderate |
| Total | 13–15 marks | 10–13 Questions | Moderate |
GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern: Core Biotechnology: 70–72 Marks
This is the most important section and carries most weightage in the exam.
(a) General Biology (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell Biology)
| Sub-Topic | Marks Distribution | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 8–10 marks | 4–5 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Microbiology | 5–7 marks | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Cell Biology | 5–6 marks | 2–3 | Easy–Moderate |
| Total | 18–20 marks | 8–11 Questions | Mixed |
(b) Genetics and Molecular Biology
| Sub-Topic | Marks Distribution | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical Genetics | 3–4 marks | 1–2 | Easy–Moderate |
| Molecular Biology | 7–9 marks | 3–4 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Recombinant DNA Tech. | 6–8 marks | 3–4 | Moderate |
| Total | 15–18 marks | 7–10 Questions | Moderate |
(c) Bioprocess Engineering & Process Biotechnology
| Sub-Topic | Marks Distribution | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioprocess Principles | 6–8 marks | 2–3 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Fermentation Technology | 5–6 marks | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Downstream Processing | 5–7 marks | 2–3 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Total | 15–18 marks | 6–9 Questions | Moderate–Difficult |
(d) Plant, Animal & Microbial Biotechnology
| Sub-Topic | Marks Distribution | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Biotechnology | 3–4 marks | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Animal Biotechnology | 3–4 marks | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Microbial Biotechnology | 4–5 marks | 2–3 | Moderate–Difficult |
| Total | 10–12 marks | 4–6 Questions | Moderate |
GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026:Marking Scheme
The marking pattern for the year 2026 will be decided by the GATE which will be released in the official notice. The expected marking pattern is given below:-
| Sections | No Of Questions | Distribution Of Marks | Total Marks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 | (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) | 15 | ||
| Engineering Mathematics | 55 | (25 x 1) + (30 x 2) | 85 | ||
| Core Subject (Biotechnology) | |||||
GATE Biotechnology (BT) Negative Marking
| Type of Questions | GATE 2024 Biotechnology (BT) Negative Marks | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mark questions | 2 mark questions | |
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | 1/3 marks will be deducted | 2/3 marks will be deducted |
| Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) | No negative marking | No negative marking |
| Numerical Answer Type (NATS) | No negative marking | No negative marking |
Expected GATE 2026 Biotechnology (BT) Weightage
| Topics | Marks Weightage | |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25-28 | |
| Microbiology | 10-12 | |
| Biochemistry | 15-20 | |
| Molecular Biology and Genetics | 13-18 | |
| Cell Biology | 5-10 | |
| Immunology | 15-18 | |
| Bioinformatics | 11-13 | |
| Analytics Techniques | 8-10 | |
| Plant and Animal Biotechnology | 20-25 | |
| Bioprocess Engineering and process biotechnology | 10-12 | |
| Recombinant DNA Technology | 14-16 | |
GATE Biotechnology (BT) Syllabus
Topic 1 – Engineering Mathematics
Calculus, differential equations, analysis of complex variables, probability and statistics, numerical methods, Linear algebra
Topic 2 - General biotechnology
Biotechnology, microbiology, immunology
Topic 3 – Genetics, Cellular, and molecular biology.
Genetics and Evolutionary biology, Cell biology, Molecular biology
Topic 4 – Fundamental and Biological Engineering
Engineering principles are applied to biological systems, classical thermodynamics, and bioenergetics, transport processes.
Topic 5 - Plant, Animal, and Microbial Biotechnology
Plants, animals, microbes
Topic 6 - Bioprocess Engineering and Process Biotechnology
Bio-reaction engineering, Upstream and Downstream Processing, Instrumentation, and Process Control
Topic 7 - Recombinant DNA technology and Other Tools in Biotechnology
Recombinant DNA technology, Molecular tools, Analytical tools, Computational tools
Topic 8 – General Aptitude
In general aptitude questions comes from verbal ability and numerical ability.
Verbal ability - English grammar, Instruction, sentence completion, verbal deduction, Verbal analogies, Word groups, Critical reasoning
Numerical ability - Numerical computation, Numerical estimation, Data interpretation. Numerical reasonings
Quick Links
GATE Biotechnology (BT) Books
| BOOKS | AUTHORS/PUBLISHERS | |
|---|---|---|
| Principles of Biochemistry | Lehninger | |
| Molecular Cell Biology | Iodish and Baltimore | |
| Biotechnology | Pranav Kumar | |
| GATE General Aptitude and Mathematics | GK publishers | |
| Immunology | Kuby | |
| Gene Cloning and DNA analysis | T.A Brown | |
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FAQs for GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern 2026
Ques. How hard is GATE Biotechnology?
Ans. The GATE Biotechnology exam difficulty level will differ every year according to the question paper; mostly, it is considered a moderate to difficult level as compared to others.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Core Biotechnology questions | Moderate–Difficult (require conceptual clarity) |
| Engineering Mathematics | Moderate, numerical-based |
| General Aptitude | Easy–Moderate, highly scoring |
| Competition | Around 12,000–14,000 candidates appear every year |
Ques. What is the GATE score for Biotechnology?
Ans. The GATE Score for Biotechnology is calculated by using a normalisation formula on a scale of 0–1000. The qualifying marks vary every year.
| Category | Qualifying Marks (Previous Trends) |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 25–35 marks out of 100 |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 22–30 marks out of 100 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 16–24 marks out of 100 |
Ques. Who is eligible for GATE Biotechnology?
Ans. The eligibility criteria for GATE Biotechnology 2026 are based on academic qualifications and nationality:
| Final Year Graduate students from B.Tech/B.E. in Biotechnology and other disciplines |
| Students who have completed a Master’s degree in science |
| No upper age limit |
| Both Indian and foreign nationals can apply |
Ques. What is the GATE BT exam for Biotechnology?
Ans. The GATE BT Exam is a national-level entrance exam for postgraduate admissions in Biotechnology, PhD programs, and PSU recruitment.
| Conducting Body | IITs/IISc (Computer-Based Test) |
| Duration | 3 hours, 65 questions, 100 marks |
| Sections | General Aptitude (15 marks) + Biotechnology (85 marks) |
| Question Types | MCQs, MSQs, NATs |
Ques. What is the syllabus of GATE Biotechnology (BT)?
Ans. The GATE BT Syllabus 2026 includes General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Core Biotechnology subjects.
| Section | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | Verbal ability, quantitative aptitude, logical & analytical reasoning |
| Engineering Mathematics | Linear algebra, calculus, probability, differential equations, numerical methods |
| Core Biotechnology | Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Recombinant DNA, Bioprocess Engineering, Plant/Animal/Microbial Biotechnology |
Ques. What are the minimum marks required for GATE?
Ans. The minimum qualifying marks for the GATE Biotechnology exam depend upon the candidate's category.
| Category | Qualifying Marks (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 25–35 marks out of 100 |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 22–30 marks out of 100 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 16–24 marks out of 100 |
*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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