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The IIT Guwahati has officially released the GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026 on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in.
The GATE Biotechnology Syllabus includes 7 important sections: General Biology, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Fundamentals of Biological Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering and Process Biotechnology, Plant, Animal, and Microbial Biotechnology, and Recombinant DNA Technology.
The GATE BT Exam also includes: Engineering Mathematics & General Aptitude, which is similar for all the candidates.
- The GATE BT Exam Pattern includes 65 Questions of 100 Marks, in a duration of 3 hours.
- The GATE BT Syllabus is divided into 3 parts: Core Biotechnology, which is of 72 marks, Engineering Mathematics, which is of 13 Marks and General Aptitude of 15 Marks.
The GATE Biotechnology Syllabus covers important topics like Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Bioprocess Engineering and DNA Technology. Candidates should solve the previous year's GATE Biotechnology papers, which will help them understand the difficulty level of the exam and the marking scheme.
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| Key Summary: In this Article, we have discussed about GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026, including PDF, Weightage, Marking Scheme & Previous year papers.
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What is the GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026?
The GATE Biotechnology Syllabus includes the topics that are released by IIT Guwahati for the GATE BT Exam. It includes the topics and areas from which the questions will be asked in the GATE BT Exam.
| Section | Main Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | Verbal, Quantitative, Reasoning, Data Interpretation | 15 marks |
| Engineering Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Calculus, Probability, Statistics, Differential Equations, Numerical Methods | 13 marks |
| General Biology | Biomolecules, Enzymes, Metabolism, Microbiology, Immunology | 15–25 Marks |
| Genetics & Molecular Biology | Mendelian Genetics, DNA Replication, Transcription, Translation, Cell Signalling | 15–25 Marks |
| Biological Engineering | Biothermodynamics, Reaction Kinetics, Mass & Energy Balance, Bioinstrumentation | 5-10 Marks |
| Bioprocess Engineering | Bioreactors, Growth Kinetics, Sterilisation, Downstream Processing | 10–15 Marks |
| Plant, Animal & Microbial Biotech | Tissue Culture, Transformation, Fermentation, Biofuels, Enzymes | 8–12 Marks |
| rDNA Technology & Bioinformatics | Cloning, PCR, Vectors, Sequencing, Gene Editing, Bioinformatics Tools | 15-25 Marks |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026: Subject-wise Marks Weightage
The GATE exam syllabus for biotechnology includes various sections. Knowing each and every section along with the GATE biotech exam pattern is important to understand how many questions you can get from each section.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Approximate Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 8–9 | 11–13 |
| General Biology | 10–15 | 15–25 |
| Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology | 10–15 | 15–25 |
| Fundamentals of Biological Engineering | 4–5 | 5–10 |
| Bioprocess Engineering and Process Biotechnology | 5–10 | 10–15 |
| Plant, Animal and Microbial Biotechnology | 6–8 | 8–12 |
| Recombinant DNA Technology and Other Tools in Biotechnology | 10–15 | 15–25 |
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What is the weightage of the GATE Biotechnology syllabus 2026?
We have shared the number of questions and marks allotted as per previous year questions. You can check the video by Vedemy which explains the GATE BT syllabus in details along with the preparation strategies.
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus Highlights
The GATE Biotechnology Syllabus contains multiple types of questions like MCQ, MSQ and NAT. Some other key features of GATE syllabus for biotechnology are:
| Biotechnology Paper Code | BT |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Number of Questions | 65 |
| Types of Questions | MCQs, MSQs, and NAT |
| Number of Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subjects |
| Weightage by Section | Section I : Section II : |
| Total Time Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
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GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section-wise
There are multiple sections in GATE exam syllabus for biotechnology. The section wise GATE biotechnology syllabus are mentioned below:
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section I - Engineering Mathematics
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Linear Algebra | Matrices and Determinants | Systems of Linear Equations | Eigen Values and Eigen Vectors |
| Calculus | Limits | Continuity and Differentiability | Partial Derivatives | Maxima and Minima | Sequences and Series | Test for Convergence |
| Differential Equations | Linear and Non-Linear First Order ODEs | Higher Order ODEs with constant coefficients | Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations | Laplace Transforms |
| Probability and Statistics | Mean, Median, Mode and Standard Deviation | Random Variables | Poisson, Normal, and Binomial Distributions | Correlation and Regression Analysis |
| Numerical Methods | Solution of Linear and Non-Linear Algebraic Equations | Integration by Trapezoidal and Simpson’s Rule | Single-Step Method for Differential Equations |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section II - General Biology
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Biomolecules - structure and function | Biological membranes - structure, membrane channels and pumps | Molecular motors | Action Potential and Transport Processes | Enzymes- Classification, Catalytic and Regulatory Strategies | Enzyme Kinetics - Michaelis - Menten Equation | Enzyme Inhibition - Competitive, Non-Competitive and Uncompetitive Inhibition |
| Microbiology | Bacterial Classification and Diversity | Microbiological Ecology - Microbes in Marine, Fresh water and Terrestrial ecosystems | Viruses - Structure and Classification | Methods in Microbiology | Microbial Growth and Nutrition | Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance |
| Immunology | Innate and Adaptive Immunity | Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity | Primary and Secondary Lymphoid Organs | Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibody | Immunization and Vaccines |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section III - Genetics, Cellular, and Molecular Biology
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Genetics and Evolutionary Biology | Mendelian Inheritance | Gene Interaction | Extra Chromosomal Inheritance | Genetic Disorders | Genetic Drift | Species and Speciation | Recombination and Chromosome Mapping |
| Cell Biology | Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Structure | Cell Cycle and Cell Growth Control | Cell Signalling and Signal Transduction | Extra-Cellular Matrix |
| Molecular Biology | Molecular Structure of Genes and Chromosomes | Mutations and Mutagenesis | Non-Coding and Micro RNA | DNA Damage and Repair |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section IV - Fundamentals of Biological Engineering
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Engineering Principles Applied to Biological Systems | Material and Energy Balances for reactive and non-reactive systems | Recycle, Bypass, and Purge process | Degree of Reduction | Electron Balance and Theoretical Oxygen Demand |
| Classical Thermodynamics and Bioenergetics | Laws of Thermodynamics | Solution Thermodynamics | Phase Equilibria | Reaction Equilibria | Legend Binding | Oxidation and Reduction Reactions |
| Transport Processes | Newtonian and non-Newtonian Fluids | Fluid Flow - Laminar and Turbulent | Molecular Diffusion and Film Theory | Conductive and Convective Heat Transfer | LMTD | Heat Exchangers |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section V - Bioprocess Engineering and Process Biotechnology
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Bioreaction Engineering | Rate Law | Zero and First Order Kinetics | Ideal Reactors - Batch, Mixed Flow, and Plug Flow | Enzyme Immobilization | Kinetics of Cell Growth | Batch | Fed-Batch and Continuous Processes | Microbial and Enzyme Reactors | Optimization and Scale-Up |
| Upstream and Downstream Processing | Media Formulation and Optimization | Sterilization of Air and Media | Filtration - Membrane filtration | Cell Disruption | Extraction, Absorption, and Drying |
| Instrumentation and Process Control | Pressure | Temperature and Flow Measurement Devices | First order and Second order systems | Feedback and Feed Forward Control | Types of Controllers - Proportional, Derivative, and Integral Control, Tuning of Controllers |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section VI - Plant, Animal, and Microbial Biotechnology
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Plants | Totipotency | Regeneration of Plants | Tissue Culture and Cell Suspension Culture System | Hairy Root Culture | Plant Products of Industrial Importance | Protoplast | Transgenic Plants - Direct and Indirect Methods of gene transfer Techniques | Selection Marker and Reporter Gene | Plastid Transformation |
| Animals | Culture media composition and growth conditions | Animal Cell and Tissue Preservation | Kinetics of Cell Growth | Hybridoma Technology | Stem cell technology | Animal Cloning |
| Microbes | Production of Biomass and Primary/Secondary Metabolites - Biofuels, Bioplastics, Industrial Enzymes | Clinical, Food, and Industrial Microbiology | Screening Strategies for new products |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Section VII - Recombinant DNA Technology and Other Tools in Biotechnology
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Recombinant DNA Technology | Restriction and Modification Enzymes | Ti Plasmid, Bacterial, and Yeast Artificial Chromosomes | Expression Vectors | Gene Isolation and Cloning | Transposons and Gene Targeting |
| Molecular Tools | Polymerase Chain Reaction | DNA/RNA labelling and sequencing | DNA fingerprinting | Site-directed mutagenesis | Biosensing and Biosensors |
| Analytical Tools | Principles of microscopy - light, electron, fluorescent and confocal | Electrophoresis | Immunoblotting | Flow Cytometry | Whole genome and CHIP sequencing |
| Computational Tools | Bioinformatics resources and search tools | Sequence and Structure Databases | Genomics | Proteomics | Metabolomics | Gene Prediction | Metagenomics | Metabolic Engineering and Systems Biology |
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GATE Biotechnology Syllabus Exam Pattern 2026
The GATE Biotechnology syllabus helps in understanding the pattern of questions, sectional timing, and topic-wise weightage of marks. In addition to downloading the GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026 PDF, you must also understand the key points of the BT exam pattern listed below:
The GATE Biotechnology paper consists of three types of questions: multiple-type questions (MCQs), multiple-select questions (MSQs), and numerical-answer type (NAT) questions.
- You must answer a total of 65 questions, primarily based on the GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026.
- The exam duration is going to be 3 hours.
- The question will be divided into two sections: engineering mathematics and core biotechnology subjects
Question Types:
- MCQ: Multiple Choice Questions (1 or 2 marks)
- MSQ: Multiple Select Questions (1 or 2 marks)
- NAT: Numerical Answer Type (1 or 2 marks)
Marking Scheme:
- General Aptitude: 15 marks (5 x 1 mark + 5 x 2 marks)
- Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks
- Subject Questions: 72 marks (25 x 1 mark + 30 x 2 marks)
- Negative Marking: Applicable for incorrect answers in MCQs (1/3 for 1-mark MCQ, 2/3 for 2-mark MCQ).
Tips to Crack GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026
Candidates who are preparing for the GATE Biotechnology exam definitely need a strategic approach to ace GATE BT 2025. Here are some valuable tips from the top rankers that can help you succeed:
- Use Previous Year Book (Geetha): Try to solve the previous year's question paper a minimum of three times as follows : At first, try to solve every question while reading the subject for the first time. The second time, solve the book during revision. Finally, focus on star-marked questions. If time permits, solve the entire book again.
- Supplementary Workbooks: Candidates can solve the supplementary workbooks such as Solve Made Easy Workbook first as it has a good collection of questions. If possible to get along the tougher side of the question, also solve Bits and Bytes.
- Make Short Notes: Try to Include all necessary formulas, concepts, and unit conversions in your notes, and remember to update them regularly as you study.
- Practice with a Stopwatch: Gate Toppers always prefer to time themselves to build speed and accuracy, crucial for exams like CIL, ISRO, BARC, ESE, SSC JE, and NLC. Although GATE provides sufficient time, other exams do not.
- Limit Textbook Reading: GATE BT Aspirants shouldn’t rely heavily on standard textbooks unless necessary. Avoid lengthy textbook questions not relevant to GATE.
- Complete Test Series: After completion of revision start the test series in July. Give part tests after the first revision. Follow with subject-wise and multi-subject tests after the second revision. Begin full-length tests from December, aiming for 20-30 FLTs.
GATE BT Syllabus: Previous Year Question Papers
We have provided the question papers for GATE biotechnology for the last 6 years. You can refer these questions to understand biotech GATE syllabus more deeply and practice new questions.
| Session | Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Check Here |
| 2024 | Check Here |
| 2023 | Check Here |
| 2022 | Check Here |
| 2021 | Check Here |
| 2020 | Check Here |
GATE Biotechnology Syllabus: Books to Refer
Some of the most important books which will help you prepare for GATE along with their publishers are:
| Books | Publishers/ Authors |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Bioprocess Engineering Principles | P.Doran |
| Advanced Engineering Mathematics | Erwin Kreyszig |
| Plant Biotech | Slater |
| High School English Grammar | Wren and Martin |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude | Arun Sharma |
| Previous Year Books | Made Easy Workbook or Bits And Bytes or Both |
FAQs for GATE Biotechnology Syllabus 2026
FAQs
Ques. What is the pattern of GATE Biotechnology?
Ans. The GATE Biotechnology Exam Pattern includes the structure of the exam by including the number of questions, marking scheme & weightage.
| Section | Marks | Question Types |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Core Biotechnology | 72 | MCQ, MSQ, NAT |
| Total | 100 marks | 65 Questions, 3 Hours |
Ques. How to start GATE preparation for Biotechnology?
Ans. To prepare for GATE BT 2026, candidates must follow a proper plan by focusing on high-weightage topics and PYPs.
Steps to follow if the candidate wants to prepare for GATE Biotechnology 2026:
- Download the official GATE Biotechnology Syllabus
- Identify all the high-weightage topics, and prepare them well.
- Make a proper study plan for learning, practising and revision.
- Solve the PYQs and attempt mock tests.
Ques. How to study for GATE Biotechnology?
Ans. To study for GATE BT, candidates require a proper preparation plan and focus on theory and problem-solving.
Tips to prepare for the GATE BT exam are:
- Study daily for around 6-7 hours and focus on weak areas.
- Follow a proper revision cycle and revise after every 15 days.
- Solve more than 25-30 full-length mock tests before the exam.
- Candidates should use Important resources like Books & PYQs.
Ques. What is the difficulty level of GATE Biotechnology 2026?
Ans. The GATE Biotechnology Exam difficulty level is expected to be of a moderate to difficult level, which changes every year.
- The GATE Exam is expected to be conceptual and numerical mix questions.
- The section of core biotechnology carries high weightage, around 72%.
- The section of GA and Maths is comparatively easier option for scoring marks.
Ques. What are the qualifying marks for the GATE Biotechnology Exam?
Ans. The GATE Qualifying marks are the minimum cut-off marks for passing the exam, these are announced after the results are declared.
| Year | General | OBC-NCL/EWS | SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 31.6 | 28.4 | 21.0 |
| 2024 | 34.0 | 30.6 | 22.6 |
| 2026 (Expected) | 32–35 | 29–32 | 21–23 |
Ques. What are the benefits of GATE Biotechnology?
Ans. The GATE BT Exam gives various opportunities to candidates related to higher studies, research and PSU Jobs, including:
- Admission to M.Tech/M.Sc./PhD in IITs, IISc, NITs, and IIITs
- Eligibility for PSU recruitment in biotech & related industries
- Fellowships like CSIR, ICMR, and DST programs
- Boosts career in R&D, academia, and the biopharma sector
*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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