Updated on Feb 21, 2025
Shreya
The GAT-B Syllabus 2025 will be published by the National Testing Agency on their official website. The syllabus can also be accessed at rcb.res.in. Candidates planning to take the exam must refer to the GAT B 2025 syllabus to prepare well. The syllabus includes important chapters and topics that will appear in the exam. Understanding the GAT-B 2025 syllabus helps candidates make a better plan for studying and achieving a good score. The official notification will also provide a PDF version of the syllabus.
Knowing the GAT-B/ BET 2025 syllabus helps in organizing study time. It also helps to identify which areas need more focus. Along with the syllabus, reviewing previous years' GAT-B question papers can help in understanding the exam pattern.
GAT B 2025 Syllabus Overview
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology (GAT-B) 2025 is conducted to offer admission into postgraduate biotechnology programs supported by DBT at various participating institutions. The exam consists of two sections:
- Section A: Focuses on topics from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology at the 10+2 level, consisting of 60 compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Each question carries 1 mark, with a deduction of 0.5 marks for incorrect answers. The total weightage for Section A is 60 marks.
- Section B: Focuses on postgraduate-level questions assessing analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. It includes 100 questions from topics like Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and related fields. Candidates need to answer 60 questions, each worth 3 marks, with a deduction of 1 mark for incorrect answers. The total weightage for Section B is 180 marks.
GAT B 2025 Syllabus
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology 2025 is conducted to get admission into DBT-supported postgraduate (DBT PG) programs in Biotechnology at participating host institutions and universities. There are two sections in GAT-B 2025 syllabus:
GAT B 2025 Section A
This section comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs) of the 10+2 level in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. It contains 60 compulsory questions, each carrying 1 mark, with a negative marking of 0.5 marks for each incorrect answer. The total marks for Section A are 60.
Subjects covered in Section A:
- Physics: Basic concepts of mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics.
- Chemistry: Fundamentals of organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry.
- Mathematics: Algebra, calculus, trigonometry, and basic statistics.
- Biology: Basic principles of life sciences, including cell biology, genetics, and ecology.
GAT B 2025 Section B
This section contains postgraduate-level MCQs that test analytical thought and problem-solving skills. It covers questions from the areas of Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and allied disciplines. The total number of questions in this section is 100, but candidates have to answer 60 of them. Each right answer carries 3 marks, and an incorrect answer leads to a deduction of 1 mark. The total marks for this section B are 180.
Subjects covered in Section B:
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| 1. Biomolecules | - Structure and functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids |
| - Biological membranes: structure, action potential, and transport processes | |
| - Enzymes: classification, kinetics, and mechanisms of action | |
| - Basic concepts of metabolism: pathways of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids | |
| - Photosynthesis, respiration, and electron transport chain | |
| - Principles of bioenergetics | |
| 2. Microbiology and Virology | - Virus structure and classification |
| - Microbial classification and diversity: bacterial, algal, and fungal | |
| - Microbial growth and nutrition | |
| - Methods in microbiology | |
| - Aerobic and anaerobic respiration | |
| - Nitrogen fixation | |
| - Microbial diseases and host-pathogen interactions | |
| 3. Cell Biology | - Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures |
| - Cell cycle and cell growth control | |
| - Cell-cell communication | |
| - Cell signaling and signal transduction pathways | |
| 4. Molecular Biology and Genetics | - Structure and functions of genes and chromosomes |
| - Mutations and mutagenesis | |
| - Mechanisms of nucleic acid replication, transcription, and translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes | |
| - Regulatory mechanisms in gene expression | |
| - Mendelian inheritance and gene interactions | |
| - Horizontal gene transfer and transposable elements | |
| - RNA interference | |
| - DNA damage and repair mechanisms | |
| - Molecular basis of genetic diseases | |
| 5. Immunology | - History and basic principles of immunology |
| - Innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immunity | |
| - Antigens and antibodies: structure, diversity, and synthesis | |
| - Antigen-antibody reactions | |
| - Primary and secondary lymphoid organs | |
| - Roles of B cells, T cells, and macrophages | |
| - Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) | |
| - Antigen processing and presentation | |
| - Regulation of immune response, immune tolerance, and hypersensitivity | |
| - Autoimmunity and graft-versus-host reactions | |
| 6. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | - Major bioinformatics resources and search tools |
| - Sequence and structure databases | |
| - Sequence analysis: file formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment, and phylogeny | |
| - Data mining and analytical tools for genomics and proteomics | |
| - Molecular dynamics and simulations: protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, and protein-ligand interactions | |
| 7. Recombinant DNA Technology | - Restriction and modification enzymes |
| - Vectors: plasmids, bacteriophage, cosmids, Ti plasmids, and yeast artificial chromosomes | |
| - Mammalian and plant expression vectors | |
| - cDNA and genomic DNA libraries | |
| - Gene isolation, cloning, and expression | |
| - DNA labeling and sequencing | |
| - Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) | |
| - DNA fingerprinting, Southern blotting, Northern blotting, and in situ hybridization | |
| - RAPD, RFLP, and site-directed mutagenesis | |
| - Gene transfer technologies and gene therapy | |
| 8. Plant Biotechnology | - Totipotency and plant regeneration |
| - Plant growth regulators and elicitors | |
| - Tissue culture techniques and cell suspension cultures | |
| - Production of secondary metabolites by plant cultures | |
| - Hairy root culture and transgenic plants | |
| - Industrial applications of plant products | |
| 9. Animal Biotechnology | - Animal cell culture: media composition, growth conditions, and preservation |
| - Techniques for anchorage-dependent and non-anchorage-dependent cell cultures | |
| - Hybridoma and stem cell technologies | |
| - Animal cloning and transgenic animal development | |
| 10. Bioprocess Engineering | - Chemical engineering principles applied to biological systems |
| - Reactor design and types of bioreactors | |
| - Mass and heat transfer in fermentation | |
| - Aeration, agitation, and media formulation | |
| - Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization, and product formation | |
| - Batch, fed-batch, and continuous processes | |
| - Instrumentation, control, and optimization | |
| - Process scale-up and feasibility analysis | |
| 11. Downstream Processing | - Bioprocess design and development from lab to industrial scale |
| - Chromatographic and membrane-based bio-separation methods | |
| - Immobilization of biocatalysts | |
| - Production and purification of recombinant proteins | |
| - Bioremediation processes for waste stabilization | |
| 12. Genetic Engineering in Agriculture | - Tissue culture applications: micropropagation, meristem culture, and production of virus-free plants |
| - Techniques like anther, microspore, embryo, and ovary culture | |
| - Protoplast isolation and fusion to develop somatic hybrids and cybrids | |
| - Somaclones and synthetic seeds | |
| - Germplasm conservation and cryopreservation | |
| - Achievements in genetic engineering for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance | |
| - Applications of nanotechnology in agriculture | |
| 13. Analytical Techniques | - Principles of microscopy: light, electron, fluorescent, and confocal |
| - Centrifugation techniques: high-speed and ultra | |
| - Principles of spectroscopy: UV, visible, IR, FTIR, Raman, MS, NMR | |
| - Chromatography techniques: ion exchange, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction, affinity, GC, HPLC, FPLC | |
| - Electrophoresis and microarray technologies |
GAT B 2025 Syllabus Weightage
Here is a table summarizing the sections and weightage of the GATE Biotechnology exam:
| Section | Weightage |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 15% |
| Core Biotechnology Subjects | 70% |
Best Books for GAT B 2025
Part A: This part covers questions at the 10+2 level, including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. The NCERT textbooks are ideal for preparing for this section. Additional recommended books include:
- Physics: HC Verma
- Mathematics: RD Sharma
- Chemistry: OP Tandon
- Biology: Objective Biology by Dinesh
Part B: This section contains basic questions at the undergraduate level from Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and allied areas. The best preparation materials will be the textbooks used during undergraduate studies. Some recommended books include:
- Biotechnology by Saras Publications
- A Textbook of Biotechnology by R.C. Dubey
GAT B 2025 Preparation Strategy
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology (GAT-B) is a crucial exam for admission into DBT-supported postgraduate programs in biotechnology. With a well-structured syllabus covering both general aptitude and specialized biotechnology topics, an effective preparation strategy is essential to perform well.
| Focus Area | Topics Covered | Study Hours/ Day | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude + Basic Concepts | General Biology, Analytical Reasoning, Basic Mathematics, General English | 4-5 hours | Revise NCERT, practice reasoning/maths problems. |
| Subject Knowledge | Molecular Biology, Genetics basics. | Start with standard textbooks (e.g., Lehninger). | |
| General Aptitude + Subject Knowledge | Logical Reasoning, General Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry | 5-6 hours | Solve 20 aptitude questions daily, focus on diagrams and pathways. |
| Subject Knowledge | Plant and Animal Biotechnology, Immunology. | 6-7 hours | Create flashcards for key terms (e.g., vaccines, vectors). |
| Mixed Practice | Microbiology, Bioprocess Engineering, Comprehension practice, Analytical Questions | 6-7 hours | Solve 2-3 mock tests focusing on accuracy. |
| Strengthen Weak Areas | Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Evolution; revisit weaker areas identified from mock tests. | 5-6 hours | Revise using concise notes. Practice specific question types. |
| Full Syllabus Revision | Full syllabus (both Part A & B), emphasis on Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology | 7-8 hours | Solve past year papers, attempt 1 mock daily. |
| Mock Tests and Quick Revision | Full syllabus (focus on high-weightage topics). | 6-8 hours | Daily mock test, analyze mistakes. |
| Final Week: Revision and Strategy | Quick revision of formulas, diagrams, pathways, and mock analysis. | 5-6 hours | Stay confident; avoid new topics. |
Preparation Tips:
- Understand Key Topics: Focus on biotechnology fundamentals as they carry 40% of the weightage. Use standard textbooks like "Principles of Genetics" and "Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology" for deeper understanding.
- Practice Regularly: Daily practice, especially in logical reasoning, aptitude, and diagrams, will help enhance accuracy.
- Mock Tests: Simulate real exam conditions by taking regular mock tests and analyzing mistakes to improve performance.
GAT B Previous Year Question Papers
| DBT GAT B Previous Year Question Papers PDF | |
|---|---|
| DBT GAT B Previous Year Question Paper 2023 | Download PDF |
| DBT GAT B Previous Year Question Paper 2022 | Download PDF |
| DBT GAT B Previous Year Question Paper 2021 | Download PDF |
Common Mistake To Avoid While Giving GAT B 2025
- Neglecting General Aptitude Preparation: While the main focus of the GAT B exam is biotechnology and life sciences, the general aptitude section is equally important. Many candidates tend to overlook this section, which can affect the overall score. Regular practice of reasoning, mathematics, and general English is crucial to perform well.
- Not Knowing the Syllabus: Understand the syllabus well. Focus on high-weightage topics to save time.
- Not Revising: Don’t skip revision. It’s important to go over what was studied to remember everything clearly.
- Trying to Learn Too Much at Once: Don’t try to cover too many topics in the last minute. Stick to important concepts and revise them well.
- Skipping Mock Tests: Practice mock tests to get familiar with the exam format and improve time management.
- Focusing Only on One Section: Don’t spend too much time on one section. Balance the preparation for all sections equally.
- Not Understanding the Question Paper Pattern: Know the question paper format, including marking schemes, before the exam.
- Cramming at the Last Minute: Avoid last-minute cramming. Consistent studying over time is more effective.
- Poor Time Management During the Exam: Manage time wisely during the exam. Attempt easy questions first, and leave tough ones for later.
- Ignoring Previous Year’s Papers: Practice previous years' papers to understand the types of questions and exam format.
- Neglecting Health: Take care of health by resting and relaxing. A tired mind won’t perform well.
GAT B 2025 Syllabus FAQs
What is the total number of marks for the GAT-B 2025 exam?
The total marks for the GAT-B 2025 exam are 240. Section A carries 60 marks, and Section B carries 180 marks.
Where can the GAT-B 2025 syllabus be found?
The GAT-B 2025 syllabus can be found on the official website of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and at rcb.res.in.
What topics are covered in Section A of the GAT-B 2025 exam?
Section A covers topics from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology at the 10+2 level.
How many questions are in Section B of the GAT-B 2025 exam?
Section B consists of 100 questions, out of which candidates need to answer 60 questions.
What is the marking scheme for GAT-B 2025 Section A?
Each question in Section A carries 1 mark, with a negative marking of 0.5 marks for incorrect answers.
What subjects are included in Section B of the GAT-B 2025 exam?
Section B covers postgraduate-level topics such as Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, and Bioprocess Engineering.
What are the best books to prepare GAT-B 2025 for Section A?
NCERT textbooks are ideal for Section A preparation. Additional books include HC Verma for Physics, RD Sharma for Mathematics, OP Tandon for Chemistry, and Objective Biology by Dinesh for Biology.
How can I prepare for the GAT-B 2025 exam?
Focus on understanding key topics, practice regularly, take mock tests, and revise thoroughly. Consistency and time management are key to success.
Is there any negative marking in the GAT-B 2025 exam?
Yes, there is negative marking. For each incorrect answer, 0.5 marks will be deducted in Section A and 1 mark in Section B.
When will the GAT-B 2025 syllabus be published?
The GAT-B 2025 syllabus will be published by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on their official website and can also be accessed at rcb.res.in.
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